This is serious, serious stuff. I encourage all Arizonans to stay on top of this issue, contact your legislators, and do what you can to spread the word. ~DesertRat

The Heritage Fund: What its loss will mean to Arizona

Feb. 1, 2010

Public invited to Game and Fish presentation and webcast on Feb. 2

The Arizona Game and Fish Department will host a public presentation and live webcast tomorrow evening (Tuesday, Feb. 2) to discuss the potential ramifications to Arizona from a proposed elimination of the Heritage Fund.

In mid-January the Governor’s office released a budget plan that proposes to permanently eliminate the department’s voter-approved Heritage Fund and redirect all Arizona State Lottery revenue to the state’s general fund. That proposal has been sent for consideration by the Legislature.

“Adoption of this proposal could have significant impacts on Arizona’s land use and growth that will be vital for the state’s economic recovery, as well as affecting outdoor recreationists and the future well being of the state’s wildlife,” said Deputy Director Bob Broscheid. “We acknowledge the difficulties the state faces in addressing the budget situation, but we owe it to the public to inform and educate on what this could mean to them.”

Arizona Game and Fish is a “business-model” agency reliant wholly on non-tax dollars. It is critical that the customers who pay the bills in this “user pay, user benefit” model understand the potential statewide economic effects that could result from a permanent elimination of Heritage funding. Those effects potentially include constraints on land use that could affect our state’s economic recovery.

The approximately 30-minute presentation will start at 6 p.m. at the department’s Phoenix office at 5000 W. Carefree Highway (1.5 miles west of I-17). The public is invited to attend the presentation or view it live over the Internet at www.azgfd.gov/webcast.

The seminar, presented by Broscheid, will cover the history of the Heritage Fund, what it’s used for, how it benefits wildlife, its many success stories, and the impacts to wildlife, land access and Arizona citizens if the fund is lost.

After the presentation, an interactive question-and-answer session with the public will take place. Online viewers can submit questions for consideration via an e-mail link at www.azgfd.gov/webcast.

Passed as an initiative in 1990 by an overwhelming 2-1 bipartisan ratio of Arizona voters, the Heritage Fund provides up to $10 million each year from lottery ticket sales for the conservation and protection of the state’s wildlife and natural areas. The Arizona Game and Fish Department receives no general tax revenue and the Heritage Fund is one of the department’s primary funding sources. The Heritage Fund makes a difference in communities across Arizona and benefits all citizens

This came up a couple of years ago. I didn’t agree then, I don’t agree now. I’m not so sure hunting should be a “right”. Rather, I see it better as a privilege. The problem with making it a right is that it is then harder to take away – think poachers, for example. I know the intent is to ward off the anti’s, but I am not so sure it is the right approach.~DesertRat

You can read the full article here: Hunting, fishing may be Arizona rights.

A snippet from the article:

Rep. Jerry Weiers, R-Glendale, has proposed House Concurrent Resolution 2008.

It states that citizens would have a right to “hunt, fish and harvest wildlife” and make public hunting and fishing the “preferred means of managing and controlling wildlife.”

If supported by the Legislature, the resolution would put a proposed constitutional amendment on an upcoming ballot for the voters to consider. If approved by voters, it would become Arizona’s 36th right. The state’s 35 constitutional rights include the right to petition and assemble, right to bear arms and the right to a trial by jury.

Ten states include hunting and fishing rights in their constitutions.

In Arizona, a similar bill failed two years ago. It was opposed by the Arizona Game and Fish Commission and environmental groups.

National Rifle Association lobbyist Matt Dogali said this time, the group is working with the Arizona Game and Fish Department and other groups with a vested interest to find wording everyone can support. But he said that while the wording will likely change, the overall intent will not.

Super-duper sized trout heading to urban lakes

PHOENIX – Want to start the New Year off right by catching a whopping 2- to 5-pound pound rainbow trout close to home?

If so, grab your favorite fishing pole and make sure you have a 2010 Urban Fishing license, because the “incentive” trout stocking is slated for the week of Jan. 11-16 at all Urban Program lakes.

Arizona Game and Fish Department officials said this special incentive trout stocking in the urban lakes includes trout in the 13- to 18-inch size, with some going even larger – like 3 to 5 pounds or more.

