Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
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Lake Havasu on the Colorado River is a fantastic place to visit – it has great fishing, beautiful views, plenty of places to stay and play -- and the London Bridge. The London Bridge In the 1930s, the construction of Parker Cam created Lake Havasu. During World War II an R and R camp for the armed forces was built on a peninsula. A developer named McCulloch bought 26 square miles of desert (the current site of Lake Havasu City), and in 1968 he bought the London Bridge and had it dismantled a... Full story
Does trudging up the ramp to fetch your truck and trailer leave you huffing and puffing? What about throwing a jerkbait all day long – can your arm take it? How about your last pre-fish? Did you find yourself missing out on some opportunities because you just didn't have it in you to stand on the trolling motor for another hour? To get into better shape for your next fishing trip, start now. If you want to maximize your enjoyment of the outdoors, getting and staying fit should be a priority. T... Full story
Fall Fishing I first saw Ben in action in 1993, when I was his observer at an All Star Championship. The first day of the tournament was on San Carlos, and I had the opportunity to watch Ben fish a variety of lures, including worms, spoons, jigs, jerkbaits, and even a Pork-o! Nice Weather The championship was in September, and for a change the weather was pretty nice. It was cloudy and cool, and the water temperature was a little over 77 degrees. Ben started off in the very back of a cove,... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) recently celebrated the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's (FWS) decision to remove Apache trout from the federal Endangered Species List . "The recovery of Apache trout is a culmination of more than five decades of hard work and the cooperation of many partners, and it's truly an amazing conservation success story," said AZGFD Director Ty Gray. Apache trout, one of only two native trout species in Arizona, were found in streams across the White Mountai... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department has issued a Notice of Intent to Pursue Rulemaking to begin the process to amend its Article 4 rules (live wildlife) to implement the recommendations made in the recent five-year review report. The amendments proposed in the five-year review report are intended to increase the effectiveness of the rules to meet the department’s mission, ensure consistency with state and federal statutes, and to increase the clarity of the existing rules. Except for the a... Full story
Most of the trout in Arizona are stocked fish, which means that trout fishing is mostly a "put and take" game. The Arizona Game and Fish Department puts the trout in, and we take them out. Most of the fish that are stocked are small, what the Game and Fish calls "catchable" trout, but some of our lakes and streams have genuine trophy fish, and the Game and Fish Department usually throws in a couple of bigger fish in each stocking just to give you an incentive to fish. Don't miss the Arizona... Full story
Hardcore fishing platforms have lure storage in every possible spot on board. But for the average boat, there's the new Tackle Station from SeaSucker. Because it mounts temporarily and is so easy to relocate, it's perfect for owners who may be pulling a tube one day and trolling the next. Made in the USA of durable high-density polyethylene (HDPE), the Tackle Station uses SeaSucker's powerful 4.5" Vacuum Mount. Supporting up to 120 lbs. once attached to any non-porous surface, it holds the inclu... Full story
Community Fishing Program waters teeming with scrappy fighters. It doesn't have to be Friday to enjoy a good, old-fashioned fish fry. Cole slaw. French fries. Red beans and rice. Oh, and don't forget hush puppies. All are perfect complements to a pile of fresh-caught catfish filets, fried in a savory cornmeal batter until crisp and golden-brown. Whatever your choice of side dishes, leave the main course up to the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD), which is now stocking Community Fishing... Full story
If you like bass fishing, you will love fishing for pike. Pound for pound, they are among the most aggressive fish you will ever tangle with, and they can weigh up to 40 pounds or more. Even in a state as far south as Arizona, northern pike thrive at higher elevations and provide plenty of action for anglers who would otherwise be dangling earthworms for trout. Behave Like Tigers Pike not only behave like tigers, they have a mouthful of teeth to match. The jaws, roof of the mouth, and even the...
