Fishing around the tire line is also a great place to find striped bass and largemouth bass in the morning. But is very close to 10-Lane ramp, Pleasant Harbor RV Campground – 928 501-5253, Desert Tortoise Campground – 602 506-2930, Lake Pleasant Regional Park Campground – 928 501-1710. A relaxing day of bass fishing can turn into very serious safety situation and a race to get to back to the launch. The best colors at Pleasant seem to be black and chrome or blue and chrome. Spoons and shad-imitating lures work best. Some start to float slowly upward when they stop. So let’s talk about the steps you need to take in order to give you the best chance of catching a fish on Lake Pleasant. After all, we all forget gear from time to time. 40.0 in., Bartlett Lake Jonathan Gardner, Phoenix 8/8/87, Table Quality: Poor. A white buzzbait with a touch of blue has been the “secret bait” at Pleasant for the past couple of springs. He favors a lure with two willow-leaf blades, and adds a ribbon tail worm as a trailer. Narrow your fishing down to your strengths. The white crappie are much more tolerant in warmer water than their black crappie cousins. More importantly these baits you should never forget at home or it could lead to a horrible day on the water. Striped bass are pelagic feeders (like white bass and yellow bass) and are constantly on the move. Whatever experience you have, we’re here to help give you the tips and strategies you need to succeed. Lake Bob Sandlin. During the day the boating traffic drives the fish deep and out to the main lake, making for very difficult fishing. 33 lb., 5.76 oz., 39.5 in., Upper Lake Mary Carson Pete, 3/26/17, such as smaller carp, full sized bluegill, or tilapia, Slim jim sausages pieces on a small hook (not lying… it really works), The popularity of fishing is growing and people are becoming much more conscious of, Places at the lake you can get snacks and frosty beverages, Tackle Shops & Tackle Retailers Near Lake Pleasant. A split-shot rig is like a Carolina rig, but smaller. Fishing the points and straights of the islands and coves are also good for largemouth bass. Find a list of the best fun things to do at Lake Pleasant including activities and ideas. For you next fishing outing to Lake Pleasant refer to our Fishing Times chart to determine when the fish are expected to be most active based on solunar tables and our detailed fishing calendar. In that section, you’ll learn about the top ways to get you catching bass fast. To protect anadromous sockeye smolts and adults, there is an eight-inch minimum on all trout, and 18-inch maximum length limit on Kokanee. At times the fishing here can be extremely good. John has won more boats and more money than you would believe, and Lake Pleasant was always one of his favorite lakes, in spite of the fact that it can be great one day and incredibly tough the next. Have a store located at the north end of Phoenix, Sportsman’s Warehouse feels like a combination of a small outdoor outfitter shop with the capacity to hold a large amount of tackle, gear, and other outdoor accessories. The Pop-R has a concave face that blurps and spits when you tug it across the surface. War Eagle spoons and Lake Fork Flutter Spoons are more aerodynamic and give you longer cast, especially in windy situations, and have a … Like striped bass and largemouth bass, the white bass will also corral the shad near the surface and cause the shad to jump out of the water called “boiling”. It is often filled to capacity, especially on the weekends, by anglers, boaters, water skiers, swimmers, wind surfers, sailing enthu… You can usually find shallow fish all year long. Tie a worm hook onto the leader, rig a lizard on it, and drag it around the bottom. Large floating tires. It’s the favorite topwater lure of many of Arizona’s best pro fishermen. Rod –The popularity of fishing is growing and people are becoming much more conscious of  different rods that can help them. Click here to learn more about this amazing tackle shop and much, much more! Overall it’s a popular lake being nestled in the middle part of the state. At Fishing Blueprint we are a participant in the Amazon Services Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to affiliated sites at absolutely no cost to you. Fishermen are usually very willing to share such information. Pleasant, spans 9,004 acres and has numerous boat docks and fishing piers. Lake Pleasant is a deep body of water with the average depth being 73 feet and a maximum depth of 210 feet when the lake is completely full. At the middle of the cove and at the mouth is great for Largemouth and striped bass. Channel catfish weight will range from 0.5-to-15-pounds in Lake Pleasant, however the average weight will be between 1-4-pounds. 