Due the the cold temps, baits like top-water lures such as frogs or walk-the-dog type of baits, or reaction baits like spinnerbaits or crankbaits are not going to be quite as successful as during the warmer months, though it never hurts to have them rigged up just in case.
For largemouths, it is generally best to fish around structure such as weedbeds, emergent vegetation, boat docks, or artificial habitat. Early in the winter, smallmouth bass will generally be in deep water and occasionally will be difficult to locate.
As the winter progresses, smallmouths will generally move shallower in preparation for the spawn. Targeting smallmouth will generally require anglers to fish different locations than largemouths; it is usually best to fish rocky points, ridges, shorelines, or canyons. As with largemouth bass fishing, the key to success will be fishing slowly. Many of the same baits work for both large and smallmouth bass. Striper fishing was fairly good throughout most of the fall, we have been getting a few reports of limits of stripers, though the limits have been tending to consist mostly of 12 to 16 inch fish.
There is still a chance of catching a plus pound fish, but not as good as in years past. Using live shad for bait is a good bet any time of the year. Using your electronics to find schools of threadfin or gizzard shad will generally help you locate stripers, as these fish are the main forage for striped bass in Lake Havasu. As always, fishing on the bottom or trolling with live shad or cut anchovies should be a good bet.
Use top-water lures, spoons, or swimbaits that resemble shad to take advantage of these boils. Night fishing with dead bait for stripers is another option that may be successful.
When doing this, anchor on a point near a drop off and fish with cut anchovies or threadfin shad. To increase your chances of success, bring some underwater lights to attract both bait and stripers.
The redear sunfish fishing should continue to be world class, and the winter should provide some great fishing! Lake Havasu continues to host the state and world record for redear sunfish with a monster of 5 pounds and Even during January, tournament anglers have needed five-fish bags weighing around 20 pounds to win the tournament and it has not been uncommon to catch bass of more than 5 pounds and some even approaching 10 pounds.
Fishing will pick up as the water temperatures warm up during the spring from the upper low 60s in early March to the upper 80s in May. To catch largemouth bass use top-water lures such as frogs or walk-the-dog type of baits, or spinnerbaits in the early morning and then switch to jigs, crankbaits, or swimbaits as the day progresses.
Using plastic baits that resemble worms, crawdads, frogs, or lizards often work well. It is generally best to fish around structure such as weedbeds, emergent vegetation, boat docks, or artificial habitat. For smallmouth bass it is usually best to fish rocky points, ridges, shorelines, or canyons. Most people use top-water lures, lipless crankbaits or jigs in the mornings and evenings. Striper fishing has been getting better in recent years. Bigger fish have become more common in the last year, we even received a report of a 38 inch and over 30 pound striper that was caught recently!
Using live shad for bait is a good bet any time of the year. During March, stripers will probably be found in deeper water, and fishing on the bottom or trolling with live shad or cut anchovies should be a good bet. The redear sunfish fishing in Lake Havasu should continue to be world class and the March to May time period is generally the best time to target these large panfish! Lake Havasu continues to host the state and world record for redear sunfish with a monster of 5 pounds and Redear sunfish in the 2-pound range and larger are regularly caught: During our fall survey we captured 26 fish of more than 13 inches in length.
Bluegill and redear can be caught around structure such as docks, vegetation, or artificial structure using mealworms, night crawlers, or small crappie jigs. For flathead catfish, it is best to use live bait such as bluegill or small common carp.
Flathead catfish are relatively uncommon in the upper part of the lake, but much more abundant in the lower half, especially in the vicinity of the Bill Williams River arm of the reservoir.
Flatheads can be caught any time of the year but your best bet will be at night during May. Large carp are abundant in the lake and can provide some exciting fishing. Twenty to pound Carp are not uncommon. Most people use canned corn or dough balls. Colorado River Parker Strip area Fishing Rating: Good Largemouth and smallmouth bass fishing in the Parker Strip should continue to be good, as it has been the past several years.
Our Region 4 aquatic wildlife program caught abundant bass in the 2 to 4 pound range in November of survey. As a general rule, smallmouth bass are more common in upstream stretch of river towards Parker Dam and decrease in abundance as you progress down the river, whereas largemouth are the opposite in that they are more common in the lower sections of river near Headgate Rock Dam and decrease in abundance as you progress upstream.
The middle stretches should offer a multi-species fishing opportunity that few places in Arizona can match. Fishing for both species should pick up as the water temperatures warm up from March to May.