When bass go deep, like they do in winter and summer, it takes a combination of the right lure and the right technique to catch the big ones. Football head jigs dressed up in skirts and grubs are ideal lures for these deep-water hawgs. A jig has all the features that tempt fish and make them eat – the profile is relatively small, but bulky enough to look like a decent meal, and the legs and skirt wave around even when the lure is not moving, so the lure constantly sends out signals that a b... Full story
At the U.S. Open about several years ago, Arizona Nitro pro Kevin Finley found a Storm Arashi crankbait in the goodie bag he received at tournament HQ. Later, he went fishing at Lake Pleasant with a buddy, Taj White, and told him, "you tie on whatever you think I should throw – I've got a tournament coming at Pleasant." Taj absolutely smashed them with the Arashi. That's how he found out about the Arashi, and now he says it's the best crankbait he's ever used. Never Lost One Finley says he's n... Full story
Tournament angling for all species in Arizona has grown tremendously recently. Many people don't realize that the Arizona Game and Fish Department does not issue permits for fishing tournaments. Fishing tournaments are permitted by the land management agency where the tournament is being held. The department is, however, very interested in - • Building relationships with tournament organizations, promoters and anglers. • Working with permitting agencies like the national forests, Arizona Sta... Full story
Fishing Tips By Chase Newlon, AZGFD R3 Coordinator The temperatures are on the rise! With that, bass and bluegill have been stocked throughout all the Community Fishing Waters. Try your luck at one of the 50+ of these waters, many of which are found within the Phoenix Metro area. Find one that is close to you here: www.azgfd.gov/community. When switching from targeting trout to fishing for largemouth bass, you will need to upsize most of your gear. A 7-foot medium power rod is a good starting... Full story
Lake Havasu has big bass, a lot of them. Big bass means big bass tournaments. Thousands of fans from Arizona and surrounding states are drawn to Lake Havasu's premier bass fishing events. Great weather and a beautiful lake-chock full of healthy fish-create the perfect setting for exciting pro angler action. Bass love the lake because of its natural fresh waters, structural contours and warm climate-all reasons why Bassmaster Magazine ranked Lake Havasu as one of the 100 best bass lakes of the... Full story
Stockings will mark earliest Canyon, Haigler and Tonto creeks have received fish. PAYSON, Ariz. - As warmer springtime weather approaches, the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) will begin its annual trout stockings a bit earlier in some waters near Payson on the Mogollon Rim. Canyon, Haigler, and Tonto creeks began receiving catchable-size rainbow trout in March. This will mark the first time these waters have been stocked this early in the traditional spring and summer stocking season.... Full story
Lakes to receive fish until July; stocking numbers to remain similar to 2023 . The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) has announced waters in the Show Low and Pinetop-Lakeside areas will be stocked with catchable-size trout from March to July, a change from the traditional stocking schedule of April to September. Those waters include Fool Hollow, Rainbow, Show Low, and Woodland lakes, as well as Scott Reservoir. AZGFD is expected to maintain the schedule change until at least 2026 to... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) has confirmed golden algae toxin blooms as the cause of recent fish kills at both Saguaro and Canyon lakes. When golden algae is the cause of a fish kill at one of the Salt River chain lakes (Saguaro, Canyon and Apache), varying degrees of fish kills are typically observed at all three of the lakes. AZGFD staff recently collected water-quality samples at both Saguaro and Canyon, which confirmed golden algae as the cause of the fish kills. At Saguaro... Full story
Fishing is a beloved pastime for many, and many states offer "free fishing days" where residents and visitors can fish without a license. These days are a great opportunity for people to try out fishing for the first time, or for experienced anglers to introduce a friend or family member to the sport. Free Fishing Day: June 1, 2024 The Arizona Game and Fish Department invites anglers to fish Arizona waters for free Saturday, June 3. It's an ideal time to take the family out for some fun and... Full story
Did you know that invasive quagga mussels cause millions of dollars in damage to boat motors, docks and water intake systems? Or that unwanted turtles, tortoises, and other pets illegally released into the wild can hurt our native species by introducing disease or outcompeting them for habitat and food? Awareness Week The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) participated in National Invasive Species Awareness Week, which ran through the beginning of March. The nationwide event aimed to... Full story
"Swimbait" is a broad term – it can mean anything from a grub to a 15-inch trout imitation. They are distinct from crankbaits in design and usually in material – swimbaits tend to be made of softer stuff than crankbaits, but they are all designed to imitate some kind of baitfish. Spring is the perfect time to get acquainted with these baits if you aren't already a fan, so here are some tips to help you improve your swimbait techniques. D-Shad And Fluke Baits These little baits are all the rag... Full story
We have established fishing waters in 23 Arizona communities. Whether you are an experienced, occasional or new angler, the Arizona Community Fishing Program offers fishing opportunities that you are sure to enjoy. There are currently more than 50 city park lakes participating in the Program, a partnership between the Arizona Game and Fish Department and 23 communities across the state. Detailed maps and park-specific information on all Community Fishing waters are found in this website... Full story
Whether you're new to angling or a seasoned pro, the fishing challenges provide opportunities to pursue and catch your "big fish" and have it posted on our website. Find your challenge, see how to enter, and explore the official rules. Fishing Challenges Offered By AZGFD Bass Anglers: The Arizona Hawg Bass Challenge Arizona is home to great largemouth bass fishing! The Arizona Game and Fish Department works to provide great opportunities for anglers to catch huge largemouth bass all over the... Full story
A lot of old-timers will tell you that the best way for a crappie fisherman to deal with a cold front is to stay home. Unfortunately, most of us don't have the luxury of choosing which days to go fishing. Why does it always seem like the dreaded cold fronts pass through just before the weekend, or right in the middle of the tournament? Crappie Recover Faster The effects of a cold front are particularly devastating in the spring. A five degree drop in surface temperature can drive the fish off... Full story
The late Aaron Martens, Rick Clunn, Gary Dobyns, and Eddie Johns are four of the most consistently successful anglers I've ever known, but their prowess isn't due just to natural ability, although that does play a part. Aaron was known as a finesse fisherman. People used to say that Rick Clunn was the Zen master of fishing. Gary Dobyns is known as a power fisherman. You may not know Eddie Johns, but if you lived anywhere near him, you'd be familiar with his name. He dominates the tournaments in... Full story
Whether after sockeye on the Columbia, teal in Louisiana or a quiet picnic near an Arizona lake, the PacBak P88-MK Cooler keeps adventures fresh. Built in Alaska, this 88 qt. cooler is unlike any other on the market. Every design aspect provides optimum functionality, including simultaneously keeping contents both hot and/or cold, an integrated cutting board, a removable table and the ability to withstand 24 hours with a 1,250-pound Alaskan Kodiak Brown Bear. The thick insulated walls of the thr... Full story