“This is a great way to start off the New Year and helps highlight that an urban fishing license is one of the best recreational buys out there – it’s a ticket to fun all year long,” said Eric Swanson, who heads up the urban fishing program.

Trout are routinely stocked in the urban program lakes from early November through the middle of March. Starting in March, channel catfish are stocked.

“These urban lakes also have sunfish and bass to catch. Plus, these lakes are all in city parks that also offer other recreational opportunities for the whole family,” Swanson said.

The Urban Fishing Program is self supporting, and the cost of the fishing license helps defray the cost of purchasing and stocking the fish. “It’s a user pay, user play concept that can net you a lot of fun throughout the year,” Swanson said.

For more information on the Urban Fishing Program, visit www.azgfd.gov or obtain one of the newly-printed Urban Fishing Guides.

I stopped making New year’s Resolutions a long time ago. They’re too cliche, and it’s too much like failure if/when they don’t come to fruition. That being said, it doesn’t hurt to have some goals. Here are some of mine, in no particular order…

1) To take my daughter hunting more – if she wants to. We make it out once or twice a year. She seems to enjoy it, but it’s hard to tell. It’s hard for us to get out, but I am going to make a concerted effort to take her afield more this year. It’s hard to tell sometimes whether she really wants to go hunting, or whether she just doesn’t want to hurt dad’s feelings. If she wants to go, we will. If she wants to do something different, we’ll do that instead. I’m feeling more and more mortal these days, so I think its important to spend a little extra time with her. She’s a good girl, and a pretty darned good writer.

2) Do more fishing. I used to love to fish, even more than hunting I think. That being said, I haven’t been in well over a year. I want to get fishing on a “natural” waterway this year, preferably a river. I think the Urban Fishing program is an awesome program, but it in the past, it just hasn’t “done it” for me. I grew up in fishing paradise (to me anyway) – alder choked streams for brook trout, big rivers for smallmouth bass, the mighty Miramichi for salmon, beautiful wilderness lakes for landlocked salmon. It’s time to expand my boundaries here in Arizona. Hit the urban lakes for sure, but beyond as well. I really miss fly-fishing.

3) Buy a new rifle. I’m not a “gun guy”, more by economics than by choice. Basically I keep a deer/elk rifle, a predator rifle, a muzzleloader, a bow, a handgun, and a general purpose shotgun in the safe. Last year, with a heavy heart, I sold my deer/elk rifle. Finances were tight. The rifle was a Remington .30-06 Semi-Auto, the 3rd one I have owned in my life. It was a gift from my wife and I hated to part with it. That said, the funds got us out of a bind, and we are back on the road to some stability. I’m really sold on the .270 WSM and have my eye on the Weatherby Sage Country, but we’ll see. I try pretty hard to only spend “side-money” on hunting stuff, so we’ll see how the economy treats me in 2010.

4) Go dove hunting. I didn’t get out once this year. ‘Nuff said. I prefer the evening shoots.

5) Learn more about predator hunting. Go to the AHT Forums and there’s a bunch of guys who eat this stuff up including my good friend John Petrello. This is gonna be my year when I officially become a “beginner” instead of a “dabbler”. Mikaela too, if she’s up for it. See #1.

6) Improve my photography skills. As long as I’ve been writing magazine articles, pictures were a part of the job. I seem to have a knack for this, and am ready to move on to a new level. Maybe a course or two. Besides, based on my hunting skills/luck, I think my efforts would be better spent towards photography! My employers hosts community art exhibits constantly and this year we held a staff exhibit. I have some photos entered, and I kind of dig it. I enjoy the compliments, and it’s nice to have some recognition.

7) Shoot an elk. My first and only elk hunt ever was a disaster. Time for redemption. I don’t care if it’s a cow, a spike or a 380-class bull. Whatever I have a tag for. Time to get drawn again and kick this particular monkey off my back!

8 ) Start a new organization. I’m passionate about matters relating to hunting and fishing but due to my situation have limited time afield and not much ability to travel. I want to contribute though. I have an idea floating around my head. I have tossed this idea at another media member and he seemed to think it might have merit. here is how I presented it to him. “What about some kind of “southwest media for hunting ethics” organization where we hyper-promote responsible hunting, anti-poaching, education, recruitment, etc? We could form the nucleus and invite other media members to participate.

