Mogollon Rim
Note: Forest roads on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest are still open to all lakes. Ice cover on lakes can change dramatically from day to day. All ice should be considered unsafe. Several lakes, especially at higher elevations may be inaccessible to boat launching due to ice coverage near boat ramps. Streams at higher elevations have snow and ice cover.
CHEVELON CANYON LAKE An angler who visited last weekend said there was ice cover at the dam, but some open water just around the corner in a cove, but he couldnt get the fish to bite much. Chevelon Lake is a hike-in fishery open to artificial lures and flies only. The bag limit is six fish with a slot limit: trout between 10-14 inches may not be possessed. Trout taken from Chevelon Canyon Lake shall be immediately killed and retained as part of the bag limit or immediately released. Forest roads to the lake are open.
BEAR CANYON LAKE The lake is 100-percent ice covered. Expect unsafe ice. Forest roads to the lake are open.
BLACK CANYON LAKE The lake is ice-free. The water temperature is 44 degrees. Water is low. The boat ramp is accessible. Road into it is open and accessible. Fishing is fair. Try worms, salmon eggs, Power Bait, lures (Z-Rays and spinners), and flies (wooly worms or wooly buggers, and peacock ladies). The lake is open to single electric trolling motors only. Forest roads to the lake are open. The water temperature last week was 44 degrees.
WILLOW SPRINGS LAKE The lake is 20-percent ice covered, mostly in the middle of the lake. Water temperature last week was 43 degrees. Lake level is down about four feet. Expect unsafe ice. The boat ramp is accessible. Fishing is fair. Try worms, salmon eggs, Power Bait, lures (spinners and Z-Rays), and flies (wooly worms or wooly buggers, and peacock ladies). Forest roads to the lake are open. The lake is open to 10 hp gas motors.
WOODS CANYON LAKE The lake is 40- to 50-percent ice covered, mostly on the north shoreline near the boat ramp and shore. Water temperature last week was 41 degrees. Expect unsafe ice. Forest roads 300 and 105 are open toward the lake but the gates are locked just before reaching the lake. You must hike the last quarter mile to the lake. Try worms, salmon eggs, Power Bait, lures (spinners and Z-Rays), and flies (wooly worms or wooly buggers, and peacock ladies).
Northeastern Arizona (White Mountains)
BECKER LAKE The lake is ice-free. The boat ramp is accessible. Fishing is fair. Try lures such as Z-Rays and spinners (Panther Martin, Mepps, and Rooster tail), and flies such as black or brown wooly worms or wooly buggers, peacock ladies, KP buggers, brown Montana stone nymphs, Zug bugs, Prince nymph, and damsel fly and dragon fly nymph patterns. Becker lake is open to artificial lures and flies only with a 2 trout limit from October 1 to May 24. The lake is open to 10 hp gas motors.
BIG LAKE The lake is 100-percent ice covered. Expect unsafe ice. Lake level is six feet down. The roads to the lake are open. Matt Wilhelm wrote that he and his brother ice fished at Big Lake on Feb. 4 and the ice was 6 to 8 inches thick. In the morning, the ice was creaking and popping like you wouldnt believe and a big creepy. But with the ice being thick and no openings with the cracking, it felt safe (at least for now, who knows what it will be like in a week). The fishing was fun and they were hungry for anything we put out there. Caught mostly rainbows but a few cutthroats. Not real big ones, but good enough for eating.
CARNERO LAKE The lake is 100-percent ice covered. Expect unsafe ice. The roads to the lake are open.
CONCHO LAKE The lake is ice-free. The boat ramp is accessible. Fishing is poor. Try worms, salmon eggs, Power Bait, lures (Z-Rays and spinners), and flies (wooly worms and wooly buggers, and peacock ladies). The lake is open to 10 hp gas motors. The water temperature last week was 43 degrees.
CRESCENT LAKE The lake is 60-percent ice covered. Expect unsafe ice. The boat ramps are not accessible due to ice cover. Forest roads to the lake are open. One angler said he tried everything without catching a fish. Another angler says he loaded up on trout using a small in-line spinner slowly-rolled along the bottom. Try worms, salmon eggs, Power Bait, lures (Z-Rays and spinners), and flies (wooly worms or wooly buggers, and peacock ladies). The water temperature last week was 42 degrees.
FOOL HOLLOW LAKE The lake is ice-free. Fishing is poor to fair. Try worms, Power Bait, lures, and flies near structure such as rocks, tree stumps, and weed beds. Anglers are being asked to harvest any pike they catch and not to release them back into the lake. Fool Hollow also contains walleye, channel catfish, largemouth and smallmouth bass, sunfish, and black crappie. There are some trophy-sized walleye as well as largemouth and smallmouth bass. Fool Hollow Lake recreation area is managed by Arizona State Parks and excellent camping facilities are available. Anglers wishing to fish the lake only for the day must use the west side boat ramp and parking area. A fee is charged for use of the other facilities including the east side boat ramp. Fool Hollow Lake is open to 10 hp gas motors. The water temperature last week was 43 degrees.
