Fishing Report
Updated Aug. 1

MOGOLLON RIM

CHEVELON CANYON LAKE — Chevelon Lake is a hike-in fishery open to artificial lure and fly only. The bag limit is six fish with a slot limit. Trout between 10-14 inches may not be possessed. Trout taken from Chevelon Canyon Lake shall be immediately killed and retained as part of the bag limit or immediately released. Fishing is fair. Try lures such as KastMasters, Z-Rays, spinners such as Panther Martins, Rooster Tails, and Mepps spinners, and Rapalas. Fly fishers should try woolly buggers or woolly worms in black or brown colors as well as crayfish colored patterns, brown or black semi-seal leeches, and peacock ladies. Anglers may want to fish deep pools below the dam, which may contain some nice trout. Chevelon is open to 10 hp gas motors. Getting a boat into Chevelon will take considerable effort, but hiking with a float-tube is an easier alternative.

BEAR CANYON LAKE — Fishing is fair to good. The lake will be stocked with catchable size rainbow trout the week of Aug. 15. Try worms, Power Bait (green, yellow, orange, and rainbow colored), salmon eggs, lures (small Rapalas, Crickhoppers, Z-Rays, Panther Martin, Mepps, and Rooster Tail spinners), and flies (woolly worms and woolly buggers, brown or black semi-seal leeches, peacock ladies, prince nymphs, zug bugs, and Montana stones). Bear Canyon Lake is a hike in lake and is open to electric motors only. Small boats or float tubes are recommended.

BLACK CANYON LAKE —The lake is down some. The boat ramp is accessible. Catchable size rainbow trout will be stocked the week of Aug. 29. The lake experiences pH problems during June-August so fish cannot be stocked until water quality conditions improve, usually late August – early September. Fishing is fair. Try worms, Power Bait (green, yellow, orange, rainbow colored), salmon eggs, lures (Z-Rays and spinners), yellow Crickhopper lures, and flies (woolly worms and woolly buggers, brown or black semi-seal leeches, peacock ladies, Montana stones, prince nymphs, and zug bugs). The lake also has largemouth bass and green sunfish, a great alternative for kids if the trout are not biting. Try fishing a night crawler under a bobber close to shore, targeting shallow and rocky areas for sunfish and bass. Black Canyon is open to electric motors only.

WILLOW SPRINGS LAKE — The lake will be stocked with catchable size rainbow trout weekly through the summer and into September. Fishing is fair to good. Try worms, Power Bait (green, yellow, rainbow colored, and orange), salmon eggs, lures such as Rapalas, Crickhoppers, Z-Rays and Rooster Tails, Mepps, and Panther Martin spinners and flies such as woolly worms, woolly buggers, brown or black semi-seal leeches, peacock ladies, prince nymphs, and zug bugs. Boat anglers might try trolling a night crawler, or a fly baited with a night crawler, several feet behind cow bells if other baits and lures are not working. Willow Springs also contains largemouth and smallmouth bass. Some lunker largemouth bass are occasionally caught by anglers. Fish submerged stumps and rocky shorelines with spinnerbaits, crankbaits, or plastic worms for bass. Willow Springs Lake is open to 10 hp gas motors. The boat ramp is accessible.

WOODS CANYON LAKE — Fishing is fair to good. Try worms, Power Bait (green, yellow, orange, and rainbow colored), lures such as Z-Rays, spinners (Panther Martins, Rooster Tail, and Mepps), crayfish crankbaits and yellow-brown Crickhopper lures. Flies such as woolly buggers, woolly worms, brown or black semi-seal leeches, peacock ladies, Prince nymphs, and zug bugs are also effective. The lake will be stocked with catchable size rainbow trout weekly through the summer and into September. Woods Canyon Lake is open to electric motors only. The boat ramp is accessible. The store has supplies and boat rentals.

NORTHEASTERN ARIZONA (White Mountains)

BECKER LAKE — The lake is down a little. Fishing is good. Fly fishers should try brown woolly buggers, damselfly and dragonfly patterns, Montana nymphs, peacock ladies, Beadhead zug bugs, prince nymphs, and midge larvae patterns. Fly fishers are catching 8-14 inch rainbow trout. Lures such as small spinners, KastMasters, and Z-Rays are also effective. From May 25 to Sept. 30, bait may be used. Anglers should try various colors of Power Bait (orange, green, yellow, and rainbow colored), worms, and salmon eggs. A few large brown trout are also found in Becker, although not regularly. There is a two-trout limit. Becker Lake is open to 10 hp gas motors. The boat ramp is accessible.

