LAKE HAVASU

Submitted photo. Brian Conway, shown with a nice stringer that included smallmouth bass, large mouth bass, striped bass, and a catfish, caught in the south part of Lake Havasu using live shad. One of the largemouth bass weighed over 5-pounds.

Lake level 447.90.

Striper bite remains fair during the daylight hours using live shad still fished or trolling cut anchovies, ratl traps, pointer 128s or sassy shads with three-quarter leadhead.

Better quality fish being caught during dark hours of the evening or early morning using glow or white colored sassy shads, pointer 128s and ratl traps.

Thompson Bay and Havasu Springs still producing the best catches.

Smallmouth bass fair during the later morning and afternoon hours using brown or green pumpkin jigs, curly tail roboworms or 10- to 15-feet diving crankbaits where bass are actively chasing shad.

Report courtesy of John Galbraith of Anglers Pro Shop, Lake Havasu City.

LAKE POWELL

No new reports.

Stripers are feeding quickly during their prime feeding times. At first light and last light there is a brief flurry of feeding. Some of it is on top when five fish splash in unison. These fish are as susceptible to angling as are any stripers when they decide to eat. They grab anything close to their mouth when in feeding mode. The event lasts for about 20 minutes and then its over.

This quick boil is almost impossible to find by running around the lake looking for boils because it is of short duration and happens early when light is not adequate to illuminate a few splashes. Those that have been successful are camped near the action and waiting when the sky lightens in the morning. Once a feeding location is known, an angler could be waiting at the right spot to get five quick fish. Find them one day and return to the spot the next for consistent action.

During daylight, fishing is tough with only a random boil that could happen anytime, any place and then not repeat. Spooning is good if a school is found but they move quickly out of the zone. Cooler temperatures will improve spooning results as shad move deep. Trolling is working near the inflows where shad abundance is high. At Hite and upper San Juan use a deep diver to get down 20-feet and near the lazily moving stripers.

For this week the best bet is to fish for bass around shad schools located in the backs of many brushy coves. Surface lures tossed near brush (with shad) are being whacked with regularity morning and evening. During the day plastic tubes and drop shot shad baits are working on the deep-water side of brushy shad coves. Fish 25-feet for best action on keeper-sized fish.

When fish are fat and fussy the strategy is to make them mad. Shad colored baits blend win well with thousands of shad. Sometime the wild colors of a fire tiger crankbait trigger a reaction when shad colors will not. Go bright and see if the fishing fortunes improve.

Report courtesy of Wayne Gustaveson, Utah Division of Wildlife

LEES FERRY

Fly Fishing: Had reports from a couple of anglers that were up river today.

Fishing was reported as good! They landed a few on glo-bugs and zebra midges as well. They had told me that they did catch fish at every spot that they had stopped. One of these folks told me that he just can’t stand to fish from the boat, so they were wading. Wading in the high water? Yes and did very well doing it.

They also reported seeing fish spawning in a few different areas but, didn’t waste mush time fishing them because they were very spooky. One cast and zip, they were on the move.

They did mention that every fish brought to net were very healthy and had a lot of fight in them. Another thing they mentioned was that they were one of only two boats on the water, which is good in some respect; you have the river to yourself. On the other hand it is a reflection of the shape of our economy I would guess, not a lot of people spending. Well, it could also be that it is so close to Christmas. That is what I am hoping anyway.

Walk in: I have some new information for you finally!

We had a couple of good friends and clients fishing in this section both yesterday and today.

They first said I should change the fish rating from a 6.5 to a 9.5 I was a bit reluctant to do so, I will leave it at a 6.5 for now or until I get some other reports asking the same. Although they did say that the fishing in this area was very productive. They landed a lot of fish in the 15- to 17-inch range, and a few larger than that.

They reported that most of the fish had taken scuds, a few on zebra midges and worms. But, most were eating scuds. I am sorry, I was so happy to have a report to pass along I forgot to ask what colors they were using. Not that it will matter all that much.

It was productive from above the big rock area all the way down to the confluence.

This area has been pretty well vacant of anglers for the past week or so. If you can get away, you will most likely have this section all to yourself. What a deal.

Report courtesy of Lees Ferry Anglers.

LAKE MEAD

Water levels have gone up a little to around 1,109 feet above msl. Fishing remains on the slow side from Temple Bar up through Greggs Basin. An occasional striper is being caught down below 40-feet on anchovies.

Launching conditions at South Cove have remained nearly the same for the last three months. The new concrete ramp the National Park Service just completed is two lanes with cones marking the edges. Use caution not to go off the sides of the metal extensions at either side. National Park Service is working to keep the ramp open.

LAKE MOHAVE

The lake level has come up slightly to 637-feet above msl. Lots of bass and bluegills located on fish habitat in 10- to 15-feet. As the aquatic vegetation has died off, the fish have consolidated around submerged trees and brush. I have been getting some reports of 5- to 15-pound stripers being caught in the area of Katherine’s landing.

Biologists from both Arizona Game and Fish Department and Nevada Division of Wildlife have continued to install fish habitat in both Carp Cove and Box Cove. The largemouth, bluegill and catfish are really utilizing the new structures. Additional habitat will be added at several locations over the next two years. These structures are fish magnets.

WILLOW BEACH

Trout are stocked every Friday. Fishing has been pretty good for trout. Most of the success has been coming from or around the new pier. Try using green Power Worms, or salmon eggs. The striper fishing has been fair.

TOPOCK MARSH

Crappie action at South Dyke in the Topock Marsh is bustling. Minnows and night crawlers are the baits of choice. North Dyke is running a close second. Also being taken at North Dyke on dead minnows are catfish. Night crawlers are doing the trick on the largemouth bass at Catfish Paradise. No sizes or numbers have been reported.

Water temperature in the Topock Gorge is 54-degrees and dropping. Like elsewhere on the river, the stripers are either biting or their not. In either case, the numbers of nibbles or netted are down due to the cooler conditions. Although the bite is slowing down, channel catfish continue to be caught on everything from stink to cut bait.

Report courtesy Georgia at Capt. Doyle’s Guide Service in Topock.

PARKER STRIP

If you haven't figured it out already, winter has hit the Parker area, and is going to stick around for a while. Gear up for winter fishing techniques by stepping down to lighter line for finesse presentations such as 'Drop Shotting' or 'shakey head' with small soft plastic baits. Bass fisherman can expect to catch smallmouth bass in the two lb range and some largemouth in the same size range using the techniques mentioned above. Target the water that seems to be the warmest. Water temps along the strip have been averaging upper fifties, to low sixties. This is also a good time of the year to use suspending crank baits. Just remember to slow your presentation down.
 Striper have been caught near the Parker Dam recently using Rattle Traps, spinner baits, live bait, and anchovies, while the catfish bite is starting to slow down. Live bait, or stink baits will catch catfish this time of the year.


Water levels below the HeadGate Dam have been very low lately. Bass, along with other fish are holding to the deeper water.

Bass fisherman, try fishing the tullies with brown and purple jigs with pork frog trailers if you prefer artificial baits. Nightcrawlers, and meal worms will also work well to catch smallmouth, largemouth, redears, and bluegill.

Stripers are being caught near the Palo Verde Diversion Dam.

Report courtesy of Anglers Central and http://www.FishParkerAz.com