Recent posts

#51

Bob Hirsch Crappie Classic / Re: 2025 Bob Hirch Crappie Cla...

Last post by OneBlade - October 19, 2025, 03:06 PM

More pictures

#52

Bob Hirsch Crappie Classic / 2025 Bob Hirch Crappie Classic...

Last post by OneBlade - October 19, 2025, 03:05 PM

The 2025 Arizona Crappie Association Bob Hirsch Crappie Classic event is in the books. We were blessed with some great weather for pre-fishing and on tournament day.  Team AZ Slab Hunters (James Rollins, Robert Geist) won with 7 crappie at total weight of 8.16 lbs and the Wild Willie Biggest Crappie at 1.44 lbs.  Many members arrived at camp as early as Wednesday to start prefishing.  With lake levels at 46% full, it left the AZGFD habitats in ideal depths to find plenty of crappie to catch. Friday night teams showed up and camped overnight at Windy Hill - no staying out late all were in bed early. On Saturday, many members also fished the Let's Talk Fishin' crappie tournament at the same time.  After the LTF winner's announcement, we headed back to camp and announced the winners or the AZCA event, then held our meeting, and then gave away over $500 worth of prizes in the raffle. We then had the fish fry potluck (everything was amazing) and capped off the night with a big campfire.

Thank you to Let's Talk Fishin' for weighing in all of our crappie (even those who didn't fish the LTF tournament). Thank you to James Rollins the AZCA Tournament Director for running the tournament and cleaning the fish. Thank you to Tommy Rufrano for running the raffle and being the best treasurer ever.  Thank you to Kevin Morgan and Rich Wheat for doing the fish fry - it was excellent!  Thank you to Tim Fitzgerald (Timbo) and Jeff Rankin for also cleaning fish. Thank you to Robert Geist for also helping coordinate the event with LTF.  Thank you to Leon and Bobby DeLong for bringing firewood and marshmallows or the campfire. Thank you to Randy Howton (AZ Crappie Sniper Guide Service) for the monthly fishing reports and providing the BnM Diamond Series rod, Sam Heaton rod, and Canyon Cooler raffle prizes. Thank you to Get Out and Fish (Richard Johnson) for donating 2 crappie kits for the raffle.  Thank you to Mudshark Marine (Brian Bernard) for donating lots and lots of prizes for the raffle.  Thank you to AZ Lead Works (Matthew Picklesimer) for providing the jig/weight kits for the raffle. Thank you to Liars Korner for always having fresh minnows available for all AZ crappie fishermen.  Thank you to everyone else who helped out, brought food for the potluck, and the work you do behind the scenes to make the AZCA persist as the longest running crappie fishing club in Arizona.

#53

Bob Hirsch Crappie Classic / 2025 Bob Hirsch Crappie Classi...

Last post by OneBlade - October 19, 2025, 02:41 PM

The Arizona Crappie Association Bob Hirsch Crappie Classic 2025 is in the books!  Your winners for heaviest bag of 7 crappie was the AZ Slab Hunters team consisting of James Rollins and Robert Geist. Their 7 crappie weighed in at 8.16 lbs, so they get to take home the Art Chamberlin cup for the year. They also won the Wild Willie Biggest Crappie with a weight of 1.44 lbs. They also won the Let's Talk Fishin' crappie tournament with those weights. 8 teams competed in this year's AZCA event with 2nd place going to "4 Guys in a Little Boat" (Tommy Rufrano and Frank Kroehler) with a weight of 7.69 lbs and 3rd place going to Leon and Bobby DeLong with a weight of 6.63 lbs.

#54

Bob Hirsch Crappie Classic / Re: 2025 Bob Hirsch Crappie Cl...

Last post by OneBlade - October 15, 2025, 04:34 PM

I'm bringing my cornhole boards so bring your A game.  Also, since we'll be having the fish fry at someone's campsite, we might want a few more tables. If you have an extra camp table, bring it please.  Bring wood for fire as well if you want that.

#55

Bob Hirsch Crappie Classic / Re: 2025 Bob Hirsch Crappie Cl...

Last post by Fishless - October 15, 2025, 03:40 PM

US 60 is partially back open with one lane so only one direction can proceed at a time, not sure how they are directing traffic?

#56

Bartlett / Re: Update on Bartlett lake

Last post by Fishless - October 15, 2025, 03:38 PM

TNF put a closure order on Johoba ramp on Sept. 27 thru November 15? due to low water and now TNF office is closed due to government shut down so even with the additional water there are no postings anywhere on whether the ramp is open or not? or anyone around from TNF to open the gates?

#57

Bob Hirsch Crappie Classic / Re: 2025 Bob Hirsch Crappie Cl...

Last post by OneBlade - October 14, 2025, 06:56 AM

*US 60 CLOSURE*
Due to flooding in the Globe/Miami area, US 60 is closed in both directions between mileposts 227 and 244.
Motorists heading to Globe/Miami from Phoenix have two options:
▪️US 60 eastbound to southbound State Route 177 and then northbound on State Route 77.
▪️Northbound on State Route 87 and then southbound on State Route 188.
Motorists heading to Phoenix from Globe/Miami have two options:
▪️Southbound on State Route 77 and then northbound on State Route 177 back to US 60 westbound. 
▪️Northbound on State Route 188 and then south on State Route 87 to reach the Phoenix metro area.
There is no estimated time to reopen the highway.
For real-time traffic info, check http://az511.gov and the AZ511 app:
📱Apple: https://tinyurl.com/AZ511Apple
📱Android: https://tinyurl.com/AZ511Android

#58

Bartlett / Re: Update on Bartlett lake

Last post by OneBlade - October 14, 2025, 06:54 AM

Glad to see Bartlett lake rising again.  Old time member Desert Rat posted some info in the Bartlett Lake Life group showing it getting hammered by the storms.  I assume all dam work is done and we can sort of expect more stability and soon launch at Yellow Cliffs in a few weeks?

#59

Bartlett / Update on Bartlett lake

Last post by Fishless - October 13, 2025, 10:27 AM

Update 10/9/2025: SRP will continue to release water from Horseshoe Dam at a rate of approximately 1,800 cfs through the spillway along the Verde River into Bartlett Lake ,that began on 10/7, for an additional week through 10/20.  Storm events impacting Arizona over the next week may result in additional inflow into Horseshoe Lake that could vary release rates and lake level changes.  Over the next week, Horseshoe Lake levels may begin rising  (rather than current decline) depending on actual inflows and Horseshoe release could vary between 1,000 to 3,000 cfs over this period. Bartlett Lake will continue to consistently rise between 1 to 3 feet per day during this period. Please plan accordingly for lake level changes. Updates will be made, as necessary.

#60

Bob Hirsch Crappie Classic / Re: 2025 Bob Hirsch Crappie Cl...

Last post by OneBlade - October 13, 2025, 07:54 AM

I'm planning on doing a campfire on Friday and Saturday either my camp or wherever the festivities are at.  Weather looks great for it.  Hopefully you can all join.  If you can, please bring a bag of firewood.