GREER LAKES All Greer Lakes (River, Bunch, and Tunnel Reservoirs) are 98-100 percent ice covered. Expect unsafe ice. All Forest roads are open to the lakes. Repairs to the dam at River Reservoir were completed in December and the lake is ready to catch spring runoff. River Reservoir will be stocked this spring.
HULSEY LAKE This small lake on the side of Escudilla Mountain is 100-percent ice covered. Expect unsafe ice. The road to the lake is open.
LEE VALLEY RESERVOIR The lake is 100-percent ice covered. Expect unsafe ice. The road to the lake is open.
LUNA LAKE The lake is 40-percent ice covered. Expect unsafe ice. The road to the lake is open. Fishing is fair to good. Try worms, salmon eggs, Power Bait, lures (Z-Rays and spinners), and flies (wooly worms or wooly buggers, and peacock ladies). The water temperature last week was 42 degrees.
LYMAN LAKE The lake is ice-free. Fishing is poor to fair. Try worms, Power Bait, prepared catfish baits, and lures (Z-Rays, Rapalas, and crankbaits). Try fishing for bass, walleyes, and sunfish along rocky areas or weedy areas of the lake. The Lyman Lake recreation area is managed by Lyman Lake State Park and camping is available. There are also some new cabins for rent. There is a fish consumption advisory here. Consult the fishing regulations or contact the Arizona Game and Fish Regional office in Pinetop for more information. Boat ramps are accessible and there are no boat motor restrictions on Lyman Lake. The water temperature last week was 42 degrees.
NELSON RESERVOIR The lake is ice-free. The bag limit at Nelson Reservoir is unlimited for rainbow trout and brown trout from Sept. 1 through March 31. The boat ramps are accessible. Fishing is poor to fair. Try worms, salmon eggs, Power Bait, lures (Z-Rays and spinners), and flies (wooly worms or wooly buggers, and peacock ladies). The lake is open to 10 hp gas motors. The water temperature last week was 42 degrees.
RAINBOW LAKE The lake is ice-free. The boat ramp is accessible. Fishing is poor to fair. Try worms, salmon eggs, Power Bait, lures, and flies. The lake is open to 10 hp gas motors. The water temperature last week was 45 degrees.
SCOTT'S RESERVOIR The lake is ice-free and spilling. The boat ramp is accessible. Fishing is fair. Try worms, salmon eggs, Power Bait, lures, and flies. The lake is open to single electric trolling motors only. The water temperature last week was 45 degrees.
SHOW LOW LAKE The lake is ice-free. The boat ramp is accessible. Fishing is fair. Try worms, salmon eggs, and Power Bait. Boat anglers should try trolling lures such as Z-Rays, spinners, rubber Jigs (Chartreuse and brown), and Rapalas near rocky shorelines for walleye and bass. The lake is open to 10 hp gas motors. The water temperature last week was 44 degrees.
WOODLAND LAKE The lake is ice-free and spilling. The boat ramp is accessible. Fishing is poor to fair. Try worms, salmon eggs, Power Bait, lures, and flies. A city park with picnicking facilities, restrooms, and a paved trail around the lake make for a great family outing location. The lake is open to single electric trolling motors only. The water temperature last week was 46 degrees.
CLEAR CREEK RESERVOIR The lake may be ice covered, so check ice conditions before fishing. Expect unsafe ice.
SILVER CREEK Trout fishing is fair. As of Oct. 1, Silver Creek on the Arizona Game and Fish Department property is open to artificial lure and fly only, barbless hooks, and catch and release, no kill. Use small lures such as Mepps, Rooster Tail, and Panther Martin spinners: fish upstream or downstream. Fly-fishing anglers may want to try peacock ladies, beadhead black wooly buggers, prince nymphs, bead head nymphs, mayfly and caddis fly nymph imitations, and shrimp patterns. Fish your flies upstream and dead drift them downstream or cast your fly downstream and retrieve it slowly, twitching it occasionally. Try small dry flies such as Adams, parachute Adams, midge imitations, and caddis fly patterns is sizes #16 or #18.
STREAMS
Note: Forest roads are open to streams and rivers, but expect 100-percent ice coverage on all but the largest of rivers. Expect ice on parts of larger rivers.
EAST FORK OF BLACK RIVER Partially ice-covered, but open on riffle areas.
WEST FORK OF BLACK RIVER Partially ice covered, but open water on riffle areas.
LITTLE COLORADO RIVER GREER Some snow and ice cover.
SHEEPS CROSSING WEST FORK LITTLE COLORADO RIVER Some snow and ice cover.