Collaboration results in enhancements to Yuma fishing area

The Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Region IV (Yuma) and the Bureau of Land Management’s Yuma Sector celebrated the opening of the Redondo Pond Fishing Pier on August 4. The completion of this enhanced access project now provides enhanced access to stocked fishing opportunities at three locations around Yuma, at Redondo, Fortuna Pond, and at the West Wetlands Park pond.

Formed in an old gravel pit, the pond itself has existed for several years with limited access for fishing and recreation. The project, which took about a year-and-a-half to complete, included creating a parking area, providing disability access, and construction of the fishing pier.

Both agencies are excited to be able to contribute to the quality of life for Yuma residents and to help provide inexpensive and easily accessible opportunities to enjoy nature.

“It’s a reflection of our commitment to promoting family-oriented outdoor activities and recreational opportunities in Yuma County,” said Pat Barber, Game and Fish Region IV supervisor.

J. Todd Shoaff, field office manager for BLM, envisions this project as just the beginning. “Children today spend half as much time outdoors as their parents did as children,” he said. “The Redondo Pond is a perfect way for parents and children to connect to the outdoors together.”

For more information on Redondo pond or fishing opportunities in the Yuma area, please contact the Arizona Game and Fish Region IV office at (928) 342-0091.

Good news: Few arrested at checkpoint
But many still cited for equipment shortcomings

Five law enforcement agencies recently worked together to help provide a safe boating environment for watercraft users along the Colorado River.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department, Nevada Department of Wildlife, National Park Service, Bullhead City Police Department, and Yavapai County Sheriff’s Department recently conducted an OUI (Operating Under the Influence)/Safety Checkpoint at Katherine’s Landing in Bullhead City.

Two arrests were made for exceeding the blood alcohol limit of .08, down from nine in 2009, and overall compliance with required safety equipment was 78 percent, up from 73 percent in 2010.

Velma Holt, west sector supervisor for the Game and Fish Kingman office, believes an outreach effort that has reached 6,000 boaters over the last three years may have played a role in the higher compliance rate.

“I’m pleased to see more boaters operating with the required equipment,” Holt said. “The regulations are in place for a reason. There are a lot of potential dangers on our waterways, not the least of which is the sheer number of boats using a limited amount of space.”

Holt also mentioned cold water temperatures, alcohol, and inexperienced boaters as other potential safety issues.

“Boat Safe, Boat Smart, and Boat Sober,” Holt said, referring to the safety slogan. “Game and Fish also offers free boating education, which covers safety issues, regulations, and the required equipment prior to launch.”

While compliance improved and arrests were down, Holt did point out some concerns. A total of 72 citations were issued, 31 of which were for not having a Type IV throwable on board.

Holt explained these throwable floatation devices are critical because one person jumping in the water to try and save another simply puts two people at risk.

An additional 15 citations were written for not having a fire extinguisher, 13 for insufficient PFD’s (Personal Floatation Device), four were written for expired registration, four for having a child under 12 not wearing a life jacket, two for possession of drugs and paraphernalia, and one for an overloaded boat.

“Everyone on the water needs to understand how many scenarios on the water can quickly turn into a life-or-death situation,” Holt said. “If you are going on a boat, take a few minutes to learn what is required prior to launching.”

For those interested in taking a boating education class, visit the Game and Fish website at www.azgfd.gov/boating.

Game and Fish participates in second annual Operation Dry Water campaign

Heavy law enforcement patrol efforts from the tri-state region will remove alcohol-impaired boaters from the Colorado River at the end of the month as part of Operation Dry Water, a countrywide movement that has more than 40 states increasing OUI enforcement and awareness.

Operation Dry Water is a national campaign that was created to detect and remove impaired boaters from waters across the nation. It is organized by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) and the U.S. Coast Guard, and it will focus on enforcing Operating/Boating Under the Influence (OUI or BUI) laws June 25-27, 2010.

Among the many lakes and rivers across America, one of the most dangerous waterways west of the Mississippi is the Colorado River. The national effort broadens the public safety message and includes interagency OUI checkpoints, saturation patrols and awareness between states like Arizona, California and Nevada that border waterways such as the 233-mile Colorado River system.

“The Colorado River is a massive undertaking to enforce,” said Kevin Bergersen, Arizona’s boating law administrator. “However, it is important that every agency does their share since a significant number of alcohol-related accidents occur on the Colorado River,” he said. “These checkpoints remove dangerous boaters from the river by enforcing the .08 Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) throughout, making it safer for everyone.”

