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#1
Alamo / Alamo Jan 10-11
Last post by OneBlade - January 14, 2025, 06:28 AMHeaded up to Alamo Lake early Friday am for the meeting. Fished 11am to 4pm and caught only 2 crappie. Used LiveScope to track and hunt down 1 or 2 or 3 roaming fish. Didn't find that many schools except a few areas and wasn't sure if they were crappie or not. Tommy FishMan arrived Fri night and we fished Saturday 7am-3pm and caught around 8 with our top one at 1.92lbs I think. All caught again same method hunting for roaming crappie 2ft to 30ft below surface in 30-40 ft of water and casting jigs at them. We did use jigs with minnow but mostly without. Caught some on nightcrawler (yes) and did find a larger school at the end of the day but couldn't capitalize on it (still not sure if they were crappie though). NCL tournament happened on Saturday and they did good. I overheard Mudshark's team (Brian, Matthew, and Gunner) caught 30 crappie but their top 5 didn't place them in the top 3. There's a skill with LiveScope and I'm still learning it for sure, but improving... Oh, Dave (sparkchaser) and Larry (cousinlll) tied for biggest crappie in the NCL tournament something like 2.06lbs or like that.
Reminder, everyone can post in these lake forums and it helps us all if you post your own fishing reports (mine are one-sided and limited). Plus, if you post here you get another entry in the prize giveaway here: https://forum.azcrappie.com/index.php/topic,5180.msg35550.html
And hope to see you all at the February 1 meeting at Roosevelt Lake: http://forum.azcrappie.com/index.php/topic,5188.0.html
Reminder, everyone can post in these lake forums and it helps us all if you post your own fishing reports (mine are one-sided and limited). Plus, if you post here you get another entry in the prize giveaway here: https://forum.azcrappie.com/index.php/topic,5180.msg35550.html
And hope to see you all at the February 1 meeting at Roosevelt Lake: http://forum.azcrappie.com/index.php/topic,5188.0.html
#2
Upcoming Events / Re: AZGFD Christmas Tree Drop ...
Last post by OneBlade - January 13, 2025, 06:14 PMAZCA member Patrick Middleton was able to help. He said there were probably 12 of so people working on the day he went. Amberlee at AZGFD said the project went well, and they put in around 1,625 trees and hit sections from the main body to the flats. It sounds like they had more help on Saturday as well.
#3
Upcoming Events / March Arizona Crappie Associat...
Last post by OneBlade - January 13, 2025, 06:56 AMThe Arizona Crappie Association (AZCA) March 2025 meeting will be held on Saturday, March 22nd at Alamo Lake and is open to members and non-members. The meeting will be held mid-afternoon (3-4pm) after the Mal Hiatt Memorial Crappie Tournament (previous known as Mule Deer Organization Crappie Tournament) weighin and announcement of winners. The meeting will be held at the large group site where many members will be camping.
If you're interested in learning about the Arizona Crappie Association and possibly joining the club, please attend the meeting and be sure and introduce yourself at the meeting. To learn about the AZCA and joining process, please read through our FAQ (https://azcrappie.com/contact/#faq).
Please like and follow us on https://www.facebook.com/arizonacrappie
Please follow us on Instagram @azcrappie at https://www.instagram.com/azcrappie/
If you have any questions, please create/login with your account in this forum and reply/comment on this announcement post.
If you're interested in learning about the Arizona Crappie Association and possibly joining the club, please attend the meeting and be sure and introduce yourself at the meeting. To learn about the AZCA and joining process, please read through our FAQ (https://azcrappie.com/contact/#faq).
Please like and follow us on https://www.facebook.com/arizonacrappie
Please follow us on Instagram @azcrappie at https://www.instagram.com/azcrappie/
If you have any questions, please create/login with your account in this forum and reply/comment on this announcement post.
#4
Alamo / Re: Alamo this past weekend.
Last post by Tweeder - January 06, 2025, 09:46 PMAwesome report slabgrabber!
