Get Hot Summer Bass Action In the Cool Pine Country

By Rory K. Aikens

Courtesy Arizona Wildlife Views Magazine

            The reflection of tall Ponderosa pine trees and puffball clouds on the lake’s surface was slightly disturbed by a topwater bass plug being slowly chugged across the surface.

            Not for long.

            A surface explosion despoiled that serene image when a large fish smacked the wounded minnow imitation.

            The action on that sleepy summer’s afternoon got plenty of attention from other anglers sitting quietly along the shoreline or just lazing around in their boats. They were amazed that such a large, feisty fish was landed during the afternoon fishing lull.

            “Whatyagot there,” asked one excited angler who had steered his boat over to the action.

            “About a three-pound bass,” I responded.

            “Ya gotta be kidding. What’s a bass doin’ here in a trout lake?” he protested.

            Trout lake or not, Willow Springs Lake on the Mogollon Rim above Payson has largemouth bass. That particular bass was full of crayfish, which can also be abundant in high country trout waters (please catch and eat all the crayfish you can).

            There are a host of high country lakes in the cool pines that can offer hot action in the summer for warmwater fish such as bass, channel catfish and sunfish. Some even have walleye. Many have northern pike, yellow perch or crappie.

            There’s a fishing smorgasbord waiting for you in the high country. So when planning your high country fishing trip, check to see if the lake you are visiting has trout and warmwater fish.

            One of the best sources to find out what lakes have what fish, is the “Arizona Fishin’ Holes” published by the Arizona Game and Fish Department. It’s available from any department office and some bookstores. It not only tells what fish are in what lakes, but what facilities are there as well, along with maps to help get you there. You can get some information from the Department’s Internet Home Page at www.azgfd.com. Or just keep reading this article.

            Willow Springs Lake on the Mogollon Rim above Payson is one fishery that holds summer bass surprises. I like to fish at first light for trout, go back to camp, have breakfast, maybe take a nice nap (almost a necessity anymore), and then hit the water again in the early afternoon to fish for bass.

            If you want to use your lightweight trout outfit for bass, try using a small split shot and a four-inch Power Worm or Power Lizard on a No. 4 or 5 hook. Then slowly work the bottom around the stickups. Bass-type crankbaits can also work. On one trip, I didn’t catch any bass during the afternoon foray but did latch onto a 16-inch-long brown trout using a Shad Wrap along the steep drop-off near the dam. Using bassin’ techniques can produce some trout surprises as well.

Show Low Lake

            This productive fishery within the city limits of Show Low is popular with trout anglers. For many, the drawing card for this lake is the large walleye lurking in its depths. The state record walleye weighing 12 pounds, 14.4 ounces was caught by Otis Kingsbury of Lakeside on Oct. 15, 2000. Game and Fish surveys have shown walleye in Show Low Lake well in excess of the state record. Show Low also has sunfish, channel catfish and largemouth bass.

            My favorite fishing strategy here is slowly trolling a shallow-running lure for trout, and a deep-running lure for the walleye. Having walleye and trout on the camp grill is a gourmet delight. Plus, the walleye can be difficult to catch at times and I like catching fish – of any kind.

            A good trick for enticing walleye is putting a small piece of night crawler on the deep diving lure’s treble hooks. As any Midwestern angler can tell you, walleye love worms. The more traditional walleye anglers use “worm rigs.” Walleye are light sensitive, so fishing at first and last light are typically the most productive times.

Upper Lake Mary

        If you are looking for a high country lake with lots of fishing variety, then visit Upper Lake Mary near Flagstaff. It has walleye, northern pike, crappie and channel catfish. For walleye, try trolling silver and black colored Rapalas, especially in the evening.

        Lake Mary also has the distinction of being one of the few waters in the state with yellow perch. Many anglers like to fish for perch and crappie simultaneously in summer. A good bait for such combination fishing is mealworms. Also try a green and white mini jig about two or three feet under a bobber.

        In the spring, some anglers were catching channel catfish up to six and seven pounds. Summer nights are just made for catfishing along Lake Mary’s shoreline and sometimes watching shooting stars reflected on the water. If you have a two-pole stamp, set up one rod with scented bait for catfish and the other with a night crawler to attract any marauding walleye, perch, crappie or largemouth. Using water dogs is a good bet, because you might even land a large pike or bass.

        Personally, what I like about Upper Lake Mary is that I can take my bass boat – there are no boat motor size restrictions there. It is nice to camp in the pines, have Flagstaff amenities close by, and fish for warmwater species. There are also plenty of trout fishing nearby at places like Ashurst. Ashurst deserves a mention here because of the illegally introduced northern pike there – please catch and keep all the pike you can.

Long Lake

        Long Lake is always a contender for monster walleye, lunker bass, toothy pike and colorful trout. One youthful angler last summer reported catching a seven-pound walleye and a four-pound bass on the same day. Young or old, that’s quite a thrill.

        This long, thin lake in the pinyon-juniper country on the eastern edge of Anderson Mesa can be one of the best lakes to fish in the state – when the bite is going.

        For walleye, try red and green night crawler harnesses or lead-headed jigs with four-inch curly-tailed grubs with a small piece of night crawler on the hook

        Long Lake can also produce some nice trout up to 18 inches long and some pretty nice catfish as well. If you go, be sure to fill out the creel cards there so we can assess the trout fishing.

        Adjacent to Long Lake you can try Soldiers Annex and Soldiers Lake for pike, catfish, sunfish and bullfrogs.

Fools Hollow

        If you want a great variety of fish, and superb camping spots in the pines, this is the place. Don’t be fooled by the fact that this State Park sits inside the City Limits of Show Low – it has the total feel of a high country lake in the tall ponderosa pines.

        This park has shiny new facilities to go along with a sparkling jewel of a lake that boasts trout, walleye, catfish, sunfish and even smallmouth bass. In fact, this is the only fishery in the White Mountain area with smallmouth bass.

        There is a launch ramp and even fishing piers. Shore angling is very viable here. In fact, on a recent visit the shore anglers seemed to be catching more trout than the boat anglers.

        This is a lake where I personally like to slow troll for trout and walleye during the low light hours of early morning or at twilight, then bottom fish during the bright sunlight of day using night crawlers to try for bass, catfish, trout and walleye. Late afternoon is a good time to work small crayfish looking baits in the shallows along the rocky shelf areas, especially near the dam, for smallmouth and possibly walleye as well.

        It’s just a fun lake to fish because it offers so much variety. Try it once, and you will return time and again.

Other Waters

        Here are some other waters to consider. Kaibab Lake near Williams for crappie, largemouth and catfish. Nelson Reservoir near Round Valley for crappies. Try Scott’s Reservoir in Pinetop-Lakeside for bass, catfish and sunfish. Santa Fe Lake near Williams for crappie, sunfish, catfish and yellow perch. Ashurst Lake for crappie.

        Watson Lake near Prescott for largemouth bass, crappie, sunfish and catfish. Whitehorse Lake near Williams for largemouth bass, sunfish and catfish. Kinnickinick for catfish. Deadhorse Lake near Cottonwood for largemouth bass, sunfish and catfish.

                Also try Cataract Lake, Coconino Reservoir, Goldwater Lake, Kinnikinick Lake, Lower Lake Mary (when it has water), Lynx Lake, Stoneman Lake, Verde River (upper), Wet Beaver Creek (smallmouth bass), Stehr Lake, East Verde River, Clear Creek Reservoir, Clear Creek (smallmouth bass), and Cholla Lake.