The primary purpose of the campaign is to detect boat operators who are under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs and to provide boating safety education and outreach to all boaters. “We want people to be responsible while having fun,” said Bergersen.

United States Coast Guard statistics from 2008, the latest available, reveal that 17 percent of all boat accident fatalities were a direct result of alcohol or drug use. Alcohol can impair a boater’s judgment, balance, vision, and reaction time. It can increase fatigue and susceptibility to the effects of cold-water immersion. Sun, wind, noise, vibration, and motion – “stressors” common to the boating environment – intensify the side effects of alcohol, drugs, and some prescription medications

To find out more about Operation Dry Water and boating safety laws, please visit www.operationdrywater.org, www.azgfd.gov/boating, or www.boatcoloradoriver.com.

Orange Beach Fishing Gearing-Up for Stellar Summer Season in Waters Not Affected By Oil Spill

Orange Beach, AL - 5/14/10 - You’ll never find fishing better off the coast of Orange Beach, Alabama, than right now. Anglers who are fishing in the abundant Gulf of Mexico or inshore waters are pulling-in monster fish daily in waters unaffected by the oil spill. Only about 5 percent of the federal waters are closed in the Gulf, and all other Gulf waters - especially those frequented by the Orange Beach charter captains - are open for fishing.

Captain Johnny Greene of the charter boat “Intimidator” docked at Orange Beach Marina explains: “We have more than 20 miles from shore that we can fish, and we’re catching plenty of reef fish, as well as mackerel, cobia and other saltwater fish. I’m keeping my customers up-to-date on the oil spill situation, and so far, we’ve had no problem with oil here at Orange Beach.”

Meanwhile, the fishing action in the back bays and bayous is just as hot according to inshore fishing guide Gary Davis of Foley, Alabama: “We’re catching some of the biggest speckled trout we’ve caught all year now in the late spring and early summer. We generally catch at least one or two speckled trout that will weigh from 5- to 7-pounds each every day.”

Alabama’s Gulf Coast has plenty of boats and captains available, as well as numbers of fish, and the fishing pressure is low. To make fishing more available to more people, many captains offer 4-, 6-, 8-, 10- and 12-hour fishing trips, as well as 2-day fishing trips. You can design a trip that best suits the needs and the schedules of you and your family and friends.

“On an overnighter, we fish for grouper, snapper, amberjack, triggerfish and other reef fish,” says Captain George Pfeiffer of the charter boat “Island Spirit.” “Then, we deep-drop for snowy grouper, tilefish and other deep-water species. When we can, we’ll also fish for tuna, wahoo, mahi-mahi and other big-game species. We’ll finish the trip fishing for reef fish again. On a 2-day trip, we can bring-in a 2-day limit of fish per person. People can sleep, eat and have a great day of fishing.”

Inshore fishermen like Captain Kathy Broughton go out each morning and fish for redfish, speckled trout, flounder and pompano on Alabama’s Gulf Coast. On a 4-hour trip, they’ll catch plenty of inshore species that will put smiles on faces, make drags squeal as the fish run and provide delicious saltwater fish for the table.

As the oil scare continues to flood the news media, the story not being told is that the sport fishing along Alabama’s Gulf Coast is now as good, if not better, than ever. Those sugar-white beaches for which Gulf Shores and Orange Beach have been known for are still white and clean, and the water remains free from oil sheen. The State of Alabama has worked diligently putting-up barriers to thoroughly protect the inshore estuaries and especially the fisheries. Alabama has a large number of inshore artificial reefs created by the State to increase the habitat and the number of fish produced in the back bays, the lagoons and the bayous, all of which are being protected should effects of the oil spill reach this area.

To enjoy the freshest seafood the Gulf of Mexico can provide at reasonable prices and have a great day of fishing, either inshore or offshore, visit www.orangebeach.com/fishing, or call 1-800-745-SAND (7263). Also stay informed on the Gulf oil spill with verified and accurate information, specific to the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach area at www.orangebeach.com/issues.

Catch monster pike to help Ashurst Lake

The Arizona Game and Fish Department is asking anglers to catch the monster northern pike at Ashurst Lake near Flagstaff to help this popular trout lake overlooking the San Francisco Peaks.

“Northern pike are in the spawning mode. This is the best time to catch these voracious fish to help the survival of stocked rainbow trout at Ashurst – so please catch and keep all the pike you can here, there is no pike limit,” said Chuck Benedict, a fisheries biologist in the Flagstaff region.

