Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
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For something different, head to Lynx Lake, where some anglers reportedly are having some decent action catching brown trout. Here's the tip: Try fishing a No. 18 or 20 with wooly bugger about 4 feet under a float with a 4-pound test leader. THE REEL DEAL Hello, anglers, First, a quick fish story. On Tuesday, April 8, angler Jack Head of Phoenix was taking his wife and sister-in-law boating, fishing, and for a quick picnic. What he saw in the Agua Fria arm floating on the surface was a...
Anglers who love to fish Roosevelt Lake located in central Arizona's Tonto National Forest have a future hope for the fishery -- monster bass. To help boost fishing opportunities at the 13,000-acre lake, the Arizona Game and Fish Department is partnering with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) through April to stock up to 500,000 fry of Florida-strain largemouth bass, which have been known to eventually attain sizes up to 20 pounds. The FWC will be donating the bass fry...
The geographic center of Arizona is about 55 miles ESE of Prescott, and the closest town hall to that location is that of Camp Verde. There is a bronze plaque to that effect in Rezzonico Park, placed there by the Arizona Professional Land Surveyors. The park in on Montezuma Castle Highway in Camp Verde. In fact, there is a ton of stuff to see and do in and around Camp Verde, including Montezuma's Well, Montezuma's Castle, and Tuzigoot National Monument. If you like the outdoors, you will love... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department implemented Stage 1 fire restrictions at all department wildlife areas on Friday, April 18. The restrictions are part of the restrictions issued by the Arizona State Forestry Division on state-owned and state-managed lands outside incorporated municipalities due to the increased risk of wildfire in the state. Stage 1 restrictions mean that no open fires are allowed -- including campfires and wood or charcoal-burning stoves and barbecues. Smoking is...
Tonto National Forest joins other federal agencies in offering a fee-free weekend, Sat., Feb. 15 through Mon., Feb. 17 in honor of President’s Day. The remaining 2014 fee-free days honored by national forests are — • June 14, National Get Outdoors Day • Sept. 27, National Public Lands Day • Nov. 8-11, Veterans Day Weekend "Our public lands are open to everyone, and we hope these free days offer an incentive to all people to visit any of the 193 million acres of land held in trust for their enj... Full story
Keep in mind that here in Arizona, there is plenty of year-round fishing. Bass and other sport fish may not be as active, but they are still catchable. In many cases; it's a matter of slowing down your presentation and going to smaller baits. Some pro anglers, on the other hand, have been known to not only slow down their presentations, but also upsize their offerings to make it worthwhile for big bass to dine. The Reel Deal It's winter trout and crappie time. First, The Trout There are rainbow... Full story
Many hunters, anglers and other outdoor recreationists have been wondering how the current federal government shutdown, which began Oct. 1, will impact their upcoming outings. Despite closures by federal land management agencies of their administrative offices and some controlled access points and facilities, there are numerous opportunities available to Arizonans for outdoor recreation. Please keep in mind that, with regard to federal lands, official information on closures is the responsibilit... Full story
Bartlett Lake is located in the northeast valley only 48 miles from downtown Phoenix and 17 miles northeast of Carefree and is within one hour from most Valley locations. Access is easy from all parts of the Valley and the scenic Bartlett Lake Road that takes you from Carefree to Bartlett lake is beautiful year around. Bartlett Lake Marina is a family owned marina. If you are a boating novice, one of the family will give you the necessary safety gear and instructions for your day on the lake.... Full story
Beginning Oct. 1, Maricopa County’s Parks and Recreation Department will bring back the Buy One, Get One campaign! The campaign allows park visitors who pay the camping fee for one night, or more, at a desert mountain county park to receive one night of equal or lesser value for free at any of the county’s desert parks during that same stay. “This is the fifth year the department has offered the Buy One, Get One promotion and it is by far, one of the Parks Department’s most popular campaig... Full story
Due to thunderstorm activity across the forest over the last 24 hours, there have been nine fire starts being managed by assigned resources and three smoke checks are being conducted. One of the nine fire starts, the Reno Fire, reported earlier today, is contained. Thunderstorm activity is predicted for this weekend, bringing moisture and lightning to some of these areas on the forest. 1. Cain Fire on Tonto National Forest in Four Peaks Wilderness Area 28 miles northeast of Mesa, Ariz.,1.5 miles west of Four Peaks Fire Facts Location:... Full story
The new Desert Belle is a 143-passenger, two-level boat. It has a partial lower level air-conditioned section and includes two bathrooms and a snack bar. Originally launched in 1964, Desert Belle has been plowing the waters of Saguaro Lake for over forty years. Relax in air-conditioned comfort on one of her 90-minute narrated public cruises and see exotic Arizona wildlife, towering canyon walls, and dramatic desert vistas. This is the perfect spot to bring out-of-town guests. Private cruises... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department has added largemouth bass virus (LMB virus), whirling disease and all snakehead fish to the Director’s Orders aquatic invasive species (AIS) list. LMB Virus LMB virus, which primarily affects adult largemouth and smallmouth bass during the summertime, has been discovered at Lake Pleasant (Maricopa County Parks) and Bartlett, Saguaro, and Roosevelt lakes on the Tonto National Forest. All watercraft users leaving those lakes will now be required by law to c... Full story
(Phoenix) – Beginning October 1, Maricopa County’s Parks and Recreation Department will bring back the Buy One, Get One campaign! The campaign allows park visitors who pay the camping fee for one night, or more, at a desert mountain county park to receive one night of equal or lesser value for free at any of the county’s desert parks during that same stay. “This is the fifth year the department has offered the Buy One, Get One promotion and it is by far, one of the Parks Department’s most popu... Full story