7 Top Secret Flipping Lures You Don’t Know About But Should! I absolutely love to help people find fun things to do with their kids and grandkids. He usually tries to keep the lure within one or two feet of the bottom, and feels that when it comes to speed, the slower the better. It’s only open to the public at certain times of the year. Best species to target: Largemouth bass, striped bass, catfish and crappie. This lake, Lake Pleasant has a mind of its own. I wrote a complete review guide, Best Tackle Bag for Fishing, check it out by clicking here. Read more: Beginner’s Guide To Bass Fishing Basics – Tips, Secrets & Things To Avoid, Arizona State Record: 16 lb. Regardless of conditions, Murray always seemed to be able to bring a limit of bass to the scales, and years ago he shared some of his Pleasant tips with us. When he is pre-fishing for a tournament, Murray does just that, and he doesn’t even care if he catches a fish or not–he’s just looking for bites so he knows where to start fishing during the tournament. How To Fish Bass In Grass In 5 Easy Steps [With Pictures], How To Use A Drift Sock In Rivers Or Current, Drift Sock Basics – What It Is & How To Use It [2020 Quick Start Guide], How To Find Pre-Spawn Bass in 2 Insanely Easy Steps, 27 Best Bass Jig Modifications Made Easy (With Pictures). Lastly, what are the best baits that work on Lake Pleasant. Opening in 2008, The Hook Up Tackle has everything you need especially if you’re into bass fishing. Take free demo rides on kayaks, canoes, Hobie craft, stand-up paddleboards and rafts. Fishing around the tire line is also a great place to find striped bass and largemouth bass in the morning. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. I have cruised around in 30-50 feet … Throw jerk baits in the backs of coves and all along brushy shorelines. Located just north of Lake Pleasant Harbor and marina Jackass Cove is a great spot to target largemouth bass, striped bass, and crappie. If the fish won’t come all the way to the top, try a jerk bait. They have what you need. Fishing Gloves – Fishing gloves allow your hands to stay covered from the sun’s harmful rays and stay dry by using a special material. Night fishing is great for catfish and stripers. Tags: Arizona Bass Fishing, Arizona Fly Fishing, Arizona Wanderings, AZWanderings, Fly Fishing Arizona, Lake Pleasant, Lake Pleasant Fishing, Lake Pleasant Fly Fishing 4 Responses to “Arizona Fly Fishing: Lake Pleasant” Gary April 3, 2012. 7.68 oz. Largemouth bass is a carnivorous member of the sunfish family. Channel catfish – 33 lb., 5.76 oz., 39.5 in., Upper Lake Mary Carson Pete, 3/26/17, Flathead catfish – 76 lb. Soft white flesh that is muddy and riddled with bones, Address: Lake Pleasant Regional Park. Experiment with the retrieve, says Murray. This has been killer at Pleasant all year long almost since the new dam was built. Located in Northwest Phoenix, The Hook Up Tackle offers a massive amount of gear, tackle, and accessories for any budget. Largemouth bass, white bass and crappie will hold over submerged brush during the day. Located on the east side Phoenix, Bass Pro Shops caters to very type of angler who wants to get their line wet. A complete section on Bass Fishing 101 was written to help you out. 41835 N. Castle Hot Springs Rd. On Lake Pleasant, where locals and tourists come to swim, water ski, and windsurf, the real excitement awaits with FishAnywhere fishing charters. The large size of the lake and depth create good fishing for a variety of fish species. To give you a helping hand, this list was created for you of some of the best locations to give you the hottest action! Spinnerbaits are one of his favorite lures for finding fish. Story be told, the fish at Lake Pleasant haven’t read the rules. The structure around Scorpion Bay Marina can also hold a fair amount of largemouth bass, crappie and striper. On the other end of the swivel, attach a leader from two to four feet long. First of all, John says, don’t discount any part of the lake — fish all over, no matter what time of year or time of day it is. Table Quality: Soft white meat. Every year, Lake Pleasant Regional Park hosts several fishing tournaments. Manmade currents can also be, What Does A Drift Sock Do? Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Deep channel. The angler in the back of the boat is often hard-pressed to find an opening. If you aren’t catching fish, don’t speed up, slow down. Introduced in 1960 the white bass 4 to 7 dark horizontal lines and are silver-white. Founded in 1972 by angler Johnny Morris in Springfield, Missouri Bass Pro Shops combines a massive tackle shop with their hunting, boating, conservation, and guide trips into a comprehensive outdoor and fishing retailer. McMillan Stocks pro and Nitro State Team member Kevin Finley runs up to Lake Pleasant frequently – he lives close by, so he has become extremely familiar with this lake. That’s why I recommend a dependable telescopic landing net. View all posts by Margaret Anderson. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Lake Pleasant is located between the Villages of Lake Pleasant and Speculator. Overall it’s a. lake being nestled in the middle part of the state. Click here to find the best tackle shops and which one’s to avoid at all costs! Cast the lure right to shore, he says. It doesn’t matter if you’re fishing bass, crappie, walleye, or trout. Lake Pleasant Just 30 minutes from Phoenix, this desert gem is a Bass and Striper fishing hot spot. Structural features: Submerged brush and timber, rocky points, deep channel, drop offs, Best species to target: Best species to target: Largemouth bass, striped bass, white bass, catfish, bluegill, and crappie. There is fair opportunity for Coastal Cutthroat Trout, with Kokanee fishing improving later in the spring. I've been an outdoor writer for over 30 years and have written for pretty much all the major fishing magazines, The Arizona Republic (I did the outdoor page til they discontinued it), and many online sites. David Amburgey, Peoria 4/72. Structural features: Drop offs, deep feeder channel, Best species to target: largemouth bass, striped bass, crappie, and bluegill. I recommend that KastKing Cutthroat 7” Fishing Pliers. AZ Game & Fish - Fishing Resources, Rules, etc; Online Fishing License Fishing Pliers – Nothing will ruin a day quicker than getting a hook embedded in your hand, or worse your eye. Spawn: April – mid-June in flowing water, current or rivers, Arizona State Record: 29 lb. Lake Pleasant Fishing Hotspots Just outside Lake Pleasant Harbor; Jackass Cove Aqua Fria Arm Humbug Creek Arm Castle Creek ; Around Scorpion Bay Marina Target Species at Lake Pleasant Largemouth Bass Fishing at Lake Pleasant Striped Bass Fishing at Lake Pleasant; Crappie Fishing at Lake Pleasant Catfish Fishing at Lake Pleasant; White Bass Fishing at Lake Pleasant; Bluegill Fishing … Robert Schnell, Glendale 2/22/82. Both boat-based and shore-based fishing opportunities are available at Lake Pleasant. Introduced in 1903 the White crappie are only found in Lake Pleasant. Due to their saltwater genes, striped bass are constantly on the move, sometimes traveling as much as 20 miles in a … I have tried fishing frozen anchovies off the bottom, jigs, crankbaits, mornings,afternoons, everything. Lake Pleasant Regional park is located within Peoria, Arizona. At Pleasant, the fish haven’t read the rules. This lake is both a warm and cold water fishery and has a little to offer for every angler. If pride or money is on the line I would use Sunline Sniper FC. The striped bass is the top of the food chain in Arizona waters. Whether for a day trip or an extended stay, Lake Pleasant is one of the top attractions to see. Read … Fishing Line – Having a good line is just as important as having a good rod. This brought several new species such as the striped bass, flathead catfish, and tilapia. The Agua Fria River Closes On December 15th You Can Catch Nice Largemouth Like The Ones Shown Below By Casting And Slow Rolling Paddle Tail Swimbaits, Spinnerbaits, Suspending Jerkbaits. Average weight of a white crappie in Lake Pleasant is going to be 0.75-pounds, however electronetted samples show they can get over 3-pounds in size! Food: Larvae, small fish, and crustaceans. Being approximately 7 miles long and 2.5 miles across, the lake spans over 10,000 acres when completely full. If you prefer crankbaits, throw a plug. If you locate a school (often 20 feet deep or deeper), the fishing can be excellent as long as you stay with the school. Carp can be consumed however, their muddy taste and boney meat make it one of the least desirable fish to eat. A good reel should be light and have a buttery smooth drag. Find the Fishy Hideouts. We’ve ALL been there… you work your butt off the entire week looking, Early Spring Pre-spawn Bass Fishing Tips  Want to catch a Monster bass that could be the fish of a lifetime? There are several great reels on the market, but I recommend the Daiwa Tatula SV/TW baitbasting reel. These gloves by Fishaholic offer UPF50+, As the sun comes up bass will move from open water and into either deeper water or a shallow water with cover. We developed and refined a complex algorithm that tells you when the fish are expected to most active in relation to the moon … Sportsman’s Warehouse carries a wide variety of gear for every bass, catfish, trout, crappie, walleye, and pike to get you started. It’s firm, flaky and white. White crappie have a more “silvery” appearance and lack the dark vertical bars when compared to the black crappie. If you are good at throwing spinnerbaits, do it. Sure you do! Hello, I am new to Arizona and really need some tips/advice on how to catch Stripers in Lake Pleasant. Landing Net – As you are reeling in that monster fish, you don’t want to injure yourself or knock the fish off the hook by trying to grab it. When it comes, Drift socks can be a massive asset when your faced with current, either by a river, or a tidal system. The flathead species was purposely introduced when the lake was first created. According to the researchers finding skin cancers on the shoulders and forearms rank within the top-5 locations to get skin cancer*. Detailed Pleasant. These voracious feeders gather in large schools in search of bait, and have been seen in Lake Pleasant in schools as large as a mile wide. 0.0 oz. In the morning largemouth bass and striped bass will chase shad. So try a spinnerbait, a crankbait, a jerk bait, or a lizard. 