I am driven to eradicate “slob hunters” from our midst as it is becoming harder and harder for the rest of us to disassociate ourselves from the irresponsible jerks. I just don’t quite know how to go about it. As you know, there are lots of Arizona hunting-related conservation groups that promote habitat improvement, etc. I envision a local group focused on raising the bar for ethical hunting and I think as media members it would be a great fit for us to lead the charge…..” Stay tuned, we’ll see if this picks up any speed.

9) Buy a new camera. I have a great used camera that I bought from friend and outdoor writer Tony Mandile. I’d like to have one with more “oooomph” – the Olympus I bought from Tony has a max size/resolution of 3 MP. Modern cameras boast 10 or better. Maybe the guys at CameraLand will hook me up with an awesome package. Not sure if I want Canon, Nikon, Pentax or something else. Will need some help sorting through that from the experts. See Goal #3 though, this must be financed via side jobs!

10) Grow the site. I have been extremely happy with the growth of my blog, but feel there is lots of room yet. I want more than traffic – I want to be a “Who’s who” in the outdoor industry. I want to build strategic partnerships with manufacturers. I want to make the blog better known. That sounds a bit egocentric, I suppose but I don’t want it to be. I’m just driven to be better.

The AHT Forums have also grown nicely. Friends Dan and Roger have done a great job building the site but I think we are still a diamond in the rough. There are good folks and a lot of great features on that site, and it is still relatively unknown. I’m hoping 2010 is a breakout year for the Forums.

Finally, the main site needs work. Owner Steve Remington and I want to find some willing contributors/volunteers and jazz the central site up some!

All of the best to each and every one of you in the new year. Interested in sharing any of your goals?

New state record striper caught during major winter storm

Angler reels in a fishing bonanza at Lake Pleasant

While most people were huddled indoors out of the torrential rain on Dec. 7 while a major winter storm pummeled the state, John Davis was enjoying a fishing bonanza at Lake Pleasant, including landing a new inland state record striped bass.

“I’ve never experienced anything quite like it, they were hitting topwater all day long in the rain. It was really something,” Davis said.

Arizona Game and Fish Department officials say John’s monster striper weighed in at 28.58 pounds and measured 45.7 inches long. He caught the behemoth on a Zara Super Spook, which is a topwater lure.

What’s more, he was the only angler out there braving the storm, and reaping the benefits.

John said the behemoth striper actually hit the lure twice without being hooked, but came back a third time. John was amazed he could even land the fish – it ran like a runaway freight train, tearing off line and it took him some time to subdue the giant.

Davis would like to have the striper mounted, or at least have a replica of it created.

Davis, a Phoenix resident, routinely fishes Lake Pleasant, but said he has never seen such phenomenal topwater action before. “The stripers were in a feeding frenzy in Humbug Cove. I was getting multiple hits on my topwater lures, all day long. It was amazing.”

John said that sometimes it rained very hard, but the wind didn’t blow, so it wasn’t too bad out there. “Actually, it was kind of nice.”

It’s always nice when you hit the jackpot. John caught and mostly released around 50 stripers during his rain-soaked, day-long fishing bonanza.

Game and Fish biologists said research studies at Lake Pleasant have shown that the majority of striped bass congregate in the northern coves during winter, especially over submerged creek and river channels.

“The striper fishing at Lake Pleasant has really taken off the past several years. In fact, the striper bite last winter was pretty remarkable – anglers were routinely catching dozens of fish. It looks like we are off to a good start again this winter,” said Fisheries Chief Kirk Young.

Lake Pleasant has not always had stripers, but it is the only lake in the state with white bass. However, when the Waddell Dam was raised in the early nineties, Central Arizona Project water from the Colorado River began being pumped into this popular desert reservoir on the Agua Fria River. Eventually, striped bass from the Colorado River got into the lake.

New survey shows what factors influence hunters’ and anglers’ purchasing decisions

FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla. – A November 2009 survey revealed more than half of anglers and hunters base their purchasing decisions on brand loyalty. According to HunterSurvey.com and AnglerSurvey.com, conducted by Southwick Associates, 53.8 percent of hunters and 51.6 percent of anglers agreed they prefer continuing their use of the same, quality brands.