Biologists sampled Ashurst Lake last week and brought in 32 pike – with the vast majority of them tipping the scales at over 10 pounds. Only one trout was sampled.

“We estimate that of the 40,000 trout we stocked in Ashurst last year, possibly 30,000 of them were gobbled up by pike. You might even catch a new state record,” Benedict said.

The state’s record northern pike weighing 32 pounds, 5.6 ounces, was caught in Ashurst by Ronald Needs of Flagstaff on Nov. 5, 2004.

Benedict suggests using any lure that resemble a rainbow trout to catch northerns at Ashurst. “Try anything big and rainbow colored – even a painted broom stick with hooks will probably work,” he joked.

Many pike anglers use swim baits or large jointed surface lures, such as AC Plugs. In-line spinners such as Mepps, Rooster Tails and Blue Fox can also work. Be sure to use steel leaders – monster pike have needle-sharp teeth.

Ashurst is a 229-acre fishery tucked amongst the pinion-juniper woodlands and high grasslands of Anderson Mesa. This is a relatively shallow lake with an average depth of 12 feet.

To get to Ashurst, take Highway 3 (Lake Mary Road) and then turn east on FR 82 east and you will reach Ashurst in four miles.

Fishing is busting loose – it’s time to get out

Grab your poles — it’s time to get out fishing.

“This is the first week of spring, there is a full moon on Monday, March 29, and thanks to lots of runoff and nutrient loading, the fishing at Arizona’s desert lakes is really turning on. This is also the leading edge of the good trout fishing season,” said Rory Aikens, who compiles the weekly fishing report for the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

If you want to learn techniques for catching fish, especially in the warmwater lakes, come to the Game and Fish Outdoor Expo this weekend and visit the “Demo Fishing Tank” where local experts will share their secrets. Aikens will also be on hand at the Demo Tank to answer your “Where to” fishing questions.

The Outdoor Expo is Saturday and Sunday, March 27-28 at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility on Carefree Highway just west of Interstate 17.

Here is a quick run down on the fishing hot spots.

Desert Lakes

* Lake Pleasant is the hot spot. Post-spawn striped bass are feeding aggressively. Largemouth bass are spawning. White bass are just finishing their spawn.
* Roosevelt Lake is turning on for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. Crappie should start spawning any time (probably this weekend). Carp are spawning. Due to exceptional runoff, Roosevelt is very turbid. This should be a superb fishing year at Rosy. Don’t miss out.
* Bartlett Lake is heating up for bass and crappie. Don’t ignore the flatheads. On any given day, this can be the fishing hot spot.
* Saguaro Lake is good for 1- to 2-pound largemouth bass, some nice yellow bass and large channel catfish.
* Canyon Lake is tougher to fish, but is the land of the lunkers. Catch rates are typically low, but you might just land a new state record bucket mouth.
* Alamo Lake has been challenged with fluctuating waters levels, but crappie are spawning and largemouth bass action is picking up almost daily. Don’t ignore the plentiful channel catfish.
* Apache Lake is picking up for largemouth bass, with some nice smallmouth being caught. But if you want walleye, this is the place; a 9-pound walleye was caught recently.
* Havasu Lake is very good for spawning largemouth and smallmouth bass, and striped bass fishing should be picking up as well.
* Mead and Mohave are both a little slow yet, but striped bass action should pick up soon. Largemouth bass are starting to spawn in the more shallow, protected coves. The water level at Mohave is very good, but Mead is very low.
* Lake Powell is slowly turning on. This is shaping up to be a stellar fishing year. The spring fishing can provide some of the best action in the West for striped bass, smallmouth bass and walleye.
* Martinez Lake along the lower Colorado River near Yuma is another hot spot for largemouth bass, but it is a little early for good striped bass action.

