April weather means hot fishing for bass, trout

It's April, and that means two things. Fishing is turning on all around us, and pretty soon the weather is going to be too dadgum hot to enjoy it. We can do nothing about the heat, but I suppose we can live with it as long as the fishing is just as hot.

Bass anglers willing to travel have numerous opportunities available to them in Arizona, where fishermen are reeling in bucket mouths at Roosevelt, Bartlett and Alamo lakes as well as Lake Pleasant, according to the Arizona Game and Fish Department. Saguaro Lake, Canyon Lake and Lake Havasu also are fishing well.

At Lake Havasu, Stan Culling, an assistant manager at the Bill Williams National Wildlife Refuge near Parker, Ariz., was fishing for smallies when he hooked into a monster largemouth near the London Bridge. Because he was fishing with 6-pound test, Culling had a battle on his hands. When the dust settled and the fish was put on a scale, it weighed 11 pounds and measured 24 inches long with a girth of 20 inches.

Dee Pfleger, an Arizona wildlife manager who verified Williams' catch, said in a statement that action for "smallmouth and largemouth bass is on fire along the Parker Strip."

Trout anglers looking to catch nice rainbows might want to try Lees Ferry, where the fish are spawning.

"Since the experimental flow event in early March, the trout fishing -- especially for spin anglers -- has really taken off," Rory Aikens of the AZGFD wrote in a fishing report. "If you have never seen a Lees Ferry rainbow trout in spawning colors, then give yourself a world-class treat."

Lees Ferry is sandwiched between the Grand Canyon and the Glen Canyon Dam on the Colorado River and can be reached by making the drive over the Kaibab Plateau. It has walk-in fishing access, but the best opportunities are available by boat. They can be rented at Lees Ferry Anglers and Flyshop (www.leesferry.com).

Although I have fished the Ferry as a day trip more than once, it is far enough away that I recommend staying overnight.

Many of Southern Utah's trout waters still are iced over, so ice fishing has remained the order of the day. Good fishing can be found at the waters that are open, but check the regulations before you wet a line because some waters are closed during specific time frames.

Minersville Reservoir is open and getting a lot of fishing pressure. This is an artificial fly and lure-only water, so leave the PowerBait and worms at home. You won't want to pay that fine.

Fly anglers have been doing well with bead head nymphs and midges fished about 6 feet below a strike indicator. Rainbow trout in the 20-inch realm figure to get your heart pounding, but the limit is one fish, and the fish must be longer than 22 inches. Paiute Reservoir, Otter Creek and many of the rivers and streams also are open.

Sand Hollow Reservoir is kicking out bass, though the action remains slow. Fish have been taken in 10 feet of water. A few bucket mouths have been taken at Quail Lake as well.

In Nevada, fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass has been good. Several fish in the 4- and 5-pound class were weighed in during a recent Angler's Choice Tournament on Lake Mohave. The winning five-fish total topped 20 pounds.

During the Western Outdoor News Bass Tournament at Lake Mead last weekend, anglers weighed in several fish in the 3- to 4-pound range. But the real story was an 81/2-pound monster that helped earn Todd Harris of New River, Ariz., more than $32,000 in winnings.

Doug Nielsen is an award-winning freelance writer and a conservation educator for the Nevada Department of Wildlife. His "In the Outdoors" column is published Thursday. He can be reached at doug@takinitoutside.com.