Survey respondents also indicated the influence of “other experienced anglers or hunters” was an important factor when deciding what product brands to purchase. Nearly 53 percent of anglers and 50 percent of hunters agreed they rely on the advice and opinions of other experienced sportsmen and women. Results suggest opinion leaders in the fishing community are more influential than their counterparts on the hunting side.

Other factors influencing brand purchasing decisions included magazine advertisements and TV commercials. However, only 11.8 percent of anglers and hunters cited magazine advertisements as an influencer while 5.2 percent of hunters and 6.3 percent of anglers relied on TV commercials. These results suggest sportsmen and women rely on discovering the best quality brands through word of mouth within their peer group versus being swayed by the media.

Survey results of the question “What influences your purchase of a brand?” are listed below:

What influences your purchase of a brand?
Anglers
Hunters

Brand loyalty
51.60%
53.80%

Magazine advertisement
11.80%
11.80%

Another experienced angler/hunter
52.70%
50.00%

TV commercials
6.30%
5.20%

Other
24.90%
28.20%

-30-

About AnglerSurvey.com and HunterSurvey.com

Launched in 2006, AnglerSurvey.com and HunterSurvey.com help the outdoor equipment industry, government fisheries and wildlife officials, and conservation organizations track consumer activities and expenditure trends. The information above represents only a small sample of the vast amount of data that is available from the complete survey results. The results are scientifically analyzed to reflect all U.S. anglers.

One of my partners-in-crime growing up was my friend Darrell. He now lives in Quebec and has continued many hunting and fishing adventures in James Bay and other “cool” places in Northern Quebec. He also has a half-brother who is Inuit. He was kind enough to send me some NICE fish pictures

Big Lake Trout

Nice mess of fish!

Darrell’s daughter

Combination hunt and fish license offers best value of the season

Hunting and fishing recreation offer families an outdoor adventure

The frenetic activity of the holiday season probably has most of us ready for a break. And what better way to get away and recharge than a fun, relaxing trip to the great outdoors?

A hunting and/or fishing license is your passage to escape to the open spaces of the desert uplands or to a local fishing hole to spend some quality time with family and friends. The memories from an exciting outdoor adventure will far outlast any shopping trip.

Arizona is blessed with a wide variety of wildlife, incredible landscapes, and vast amounts of public lands. Hunting and angling are healthy activities that allow you to experience all that our state has to offer.

A general hunting license, fishing license, or combination hunt and fish license is all you need to start enjoying your wildlife-related outdoor adventure. The combination hunt/fish license also includes the trout stamp and offers savings over the cost of the licenses and stamps purchased separately.

Below are just some of the great hunting and fishing activities in season now in Arizona.

Hunting – Hunting opportunities in December are extensive, especially in the small game arena. There are three species of quail (Gambel’s, Mearns’ and scaled), mourning dove, cottontail rabbits, two types of jackrabbits (black-tailed and antelope), two types of tassel-eared squirrels (Abert’s and Kaibab) along with red and grey squirrels, as well as many varieties of ducks and geese. Many of these game animals can be found in the same areas offering a mixed bag and exciting hunting adventure, not to mention the great meal they provide. (Note, dove and waterfowl require special stamps.)

Fishing – Fishing this time of year brings fresh stocked rainbow trout to many of Arizona’s waters, including those in the urban lakes program. These hearty, feisty-fighters provide great angling fun and good eating when you are tired of turkey leftovers. In addition to trout, anglers can find bass, catfish, sunfish, and crappie. For a great hike and scenic trip, try Wet Beaver Creek, West Clear Creek, or maybe even Oak Creek. If you want to stay close to the Phoenix metro area, try the Lower Salt River, Tempe Town Lake, or one of the many urban program waters. Other good bets are Canyon Lake and Saguaro Lake in central Arizona, Dead Horse Ranch State Park near Cottonwood, the Verde River from Cottonwood to Camp Verde, Goldwater Lake outside of Prescott, and the Colorado River along Casino Row in northwestern Arizona. (Remember, an urban fishing license is required for the urban program waters.)