Trout waters

* The Lower Salt River near Phoenix has been running pretty high, but the deparment is stocking it with rainbow trout again. Expect the higher flows to continue as snow melts in the high country.
* The spawn for wild rainbow trout at Lees Ferry in northern Arizona is underway. This renowned fishery in Marble Canyon provides world-class action.
* Oak Creek, the Verde River, Burro Creek and West Clear Creek are all running a little high to stock with trout right now, but once they settle down you’ll want to give them a try.
* The creeks below the Mogollon Rim are scheduled to be stocked with rainbow trout the first week of April. These include Christopher Creek, Tonto Creek, Canyon Creek, the East Verde River, and Haigler Creek.
* Fain, Lynx and Goldwater lakes in the Prescott area have already been stocked this season, and are scheduled for additional stockings soon.
* Although it might be May before snow melts and the higher trout lakes become accessible, early bird specials include Becker Lake, Fool Hollow, Show Low Lake, Scotts Reservoir, Woodland Reservoir and Rainbow Lake in the White Mountains.
* Keep watching the reports for the Williams area lakes, they are scheduled for stocking the first week of April. Kaibab and Cataract should be accessible. Dogtown requires a quarter-mile walk through snow. Whitehorse is not accessible yet, but snow melt is underway.
* Anglers are catching limits of trout at Parker Canyon Lake. Pena Blanca is now full and the department is actively stocking it with trout – but there isn’t a usable boat ramp. Rose Canyon is scheduled for stocking the second week of April.
* Lower Lake Mary near Flagstaff has been stocked with small rainbow trout, but the fish will grow quickly. It won’t take long before this is a trout fishing hot spot in Arizona.
* Along the Colorado River, Willow Beach below Hoover Dam is stocked with rainbow trout. This is a good place to escape the crowds, fish in pleasant weather, and catch ‘bows in the lower Mohave desert. You might even see desert bighorn sheep.

“The higher elevation trout lakes, such as Woods Canyon and Big Lake, might not be accessible until late April or even early May, but due to tremendous snow pack this year, the high country trout fishing outlook is superb. Watch our reports – we’ll keep you informed as the season progresses,” Aikens promised.

In addition, the Urban Program lakes were stocked this week with channel catfish weighing from 1 to 2 pounds – those are some quality fish.

Visit www.azgfd.gov for the weekly fishing report and stocking schedules.

Don’t move a mussel – now it’s the law

March 24, 2010

New regulations for boaters go into effect

“Don’t move a mussel” – NOW it’s the LAW for boaters in Arizona for waters infested with invasive quagga mussels.

“Our boaters have done a good job so far of voluntarily practicing “clean, drain and dry” as a part of responsible boating. Now Arizona has regulations in effect requiring boaters to follow those practices at lakes known to have quagga mussels,” said Tom McMahon, the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s invasive species coordinator.

Quagga mussels were first discovered in Arizona waters in Lake Mead in January of 2007. A single adult quagga mussel can produce a half-million larvae in a single year. Since being introduced at Mead, likely from being accidentally transported on a boat put into the lake, these prolific invaders have spread rapidly.

Waters in Arizona officially designated as having aquatic invasive quagga/zebra mussels include:

Lake Pleasant
Lake Mead
Lake Mohave
Lake Havasu
Lower Colorado River below Havasu to the international boundary with Mexico

“I can’t stress enough the important role boaters and anglers have voluntarily played in helping prevent the continued spread of these unwanted invasive species,” McMahon said. “For those who have been complying, thank you. You did the right thing for the right reasons.”

Now there are new regulations, called “Director’s Orders”, in effect. The measures were authorized by the Aquatic Invasive Species Interdiction Act passed last July by the Arizona Legislature. Those boaters who don’t follow the procedures outlined in the newly-created regulations can actually be cited by law enforcement officers. To view the Director’s Orders, visit the Game and Fish Department’s Web site at www.azgfd.gov/mussels.

These new regulations require day-use boaters to follow four simple steps. Before leaving the vicinity of a water officially listed as having quagga and/or zebra mussels:

Remove any clinging material such as plants, animals and mud from anchor, boat, motor and trailer (CLEAN).
Remove the plug (if applicable) and drain the water from the bilge, live-well, and any other compartments that could hold water. Drain water from the engine and engine cooling systems (DRAIN).
Ensure watercraft, vehicle, equipment, or conveyance are allowed to dry completely (DRY).
Before launching your watercraft someplace else, wait at least five days – this waiting period is essential to kill residual larvae not eradicated by the above three steps. If you use a boat again in less than five days from the previous use, replace the bilge drain plug, and disinfect the bilge by pouring in not less than one gallon of vinegar; the vinegar can be drained from the bilge upon arrival at home (vinegar can be reused several times).

There are also new regulations being implemented for long-term users (includes moored boats). These are boats that have been in the water for more than five days and are at the highest risk of harboring attached invasive mussels.

“Watercraft, boats, vehicles, equipment or conveyances that have been moored for five days or longer in waters that are infested with quagga mussels will likely be heavily contaminated with larval and adult mussels,” McMahon said. “Watercraft moored longer than a few weeks or months in those waters will most certainly be contaminated with adult mussels.”