Takora
Fishing will pick up as the water temperatures warm up during the spring from the upper low 60s in early March to the upper 80s in May. Many of the same baits and techniques used for largemouth bass will be effective for smallmouth bass as well. The major impediment for good fishing on Alamo Lake this spring could be water clarity, if the water clears up quickly following the large inflows then fishing should be very good, if it does not then fishing may be pretty slow just due to the fact that the fish are unable to see your lures or baits.
Dilkis
Trolling jigs tipped with minnows or small crankbaits in 10 — 25 feet of water around cover should produce this spring.
Zuk
Trolling jigs tipped with minnows or small crankbaits in 10 — 25 feet of water around cover should produce this spring.
Maulkree
As always, fishing on the bottom or trolling with live shad or cut anchovies should be a good bet. Plastics may be the best option; some of the best plastic baits for Havasu are weightless Texas-rigged Ikas, Roboworms on a dropshot rig, or weightless Texas-rigged senkos. Use top-water lures, spoons, or swimbaits that resemble shad to take advantage of these boils. Crappie fishing should start off excellent in March and progressively slow down as the water warms up in May.
Taugul
Fishing should continue to be good as the water temperatures fall from the upper lower 60s in December to the 50s later in the winter. Plastics may be the best option; some of the best plastic baits for Havasu are weightless Texas-rigged Ikas, Roboworms on a dropshot rig, or weightless Texas-rigged senkos. Channel catfish will be good to excellent this spring and throughout the summer. Redear sunfish in the 2-pound range and larger are regularly caught: During our fall survey we captured 26 fish of more than 13 inches in length. This underutilized fishery could provide lots of fun for anglers willing to try something different.
Kagataur
Redear will bite on meal worms, nightcrawlers or small crappie jigs. To catch largemouth bass use top-water lures such as frogs or walk-the-dog type of baits, or spinnerbaits in the early morning and then switch to jigs, crankbaits, or swimbaits as the day progresses. About Havasu Guide. The middle stretches should offer a multi-species fishing opportunity that few places in Arizona can match. Flathead catfish are relatively uncommon in the upper part of the lake, but much more abundant in the lower half, especially in the vicinity of the Bill Williams River arm of the reservoir. There are other fish present such as bluegill, redear sunfish, tilapia and common carp that are a lot of fun to catch.
Tuzuru
Channel catfishing gere is generally underutilized by anglers. Fishing should continue to be good as the water temperatures fall from the upper lower 60s in December to the 50s later in the winter. Most people use top-water lures, lipless crankbaits or jigs in the mornings and evenings. The middle stretches should offer a multi-species fishing opportunity that few places in Arizona can match. Fishing will pick up as the water temperatures warm up during the spring from the upper low 60s in early March to the upper 80s in May.
Nilabar
For flathead catfish, it is best to use live bait such as bluegill or small common carp. Early in the winter, smallmouth bass will generally be in deep water and occasionally will be difficult to locate. Colorado River Parker Strip area Fishing Rating: Good Largemouth and smallmouth bass fishing in the Parker Strip should continue to be good, as it has been the past several years. Plastics may be the best option; some of the best plastic baits for Havasu are weightless Texas-rigged Ikas, Roboworms on a dropshot rig, or weightless Texas-rigged senkos. To increase your chances of success, bring some underwater lights to attract both bait and stripers. As of the writing of this forecast, the lake has risen 26 feet since the since the middle of January and is nearly as high as back in the spring of
Yozshujinn
Lake Havasu continues to be ranked as one of the top places to fish for bass in the country! Bluegill and redear can be caught around structure such as docks, vegetation, or artificial structure using mealworms, nightcrawlers, flies or small crappie jigs. Water temperatures should rise from highs in early March to lows by the end of May causing fishing to be slower at the beginning of March and to pick up as the spring progresses. Channel catfish will be good to excellent this spring and throughout the summer. Many of the same baits work for both large and smallmouth bass. Redear will bite on meal worms, nightcrawlers or small crappie jigs.
Tulkree
Smallmouth bass fishing should be best near slackwater areas, rocky points or docks. Black crappie fishing could be good this spring! Twenty to pound carp are not uncommon. Striper fishing was fairly good throughout most of the fall, we have been getting a few reports of limits of stripers, though the limits have been tending to consist mostly of 12 to 16 inch fish. Redear will bite on meal worms, nightcrawlers or small crappie jigs.
Gardarg
Largemouth bass fishing should be good this spring on Alamo Lake! As of the writing of this forecast, the lake has risen 26 feet since the since the middle of January and is nearly as high as back in the spring of Smallmouth bass fishing should be best near slackwater areas, rocky points or docks.