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#91
All Other Lakes / Lake Powell Trip 2025
Last post by OneBlade - May 18, 2025, 02:37 PM
Many of our readers are not only avid crappie anglers but also hail from the Midwest or northern states where walleye fishing is popular. You might assume that because walleye are a cold-water species, you can't catch them in Arizona—but you'd be mistaken. Just a couple of hours north of Phoenix, Lake Mary offers opportunities to catch both walleye and northern pike. Or, head a few hours northeast to Show Low, where Fool Hollow Lake and Show Low Lake provide solid chances at landing a walleye. In fact, the current Arizona state record (16 lbs 1.76 oz, 31") was set at Show Low Lake in 2002. Farther east, Lyman Reservoir is also known for good walleye fishing.

If you plan to visit any of these lakes, be sure to review the Arizona Game and Fish Department's consumption advisories, as some waters have elevated mercury levels.

For over a decade, members of the Arizona Crappie Association have made an annual trip to Lake Powell in late April or early May. The journey typically begins in Phoenix on a Saturday, followed by an 8-hour scenic drive through Monument Valley—yes, the iconic route from Forrest Gump—and along the winding Moki Dugway (watch it here).  Members usually stay at either Halls Crossing or Bullfrog Marina, lodging in resort accommodations or campgrounds.

Each morning, anglers prep their gear and bait—often using bottom bouncers, Lindy rigs, harness rigs, or jigs tipped with nightcrawlers—then head out in search of walleye. Lake Powell is teeming with both walleye and striped bass, and because of their abundance, there are no catch limits on either species. Anglers are encouraged to harvest as many as they can.

After a full day on the water, the group gathers to clean their catch, pack it for the freezer, and enjoy a community meal together. The event lasts all week, with everyone heading home the following Saturday.

Visit the AZCA website Lake Powell Trip page for more pictures.
#92
All Other Lakes / May 2025 Fishing Report
Last post by OneBlade - May 18, 2025, 02:30 PM
Crappie Fishing Report
The following up-to-date 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.  Randy's guide service was mentioned in Crappie NOW, the biggest online crappie magazine publication in the US.

Alamo Lake
Crappie are out in 20-30ft of water with schools moving around and some crappie hanging around in structure.  Check out this YouTube video of Randy and AZCA member Matthew Picklesimer of AZ Lead Works making it look so easy catching those crappie recently at Alamo Lake. Be sure and Like the page and leave a comment!

Bartlett Lake
Fishing is still on fire at Bartlett Lake with fish everywhere roaming in schools. Bigger crappie can be caught in trees/structure 15-25ft deep.


Lake Pleasant
Fishing is good at Lake Pleasant and you can look for crappie stacked on top of trees in 20-30ft of water.


Roosevelt Lake
Look for scattered crappie in trees 20-30ft of water and fishing with minnows will give you your best chances.


San Carlos
Crappie fishing is still on fire - the crappie have moved out some so try fishing in 20ft of water, looking for trees/structure.


Other/Urban Lakes
Do you fish the urban lakes or other Arizona lakes for crappie? If so, please post your fishing report, if crappie related, in this forum.


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.
#93
General Discussion / Re: AZ Rattlers Group Tickets ...
Last post by SlabGrabber - May 15, 2025, 08:48 AM
The Games are played at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale. (former home of the Coyotes) Grab some tickets, help support the AZCA and get out and have a fun Saturday night with family & friends. :headbang:
#94
General Discussion / AZ Rattlers Group Tickets - Su...
Last post by OneBlade - May 15, 2025, 07:37 AM
We have an opportunity to do a fundraiser and purchase group tickets to one of the remaining AZ Rattlers games 6/14, 6/28, and 7/12.  We just need a minimum of 10 people to commit to buy a ticket and go to a specific game. The AZ Rattlers are 7-time champions, winning their last one in 2024.  Games are in Glendale at the Desert Diamond Arena and their schedule is here: https://azrattlers.com/sports/football/schedule/2025

