Lake Pleasant

Water temperature reached 68-69 degrees by Wednesday afternoon. As of Monday, the water was still green and murky and there was large pieces of wood floating in the water.

That said, striped and largemouth bass fishing might be picking up. There have been some better reports during the past couple days. Live shad seems to be the ticket (and anchovies as usual).

There will be a new moon on Monday, making using submersible lights at night a great option for stripers.

Motorized access to the upper arm of the Agua Fria River at Lake Pleasant via Table Mesa Rd. will again be available thanks to a special development project of the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Boating Access Program. Through the cooperative efforts of the Department, the Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, this unique boating and fishing opportunity will be available each Friday through Sunday throughout the spring, beginning Friday, March 24. Operating hours are from 6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and regular park entry fees apply (exact change required).

Known by its formal name as the Agua Fria Conservation Area, it has historically been a spring time fishing hot spot for white, striped and largemouth bass, but is now also recognized as one of the premier paddlecraft waters in Arizona. With incredible views, calm waters and abundant wildlife, it is truly a must-see destination, and a great reason to get your watercraft back on the water.

With nights becoming increasingly more comfortable, moon phase consideration becomes important for anglers who want to catch striped bass at night. Pay close attention to a moon phase calendar.

Fish the darkest nights, like during a new moon. Submersible lights attract the plankton-shad-sport fish combination and anglers will be competing with brighter moons.

Catfishing can be decent using dead shad fished on the bottom with hot dogs, chicken liver, or anchovies. Some anglers will chum a cove overnight with corn and return to fish the same cove with corn – this can be an effective tactic for catching carp and catfish.

(Lake elevation 1,694 feet, 90 % full).

With nights becoming increasingly more comfortable, moon phase consideration becomes important for anglers who want to catch striped bass at night. We have a full moon this weekend, but pay attention to a moon phase calendar.

Fish the darkest nights, like during a new moon. Submersible lights attract the plankton-shad-sport fish combination and anglers will be competing with brighter moons.

The Arizona Fishing Guides reported, "Lake Pleasant is fishing a little tougher than normal this time of year. The stripers are there along with the largemouth but seem to be in that transition period of coming out of the deep water and moving into the shallower water. These fish can be caught on long points and channel breaks."

Catfishing can be decent using dead shad fished on the bottom with hot dogs, chicken liver, or anchovies. Some anglers will chum a cove overnight with corn and return to fish the same cove with corn – this can be an effective tactic for catching carp and catfish.

(Lake elevation 1,688 feet, 84 % full).

Look for the spring bite to pick up any week now, despite rains predicted for Saturday – be sure to check the weather before heading out. Best bet might be frozen anchovies in 65-75 feet in northern coves. Shore anglers can try throwing jigs and jerkbaits – target shoreline structures.

Some anglers continue having luck striper fishing in Castle Creek during late mornings and afternoons. Live shad continues to be a reliable bait. Try dropshot rigs for both.

An angler reported fishing Saturday, Feb. 4 and that fish were active after 1:30 p.m. in the back of Humbug. Smaller stripers were 30 feet down in a total of 65 feet of depth.

Catfishing can be decent using dead shad fished on the bottom with hot dogs, chicken liver, or anchovies. Some anglers will chum a cove overnight with corn and return to fish the same cove with corn – this can be an effective tactic for catching carp and catfish.

---- 21 lb Stripped bass caught Thursday

David Campbell had hooked Thursday afternoon. Whatever gulped his 1-ounce Kastmaster spoon at Lake Pleasant was alive.
After about 5 minutes of line-peeling action in the Castle Hot Springs area, the fish flashed in the water — it was a big striped bass.
Campbell, of Peoria, brought to our Phoenix headquarters Friday morning a striper that officially weighed 20.92 pounds and was 35 inches long — about 9 pounds short of a state record.

“The fight was sweet,” Campbell said. “It was pulling all the line out because we were trolling. So I told my partner to kick the motor out of gear so we could coast. I said, ‘This is a bull.'”

The inland waters, hook-and-line state record striper weighed 29 pounds, 13.76 ounces (45 1/4 inches). Bob Liddington caught that monster in 2010.


Water conditions: Stained (mossy green), light chop
Tackle: One-ounce Kastmaster spoon, 16-pound Stren MagnaThin line (green color to match the mossy green water)
Water depth: 12-14 feet
Moon phase: Waning gibbous (third quarter)
Presentation: Trolling at 900 rpms (about 2.5 mph)
Boat: Spectrum 19 1/2-foot

"Great day of fishing on one of Arizona's clearest lakes.Topwater bite was on all morning due to schools of shad being pushed up by striped and largemouth bass. Its early fall here in Arizona and the fishing couldn't be getting any better!"

(Lake elevation 1,688 feet, 84 % full).

Anchovies and live shad continue to be great baits – try dropshot rigs.

An angler reported fishing Saturday, Feb. 4 and that fish were active after 1:30 p.m. in the back of Humbug. Smaller stripers were 30 feet down in a total of 65 feet of depth.

So consider fishing northern coves during afternoons where there might be some pockets of warmer water. Shad can be found in the back of Castle Creek or Coles Bay. Anglers will need to keep finding different spots when netting shad. The ideal depth for shad has been 7-15 feet of depth near the shore.

Catfishing can be decent using dead shad fished on the bottom with hot dogs, chicken liver, or anchovies. Some anglers will chum a cove overnight with corn and return to fish the same cove with corn – this can be an effective tactic for catching carp and catfish.

This month in general, fishing in general has been decent for striped bass in northern coves, in 55-80 feet of water, using live shad. Humbug has been particularly good for stripers with anchovies in 60 feet of water depth. Jigging spoons in deep water and using Alabama rigs has been producing decent fish as well. With cooler water temperatures, the best bite might be from noon to sunset -- try Alabama rigs, Skinny Dipper paddle tails, or jig 1- to 1.5-ounce spoons. Live shad and anchovies are effective as well. Try the mouths of Humbug, Castle Creek or Coles Bay.

(Lake elevation 1,689 feet, 85 % full).

A new moon this weekend means fishing with submersible lights at night for striped bass and crappie could be the best option. Anchovies and live shad have been great baits – try dropshot rigs. Otherwise, fish northern coves during afternoons where there might be some pockets of warmer water. Shad can be found in the back of Castle Creek or Coles Bay. Anglers will need to keep finding different spots when netting shad. The ideal depth for shad has been 7-15 feet of depth near the shore.

Catfishing can be decent using dead shad fished on the bottom with hot dogs, chicken liver, or anchovies. Some anglers will chum a cove overnight with corn and return to fish the same cove with corn – this can be an effective tactic for catching carp and catfish.

This month in general, fishing in general has been decent for striped bass in northern coves, in 55-80 feet of water, using live shad. Humbug has been particularly good for stripers with anchovies in 60 feet of water depth. Jigging spoons in deep water and using Alabama rigs has been producing decent fish as well. With cooler water temperatures, the best bite might be from noon to sunset -- try Alabama rigs, Skinny Dipper paddle tails, or jig 1- to 1.5-ounce spoons. Live shad and anchovies are effective as well. Try the mouths of Humbug, Castle Creek or Coles Bay.