Do you like this content? Also, see a full list of fire restrictions in Arizona. I love topwater fishing and the bite usually goes crazy at that time. Obviously, when night fishing, you have to have some sort of light source. If you’re fishing around lights your best bet is to stay back away or well below them and you’ll catch more cats. We just stocked another 3,030 rainbow trout into this department-built fishery on the edge of the Mogollon Rim. That was closer to the magical dusk time. Community Fishing Program . I’ve tested this theory this summer fishing almost exclusively in 3 local lakes and ponds for channel catfish. Sometimes you just have to keep trying different things. I only use a headlight, and NEVER a lantern. If your Uncle Joe handed down his list of catfishing tips and told you that you had to fish at night to catch catfish, you’re doing it all wrong. The lights draw in bugs and bait fish which in turns can draw in fish. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. The trout fishing community is a tight-knit group that is dedicated to these beautiful fish. Thanks for all the good info. There is a lot to do in the park, there are great nature tours and the lake has stunning beaches to relax on. We float pieces of cut bait over ledges with a bobber & hammer them many times. Learn the facts, fiction and myths about night fishing for catfish. Arizona (3-0) swarmed the Lumberjacks in their first game of the season, scoring the first 15 points on the way to building a 26-point halftime lead. There’s a common misunderstanding that when people say that the fish are in shallow water, or the fish are in deep water, all the fish will be there. Grab your pole, grab your bait, and head to one of these local fishing spots to snag your catch of the day. When I respond “usually around first light” then they immediately respond with a rather shocked tone, “you mean you aren’t night fishing, I thought you had to go night fishing to catch catfish?”. Even flathead catfish can be caught in the day with a little skill and modification of your techniques. Roosevelt Lake. Fish with grubs or grasshoppers if you can find them and float them through the ripples with no weights on a small hook (No. The fish are less likely to be active. If you ignore the daylight hours and brave the heat you might be surprised at what you find, and what you catch. Required fields are marked *. But it goes back if you know there patterns. Plus there is less people around so I don’t have to worry about them. We incorporated in 1994, as a not-for-profit sportsman’s group. He was catching good bass about every other cast. Arizona Night Fishing. Also missed a couple of good bites. Arizona Fishing Reports. Baker played free and confidently from the opening tip, scoring 19 points to eclipse his career high by halftime. ARIZONA. And about the flathead. When it comes to catfishing though, there’s even more interest in night fishing than there is with any other species of freshwater fish. Much of this is due to the fact that there’s a number of patterns and techniques that work really well during the day that are impossible at night. Catfishing tips, techniques and information from professional catfish guides anglers. Year-around, you can take advantage and enjoy the Lower Salt River's trout fishing. Your info has certainly improved the numbers and size of my catches. Avoid waters that are too deep or too shallow. Carry insect repellent in the boat because … Here in Texas it’s like fishing on the sun when you hit the lake or river during the day in the summer. Arizona Bowfishing Association. And i also fish at night on fod and reel and i catch big cats . JAVASCRIPT IS DISABLED. At the Lower Salt River, below Saguaro Lake, is known for its Rainbow Trout, Catfish, Sunfish and Largemouth Bass fishing. Some shad often moves there and in turn some catfish will also, but it’s not nearly as dramatic as most think. They are family memory makers, too. Chad, I just moved to a new lake (well new for me) and am at a loss for what to look for when searching for cats. If bass is the type of fish you are looking for, this is probably the number one spot to be in Arizona. We're informing, engaging, and providing transparency to our partners and customers. Catfish can easily be caught throughout the day regardless of season. I caught an amazing 38.3 lb blue cat fishing in the summer heat whiletrying to land a few decent small mouth, most of my trophy fish have been caught during the early morning between 7 and 9 or just reaching dawn, been night fishing on multiple occasions but ever had anything trophy size except for a few turtle. From bass-filled lakes to trout-filled rivers, these spots are brimming with large fish populations. Fish statewide will tend to become more active at night with the drop in temperatures, and predatory fish become opportunistic. Phoenix Bass Masters has fished Arizona waters since 1991. The big flatties I catch at night , some smaller ones in the daytime. It also depends on your location. No. Help yourself and your future loved ones. Not saying that night fishing isn’t productive. AZ Game & Fish - Fishing Resources, Rules, etc; Online Fishing License You’re working on the assumption that people are fishing in high traffic areas or in times of the year that are subject to high traffic. Just because