Arizona Fishing

That makes me excited. Nice to see the 3/4 day trips don't have to go to Mexico now. I really need to get back out there this summer, especially with this really odd El Nino projected this year. I've been out there on days where we limited yellowtails, but they averaged 15-20#. To see a 40# average would be a dream.

 

How was pacheta and reservation? I grew up camping at pacheta and then moved on to reservation when pacheta dried up. Now the family goes to holly since the g parents are a little old for tent camping but might be looking for a new spot if the dam isn't fixed.

 

Both lakes were spilling so the water level was good at both lakes.
Reservation was good for fishing even though we had high winds and multiple low pressure systems.
Pacheta- the water looked like pea soup. I think it was in the turn over stage. It's catch and release now so I expect to head back this summer and have better results.
Hawley is having the damn fixed,so I'm not sure if it's open or not.
Good luck,
Az

 

Stripers were biting at Pleasant this past Saturday in the cove system just east of Castle Creek. Shad balls were out of shore reach most of the time, but boats were hitting them.

 

Anyone bow fish?

 

Are there a lot of carp in AZ?

 

In some area's yes

 

Tons in every lake and river, especially in the desert waters.

 

Rain -bow fish - lol

We have to try it. I never have " bow fished"

 

Obviously I haven't either. But we'll invite this chick.

 

I have never bow fished but would like to try... especially if she is teaching it!

 

I'd stick my arrow into her fish.

 

So what's the deal with Lake Pleasant?

In the 2001-2006 time range we'd go to Pleasant and night fish for white bass with the underwater light and minnows, sometimes catching more than 40 one to two pounders. Fast forward to the last two years and I haven't seen ONE white bass. We don't seem to pick up shad with the light nearly as much as before but every single time we do get a swarm of 6 to 12 inch stripers around the light, catching a some of them. I think the stripers have upset the balance and screwed the lake for white bass, which sucks.

 

Bow fishing is a blast once you get the hang of it.

 

Where are you fishing though? I've had great luck in the north coves, particularly Castle Creek cove. That's the northern cove furthest to the west. Be north of the bouy line in the late afternoon and they will come in around sundown and do their thing. Also, 2 coves to the east gets some great striper action in the afternoon but usually not until the lake level drops a little bit. Even from the shore, I'll be running up and down the points casting into shad balls and nailing stripers 2 or 3 at a time with Alabama rigs with willow blades. Now with my kayak, I can chase the bait around and stay on the fish. Seems to suppress at dark, then bust out the green submersible light and jig some anchovies down deeper (30-40' on average). I found that minnows tend to be a bit too small for the stripers, as they are used to chasing whatever size the shad fry are (2-3").

The Agua Fria side is always a hot spot because it's deeper over there during the hotter months.

 

Bow Fishing is awesome..

went bow fishing out of a bass boat for catfish in Arkansas years ago.

 

So have you had great luck with white bass or is it all stripers now?

I've anchored up in Goose Bay twice, Coles Bay twice, a spot just south of the north boat ramp, and the Agua Fria arm, all in 30-35' of water. Back in the day we'd get shad around the light and eventually a nice school of white bass would show up and we'd catch a ton, using minnows and/or anchovies. Like night crappie fishing. I have not seen a white bass since I started night fishing with a boat again, TWO years now. I pass the time catching the little stripers that attract to the light, but VERY few keepers. It looks like the white bass fishing is dead in the lake now and I'll have to change strategy for night fishing... maybe drifting in 45-60' with the light for stripers or abandoning night/light fishing altogether and stick to trolling and casting now.

It's a shame. Used to be real nice to just anchor up, chillax and catch a ton of fish around the light at night.

 

I'm referring to stripers. Some people call them white bass, but they're not the same white bass I was thinking you were referring to. I've never caught white bass in Pleasant. Only largemouth and stripers, with the very occasional smallmouth.