Licenses are available at all seven Arizona Game and Fish Department offices and more than 300 license dealer across the state. Keep in mind that 2009 class A fishing licenses and class U urban fishing licenses are half-price right now and good through the end of 2009.

Resident license fees:

Child ages 10-13 – hunting $15, combination hunt and fish $20.
Youth ages 14-20 – combination hunt and fish $26.50.
Adult ages 21 and up – hunting $32.25, combination hunt and fish $54.
Family of four combination hunt and fish license $137.20 (a savings of $24).*

*Note – Hunt and fish combo license includes trout stamp.
For more information on licenses, visit www.azgfd.gov/eservices/licenses.shtml.

AGFD takes first step toward southern Arizona Gila trout fishery

Airlifts fish up Mount Graham canyon for creek stocking

The Arizona Game and Fish Department took its first step toward recovering Gila trout and establishing a Gila trout fishery in southern Arizona on Wednesday, Nov. 4 when it began stocking Frye Creek on Mount Graham in the Pinaleño Mountains.

The fish were trucked in from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Mora National Fish Hatchery and Technology Center in New Mexico to the department’s Cluff Ranch Wildlife Area near Pima, Ariz.This morning they were transferred to transport drums, which were attached to a helicopter by long line slings, then flown to Frye Creek.

Three crews staged on the mountain to receive the fish, hike them up to three miles into Frye Canyon along a rebuilt trail, and stock them into creek pools.

“With a load of fish, this was physically taxing, but well worth the effort,” said Jason Kline, a department fisheries program specialist. “It’s an historic occasion, as it will provide five miles of Gila trout recovery stream and be the first fishable population of Gila trout in Arizona.”

In addition, Kline noted that once the Gila trout population there stabilizes as early as three years from now, anglers will be able to fish for five species of trout on the same mountain, including the hybrid Apache, brown, rainbow and brook trout.

Five miles of Frye Creek from its headwaters to the Frye Mesa Reservoir have been closed to fishing since mid-October, and will remain so until the Gila trout population there is thriving. Thereafter, “limited opportunity” fishing will be initially allowed.Fishing at the reservoir is still permitted.

Fires in 1999 prevented efforts to stock Gila trout into Dude Creek in the White Mountains. A small but unfishable population of the trout was introduced into Raspberry Creek there in 2000.

First described in 1950, Gila trout in Arizona were listed as an endangered species in 1967 and have been a threatened species since 2006. This will be only the third site in the state where Gila trout have been released.

“This will create a very unique fishing experience,” noted Acting Regional Supervisor Don Mitchell of the Game and Fish Department office in Tucson.“Apache trout inhabit streams atop Mount Graham already, creating the distinct possibility of catching two native trout on the same mountain in the near future.”

Approximately 20 state Game and Fish Department, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and U.S. Forest Service officials participated in the stocking. Also to be stocked with Gila trout as part of the project will be Grapevine Creek in Prescott.Approximately 150 trout will be stocked there.

Half-priced fishing licenses, trout stockings return

The stars have aligned – rainbow trout are coming to a galaxy of waters close to home for millions of people, plus 2009 fishing licenses for state waters or the urban program lakes are now on sale for half price, say Arizona Game and Fish Department officials.

“It doesn’t get much better than this, especially during these tough economic times,” said Fisheries Chief Kirk Young. “Your family can get quality outdoor recreation and delicious trout for the table, all at half price.”

The 2009 annual state fishing license is now on sale for just $11.75 for residents and $35.13 for nonresidents, but if you plan to catch trout in state waters, don’t forget your trout stamp.

The Urban Program Fishing License is on sale for $9.25 for both residents and nonresidents alike.

“The month of November offers some of the best fishing available at Urban Program lakes,” said Eric Swanson, urban fishing program manager. “The lakes have been loaded with catfish all fall, stockings of bluegill sunfish took place in late October. and the first trout delivery begins November 16.”

This week (Wednesday, Nov. 4), the Lower Salt River near Phoenix is being stocked with feisty rainbow trout.

“This fishery is just minutes away from Tempe and Mesa and has become extremely popular with winter trout anglers. Where else can you catch trout in a scenic desert river adjacent to a major metropolitan area? The answer – only here,” Young said.