fish are in a certain pattern or depth never means all the fish will be in that pattern or depth. Don’t dismiss fishing during the day though. As for size, it may just be a fluke, but during the day and early evening there is a much higher chance that another species will take my bait (hybrid stripers and stocked largemouth will eat anything off the bottom agressively) That being said, I feel that conditions are much more important than time of day. The whole of Saturday i managed to catch 3kg catfish and then no bait for the whole day. As I’ve evolved as a fisherman I spend less and less time fishing at night. Every year, Lake Pleasant Regional Park hosts several fishing tournaments. It needs to be at the right depth, not too high near the surface nor too deep. Fact: Catfish are active at all hours of the day and night, this includes all three species of catfish. White Mountains. You can fish at night, too, and that’s a great way to get catfish. There was a point and time many years ago that I though that catching good numbers of catfish meant you had to fish at night. Arizona Fishing Report. Don’t be afraid to mix it up. Ive caught way more catfish at night than in the daytime. I caught all mine during the day. 482 likes. I was instantly hooked on bait fishing and have spent every minute I could out of my busy lifestyle fishing for them exclusively…my wife is thrilled with my new found passion for catfish. Heading away from a full moon, the use of submersible lights will become a more effective option for catching stripers in such lakes as Lake Pleasant. It’s you are right. We can agree to disagree but I disagree with most of the article. Hit Charles mill up north at about 11 pm and brought in 6 channel from 3 to 7 pounds. Also, you’re not allowed to take grass carp out of the canals because they are put in there to get rid of the weeds. Fish statewide will tend to become more active at night with the drop in temperatures, and predatory fish become opportunistic. Starting around March my phone starts ringing off the hook with people who want to fish with me or get information on booking guided catfishing trips. Me and a group of buddys will get our coleman lanterns and our tackle and fish the night away. I do like early A.M. & late P.M. best – again I think it beat the heat -especially in hot days.). It’s not uncommon for flatheads to be caught during all hours, day or night. Despite the fishing pressure, Woods Canyon Lake continues to be a hot spot. A week later, I caught a 10.7 pound channel cat from the same pond around 7pm. Like you say all want come in shallow water. Get more exclusive catfish fishing tips here by email, make sure to subscribe to my Youtube channel and follow me on Instagram and Twitter. To fish at these lakes, you’ll need to buy an urban fishing license. I disagree, there’s too much going on in the water during the day time . I’ll never forget the first time I ever fished at Lake Fairfield here in Texas. Caught one a few weeks back during the day. But I’ve caught catfish or as we call them up north, bulkhead, horned pout great eating too, I’ve been fishing my entire life and from my personal experience, fishing 5-8 (assuming it gets dark at 7:30 depending on daylight savings) I tend to get the most action. Let’s go fishing! Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoy a good night fishing trip now and then but fishing during the day is consistently more productive and generally much easier as well. Our mission is to provide good bass fishing opportunities for members, promote public awareness of bass fishing and support the Arizona Game and Fish Department. Who knew, right? I have been fishing for Flathead Catfish for a good number of years. Three types of illumination include submersible fish lights, floating lights and gas lanterns. If those times won’t work for you, 12:00AM to 12:00AM looks promising. Posted on August 17, 2014 by FishShootOuts August 17, 2014 . I also find that night fishing is more satisfying on the lakes. After they get some of their basic inquiries out of the way regarding cost and other pertinent details the next thing that often gets asked is “what time do you start fishing”. Going after some more. Going tonight with my sons just because it sounds like fun at night. Catfish don’t all flock to the shallow water at night. Im a fan of the sonnys blood formula dipbait. Being retired now , I catfish about 2 times a week during those spring, summer & fall days. Fish & Boat Arizona will take you to a map with the top fishing locations. As the water warms, they begin to push up into shallower water. All the cats I caught their strike is with in +/-8 mins of casting out. I am on the Lake of the Ozarks. Unless you’re fishing as the sun takes its first peak at daytime, it’s night-fishing time. I went fishing this weekend from Saturday morning until Sunday morning. The submersible model is my favorite because it allows me to control the depth of light penetration and prevents drawing bugs to the glow. When the sun goes down and everyone is off the lake, the water settles down and the calmness invites the fishermen. In general, the top-water bite seems to be worth a shot, but hardly on fire. The slight glow of the lantern dimly lights up the night and he’s lazily dangling a fishing rod waiting for old mister whiskers to come along. This