FISHING REPORT TIP OF THE WEEK THE REEL DEAL

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1 FISHING REPORT Dec. 2, 2016 Arizona Game and Fish Department COPY TIP OF THE WEEK Consider targeting sporting crappie populations at Alamo, Bartlett and Roosevelt. Might not be banner crappie-fishing conditions just yet -- but it's worth a shot. As the water temperatures lower, the crappie will congregate into large schools in open water that can be up to 50 feet deep or so. The crappie formations, or schools, look like inverted pyramids (or Christmas trees ), with the most active fish at the top, around 15 or 20 feet deep. Catch a window of stable weather for crappie fishing. The two primary strategies for catching these crappie are to use your fish finder, locate a school, sit over it, and slowly jig a 1/16- or even a 1/32-ounce jighead with curly tail or other small grub, Roadrunner or maybe a marabou jig. The other is slow trolling (1.5 mph) crappie jigs or even small crankbaits. Or combine the two -- trolling until you get a bite, then vertically jig. Be sure to check the stocking schedules. Community Fishing Program lakes and ponds continue to get frequent trout stockings see some tips. THE REEL DEAL Get "out like trout" for maybe your final chance to fish most high country waters. There have been reports of thin ice forming on lakes such as Woods Canyon Lake. Be careful -- we consider all ice on Arizona lakes unsafe. Winter weather can of course be detrimental to travel. Motorists traveling in Arizona's high country need to be aware of some annual closings. Be sure to check the Arizona Department of Transportation website for the latest road closures. Other highlights (or frozen notes): Big Lake is 50-percent ice-covered and there is minimal fishing from shore -- boats are not able to be launched. FR 105 to Woods Canyon Lake is closed and so boats cannot be launched. But anglers can still walk in and fish Woods Canyon.

2 The stores at Woods Canyon and Big Lake are closed for the winter. Nicholas Tochko caught this catch-and-keep state record tiger trout, an 8-incher taken in May from Carnero Lake. The average size of tiger trout at Woods Canyon and Willow Springs lakes? 10 inches. Go catch a tiger and submit your record before tiger trout-stocked lakes (Woods Canyon, Willow Springs and Becker -- Carnero is ice-covered) become completely iced over. We ve received just three applications for state record tigers. See the "White Mountains" section in the full report for details of ice cover and fishing tips. Once again, we consider all ice on lakes unsafe. ROOSEVELT LAKE - (2,084 feet, 35-percent full). Dec. 2 report from Jim Goughnour of Rim Country Custom Rods: Experienced anglers are calling fishing conditions on Roosevelt Lake as good to excellent. The water temperature has been trending down recently and fish feeding activity is at a high rate in preparation for the colder months. Recent water temperatures at Roosevelt have dropped into the high 50s in the mornings to the low 60's as the sun warms the shallow water in the afternoon. Those water temperatures are important since fish metabolism slows significantly when the water reaches about the 55-degree mark. Both bass and crappie are taking advantage of the last few warmer weeks by feeding activity. Recent reports for both bass and crappie are that they are in either shallow or deep water with little success being reported in the feet depths. Bass anglers reported using crank-baits, jerk-baits and spinner-baits in 5-15 foot depths. Bass could be seen chasing shad into the backs of coves especially later in the afternoon when water temperatures are warmer. Other bass anglers reported using deep water jigging spoons in 30 feet and deeper depths. Crappie anglers are also reporting catching crappie in shallow depths of less than 15 feet. Small jigs and spoons were reported successful using a technique of casting and letting the bait fall in a pendulum motion. Other anglers are using a slow trolling speed of.8 mph while still others reported using a live minnow on a dropshot technique. Crappie anglers continue to be excited about the numbers and size of crappie being caught this year. It's been a long time since anglers reported crappie weighing over 2 pounds. WHITE MOUNTAINS (Updated Dec. 2; Editor Sally Petre, )

3 ! Rainbow trout have been biting at Bear Canyon Lake Recommended Waters to Fish Fishing is good at Show Low Lake, Fool Hollow, Nelson Reservoir, and Bear Canyon Lake due to a heavy stocking of rainbow trout in late September. Silver Creek is in the catch and release season, which recently had a parasite issue, but fishing is good. Patterson Ponds in St. Johns were stocked October 13 with catchable channel catfish! Go enjoy the last few weeks of fishing before winter conditions prevail! Go catch Tiger Trout at Willow Springs or Becker Lake. We only had 3 entries for state record for Tiger Trout so far. The catch and release record is 10 inches and the catch and keep record is 8 inches. All Tiger Trout stocked into Woods Canyon and Willow Springs are >8.5 inches. Go catch at state record before the year ends! The 105 Rd to Woods Canyon is closed temporarily. You can walk in to fish, but not drive. All other roads are open including the road to Big Lake, but use caution roads are icy and snow covered. Most lakes and rivers may have ice coverage or skim ice. Use caution. MOGOLLON RIM LAKES