BIG LAKE — Fishing is poor to fair for shore anglers and fair for boat anglers. Shore and boat anglers are catching rainbow trout 12-14 inches, brook trout 10-14 inches, and a few cutthroat trout 11-14 inches. Anglers should try worms and Power Bait (green, orange, rainbow colored, and yellow), and salmon eggs. Lures such as Rapalas, yellow-brown Crickhopper lures, Z-Rays, KastMasters, Rooster Tails, Mepps, and Panther Martin spinners are effective. Fly fishers are catching trout on brown woolly worms with red tails, peacock ladies, woolly buggers (brown, green, and black). Early in the morning and just before dark, trout tend to feed on surface insects, so try dry flies such as caddis patterns, midge patterns, and Adams in sizes 16-20. Boat anglers using cow bells with bait are catching rainbow trout 12-14 inches and small cutthroats up to 12 inches. All boat ramps are accessible, but the South Cove boat ramp is the best. The main boat ramp near the store is shallow and it is 9 feet to the water’s edge, but okay to launch with smaller boats. The Railroad Cove boat ramp is usable for launching small boats or float tubes. Big Lake is open to 10 hp gas motors. Tackle and bait can be purchased at the store and boat rentals are also available.

Carnero Lake -----Fishng is fair to good for boat anglers. There is no established boat ramp and small boats or float tubes are ideal for this lake. Carnero Lake is open to electric motors only. There is open water past the weed lines. Shore fishing is difficult. The lake is open to artificial lure and fly only, barbless hooks, and a 2-trout bag limit. Try lures such as Z-Rays, KastMasters, spinners (Mepps, Panther Martin, and Rooster Tail) and flies like woolly worms, woolly buggers, damselfly nymphs, scuds, peacock ladies, KP buggers, and brown Montana stone nymphs. Warm temperatures are causing more weed growth as summer progresses, and will make fishing difficult.

CONCHO LAKE — Fishing is poor to fair. The lake is down, but the main boat ramp is good for launching boats. The water is clear. There was a fish kill in early May. Try using worms and Power Bait early in the morning and late in the evening. Concho Lake also contains green sunfish. Target weed lines and rocky areas with night crawlers, jigs, and small spinners. Concho Lake is open to 10 hp gas motors.

CRESCENT LAKE — Fishing is fair. Crescent Lake was stocked in May with 25,000 catchable size trout, a mixture of rainbows and brooks. Try worms, Power Bait, lures, and flies. Anglers are having good luck with flies (Prince nymphs, zug bugs, Montana stones, yellow woolly worms, KP buggers, green damselfly nymphs, and brown semi-seal leeches. Lures such as Panther Martins and Z-Rays are catching fish. The west boat ramp water level is 12 inches from the concrete ramp, but usable and the south boat ramp is also accessible. The north boat ramp may be difficult due to muddy conditions. Crescent Lake is open to 10 hp gas motors. The store on the west side of the lake is open for business. The lake is experiencing a green algae bloom.

FOOL HOLLOW LAKE — The lake is down about 10 feet from the high water mark. Water clarity is good. Both boat ramps are accessible. Fishing is fair to good. Try worms, Power Bait, lures, and flies near structure such as rocks, tree stumps, and weed beds. Anglers have been catching bass, largemouth and smallmouth, bluegills, and green sunfish around rocky shorelines. One young girl caught a 3-pound smallmouth bass on a mealworm near the rocky shoreline by the Campground boat ramp. The lake will be stocked with catchable size rainbow trout this week. Fool Hollow Lake is scheduled to be stocked every other week through the summer and into September. Anglers are being asked to harvest any pike they catch and not to release them back into the lake. Fool Hollow also contains walleye, channel catfish, largemouth and smallmouth bass, sunfish, and black crappie. There are some trophy-sized walleye as well as largemouth and smallmouth bass. Kids can easily catch sunfish if the trout are not biting. Fish rocky shorelines and the edge of weeds with night crawlers, jigs, or small spinners. Fool Hollow Lake is managed by Arizona State Parks and excellent camping facilities are available. Anglers wishing to fish the lake only for the day must use the west side boat ramp and parking area, but free of charge until that parking area fills. Fool Hollow Lake is open to 10 hp gas motors.

GREER LAKES — Bunch and Tunnel reservoirs are very low, due to irrigation draw downs. Algae blooms are present on both reservoirs. Boat ramps are accessible but use caution when launching boats since water levels are very low. Small boats or float tubes are recommended. Both lakes were last stocked in June. Fishing is fair. Try using worms, Power Bait, small spinners such as Mepps, Panther Martins, or Rooster tails, and flies (woolly worms, woolly buggers, peacock ladies, zug bugs, and prince nymphs for trout. Bunch and Tunnel are open to electric motors only. The lake level at River Reservoir is very low. The reservoir will be drained back down to minimum pool because of dam safety concerns. Repairs to the dam are scheduled this summer. Trout stockings at River Reservoir have been diverted to other lakes, however, some large brown trout likely remain in the reservoir. Launching boats at River Reservoir is very difficult and not recommended. The lake is open to 10 hp gas motors.

