Camping at Knoll Lake in May

** Date changed to June 1-3 - final change, so you can reserve your time off work if you need **​

WHEN: June 1-3. FRI morning - SUN afternoon. Meet in Fountain Hills at 7am Friday, June 1 for initial convoy. The previous weekend will be Memorial Weekend, and that's always a disaster with noob campers. We should be clear the weekend of the 1st.

The Friday through Sunday group will meet up in Fountain Hills at 7:00am in the McDonald's parking lot on the northwest corner of Saguaro Blvd and Shea Blvd. There's a Circle K with a gas pump right next to it, and a good last stop for ice so we don't have to stop in Payson. I don't know about the rest of you, but I want to make the most of Friday. From Fountain Hills to the campsite is a solid 2 hour drive and I'd like to have camp set up by lunchtime.

Here's a Google Map link to the meet spot

WHERE: KNOLL LAKE. It's up on the Mogollon Rim, about 10 miles west of Woods Canyon Lake on Rim Road. We can meet in Fountain Hills right before we get on the Beeline. Meeting spot TBD for the first group going out on Friday morning. Late comers will have to make their own convoy arrangements, which I will be happy to post up here as soon as they are decided. We can probably fit about 10 trucks at the very end spot, and if the spot right up the hill is open then we can double that.

Basically, take the Beeline Highway (87) north to Payson. Turn east onto the 260 and head east for about 30 miles. Once you crest at the top of the rim, it's your very quick first left turn at the Woods Canyon Lake turnoff. Take that all the way until it turns to dirt (you will pass the Woods Canyon Lake turnoff on your right) and follow Rim Road for about 12 miles. Stay LEFT at all forks in the road until you get to the GPS coordinates listed in the links below.

Google Map link to GPS coordinates of actual camp spot
Google Map link to GPS coordinates of turnoff to camp spot from Rim Road Stay to the right at the forks in the road once you are on this (should be 2 splits)






WHO: All are welcome!

• Seabass (Adam) - Friday thru Sunday
• staticsquelch (Steve) - Friday thru Sunday
• Greensystemsgo (Nick) - Friday thru Sunday
• AZHornet (Saturday only)
• Specalt - Friday thru Sunday
• Infra - ?

SUPPLIES FOR YOU TO BRING:

• Water for 3 days
• Food for 3 days
• Ice/cooler that will last up to 3 days
• Alcohol (disclaimer: 21 and over, of course)
• Fishing gear (optional)
• Crawdad traps (optional)
• Tent/sleeping bags/pads (temps get down in the 40's-50's even in summer, and prepare for afternoon rainshowers daily)
• Your own chairs/seating
• Cook stove (fires may be restricted)
• Your own plates, forks, cooking/eating utensils
• TRASH BAGS - clean up after yourselves and pick up extra trash if you see it. Let's leave this place cleaner than we found it.
• Axe/hatchet - cut and haul your own wood, or bring some from home if you have it. We'll need quite a bit (pending fire restrictions)

ACTIVITIES

• Trout fishing (AZ state license and a trout stamp required)
• Crawdad trapping (no longer need a hunting or fishing license to harvest crawdads in the Rim lakes) - I will be bringing some industrial size traps to try and catch a few hundred a day
• Trail runs?
• BS around a good fire (pending fire restrictions) or around the lanterns and stoves
• Group barbecue and crawdad boil on Saturday night (bring your own meat)
  
  
  
  
• Horseshoes? If anyone has a set, there's a sandy part of the road that makes a great pit
• Card games
• Hiking
• Being generally lazy

CAMPFIRE STATUS: As of 5/30, there are still fire restrictions. No open campfires. Propane stoves only.

AZ FISHING LICENSE INFO

• A valid Arizona fishing license is required for Arizona resident and non-resident anglers 14 years of age or older fishing any public accessible water in Arizona. Youth under the age of 14 and blind residents do not need to purchase a state fishing license to fish in Arizona. Check the Arizona Fishing Regulations for additional information.
• Buying a License Online - A variety of hunting and fishing licenses are available online, including some stamps and temporary nonresident licenses. To access the Arizona Game and Fish online license service, visit the secure site by clicking here.
• Arizona hunting and fishing licenses are available for purchase at more than 300 license dealers located throughout the state.
• You will need an AZ license AND a trout stamp if you plan to fish this lake:
  
  AZ residents: $23.50 for license + $15.75 = $39.25
  Non residents: alot more

COMMON SENSE DETAILS:

• This is a pack it in, pack it out trip. Bring everything you need to survive. This means water, food, toiler paper, socks, fishing gear, you know, the basics and the luxuries.
• Also, as we are on a lake full of fish and crawdads, perhaps easy dinner?
• NO DRUGS, alcohol is allowed, recommended in fact.
• Firearms for protection only because this is somewhat near a developed camping area (across the lake).
• There are some fun local trails up Rim Road. I personally am more excited for the camping, but am willing to make a run up the road and go exploring.
• I'm thinking we can catch Rim Road from off of the Beeline instead of heading up the 260. It's about 20 miles of fun dirt through the woods. 2WD friendly. There is one 20' rough spot right by the campsite that usually weeds out any cars, but we should be able to get the 2WD unlifted trucks through there.
• Also we'll have to watch the fire restrictions during May as we may likely only be able to use stoves. It will depend on rainfall right around that time. I'll check as we get closer to the departure date and update the status.
• Clean up after yourselves and pick up extra trash if you see it. Let's leave this place cleaner than we found it.
• No insurance waivers! You are all adults and responsible for your own health/safety/financial liabilities.

CHECK THIS THREAD AS IT WILL BE UPDATED!

 

I'm thinking mid May, like the 18th-20th. Head out Friday morning (or evening for those who can't get out of work), camp Friday and Saturday, then pack out like mid day Sunday. Anyone that wants to join up late or leave early is welcome to, I just want to get up there before the weekend warriors do and claim my spot. There hasn't been a time that I haven't been able to take that entire point to myself, so if we have a big group go up there I'd have to have to find an alternate site and F everyone up.

 

Count me in.

Also, fishing licenses if you haven't already purchased one for the year.

 

Oh snap how much is license? Id love to make a crawfish trap simply for the challenge, ill even release the medium/babies. I've never cooked or prepped crawdads or fish. Help? Ill bring food just in case. Schedules coming out any day now for my lady. Once we have her two options we can pick and ill put in for it. Works gonna be fucked without me which will be an awesome eye opening experience for them.

Also I'm stoked. Bumper should be in by then, as should rear and front diffs. Hopefully shell with rack.

 

Oh and adam, you are the new thread owner

 

Not sure, still need to go and get my license. I think it's like $42.00

 

You need to get the resident fish license plus the trout stamp. I usually get the combo hunt and fish for like $52 and then the trout stamp is like $15. I also get the 2 pole stamp for another couple bucks.

 

Dumb question, I'm assuming ill need two of these? One for me and one for her? Or will I really?

 

You need a license for each of you, unless she's 13 and under

 

Details in OP updated

 

Nice disclaimer!

 

On one of the Crown King runs, someone brought a stack of waivers. I was like "really?".

The one thing I'm most worried about is the people that don't bring the right gear or enough for themselves. Next thing you know, my chairs/stove/mess kit/gear is being borrowed and spread all around the campsite and not returned.

If everyone brings their own shit, and enough of it, this should be a fun trip.

*edit - nevermind, you were referring to the alcohol disclaimer

 

I don't think a trout stamp is required if you have a hunt/fish combo.

 

i would have never guessed you arizonians even knew what a crawdad was, much less have them out that way. . . learn something new everyday. hope yall have fun.

 

It is still required even with the combo hunt/fish.

 

Haha they're actually a plague out here in our mountain lakes. They destroy all the underwater vegetation. Game and Fish begs people to take any that they can, as long as they kill them before they transport them.

 

huh. . . well that's pretty interesting. never knew that.

 

Just changed the tentative date to May 25-27 due to a scheduling conflict.

 

fuuuuck.. I'll be in NY during that time. I miss camping, it's been way too long.

 

I get the combo license every year when applying for elk hunting so i don't have to buy a trout stamp.
FISHING LICENSES RESIDENt NON-RESIDENt
General Fishing, Class A (valid all species except trout) $ 23.501 $ 70.251, 7
Urban Fishing, Class U (includes trout privilege) $ 18.502 $ 18.502
Combo Hunt and Fish, Class F (includes trout privilege) $ 54.00 $ 225.75
youth Combo Hunt and Fish3, Class F (includes trout privilege) $ 26.50 $ 26.50
One Day Fishing, Class D (includes trout privilege) $ 16.25 $ 17.25
5 Day Fishing, Class C (includes trout privilege) not available $ 32.00
4 Month Fishing, Class B (includes trout privilege) not available $ 39.75
Super Conservation Fishing, Class L (Class A + Urban + Trout stamp) $ 53.00 $ 63.00
Colorado River Only Fishing, Class E (includes trout privilege) not available $ 48.75