#5
Bartlett / Re: SRP releasing water from h...
Last post by OneBlade - January 06, 2025, 07:07 AMQuote from: Fishless on January 06, 2025, 06:53 AM-------- Update 12/30/2024 --------Thanks Fishless - I did hear Yellow Cliffs was open again. Reminder, people can visit SRP website to get lake levels: https://streamflow.watershedconnection.com/Dwr
Main ramp Johoba is closed from Jan. 6th thru the 11th as SRP starts to remove construction equipment and barges from the lake. The Yellow Cliffs ramp is open now.
#6
Alamo / Re: Alamo this past weekend.
Last post by OneBlade - January 06, 2025, 06:54 AMNow that's what I call a fishing report, just like the old days. Thank you for sharing SlabGrabber! That style of fishing takes some skill to be able to track those crappie and cast multiple times in a row and essentially hit them in the head. I'm hoping to get out there next weekend and hope to give it a try. Thanks again for the tips.
#7
Bartlett / SRP releasing water from horse...
Last post by Fishless - January 06, 2025, 06:53 AM-------- Update 12/30/2024 -------- SRP plans to release water from Horseshoe Dam through the spillway along the Verde River into Bartlett Lake beginning approximately at 9:00 am on Monday, December 30, 2024, at a rate of approximately 2,000 cubic feet per second. The release will continue through much of January 2025. Bartlett Lake will rise approximately 4 feet over the course of the week and then maintain a relatively constant elevation through the remainder of this period. Please plan accordingly for lake level changes.
Main ramp Johoba is closed from Jan. 6th thru the 11th as SRP starts to remove construction equipment and barges from the lake. The Yellow Cliffs ramp is open now.
Main ramp Johoba is closed from Jan. 6th thru the 11th as SRP starts to remove construction equipment and barges from the lake. The Yellow Cliffs ramp is open now.
#8
Alamo / Alamo this past weekend.
Last post by SlabGrabber - January 06, 2025, 06:22 AM
Caught a lot of nice crappie once we figured things out. I have attached a map showing where we fished for two days. Funny thing is there were about 20 crappie boats in the same area and when we would catch the fish boats would swarm us. It was nuts! Don't worry about minnows or color of bait. Hit on all colors of jigs. Shad colored Bobby Garland worked best for me. Jigs just needed to be right in front of most of them or they would not hit them. Find the area and start looking on your graph for the suspended fish that aren't moving and target them. Most of the ones we caught were single or paired up. #9
All Other Lakes / January 2025 Crappie Fishing R...
Last post by OneBlade - January 05, 2025, 10:47 AMCrappie Fishing Report - January 2025
The following report was provided by AZ Crappie Sniper Guide Service. If you're interested in a guided trip for crappie contact Randy Howton at 623-640-9193 and randyhowton@yahoo.com.
Alamo Lake
Crappie fishing is still on fire with fish in all depths. You may find crappie 2ft down fishing in 60ft of water but also may find them lower down at different depths. You may fin schools but recent success is find singles and doubles roaming in open water. You may find a crappie "floatilla" but don't be afraid to try elsewhere as crappie are spread out in the lake. Randy has had success catching them using AZ Lead Works (AZCA member Matthew Picklesimer) 1/8oz chartreuse jig heads along with Get Out And Fish (Richard Johnson) Hickory Shad. No live bait needed. Use your electronics to find and chase those crappie, then cast jigs to them, and it may take multiple casts to catch that crappie.
Bartlett Lake
There are lots of smaller crappie that can be caught everywhere from just 15ft of water up in the river to 40ft on the tops of trees/structure. To catch the bigger crappie, you can find them below the smaller crappie schools. Jigs work better to get down to those bigger crappie. Randy is using AZ Lead Works (AZCA member Matthew Picklesimer) jig heads along with Get out And Fish (Richard Johnson) 2 1/2" Rip Shad to catch those bigger crappie.