has always been an often debated topic. Remember to adjust these times based on barometric pressure, and weather changes. March bass begin to shake off winter lethargy by late February, depending on weather and water conditions, and prepare for the spring spawn by staging in schools. There’s also a lot of misunderstanding and bad information surrounding night fishing and catfishing. Here in Arizona, you will find that the same applies here and there is no shortage of some of the best trout fishing in the country. With its abundance of beautiful landscapes and natural wonders in Arizona, fishing enthusiasts flock to state parks, reservoirs and lakes for an idyllic day near the water. Fishing Report. To post a fishing report,email info@hookedaz.com, or post it under the specific lake or river page. Do I pull in whoppers or trophy style cats? It seemed they were always very active at these times. Think of a guy sitting in a boat or on the shore fishing next to the light of coleman lantern waiting on a catfish to come along. Here locally the water isnt very deep & the catfish lay behind ledges. About Arizona City (AZ) Fishing. He was in a one-man bass buggy throwing a solid white crankbait. Do you have a point of reference? Fishing during the day (even in the heat) can also be incredibly productive, and is preferred by many catfish anglers. Yes fishing at night beats the heat. Even in the brutal Texas summer I prefer fishing for catfish during the day. Myth: You have to fish at night to catch catfish. The thought that you have to fish at night is nothing more than years of people passing along bad information. Daytime fishing I would have better luck with a boat because you can target the fish a lot better. I’m a newbe for fishing for cats. Great article! If you want to “beat the heat” and avoid the boats and jet skis on the water then night fishing can be a great way to do so and it’s a great way to get out and catch catfish. Then around 4am Sunday i caught 13kg catfish. One night a few years ago during a slow bite, a past client was fishing in the same area we were fishing. Light up the night with our Patented Rub Rail UV Black Lighting System by NightFishion. In Arizona, one may legally bag up to 10 toads with a fishing license, but it could constitute a criminal violation if it can be shown that one is in possession of this toad with the intent to smoke its secretions. Plus, some areas have fishing available year-round, meaning you don’t have to wait until the winter thaw to head out to the lake. With plenty of year-round fishing opportunities, Arizona is home to diverse wildlife and varied habitats where you can cast a line. Rules & Regulations. Setting your lighting at a proper depth is essential to going home with full hands. In other words, have you ever tried fishing for cat during the day? Have a good one! While there is no debating that fishing at night for flathead can be great, they can be caught during the day also. Fact: There are a variety of products being sold online that target catfish anglers that are various types of lights. Because I’ve caught catfish at night, but caught even more in the day. Chad, thank you for all the great information! There’s also a lot of misunderstanding and bad information surrounding night fishing and catfishing. Your email address will not be published. 2. While you can fish during the day fishing for Crappies like Richard Gene does it can take its toll. Fishing Forecast. I fish at night were it was less activities on the lake caught catfish as well. Im in Texas my granddad had a fishing camp on the Brazos River. Thanks and hope to see another great article. Please enable JavaScript on your browser to best view this site. I usually fish at night, as during the day there is jet fleas, and ‘party boaters’ zipping the river. Get to both early for a camping spot. A real giant for Illinois waters. From about 7 am till 10. The 20 lakes covered under this program are identified in the annual Urban Fishing Program guide, available on the Arizona Game and Fish website. Its a ton of fun! I fish for all species of fish and there is no doubt that “dusk” period before sunset is a magical time. Good comments. Chad, I have seen all of your videos. Lake Havasu State Park Mostly a channel fisher but I can’t seem to find em here. When fishing these creeks, it’s not necessary to bring the master tackle box. Our goal is to showcase the state of Arizona as one of the most desired fishing states in the Nation and keep you informed on the projects that provide better fishing opportunities. We stock about 55,000 fish per year into Woods. Very productive. Or, post your pics in the latest catches gallery.This Arizona fishing report is a realtime feed showing the latest 200 reports and pics, you can view more historic reports under the specific lake or river page. If you’ve got the sense that when the sun goes down all of the catfish suddenly flock to shallow water, you’re wrong. What gives haha I know they are in here and I’ve even taken a friend along who fished for a couple hours with me and he caught a catfish within an hour or so and I’ve spent over 50hrs without a nibble. We cover the entire state including the Colorado River, Lake Mead, Lake Mohave, Roosevelt Lake, Toprock Marsh, Lake Pleasant and more. 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