Water temperature has been 67-70 degrees. Majority of bass are in post-spawn. The top-water bite had been poor last weekend, but with calm, warm weather this week, top-water action could pick up. Try fishing shallow early in the morning (2-5 feet) with crankbaits, spinnerbaits and chatterbaits and switching to dropshots and Texa rigs. Gary Senft, the Bass Pro at the Mesa Bass ProShops, said Texas-rigged baby brush hogs in watermelon red and watermelon gold, as well as morning dawn Roboworms, have been effective. Senft said the trick is to keep moving and cover a lot of water, fishing shoreline points, islands and REEF buoys. Don’t forget the Bartlett Lake Marina is now open. See www.bartlettlake.com or contact 480-221-0503 for more information. Note: The Arizona Catfish Conservation Association, a 501c3 non-profit club based in Arizona, is asking anyone who catches a tagged flathead or channel catfish at Lake Pleasant or Bartlett Lake to note the number of the tag, along with any other information such as weight, length or girth, GPS coordinates (if available) and then visit www.catfishaz.com.
Bartlett Lake is full and the water is clearing up. Bass fishing is good in 2-12 feet from the dam to the river using crankbaits, spinner baits (white or chartreuse) and baby brush hogs (watermelon red). Texas-rigs worms aren’t producing as much as the brush hogs. Bass are all phases of spawn. Visibility is about 1 foot deep.
Water temperatures on Wednesday, March 8 were 54 degrees and warming to 58 at midday. Bass fishing remains tough but will quickly pick up. On Wednesday morning, the lake was white-capping and the water is still dirty. Shad are spread out and had moved into 5-15 feet of water. Gary Senft, a Bass Pro at the Mesa Bass Pro Shops, fished from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. that day and said fishing was difficult but fish were nice-sized and in 3-10 feet of water. Best bets were brush hogs and Texas-rigged lizards. Look for bass to be following shad, and so the bass have not been in the same location from one day to another. In the morning, fish dropshots, Texas rigs, jigs, spinnerbaits or crankbaits. Once the sun comes up, fish in 20-30 feet of water over points, humps, reefs, etc.
Lake elevation is 1,795 feet, feet, 95 % full. With more rain expected for Saturday, and winter run-off keeping the lake temperatures from warming, the best bet remains fishing the main lake. The dropshot has been a productive rig using morning dawn-colored Roboworms, as well as jigs, Texas rigs and a new J rig. See a video of how to use a J rig at Bartlett during the winter. Look for bass to be following shad, and so the bass have not been in the same location from one day to another. In the morning, fish dropshots, Texas rigs, jigs, spinnerbaits or crankbaits. Once the sun comes up, fish in 20-30 feet of water over points, humps, reefs, etc. Be ready for a subtle bite – winter bass are lethargic and more likely than in the fall or spring to hit a bait as its falling. It’s also a particularly good time to try jigs or worms in watermelon or green pumpkin. The Yellow Cliffs boat ramp has once again opened -- there was 30 feet of water depth at the ramp on Thursday. For one, this can be a good crappie area. Fish in deeper water off cliff walls during the winter, targeting underwater brush and ledges.
Lake elevation is 1,784 feet, feet, 81 % full. Water temperatures should be warming – look for fishing to improve from now until July. The whole lake has been discolored this week and the best bet is fishing the main lake. The dropshot has been a productive rig using morning dawn-colored Roboworms, as well as jigs, Texas rigs and a new J rig. See a video of how to use a J rig at Bartlett during the winter. Look for bass to be following shad, and so the bass have not been in the same location from one day to another. In the morning, fish dropshots, Texas rigs, jigs, spinnerbaits or crankbaits. Once the sun comes up, fish in 20-30 feet of water over points, humps, reefs, etc. Be ready for a subtle bite – winter bass are lethargic and more likely than in the fall or spring to hit a bait as its falling. It’s also a particularly good time to try jigs or worms in watermelon or green pumpkin. The Yellow Cliffs boat ramp has once again opened -- there was 30 feet of water depth at the ramp on Thursday. For one, this can be a good crappie area. Fish in deeper water off cliff walls during the winter, targeting underwater brush and ledges.
Lake elevation is 1,780 feet, feet, 75 % full. The lake level has risen 8 feet (10-percent change) during the past week. High inflows of cold water seems to have slowed bass fishing, but with calmer, sunnier days, fishing could turn on any day. The whole lake ahs been discolored this week and the best bet is fishing the main lake. The dropshot has been a productive rig using morning dawn-colored Roboworms, as well as jigs, Texas rigs and a new J rig. Look for bass to be following shad, and so the bass have not been in the same location from one day to another. In the morning, fish dropshots, Texas rigs, jigs, spinnerbaits or crankbaits. Once the sun comes up, fish in 20-30 feet of water over points, humps, reefs, etc. Be ready for a subtle bite – winter bass are lethargic and more likely than in the fall or spring to hit a bait as its falling. It’s also a particularly good time to try jigs or worms in watermelon or green pumpkin. The Yellow Cliffs boat ramp has once again opened -- there was 30 feet of water depth at the ramp on Thursday. For one, this can be a good crappie area. Fish in deeper water off cliff walls during the winter, targeting underwater brush and ledges.
