LAKE HAVASU

No new report.

Lake Level: 447.97. Daytime water temperature 55- to 58-degrees.

The striper bite has been average to moderate during this period of time, the best bite being in the early morning hours prior to sunrise and at dark soon after sun set. The stripers are relating to artificial baits quite well now in addition to the use of the traditional live bait.

One of the better artificial baits right now is the suspending 4- and 5-inch jerk baits such as the Lucky Craft Pointer 100, or the 128 which is the more popular bait in the colors of American Shad, Gun Metal Shad,or the Rapala X-Rap deep diving Slashbait in the colors of purple ghost and glass ghost for the midday bite and bright white shades during the early dark morning and sunrise hours. Use these types of baits either trolling or casting from the shore line, and especially during the windy times of the day, as the striper bite and activity levels of baitfish increase during this time.

The lipless crank baits have been producing equally as well during either times of the day. The use of the most favorite colors are shad imitating baits such as white and chrome or Pro angler Kevin Van Dam's favorite which is the Red Eye Shad, by Strike King in the early morning hours.

For the bright afternoon hours use the reflective baits, these type of rattling baits send out different tones of noise and vibration waves that travel greater distances. These colors also trigger a reactive response of the more aggressive feeding fish providing a quality as apposed to quantity of catch. If your looking for quality, the soft plastic side of striper feeding the latest trend and technique is utilizing the new "Scrounger", American made lead jig head. This new design creates and sends out a strong vibration wave sound in its unique Collar that is attached to the ordinary lead jig head. The jig should be attached to a small swim bait like the Money Minnow, Bass Assassin or Sassy Shad soft plastic paddle tailed lure, try to size the paddle tail to "match the hatch" of the size of the shad, the stripers favorite live bait.

The Large and Smallmouth bass fishing is fair to moderate and much more difficult as the water continues to drop in temperature due to the winter season as expected. The most active time for bites in this species is not until closer to the noontime and the fish begin to move up toward the shore in the warmer weather. The shoreline with the sun shining on it will give the better results as well as the shoreline with the wind blowing upon it.

Bass are being caught with lipless crank baits such as the LV 500 by Lucky Craft in the colors of American Shad or Chartreuse Shad, or River2Sea large lipless Tungsten-Vibe lure in Chartreuse Shad.

In the noontime and later bright time hours, the use of a small worm rigged drop shot technique is catching quality sized small and largemouth bass.Some of the most recently successfully used colors are the Purple Power Worm and Camo colored worm with the curly tail made by Berkley. Fish these in about 12- to 15-feet of water on rocky points or along side the side of or over deep weed lines where there is deeper water nearby. The main lake is working best right now for quality and the northern river over the sandbar for quantity in both species.

Report courtesy of Debbie Blanchard of BassTackleMaster.com, Lake Havasu City.

LAKE POWELL

No recent reports. Winter conditions prevail.

LEES FERRY

High water equals big, healthy fish. Current water releases from Glen Canyon Dam are higher than they have been since the beginning of the drought in 1999. High water moves food around and gets the fish in a feeding mood and makes for very predictable and good fishing. The reason for the high water is an effort to equalize Lake Powell and Lake Mead.

With the higher water flows we are drifting and fishing from the boat using a “heavy nymph rig” which is a 9- to 12-foot leader, strike indicator, split shot, and dual fly rig. The higher water limits the areas that you can wade so drifting can be more productive. We have been seeing a bunch of fish feeding on the surface eating midges and black flies; these fish are very selective but can be tough.

Spin Fishing should be off the charts with higher flows. I would be drifting a large pink glow bug, red rubber worm, or san juan worm, on the bottom at the same speed as the current. Adjust your weight so that the fly or lure is just ticking the bottom.

The current fish population is better than we have seen in many years with several different year classes present in good numbers and all in perfect physical condition. For the first time in many years we are catching fish of all sizes, from 10- to 20-inches, which is typical of a very healthy river. The only downside is that our average caught fish size has decreased; the river is still chock-full of big fish but the challenge is getting your fly past the smaller, and not so smart fish.

Report courtesy of Terry Gunn, Lees Ferry Anglers.



LAKE MEAD

Lake Mead water level is around 1,094 feet above msl.

The striper bite has been fair. Fishing in general has been fair.

Launching conditions at South Cove will continue to deteriorate as the water level continues to drop. The concrete ramp the National Park Service completed last year is one lane 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. Temple Bar Launch Ramp is two lanes. Launching conditions in general are better at Temple Bar than South Cove.

LAKE MOHAVE

The lake level is around 636 feet above msl.

Trolling with anchovies in 30- to 50-feet has been producing stripers, while catfish are on the bottom.

Biologists from both Arizona Game and Fish Department and Nevada Division of Wildlife with the help of volunteers, National Park Service and Bureau of Reclamation personnel have continued to install fish habitat in Carp Cove, Box Cove and now Shoshone. Fish habitat consists of PVC structures, wood pallet structures, tamarisk bundles, and some Christmas trees. The largemouth, bluegill and catfish are really utilizing the new structures.

Additional habitat will be added at several locations over the next two years.

WILLOW BEACH

Trout are stocked every Friday. Fishing is usually best immediately following the stocking.

Important notice: With the discovery of invasive quagga mussels in Mead, Mohave and Havasu, proper cleaning of all watercraft is critical to help prevent the spread of these invaders. Please drain and dry your livewell and bilge on land. Drain all the water you can from your engine. Also, inspect your vessel and trailer, removing any visible mussels, but also feel for any rough or gritty spots on the hull. These may be young mussels that can be hard to see. If you fish Willow beach and are having luck, please e-mail me at mchmiel@azgfd.gov so I can share your successes with others.
For more information, go to the Arizona Game and Fish Department's web pages at www.azgfd.gov or visit http://100thmeridian.org/.

TOPOCK

The water level in Topock Marsh is down for the winter. Fishing has been slow.

You can access the marsh by boat at the North Dike, Catfish Paradise, and Five-Mile Landing. All three also provide plenty of area for shoreline fishing too.

In Topock Gorge, crappie are on the bite at both the South and the North Dyke and are being caught on minnows.

Water temperature in the Topock Gorge is holding at 68-degrees, the fish are fattening up for the winter, and anglers are hoping the bite will last for a couple more months.

The smallmouth bass are free swimming while the largemouth bass are holding tight against the tulles. Both species prefer the darker colored plastic.

Sizes for the largemouth bass have been running between 1- and 4-pounds, and the smallmouth bass are averaging between a 1- and 3-pounds.

The catfish bite has been steady. Needless to say they are favoring anchovy. Bluegill are also on the bite. Cruising at the edge of the tulles, the panfish can be picked up on both plastics and night crawlers.

Report courtesy of Georgia, Capt. Doyle’s Guide Service.

PARKER STRIP

No new report.

Smallmouth bass, with fish over 2-pounds in size are expected to be good this fall.

In addition, redear sunfish should also be fair in the pound-plus sizes.

The Parker Strip is well known for its smallmouth bass fishing, especially in the area from the dam to several miles downstream.

Channel and flathead catfish fishing is always fair in this section of the Colorado River. Below the dam, striper fishing may pick up using live shad or anchovies.