Hello all: Hi all, I'm new to the group usually fish Lake Pleasant or Bartlett Lake. I recently bought a boat, thought I'd catch more fish but I suck, I go every week and haven't been...

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Hello all

Arizona Fishing

Oct 16, 2023 14:42:41 #

Bwoods420 Loc: Arizona

Hi all, I'm new to the group usually fish Lake Pleasant or Bartlett Lake. I recently bought a boat, thought I'd catch more fish but I suck, I go every week and haven't been catching anything. What am I doing wrong? I use everything I have, spinners, spoons, drop shots, you name it I have tried it.

Oct 16, 2023 17:35:42 #

Flytier Loc: Wilmington Delaware

Well if you tried Ll the attractor combinations, try thinking like a fush and try PLACES they're most comfy in. WHERE do they like to hang out

Oct 16, 2023 20:13:21 #

Handyman85281 Loc: Peoria, AZ

This can be a tough time to fish Arizona as the lakes are turning over as they cool. Slow fishing Carolina Rigged lizards, worms, and grub type plastics can be productive for bass. Watermelon, pumpkin colors can work well. Fish shoreline to 15 foot depths. Small jigs with curly tailed grubs or crappie type plastics will work if you can located crappie. At Pleasant search Castle Creek and the Agua Fria river as the water cools.
Frozen anchovies from Walmart's sporting goods department will work for Striped Bass and catfish at Pleasant Rig them either with a plain jig head on your line or a sinker at the bottom with a snelled hook dropper or two up above the sinker.
Square bill crank baits will do well in shallower water. I like the shad patterns or the reddish/orange crawfish patterns.

Oct 16, 2023 21:28:44 #

Jim Sargent Loc: Payson, AZ

Bwoods,
When I first retired to Arizona I hired a guide for a few trips. It is amazing how much it helped. If you can find a way to afford it I bet it would help.
Jim

Oct 16, 2023 23:41:24 #

audigger53 Loc: Severn, MD

Also don't forget "Water Dogs" if you can find them.
See if you can find lake maps! Look at where the drop offs are as well as structure as you go to the drop offs. Lake maps are great for starting places to try. Did that way before fish/depth finders were out.

Oct 17, 2023 11:56:21 #

Bwoods420 Loc: Arizona

Thank you

Oct 17, 2023 11:57:12 #

Bwoods420 Loc: Arizona

Thank you, I have thought about that

Oct 17, 2023 11:58:29 #

Bwoods420 Loc: Arizona

Thanks, my fish finder is old and think it only works to find depth

Oct 17, 2023 11:59:27 #

Bwoods420 Loc: Arizona

I haven seen water dogs in years. Use to get them from water dog Willie's back in the day

Oct 17, 2023 12:57:30 #

Handyman85281 Loc: Peoria, AZ

I don't know of a place to get water dogs in AZ since Water Dog Willies shut down years ago. That area is now just a blank piece of land behind The Candy Store and there is a Quik Trip next door.
As far as lake maps go, they aren't really useful on Arizona's large reservoirs because of the water level fluctuations throughout the year. Many of the reservoirs change by 40'-60' from full capacity in the spring to low levels in the winter. What is a hump in 20' of water in March is 20' out of the water by October some years. Not only does this make locating fish difficult but it can play hell on boat props if you aren't paying attention.

If you look at the following link you will see Bartlett Lake is down 39' from capacity. Lake Pleasant is down 31'.

https://streamflow.watershedconnection.com/Dwr

http://www.cap-az.com/water/cap-system/water-operations/lake-pleasant/

Oct 17, 2023 13:10:39 #

Bwoods420 Loc: Arizona

I know, I was at Bartlett yesterday and couldn't believe how low the water was.

Oct 17, 2023 13:32:18 #

Handyman85281 Loc: Peoria, AZ

I drove out to Horseshoe Lake on Friday and then fished Bartlett from shore for a few hours. Horseshoe has more water than I've ever seen in it in the past 35 years but that 10 miles of gravel road will beat up a boat trailer and coat your boat with dust. My guess is since it has been at below 10% for so many years the few fish that were left are so spread out it wouldn't be the greatest fishing. On the other hand, many of those fish have never seen a lure!
Bartlett was slow Friday afternoon. I caught three small largemouth but they were all under 10". There was a kayak bass tournament there on Saturday so the place was packed with contestants pre fishing.

Oct 17, 2023 14:29:02 #

Bwoods420 Loc: Arizona

Ya I've been there when a tournament was going on and it was crazy, some dude got passed that I was in "his" spot. I just laughed

Oct 18, 2023 21:59:05 #

KR Loc: Phoenix az

SRP is having issues with valves at horseshoe and not able to release water. they are working on issue and next week will be releasing 2000 cfs for 4 days

Oct 21, 2023 20:32:05 #

RatherB.Fishn Loc: Arizona

Structure is the most important study in finding fish. Buy a Topo map of the lake. Figure the footage from the High Water mark to actual current water level and subtract from the Elevation shown on Topo Map. Look for points, ledges, slopes, sunken islands, rapid elevation changes, holes, old roadbeds, underwater bridges, etc.. These locations provide places to hide, to attack prey and to eat. Anything that may offer your target THE place they searched for. sun block, current changes, all manner of locations that offer some fish just the spot of their choosing. Then boat to a spot and analyze the existing structure for shade, logs, boulders, trees, weeds, predator attack spots, any structure that provides protection or food.
To sum up: Fish Structure!

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