You might have seen the “Don’t Move a Mussel” signs that have been at some statewide lakes. Now the Arizona Game & Fish Aquatic Invasive Species Program will be providing quagga mussel educational opportunities at Lake Pleasant, Bartlett Lake and Lake Havasu throughout the summer. In an effort to reduce the spread and introduction of this serious invasive species, the outreach efforts will encourage boaters to clean, drain and dry their boats. Remaining Sessions Following is a rundown of remai... Full story
A new National Park Service report shows that more than 10.1 million national park visitors in Arizona in 2011 spent $766 million and supported 12,886 jobs in the state. Nationwide, visitors to the 398 units of the National Park System had a combined $30 billion economic benefit that supported 252,000 jobs. The Arizona jobs figure is the nation’s second highest after California. “The national parks of Arizona are exceptional and diverse – from the Sonoran Desert borderlands of Organ Pipe Cactu... Full story
Tonto National Forest joins other federal agencies in offering fee-free days on public lands in 2013. The upcoming fee-free days honored by the forest are — • June 8, National Get Outdoors Day • Sept. 28, National Public Lands Day • Nov. 9-11, Veterans Day Weekend “Your national forests and grasslands are a bargain any day of the year, but even more so on fee-free days,” said U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell. “Whether you stay for a few hours or a few days, your public lands are some of the best travel bargains in the nation.” Trad... Full story
Learn to live and play in our unique Sonoran desert. Classes will be offered in fishing, hunting, tracking and desert survival. There are also sessions in hiking, paddling, geocaching, birding, outdoor photography and edible and medicinal plants of the Superstitions. A trial ride through the Saguaro forest is also available. The Dutch oven class will prepare the evening meals. Night-time presentations include Wildman Phil with his cast of desert critters and a stargazing event by the East Valley... Full story
Just because the temperatures are cooler now, that doesn't mean boating season is on hold! What better way to enjoy this refreshing weather — in many ways, Arizona’s finest time of year — by spending the day on the water? Well, the best place to do that is at Bartlett Lake! Located right in the heart of the Tonto National Forest, Bartlett Lake is the second largest lake in the Phoenix Metro Valley area, with boatable surface area of 2,815 acres — bigger than Canyon Lake and Saguaro Lake, combined! Bartlett Lake Marina offers everything you nee... Full story
The Becoming an Outdoors Woman Deluxe (13) retreat will make an ideal gift for the discriminating woman in your life. Lots of outdoor fun without the inconveniences of camping! The Arizona Wildlife Federation will be sponsoring a winter Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) workshop. The dates are Jan. 25-27. It will be in the Goldfield Mountain Range. This retreat will showcase the beauty and wonder of our desert. The place is Saguaro Lake Ranch, which is a historical resort-style retreat located... Full story
Just because the summer's over, that doesn't mean boating season is over! What better way to enjoy this weather, Arizona’s finest time of year, by spending the day on the water? Well, the best place to do that is at Bartlett Lake! Located right in the heart of the Tonto National Forest, Bartlett Lake is the second largest lake in the Phoenix Metro Valley area, with boatable surface area of 2,815 acres — bigger than Canyon Lake and Saguaro Lake, combined! Bartlett Lake Marina offers eve... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department has been receiving inquiries from outdoor enthusiasts who are uncertain about new Forest Service Travel Management Rules and whether the rules apply to them and their favorite recreational areas. Many hunters, anglers, campers and wildlife watchers are especially concerned about how the new travel management rules are being enforced, especially in national forests located in Arizona. In response to these questions and concerns, Arizona Game and Fish has... Full story
Each year as part of its highly successful program to manage and conserve bald eagles in the state, the Arizona Game and Fish Department asks outdoor recreationists to help protect important eagle breeding areas by honoring the closure of 21 areas across the state. Various land and wildlife management agencies close the breeding areas for part of the year, beginning in December, to protect the state’s 55 breeding pairs of bald eagles. Some of the closure areas are located near popular r... Full story
Roosevelt Lake is the upper most and largest in a series of four reservoirs on the Salt River. The Bureau of Reclamation constructed Roosevelt Dam in 1911 forming Roosevelt Lake. At full capacity it is approximately 22 miles long with 91 miles of shoreline; its maximum depth is over 300 feet and it can store 1,653,043 acre feet of water. Roosevelt Lake is also home to a variety of game fish including largemouth and smallmouth bass, black crappie, yellow bass, bluegill, channel and flathead catfish and carp. Threadfin shad, gizzard shad, and blu... Full story
Just because the summer's over, that doesn't mean boating season is over! What better way to enjoy this weather, Arizona’s finest time of year, by spending the day on the water? Well, the best place to do that is at Bartlett Lake! Located right in the heart of the Tonto National Forest, Bartlett Lake is the second largest lake in the Phoenix Metro Valley area, with boatable surface area of 2,815 acres — bigger than Canyon Lake and Saguaro Lake, combined! Bartlett Lake Marina offers eve... Full story
Bartlett Lake In The Tonto National Forest Bartlett Lake has a boatable surface area of 2,815 acres - more than Canyon Lake and Saguaro Lake, combined. Fed by the pristine waters of the Verde River, Indians of this valley spoke descriptively in their legends of the river's "sweet waters". Outdoor enthusiasts frequent Bartlett Lake for a variety of recreational opportunities, including shoreline camping in Arizona's natural desert terrain. While in this part of the Tonto National Forest,... Full story