HULSEY LAKE — The lake is full. Fishing is fair. The lake was last stocked with catchable size rainbow trout in May. The shoreline area is very weedy and there is a green algae bloom present. Try worms, Power Bait, lures, and flies.

LEE VALLEY RESERVOIR — The lake is down about 3 feet from the high water mark. The water is clear. Lee Valley Lake is open to artificial lures and flies only, two-fish bag limit, with a minimum size of 12 inches. The lake was stocked with 5,000 catchable size Apache trout in May. Fishing is fair to good. Anglers should try lures such as Rooster Tail, Mepps, and Panther Martin spinners. Fly fishers should try small Peacock ladies, Prince nymphs, Hares ear nymphs, caddis fly nymphs, mayfly nymphs, and damselfly nymphs in sizes 14-16. The Apache trout are feeding on surface insects early in the morning and late in the evening. Try dry flies such as elk hair caddis and brown caddis fly patterns and midge patterns as well as light Cahills in sizes 16-20.

LUNA LAKE — The lake is down about 2 feet. There is an algae bloom present in the lake. Fishing is fair. Try worms, Power Bait (green, yellow or orange), lures (Z-Rays, KastMasters, and small spinners), and flies (woolly worms, woolly buggers, KP buggers, Prince nymphs, Zugbugs, and Peacock ladies). Bait and tackle can be purchased at the store near the dam and boat rentals are available. Luna Lake is open to 10 hp gas motors. The boat ramp is accessible.

LYMAN LAKE — Fishing is fair to good. The lake is turbid as usual. Anglers have been catching catfish at the upper end of the lake on worms, and prepared catfish baits. Try fishing for bass, walleyes, and sunfish along rocky areas or weedy areas of the lake. Try worms, Power Bait, lures, and flies. The lake is managed by Lyman Lake State Park and camping is available. There are also some new cabins for rent. There is a fish consumption advisory here. Consult the fishing regulations or contact the Arizona Game and Fish Regional office in Pinetop for more information. Boat ramps are accessible and there are no boat motor restrictions on Lyman Lake. Water skiing is popular here during the heat of the summer.

NELSON RESERVOIR — The lake is down about 1 foot from the high water mark. There is a brownish colored algae bloom present in the lake. The main boat ramp at the dam is the best and the east boat ramp is accessible. The middle boat ramp is weedy. Fishing is fair. The lake has been stocked with catchable size rainbow trout. Try spinners (Rooster Tail, Panther Martins), small KastMasters or Z-rays, or bait (Power Bait or worms) for stocked trout. Anglers have been catching trout on night crawlers fished under a bobber. Trolling woolly worms, woolly buggers, KP buggers, and peacock lady flies are also effective. Black crappies and green sunfish can be caught near rocky shorelines. Nelson Reservoir is open to 10 hp gas motors.

RAINBOW LAKE — The lake is down about 5 feet from the high water mark. There is a thick green algae bloom present in the lake. Fishing is fair. The boat ramp is accessible. Try trolling spinners or flies for large carryover and stocked rainbow trout. The lake was last stocked with catchable size rainbow trout in June. Rainbow Lake also contains largemouth bass, channel catfish, black bullhead, sunfish and illegally stocked northern pike. We are asking anglers to keep all the pike they catch. There is no bag and possession limit for northern pike. Do not release them back into the lake. If targeting pike, the small pike are distributed throughout the lake. Try spinners, crankbaits, and spinnerbaits for larger pike and bass along weed beds. Shore fishing for the public is restricted to the dam and area along the boat ramp parking, since most of the shoreline is privately owned. A fishing pier is available at the boat ramp parking. Rainbow Lake is open to 10 hp gas motors.

SCOTT'S RESERVOIR — The lake is full and the water is clear. The boat ramp is accessible. Fishing is fair. The lake was last stocked with catchable size rainbow trout in June. Try worms, Power Bait (green, yellow or orange), lures, and flies. Try fishing near structure such as rocks, tree stumps and weed beds. Lure fishermen should try crappie jigs, small spinners, crank baits, and Rapalas for bass and bluegills. Fly fishers should try peacock ladies, KP buggers, brown woolly buggers, and Montana stone nymphs. Scotts Reservoir also has channel catfish. Try prepared baits or night crawlers fished on the bottom. Scotts is open to electric motors only.