Lake Pleasant
Lake Pleasant crappie fishing is improving, as now some of those smaller crappie from the successful spawn 2 years ago are growing up to be 12"+ keepers. The crappie are more found in deeper 40-50ft of water (try Humbug, Coles, and Castle Creek bays) so try casting 1/4oz or 3/8oz heavier jigs in trees and keep moving to new trees to find the one that is producing. Note with new 2025 AZGFD regulations there is a 15-crappie limit at Lake Pleasant. Also, plan on keeping the crappie you catch at these depths as they often will not survive if returned to the lake after being brought up from that depth.
Roosevelt Lake
Find tree tops in the 20-40ft range and keep moving until you find a tree with fish. Don't be afraid to cover a lot of water/trees. Try using jigs but a minnow setup with Aberdeen hook and split shot or heavier weight may be more productive when fishing the tops of trees.
Other/Urban Lakes
Do you fish the urban lakes or other Arizona lakes for crappie? If so, please email azcrappieassociation@gmail.com so we can include your report here.
Want to include your crappie fishing report, YouTube video, or fishing related event in this Newsletter or as an event posted on azcrappie.com? Or do you have a good article or video with useful crappie fishing information you think Arizona crappie fishermen would like? Email azcrappieassociation@gmail.com with the info.
The following report was provided by AZ Crappie Sniper Guide Service. If you're interested in a guided trip for crappie contact Randy Howton at 623-640-9193 and randyhowton@yahoo.com.
Alamo Lake
Crappie fishing is still on fire with fish in all depths. You may find crappie 2ft down fishing in 60ft of water but also may find them lower down at different depths. You may fin schools but recent success is find singles and doubles roaming in open water. You may find a crappie "floatilla" but don't be afraid to try elsewhere as crappie are spread out in the lake. Randy has had success catching them using AZ Lead Works (AZCA member Matthew Picklesimer) 1/8oz chartreuse jig heads along with Get Out And Fish (Richard Johnson) Hickory Shad. No live bait needed. Use your electronics to find and chase those crappie, then cast jigs to them, and it may take multiple casts to catch that crappie.
Bartlett Lake
There are lots of smaller crappie that can be caught everywhere from just 15ft of water up in the river to 40ft on the tops of trees/structure. To catch the bigger crappie, you can find them below the smaller crappie schools. Jigs work better to get down to those bigger crappie. Randy is using AZ Lead Works (AZCA member Matthew Picklesimer) jig heads along with Get out And Fish (Richard Johnson) 2 1/2" Rip Shad to catch those bigger crappie.
Lake Pleasant
Lake Pleasant crappie fishing is improving, as now some of those smaller crappie from the successful spawn 2 years ago are growing up to be 12"+ keepers. The crappie are more found in deeper 40-50ft of water (try Humbug, Coles, and Castle Creek bays) so try casting 1/4oz or 3/8oz heavier jigs in trees and keep moving to new trees to find the one that is producing. Note with new 2025 AZGFD regulations there is a 15-crappie limit at Lake Pleasant. Also, plan on keeping the crappie you catch at these depths as they often will not survive if returned to the lake after being brought up from that depth.
Roosevelt Lake
Find tree tops in the 20-40ft range and keep moving until you find a tree with fish. Don't be afraid to cover a lot of water/trees. Try using jigs but a minnow setup with Aberdeen hook and split shot or heavier weight may be more productive when fishing the tops of trees.
Other/Urban Lakes
Do you fish the urban lakes or other Arizona lakes for crappie? If so, please email azcrappieassociation@gmail.com so we can include your report here.
Want to include your crappie fishing report, YouTube video, or fishing related event in this Newsletter or as an event posted on azcrappie.com? Or do you have a good article or video with useful crappie fishing information you think Arizona crappie fishermen would like? Email azcrappieassociation@gmail.com with the info.
#10
Upcoming Events / Re: January Arizona Crappie As...
Last post by OneBlade - January 04, 2025, 07:46 AMThe meeting will be held around 3:30pm at the Campground E Ramanda, after the National Crappie League (NCL) tournament weighin.