Trout are also being stocked this week at Dead Horse Ranch State Park in Cottonwood, Fain and Lynx lakes in the Prescott area, Wet Beaver Creek in the Verde Valley, plus Parker Canyon and Patagonia lakes in southern Arizona.

The following week, trout are being stocked in Saguaro Lake near Phoenix, Francis Short Pond in Flagstaff, Oak Creek, the Verde River (between Cottonwood and Camp Verde), Cluff Pond and Roper Lake near Safford, and in Rose Canyon on Mount Lemon near Tucson.

The week of Nov. 16, trout will also be stocked in Canyon Lake and Tempe Town Lake. Be sure to mark Nov. 24 on your calendar – that is the Welcome Back the Trout Celebration at Tempe Town Lake with a fishing clinic starting at 3 p.m.

“This has become an annual tradition in Arizona to kick-off the holidays,” said Young. “So come fish with us and catch some holiday cheer.”

For the weekly fishing report, and to learn more about the great fishing opportunities in Arizona visit, www.azgfd.gov/fishing.

Urban Fishing Bulletin
For the weeks of Nov. 1-14, 2009

Manager: Eric Swanson (623) 236-7263
Specialist: Joann Hill (623) 236-7268

Call 1-800-352-0700 to report fishing violations

CATFISH SEASON TO END, TROUT STOCKINGS START NOVEMBER 16
The fall catfish stocking season wraps up the week of November 2-7 with another 14,000 pounds of fish delivered to the 20 Urban Fishing Program waters in the Phoenix and Tucson areas. Starting in a couple weeks, fish stocking trucks change from delivering channel catfish to rainbow trout. Lake temperatures are within five degrees of the 65 degree target for trout. The winter trout stocking season is scheduled to begin Monday, November 16. Trout ranging from 10-12 inches will be stocked at two-week intervals throughout the winter. Over 100,000 trout from Colorado have been ordered for delivery to Urban waters during the four month stocking season. With the colder temperatures at Payson’s Green Valley Lakes, trout stockings already started on October 20 and will continue every other week for the next eight months at this forest location.

LAKES RECEIVE SUNFISH STOCKINGS, BASS COMING SOON
Urban waters were stocked with 5-6 inch bluegill sunfish on October 28-29. Bluegills are stocked twice a year (fall and spring) to provide fishing fun for kids and families. Fish sizes ran on the smaller side this last delivery, but our productive lakes should support rapid growth. A truckload of over 22,000 fish were delivered from Arkansas, with each lake receiving 110-160 fish per surface acre. Some of the bluegills are expected to last until the spring when they will reproduce in the lakes and provide more fish for the future. Sunfish will bite all day long for anglers using small pieces of worms or mealworms on small hooks fished under a thin bobber and 2-4 lb. leaders. Daily bag limits for bluegill/sunfish are 10 fish per person at Urban Lakes and 5 fish per day at Urban Ponds.

The annual stocking of largemouth bass is scheduled to occur in November with over 8,000 fish on order. Bass will be from 6-9 inches in length—below the 13-inch minimum legal size. Younger bass are stocked to help rebuild the resident bass populations in our lakes. They are not stocked for anglers to catch and keep like catfish, bluegill or trout. Regulations require that anglers carefully release these juvenile bass unharmed back into the water so they can grow to catchable size in the future.

2009 URBAN FISHING LICENSES 50% OFF SALE
If you recently found out about the great fishing in the urban lakes and the start of the trout stocking season, we have a deal for you. The 2009 Class U, Urban Fishing, license is now 50% off for the last two months of the year. Stop by a Game and Fish office or any of our sporting goods or retail license dealers and ask for your 2009 discount Urban license for $9.25. Fishing is excellent this time of year at all Urban Program lakes for trout, bluegill and catfish.

URBAN FISHING REPORT
The month of November offers some of the best fishing available at Urban Program lakes. The lakes have been loaded with catfish all fall with one last stocking the week of Nov. 2-7. Stockings of bluegill sunfish took place October 28-29 at all lakes. The first trout delivery for the winter season begins November 16. Finally, juvenile largemouth bass under the 13-inch legal length are being stocked during November.