SHOW LOW LAKE — The lake is down about 10 feet from the high water mark. The water level gauge reading is 15.3 feet. The boat ramp is accessible but the water level is 39 feet from the top of the boat ramp. There is a thick green algae bloom present in the lake. Fishing is fair. The lake will be stocked with catchable size rainbow trout this week. Try worms, Power Bait (green, yellow or orange), salmon eggs, lures, and flies for stocked and larger carryover trout. Boat anglers are having success trolling spinners and Rapalas. Try casting or trolling Rapalas, crankbaits, and chartreuse or brown Mister Twister jigs around rocky shorelines for walleyes, largemouth and smallmouth bass, black crappies, and sunfish. Anglers have had at times good success catching pan-sized walleye by fishing chartreuse jigs in shallow water very early in the morning (4-7 a.m.) and again late in the evening. An angler using a anchovy caught a 32 pound channel catfish in June. Try fishing near rocks with a bobber and a worm for bass and sunfish. Show Low Lake is open to 10 hp gas motors. A campground at the lake is run and maintained by Navajo County Parks. Boat rentals are available.

WOODLAND LAKE— The lake is down about 5 feet from the high water mark. The boat ramp is accessible. The lake is very weedy around the shoreline. The water is clear. Fishing is fair. Woodland Lake will be stocked with catchable size rainbow trout the week of Aug. 29. Try worms, Power Bait (green, yellow or orange), lures, and flies for stocked trout. The lake also contains channel catfish, largemouth bass, and sunfish. A city park with picnicking facilities and paved trail around the lake make for a great family outing location. A fishing pier is available near the dam. The lake is open to electric motors only.

CLEAR CREEK RESERVOIR — Fishing is fair. The lake contains trout, largemouth bass, sunfish, bullheads, and catfish. Anglers should try worms, Power Bait (green, rainbow colored, yellow or orange), lures, and flies for stocked trout. Both boat ramps are difficult to launch a boat, the north one is shallow and the south one has soft sand. Sunfish are easy for kids to catch using worms with a bobber near the shorelines.

SILVER CREEK — Trout fishing is good, but can be excellent right after being stocked. As of April 1, Silver Creek on the Arizona Game and Fish Department property is open to statewide fishing regulations, except for the areas posted closed to fishing. The daily bag and possession limit is currently six trout from April 1 through Sept. 30. Try drifting night crawlers or Power Bait through deep pools. Use small lures such as Mepps, Rooster Tail, and Panther Martin spinners. Fish upstream or downstream. Fly-fishing anglers may want to try Peacock Ladies, Woolly buggers, prince nymphs, bead head nymphs, mayfly and caddis fly nymph imitations, and shrimp patterns. Fish your flies upstream and dead drift them downstream or cast your fly downstream and retrieve the it slowly, twitching it occasionally. Try small dry flies such as Adams, parachute Adams, midge imitations, and caddis fly patterns is sizes #16 or #18. Silver Creek is scheduled to be stocked this week and will be stocked weekly throughout the summer with catchable size Apache trout.

STREAMS

EAST FORK OF BLACK RIVER – River flows are low. Monsoon rains should help raise water levels and cool water temperatures. Apache trout will be stocked this week and will continue to be stocked weekly through the summer and into September. Fishing is good. Several campgrounds are located on the river from Buffalo Crossing to Diamond Rock and are now open. Try fly-fishing using small nymphs such as Hares ears, Pheasant tails, woolly worms, peacock ladies, Zug Bugs, and Prince nymphs. Fly fishers may also want to try dry flies such as Royal Wulffs, Light Cahills, Adams, and Humpies. Lure fishermen may want to try small spinners ( Mepps, Panther Martins, and Rooster tails), and spoons such as KastMasters. Bait anglers should try drifting night crawlers through deep pools. Wild brown trout are also present throughout the East Fork.

WEST FORK OF BLACK RIVER – River flows are low. Monsoon rains should help raise water levels and cool water temperatures. Fishing is good. The West Fork campground area will be stocked with catchable size Apache trout this week and will continue to be stocked weekly through the summer and into September. Lure fishermen may want to try the above mentioned small spinners and spoons. Fly fishers may want to try the above mentioned nymphs and dry flies. Bait fishermen should try drifting night crawlers through deep pools. The road (68A) into West Fork campground is open and the river crossings have been improved, but use caution when driving through the stream crossings.

LITTLE COLORADO RIVER – GREER – River flows are low. Monsoon rains should help raise water levels and cool water temperatures. The river was stocked with catchable size Apache trout this week and will continue to be stocked weekly through the summer and into September. Fishing is good. Try fly-fishing with the above mentioned nymphs or dry flies, lures such as small spinners and spoons, or try drifting night crawlers through deep pools. Wild brown trout are also present throughout the Little Colorado River.

SHEEPS CROSSING – WEST FORK LITTLE COLORADO RIVER – River flows are low. Monsoon rains should help raise water levels and cool water temperatures. The river was stocked with catchable Apache trout this week and will continue to be stocked weekly through the summer and into September. Fishing is good. Try fly-fishing with the above mentioned nymphs or dry flies, lures such as small spinners or spoons, or try drifting night crawlers through deep pools.

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