There are mandatory decontamination procedures for the long-term moored boats that include:

Remove any clinging material such as plants, animals and mud from anchor, boat, motor, equipment and trailer (CLEAN).
Remove the plug (if applicable) and drain the water from the bilge, live-well, and any other compartments that could hold water. Drain water from the engine and engine cooling systems (DRAIN).
Physically remove all visible attached mussels from boat surfaces, motors, impellers, outdrives, rudders, anchors and through-hull fittings (CLEAN, again).
Flush engine and cooling system and any other through-hull fittings with hot water that is exiting those areas at 140 F for 10 to 30 seconds.
Keep the boat out of water (DRY) and ensure all areas of the boat are dry, including bilge, through-hull fittings and engine, for a minimum of eighteen (18) consecutive days during the months of November through April and seven (7) consecutive days from May through October.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department held a series of public meetings and a webcast in January to present the proposed Director’s Orders and solicit comment. The final regulations became effective this month.

“It is critical for anyone who uses watercraft, or has a business reliant on watercraft, to understand the essential nature of this aquatic invasive species containment effort,” McMahon said. “The spread of quagga mussels has far-reaching impacts, both financial and ecological, that can touch virtually every resident of the state.”

States throughout the West have been gearing up to combat the quagga and zebra mussels. Arizona boaters taking their boats to other states will want to first explore what those states are currently requiring – some even have mandatory boat inspections. A good starting point is the 100th Meridian organization at http://100thmeridian.org/Video/DMAM2008_WM.asp.

Boy I miss fishing brook trout. I received this as a fwd/fwd/fwd from my mom. I cannot speak for its validity.

Wow - what a useful site this is! Real time flow data for Arizona streams and rivers. Thanks to Rory Aikens over at AZGFD for posting the link on Facebook.

Arizona River Data

Lend a hand at the Alamo Lake cleanup on March 6

A fishing hot spot needs your help – the Alamo Lake clean up is set for Saturday, March 6 starting at 8 a.m.

Arizona Game and Fish Department experts predict that this 2,500-surface-acre desert lake west of Wickenburg will be one of the state’s hottest fishing spots this year.

“The problem is, Alamo needs to be cleaned up,” said Wildlife Manager Stew Kohnke. “The solution? Come join the volunteers and department employees cleaning up the shoreline at the Alamo Lake Wildlife Area.”

The Arizona Game and Fish Department is holding its 11th annual Alamo Lake cleanup March 6 from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. In the past 10 years, volunteers have picked up over 23 dump trucks full of trash from around Alamo Lake.

“Volunteers have removed everything from a kitchen sink to an old truck frame including the engine block,” says Kohnke. “This is a great opportunity to give something back to a lake that so many people enjoy.”

The department will provide boat transportation and trash bags for those who do not have them. The Alamo State Park will waive camp and launch fees for participants staying at the Cholla Campground Group Use Area. Registration begins at 6 p.m. on Friday, March 5 and runs through March 6 at the group use area.

Arizona hunting and fishing licenses now available online

They’re back: Arizona hunting and fishing licenses are available online once again.

It’s simple and easy: just visit the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Web site at www.azgfd.gov to decide what license or license package suits you or your family best, and make the online purchase using your Visa or MasterCard from the convenience of your own home or office.

“It’s been a long time coming, but the timing is superb for hunting and fishing conditions,” said Game and Fish Deputy Director Bob Broscheid. “Our interior lakes are filling and spilling. There’s a lush green-up in the desert low lands. Plus we have a tremendous snow pack in the high country.”

A $1.50 Internet fee will be charged for buying a license online, which will pay for the service expense. Be sure to have a printer hooked up; you must print out the license you purchase online (color or black and white will work).

If you need help while purchasing the license online, telephone assistance is available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday by calling (602) 942-3000.

There are lots of hunting and fishing license options available, including some exceptional deals on Family Licenses. Be sure to shop online at “Buy a License” for the license package that works best for you.

You will also find lots of online help deciding where to go on your hunting or fishing adventures.

The Game and Fish Department’s Web site is full of where-to and how-to fishing and hunting information. In fact, you can even subscribe to the weekly Fishing Report or the Hunter Highlights e-news products and have them delivered directly to your computer.

Online license sales and other online services were suspended almost three years ago due to workload difficulties the former vendor experienced during the online big game draw process. There is no projected date for when the online hunt draw process will be available online again, although agency officials are actively working on the issue.

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