Operators of the Lake Mary Country Store are circulating a petition to present to Arizona Game and Fish Department to relocate numbers of large Northern Pike from Ashurst Lake to Upper Lake Mary should the decision be made to stop the trout stocking, eliminate the Northern Pike in an attempt to revive Ashurst Lake as a predominate Trout fishery. In these economic times, feeding the Northern Pike has become questionable. Ashurst has produced huge Northerns most recently with Mitch Vitovich and John Roomer, fly fishing 7 inch streamers. Fish exceeding 24 lbs were confirmed by the Tony, Camp Host for the Ashurst Lake Campgrounds. Tony confirmed prior to the Trout stocking, fishing was solid, after the Trout stocking, fishing went back to being “spotty” and being really lucky helped. Being in a boat didn’t guarantee any better success; Tony went on to say the larger Northern Pike were being caught off the bank, with anchovies, large streamers and the normal selection of spoons, swim baits and other miscellaneous erratic lures. Rumor has it a new State Record, 32 lb. 5.6 oz. 49 in., Ashurst Lake Ronald Needs, Flagstaff 11/5/04, is looming in Ashurst. Heavy rod and reel, minimum of 20 lb test, steel leaders. Arizona’s answer to extreme fishing.

Rumors abound in the fishing community on the future of the Slot Limit. According to Fisheries Branch Chief, Kirk Young, in a recent interview, the future of the slot has not been determined. Chief Young went on to say, “We are near the end of an evaluation of the protected slot limit at Roosevelt.  A key question is whether harvest is having any effect on the population. This critical question will be answered by a creel survey that will conclude the end of this month.  Preliminary data from the creel indicates that harvest is very low, below, within and above the protected slot.  If this information holds once all the data is analyzed, than we can safely conclude that the protected slot limit is no longer serving a purpose.

Because of this preliminary data, I am moving forward with drafting a proposal to the Commission for removal of the protected slot limit.  If the last 3-4 months of creel data changes the picture I will evaluate and if necessary, change the proposal, reporting everything out to the Commission.  I should have a complete picture by end of July, first part of August. Meanwhile, I will present the proposals to our Executive Staff in two weeks. Once Executive Staff reviews and approves, we will be soliciting input from the public through public meetings (August/September exact dates to be set soon) and angler survey scheduled to go out in July for all of our proposed changes.  All of this work is presented to the Commission as they thoughtfully make these decisions.  This is why, making changes out of sequence, unless it is an emergency, is sometimes problematic. For example, if FLW or others wanted to remove the slot limit in an August meeting, the Commission would not have public opinion information, except for those how show up at the Commission meeting, to consider when making their decision (because it had not been collected yet…). “  If anglers have an opinion or input on the future of the slot, be sure to attend the commission meeting to have your voice heard.

Regarding of lifting the slot limit for the upcoming FLW event Chief Young went on to say, “I understand that either the City of Payson or FLW will be petitioning the Commission for a suspension of slot limit regulations for the tournament. We have not yet received a petition. The decision will be up to the Commission in a public session.”

Some monsters weigh between 5 to 10 pounds, The Arizona Game and Fish Department is stocking four lakes in different parts of the state with larger-than-usual rainbow trout this week to give anglers an even better reason to be on the water over the 4th of July weekend.

Some of the “incentive” trout weigh between 5 and 10 pounds and all of the fish are at least 50 percent larger than those normally stocked by Game and Fish, with all of them longer than 15 inches.

“There’s no better time than now to head to our cool and scenic high-than now to head to our cool and scenic high-country lakes and experience the thrill of catching some of these large, feisty fish,” said Scott Gurtin, Game and Fish hatchery program manager.

The four lakes being stocked are Woods Canyon Lake on the Mogollon Rim, about 30 miles east of Payson; City Reservoir near Williams; Rose Canyon Lake on Mount Lemmon near Tucson; and Fain Lake near Prescott.


“This week our normal fish stockings continue, however, we’re stocking a large number of these incentive-size rainbow trout into the four lakes.”Country lakes and experience the thrill of catching some of these large, feisty fish,” said Scott Gurtin, Game and Fish hatchery program manager.