If you're interested in joining us for a game, reply here with which date(s) you're available and how many tickets you would purchase. If we get enough interest, I'll setup the group order.
#95
Bartlett / Bartlett 5/9
Last post by OneBlade - May 09, 2025, 06:15 PM
Courtesy of Varn Chavez on Facebook:

Hit Bartlett this morning, and the bite was on. Boated about 30, kept 10... No monsters but no dinks. I caught a crappie on each of my first 4 casts at about 8:30 am. They weren't hammering the jigs, just biting, sometimes softly. I didn't come across any annoying bluegill for the first time in a while.
Yellow cliffs and North, on trees or bushes in  14-23ft of water, hitting on 6th sense yellow and white clobber minnow on 1/16 jig with an additional 1/16 bullet weight pegged about 14" above it. Tried orange/chartreuse and got chasers but only 1 committed.
Best was throwing past them and bringing the jig through or right above them.
Some bushes/logs in the water, especially at the North end. Yellow cliffs boat launch is closed.
Caught a crank bait out of a tree, too!
Best of luck this weekend!
#96
Bartlett / Re: Bartlett lake should rise ...
Last post by Onetime - May 06, 2025, 11:23 AM
Fished Barlett on Saturday the 3rd and the yellow cliff boat ramp was closed. Right at the cliffs was reading only 39ft. Past the no-wake buoys near the flats it got shallow real fast. Around Echo Bay was only 17ft deep. We went around the bend but turned back when it got to only 6ft deep. I don't think there's enough water to even float a boat at Ship Rock.

Between me and my friend we only caught 6 bass. We didn't see anyone else catch anything. One other fellow crappie fisherman said the crappie weren't even biting on minnows. Ran out of time and didn't get to try around the marina. Sure hope they do raise the lake level up 10ft on the 7th.

Ps: There were hundreds of campers along the flats. Lake was pretty busy with water goers, but mood was pleasant and everyone seemed to be respectful to one another. That alone made it a good day.
#97
Bartlett / Bartlett lake should rise 10'+...
Last post by Fishless - May 02, 2025, 08:12 AM
---------- 4/30/2025 UPDATE ---------- SRP plans to release water from Horseshoe Dam through the spillway along the Verde River into Bartlett Lake beginning approximately at 9:00 am Wednesday, May 7, 2025 through Wednesday, May 14, 2025 at the rate of approximately 2,000 cubic feet per second. Bartlett Lake will rise approximately 10 feet (1 to 2 feet per day) and Horseshoe Lake will drop about 10 feet over this period. Please plan accordingly for lake level changes.
#98
General Discussion / Art Chamberlin - 2025 Inductee...
Last post by OneBlade - May 01, 2025, 06:45 AM
Breaking news - Art Chamberlin to be inducted into the Arizona Outdoor Hall of Fame: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/AZGFD/bulletins/3de3c30

The 2025 inductees will be honored at the 27th annual Arizona Outdoor Hall of Fame banquet on Saturday, Aug. 23, at Hilton Phoenix Resort at the Peak at 7677 N. 16th Street in Phoenix. The evening will begin with a social hour fundraiser at 5 p.m. followed by dinner and the awards ceremony.

To purchase banquet tickets, visit https://www.wildlifefortomorrow.org/halloffame and scroll down to the appropriate link.

Stay tuned to https://www.wildlifefortomorrow.org/ as they plan to post biographical profiles.
#99
Upcoming Events / Re: Art Chamberlin Celebration...
Last post by OneBlade - April 27, 2025, 09:06 AM
Bob, yeah we were all bummed we couldn't attend because of the freeway closure.  We waited some hoping it would open up but had another Celebration of Life to get to back in the valley so wasn't able to drive the other route through Globe to get there.  Timbo from the club was able to attend and represent the AZCA for us though.  Here's a couple pictures he got.
#100
Upcoming Events / Re: Art Chamberlin Celebration...
Last post by Bob - April 26, 2025, 03:41 PM
I, like many others I'm sure tried to go today and got stopped on the beeline, stuck for hours only to be turned around with no other way there in time for 5:00.  I started early even with a 12:45 arrival.

Pretty bummed to not make it.  RIP Art old friend...