4 *Skim ice may be present, use caution. The 105 Rd to Woods Canyon Lake is closed due to ice. No vehicles can access the Lake, however you can walk in. Roads are icy and snow packed. BEAR CANYON LAKE Fishing is excellent/good. The lake was stocked heavily with rainbow trout in September and is still fishing well! Rooster tails are working well. Float tubers fly fishing have been catching lots of trout. BLACK CANYON LAKE Fishing is poor and the water is low. CHEVELON LAKE Fishing is good for stocked rainbow trout and good for wild brown trout. The access to Chevelon Lake is difficult, requiring a long steep hike down to the dam area. Fishing regulations on Chevelon Creek upstream and downstream of the lake (to Chevelon Crossing) match lake regulations, artificial fly and lure only with a 2 trout daily bag limit. WILLOW SPRINGS LAKE Fishing is fair. The lake was stocked with rainbow trout in September for the last time! Boat fishing is good. The lake is fully mixed, allowing trout to be found at all depths. Tiger trout are more aggressive (like brown trout), try using lures from shore or trolling, but can be caught on PowerBait. Kastmasters, spinners, spoons, rapalas, or flies like wooly buggers, nymphs, or dry flies like parachute adams. Meal worms or night crawlers seem to be catching Tiger Trout as well. Tiger trout can be distinguished from rainbow trout by their worm-like or blotchy pattern on their body compared to the rainbow trout small black spots. Tiger Trout count toward your 6 trout bag limit. The campground is closed. Turn in your application for the state record, so far we only have 3 applications, with 8 inches being the largest caught and kept, and 10 inches being the largest kept and released! WOODS CANYON LAKE Lake is ice covered. 105 rd to lake is closed. You can walk into the lake. PINETOP/SHOW LOW/ST. JOHNS LAKES *Skim ice may be present at lakes use caution. FOOL HOLLOW LAKE Fishing is fair for trout. The lake was stocked heavily with rainbow trout in September and water quality has improved. Lake level is low, but boats are launchable. Lake is still open RAINBOW LAKE Fishing for trout is poor. The lake is low and weedy. Try fishing for bullheads or catfish using a worm on the bottom, or for green sunfish with a worm in rocky areas! SCOTT RESERVOIR Trout and catfish fishing is fair. Try fishing for catfish using chicken liver at night on the bottom. A fish consumption advisory (FCA) for mercury in largemouth bass

5 was issued by ADEQ. This FCA advises adults to eat only 2.5 ounces of largemouth bass per week and for children under 12 to eat 0.5 ounces per week. SHOW LOW LAKE Fishing is good for trout. The lake was stocked heavily in September with rainbow trout. Try trolling or casting Rapala type lures at dusk/night for Walleye. WOODLAND LAKE Lake is ice covered. PATTERSON PONDS This is a community fishing water in St. John s. A regular fishing or a community fishing license is required to fish here. Channel catfish and sunfish fishing is good. Catfish were stocked in October! The pond daily bag limits in community fishing waters (2 trout; 2 catfish; 5 sunfish) apply. WHITE MOUNTAIN LAKES *Skim ice may be present and some lakes may be frozen over. All roads are open and can be accessed but are ice covered and snow packed. BECKER LAKE Fishing is good. Try fishing with midges, minnow patterns, wooly buggers or pistol petes. Tiger trout catch rates are increasing. A recent survey found many colorful rainbow trout in the in range and colorful tiger trout in the inch range. Tiger trout are more aggressive and seem to like to chase their food, so try streamers stripped fast. Also, try fishing for them in rocky substrate. Becker Lake is open to catch-and-release only for trout, artificial fly and lure only; single barbless hooks only. No bait. No trout may be kept. Lake has some ice near the boat ramp, but is 90% open water. BIG LAKE 50% ice covered. Minimal fishing from shore. Boats are not able to be launched. CARNERO LAKE Ice Covered. CLEAR CREEK RESERVOIR Fishing is poor for trout, but fair for sunfish, bullheads, and bass. CONCHO LAKE Fishing is poor. The lake is stocked with trout only in the spring, but catfish were stocked in early summer and should still be biting. Try a night crawler on the bottom. CRESCENT LAKE Ice Covered. GREER LAKES (River; Tunnel; Bunch) Ice Covered. HULSEY LAKE Ice Covered.

6 LEE VALLEY LAKE Ice Covered. LUNA LAKE Ice Covered. LYMAN LAKE Lyman Lake State Park is open. Fishing is fair for bass, walleye, carp and catfish. Use corn or night crawlers for carp and catfish. NELSON RESERVOIR Fishing for trout is good. Fish may have sores from a parasite called Lernaea, however they are safe to eat. Nelson is 50% ice covered. The deeper, north end is open and boats can be launched here, but not at the south boat ramp. Fishing from piers is still possible. South end of lake is frozen. WHITE MOUNTAIN STREAMS *Skim ice may be present and some lakes may be frozen over. All roads are open but are icy and have snow pack. EAST FORK of the BLACK RIVER Fishing is good/fair. The stream was stocked in September. Wild brown trout are also present in the stream. May be frozen, use cation. LITTLE COLORADO RIVER in GREER Fishing is fair. The stream was stocked in September for the last time this year. Wild brown trout are also present in the stream. May be frozen, use caution. SHOW LOW CREEK Fishing is poor. The stream was stocked with rainbow trout in September. SILVER CREEK Fishing is good/fair. Bait fishing and harvest of trout is CLOSED. Regulations are catch and release with artificial flies and lures with single barbless hooks only. A protozoan infection called Ich hit rainbow trout in Silver Creek last month, causing significant stress, some mortalities of trout, and poor fishing, however, that bout of infection has passed. Fishing is good! This stream is ice free all year round. SHEEPS CROSSING/LCR Ice Covered.