The four lakes being stocked are Woods Canyon Lake on the Mogollon Rim, about 30 miles east of Payson; City Reservoir near Williams; Rose Canyon Lake on Mount Lemmon near Tucson; and Fain Lake near Prescott.

“With fish this large, we usually sprinkle them in over an entire summer of fish stockings across all the lakes we stock,” Gurtin said. “This week our normal fish stockings continue, however, we’re stocking a large number of these incentive-size rainbow trout into the four lakes.”

A valid Arizona Fishing License (some licenses require a trout stamp, too) is needed to try for these large fish, and one can be purchased either at license dealers, at Game and Fish offices, or online at www.azgfd.gov/eservices/licenses.shtml. Children under 14 are allowed to fish for free.

This time of year the trout tend to go to the deeper, colder water. Even the newly stocked incentive fish will head for that deep water as well. The best way to catch these fish is to drop your line and bait as deep into the lakes as possible. You’ll want to use a light test line as these trout are fairly smart and will see the line in the water. Try a spinnerbait or a large night crawler worm to get their attention. These larger fish tend to go for bait-type fish as opposed to the average fly bait.

Gurtin added that there are many other high-country lakes and streams offering good fishing opportunities, cool temperatures and outstanding scenery. “Fishing is a great way to get outdoors and spend quality time on your own or with friends and family,” he said.

To learn more about where to go and other aspects of fishing in Arizona, go online to www.azgfd.gov/fishing.
The following trout fishing tips were provided by Mike Lopez, fisheries program manager in the Arizona Game and Fish Pinetop office. Although these tips are for Woods Canyon Lake, many of them apply to fishing most of Arizona’s high-country lakes right now.

Water temperatures in Woods Canyon are still fairly cool, measuring 62 F recently. Normally we recommend that angler’s fish in deeper water this time of year when the lakes start to warm up, but Woods Canyon Lake is moderately high in elevation and had a long winter. When water temperatures increase, trout normally go deeper to find cooler water. With all this in mind, anglers should start fishing in moderately deep water (10-12 feet), then try different depths if they are not catching fish.

Fishing early in the morning or late in the day, just before dark, is better than fishing in mid-day, especially if the sun is shining bright. Trout generally have two peak times that they feed this time of year, once in early morning and once in late evening, although a few will feed sporadically through the day. If the sky is overcast, fish will feed longer into mid-day and in shallower water than when the sun is shining.

Boat anglers are currently having much higher success than shore anglers at Woods Canyon Lake. Boat anglers should try trolling Super Dupers, Crickhoppers, small Rapalas, or cowbells (tipped with a piece of worm) anywhere from mid-lake to within 40 feet from shore in 10-12 feet of water. If trolling close to shore, please keep to the far shoreline so that you do not cross the lines of shore anglers. There are boats for rent at Woods Canyon Lake.
For anglers that are shore fishing, fish off the bottom with a night crawler or Power Bait (orange, chartreuse, or green are currently working well) about 60 feet out from shore. If the sky is overcast, fishing the same baits under a bobber may also work. When fishing off the bottom with a night crawler, it often helps to inject air into the worm so it floats off the bottom a foot or two and will be conspicuous to cruising trout. Adding a nugget of Power Bait or small marshmallow to the same hook will also float a night crawler off the bottom.

Fishing with lighter lines and appropriate-sized hooks (4- to 6-pound test line and #8-#6 hooks) will get more bites when bait fishing. However, anglers wanting to be prepared for large incentive fish in the 1- to 8-pound range may want to bump up to 6- to 8-pound line and #6-#4 hooks. Also make sure your drag is set appropriately.

An angler that does hook into a large incentive-sized trout should play the fish and allow it to wear itself out. Don't try to crank it straight in or it may break your line. If the trout makes a strong run, let it make its run while maintaining a tight line, using the flex of your rod to cushion the head shakes and bursts of speed. When the trout slows down, start reeling again. It is okay to lose line to a large running fish, that is how they tire out. Just plan to regain that line when the trout wears out. The key is being patient. 