Top baits for catfish are shrimp, stink baits and hot dogs with fish biting throughout the day. Bluegill are biting well on a variety of baits (mealworms, bread, hot dogs) and are ready to take wet flies in the late mornings and afternoon. Using light tackle with small hooks and bobbers will keep you and the kids busy catching bluegill. The Green Valley Lakes (Payson) were stocked with rainbow trout on October 20, kicking off an eight month stocking season. Fishing is excellent for the 11-14 inch trout. Best trout baits include Powerbait, worms and small spinners and lures.

STOCKING SCHEDULE

All UFP waters in Phoenix area and Tucson area – Last stocked catfish Oct. 22, bluegill Oct. 28-29. Next stocking, catfish the week of November 2-7 and bass in Nov.
Green Valley Lakes (Payson) – Last stocked trout Oct. 20 (season opening). Next stocking, trout the week of Nov. 2-7.

View the Urban Fishing Bulletin on our web site.

From Rory Aikens at AZGFD

Expect to see more of this phrase — winter conditions prevail.

However, for Arizona winter conditions still mean Sun Block and shirt-sleeve fishing for the most part, but the warmwater fish activity levels slow down considerably.

In the fall, bass and other warmwater fish might feed multiple times in a day to maintain their body weight, or maybe even put on some weight before winter conditions arrive. Once the lakes cool down and the fish go deep, their metabolism slows and they might only need to feed every two or three days to maintain their body weight. For the angler, this means a much smaller percentage of the fish will be actively feeding at any one time.

Practically speaking, it also means you’ll need to slow down your presentations, but possibly down-size as well (unless you were already using drop shots). Although some very experienced anglers will actually up-size at times if they are going after lunkers.

Fish finders can also become more essential for getting on fish — and placing your offering before them. In the fall, active fish will often respond to vibration or scent in the water and travel some distance to investigate. In the winter, they are slow to react and an old saying comes into play — you’ll need to put the bait right on their noses. Fish finders can help you do that.

One final part of the winter-fishing technique or strategy — the bite can be subtle. Some call it a “pressure bite.” To me, even the word bite is a misnomer — bass will just open their mouth wide and subtly suck or slurp in the bait, and you might only feel a slight tick-tick on the line when a bass uses its crushers in the back of its throat.

Simply put, a bass can slurp in your bait and softly spit it back out without you ever knowing it, especially if you cannot feel what is happening.

This is the time of year when those well-made (and often expensive) graphite rods with ultra-sensitive tips can pay off. Also think about using fishing line with very little stretch that will transmit movement well. Be sure to keep a tight line. Vibrations transmit better along a taut line, or better yet, such vibrations may not transmit at all along a slack line.

Some like to close their eyes to enhance their tactile sensations, or as one movie put it, “Use the Force Luke.”

Years ago I tried using a hand line in winter with a split-shot 4-inch lizard while a fishing buddy used his light spinning tackle with a similar setup. It was amazing how well I felt the bottom, and the bass, compared to him. It was quite a tutorial. As you might expect, however, he got much better hook sets.

In winter, you’ll most often find the more active fish in 15 to 35 feet of water off major points or other terrain features that provide good ambush points, especially when adjacent to submerged creek or river channels, which can become underwater fish highways.

But in the afternoons, some sport-fish will also come up into the warmer shallows, if there is no wind to push colder water into those shallows. Yet the active fish might still be few and far between.

Although you might have to slow down to catch them, sometimes using reaction baits works well to locate bass. Slowly worked, wide-wobble crankbaits, hard-plastic jerkbaits (I like neutral buoyancy this time of year), spinnerbaits, and even buzzbaits or chatterbaits can work for locating fish. But have a second rod rigged with a flutter-down bait, such as a Senko, spoon or curly tail. If the flutter down fails, a third pole with a drop shot or Texas-rigged soft plastic might be advisable.

Also, try fishing late afternoon shade lines. Predatory fish will often hold just inside the shadows to ambush prey highlighted in the sun lit water. Baitfish will often hold in such areas too so they can better feed on plankton. It’s a fish-eat-fish (or micro-organism) world down there.

One last tip — this is a decent time to try for cool water fish, such as northern pike and walleye. Try Upper Lake Mary, Ashurst and Long Lake for the pike. Try Show Low Lake, Fool Hollow, Long Lake and Lary Mary for the walleye.