Arizona Fishing Report: Colorado River

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Arizona Fishing Report


Lakes & Reservoirs	Rivers

Colorado River Sponsored by
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Date	18-Nov-09
Water Condition
Water Temperature

Conditions : COLORADO RIVER: BELOW DAVIS DAM One angler reported catching good size trout and small stripers in the area of Veterans Bridge. The striper bite has been pretty good. Trout stocking resumed Tuesday October 13th. Rainbow trout are stocked by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service monthly. The next scheduled stocking is for November 10th. The fish are stocked in two locations; Davis Camp and near The Riverside. Trout fishing at the stocking sites is great immediately following the stockings, then the fish move out and you need to find them. Anglers typically report catching trout on the Arizona side across from the Riverside and off the shore of Davis Camp. USFWS will be stocking trout once a month from October until March. Remember to fish for trout, you need a trout stamp on Class A and Lifetime fishing licenses. The 2009 Class A Fishing License goes on sale for half price in November and December. Community Park is good place for the morning fishing. Anchovies work best for catching stripers, but you may also catch catfish and trout.

he water level will go up later in the day, but it will drop after sunset. Water levels on the river fluctuate, so be careful. You can check the Bureau of Reclamation Web site for flow predictions http://www.usbr.gov/lc/riverops.html before you go. If you fish the river below Davis Dam and are having luck, please e-mail me at mchmiel@azgfd.gov so I can share your successes with others.

LITTLE COLORADO RIVER SHEEP CROSSING Fishing is poor to fair. Most of the stocked Apache trout have been caught by anglers. The stream is at base flows. The trout stocking season has ended. Try drifting worms, corn, salmon eggs, and Power Bait through pools or casting small lures such as spinners (Mepps, Rooster Tail, and Panther Martin), spoons such as Super Dupers, Z-rays, and KastMasters, and flies such as wooly worms, and small nymphs in black, brown or green colors. Try the following dry flies; parachute adams, humpies, and caddis fly patterns.

LITTLE COLORADO RIVER GREER Fishing is fair. The stream is at base flows. The trout stocking season has ended but there is a resident population of wild brown trout in the river. Most of the stocked trout have been caught by anglers. Try drifting worms, Power Bait, corn, and salmon eggs through pools or casting small lures such as spinners (Mepps, Rooster Tail, and Panther Martin), spoons such as Super Dupers, Z-rays, and KastMasters, and flies such as wooly worms, and small nymphs in black, brown or green colors. Try the following dry flies; parachute adams, humpies, and caddis fly patterns.

Reported by: Arizona F& G

Hatches:	Patterns	Lures & Spinners


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Misc Info: - COLORADO RIVER OUTLOOK (from Palo Verde to Yuma) This area should be fair for both smallmouth bass (in the channel) and largemouth bass (in the backwaters) throughout the entire area. Channel and flathead catfish are always fair to good in this section of the Colorado River. Most of the flathead catfish will be in the 2 to 5 pound size range with an occasional fish over 30 pounds. The time for fishing for both species of catfish is in the evening to midnight. Colorado River (between Walter's Camp and Picacho State Park) This section of the Colorado River is relatively remote and can only be accessed by boat from either end. Fishing is expected to be fair to good for flathead catfish with sizes over 40 pounds. The best time for fishing for both species of catfish will be in the evening to midnight. Largemouth bass and bluegill are also present in the various backwaters and slack water areas. Other species available in the main river are smallmouth bass, and striped bass. Colorado River (between Picacho State Park and Imperial Dam This area is expected to be fair to good for largemouth bass, channel catfish, and flathead catfish. Bass and channel catfish in excess of 5 pounds are present along with flathead catfish as large as 40 pounds. Bluegills are also present in the various backwaters and an occasional striped bass will be caught in the main river channel. Colorado River (between Laguna and Morelos dams This area will be fair for largemouth bass and flathead catfish. Bass in excess of 5 pounds are common and flathead catfish over 20 pounds are a good bet. In this area, accessibility to the river is dependent on the amount of water being released. Usually shallow draft boats work the best. The lower end has had some dredging work done and the larger boat will be able to get on the river in that area.