When the trout is finally brought to shore or to the boat, do not lift the fish out of the water by the line, which risks breaking the line. Use a dip net at that point, or grab the trout by the gill cover if you don't have a dip net. Just watch out for the hooks. If you plan to release the trout, cradle the tired fish with your hands instead of grabbing under the gill cover.

If you do catch that once-in-a-lifetime trout at Woods Canyon Lake, take some photos to preserve that memory. Also consider getting the trout weighed on a certified scale. There are currently no entries for big-fish-of-the-year for rainbow trout. A list of certified scales can be found on page 37 of the fishing regulation booklet, and the entry form is on page 36.

AZBFN July Conservation Update

BASS Regional Pumps Big Dollars into Local Economy
YUMA, Arizona - The B.A.S.S. Federation Nation Western Divisional Bass Tournament at Lake Martinez on the Colorado River May 17-21 drew 176 anglers from 11 states and pumped more than $225,000 into the Yuma economy.

The Washington State team took first-place honors and Arizona's team finished 9th in the overall competition.

William Bravence of Globe, Ariz., qualified to compete in the 2010 Bassmaster Federation Nation Championship on the Red River in Shreveport, La., on Oct. 27-29. Larry Hardy of the Tonto Basin, Arizona, hauled in a 6-pound,10-ounce bass to claim the honors for largest fish caught on the final day of the tournament here on Martinez Lake. But a really big winner was Yuma's economy.

"Filling all the hotel rooms for an entire week, that's huge for us. This is our off-season for tourism," said Chris Bedringer, the events planner for the Yuma Visitors Bureau.

The Yuma Visitors Bureau estimates the tournament brought $200,000 to $300,000 into the local economy. "The national exposure for Yuma was fantastic as well," Bedringer said. The event was covered by ESPN.

Although the overall divisional tournament was 3-days long, there were also two practice days immediately preceding the competition on the Colorado River.

During the tournament, Bill Golightly from Preston, Idaho, who checked in with a 13-1 limit on the final day, placed first with more than two pounds ahead of Oregon's David Brinkerhoff, who placed second.

Two young Idaho anglers claimed both positions in the one-day Junior Bassmaster competition. Thirteen-year-old Eathan Peterson of Hayden, Idaho, brought in the most weight with 9-6 and was the only junior angler to manage a limit. Tyler Ashton, his 17-year-old teammate from Boise, won in the 15-to-18 age group with three bass totaling 5-13.

Kip Pollay, the president of the Arizona B.A.S.S. Federation Nation, said the City of Yuma helped tremendously in setting up this major bass tournament. "I can't say enough about all the help the City of Yuma gave us. Their willingness to work closely with us was one of the big reasons we brought the tournament here." Pollay said the tournament really helped a lot of local businesses. "I know the local tackle stores sure did a booming business."

Harold Wah with Sportsman's Hide-A-Way, a tackle shop in Yuma, said the tournament anglers bought a little bit of everything from brush hogs and top water frogs to Senkos and jigs. "The last day of the tournament the temperature dropped 10 degrees, the wind came up and the fish went deep. I guess a lot of those guys were drop-shotting Senkos. I didn't sell any Robo Worms though."

The B.A.S.S Federation Nation estimates that a tournament with 125 anglers (there were 176 in the Western Division tournament in Yuma) typically provides the following economic benefits:

* Rooms - $65,625;
* Campsites - $1,750;
* Gas - boats, $36,000 and vehicles $10,800;
* Meals - $70,875;
* Entertainment - $28,000;
* Miscellaneous - licenses $3,000, groceries $7,000.
* Total community revenues - $223,050 (note: this is a conservative estimate).

Pollay said it took months of planning and effort to make the tournament a success. During the almost week-long event, Pollay's crew of 20 volunteers from Arizona handled much of the tournament logistics.

"We had our guys strategically placed with flashlights and orange vests to guide the contestants to the three launch ramps at Hidden Shores. On the final day, we launched 77 boats in just 45 minutes. Everyone was amazed. The B.A.S.S officials said our Arizona crew set the bar really high for all the other states," Pollay said.

AZ G&F Aquatic Invasive Species Decontamination Procedures here