15.68 oz. John Murray is probably one of the best-known pro bass fishermen in Arizona still, even though he moved back east a while back to focus on his fishing career. It’s fun trying to outsmart Pleasant bass! A Carolina-rigged lizard (watermelon green) has been a real producer at Pleasant for years. A fishing license is required and may be obtained at most sporting goods stores or through the Arizona Game and Fish department. Structural features: rocky points, drop offs, cliff walls, submerged brush/timber in the middle of the channel, Best species to target: Largemouth bass, striped bass, white bass, catfish and crappie, Most effective way to fish this spot: Boat. Enjoy the sunshine by the cool waters of Lake Pleasant, located an hour north of Phoenix, AZ, and a must for outdoor recreation with boating, fishing, and camping. It is fished on the surface with a “walk the dog” motion, and spits and darts all over. The Arizona Fishing Guides, Your one stop location for Arizona's best fishing tours. The Suave is a Lobina Lure, a company Murray helped to found. If you’re still not sure how to catch a bass, do worry. Located in central Phoenix, Phoenix Fishing Supply has been around since the 1980’s! Located on the northwest section of the lake Castle Creek is the most shallow of the creek arms mentioned. For tips on fishing with live eels, read on! Other fishing in Lake Pleasant. Structural features: Submerged brush and timber. You need to keep a positive outlook, too. They come in models that run at different depths, so you can choose one that will stay within a couple feet of the surface, or tie on a big one that will probe depths of up to fifteen feet. This cove has a pretty deep channel and at night is a great catfishing and striped bass spot if you anchor over the mouth of the cove. Per Maricopa County Parks: “The annual Bald Eagle Closure is typically in effect from December 15 thru June 15. My passion is helping anyone catch more fish. Arizona State Record: 4 lb. >> Want more? Average size of a striped bass in Lake Pleasant is around 1-3 pounds. Abundant with fish, this lake creates amazing opportunities for beginners and expert anglers alike, to hone old tricks, develop new skills, and take home a trophy or two. It’s a great reel packed with great features. In early spring, the Carolina rig and the split shot rig are great at Pleasant. The Aqua Fria arm of Lake Pleasant is there the Aqua Fria river drains into the reservoir. Arizona State Record: 3 lb. I recommend a scale that has a large LED display like this one fishing scale here. Pleasant has a reputation as a tough lake to fish, but Kevin always manages to pull a few out of the water, and usually some big ones, even in January. This reservoir helps distribute water to all the southwest Phoenix agriculture farms. If you prefer crankbaits, throw a plug. If you don’t have a depthfinder, ask another fisherman how deep the shad are. If the water is low, graph Waddell Cove and you’ll find bass and crappie suspended over submerged trees. fishing tips for lake welsh. The staff is friendly, patient, and knowledgeable. That’s why I always recommend having good set-up pliers that won’t rust and won’t slip out of your hand. Located in the central part of Arizona, Lake Pleasant gives locals and visitors the opportunity to test their luck in catching one of the many game species this lake has to offer, such as White Bass, Striped Bass, Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Bluegill, and much, much more! In the back of the cove there are several feeder creeks that are excellent for largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, and white bass. recommended you fish anywhere near the marina or boats. It is. Lake Pleasant Paddlefest: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, April 4. This reservoir helps distribute water to all the southwest Phoenix agriculture farms. But if you don’t have the time to read the full guide then let me tell you I recommend the Lunker Bag by KastKing. These skinny minnow-shaped lures are worked in a jerking motion–pull, stop, pull, stop–that makes them dart and rest in the water. It also has a solid black opercula flap just behind the gill plate. Both are schooling fish that feed on shad. If you see a “shad boil” nearly any small size lure that looks like a shad will be effective to catch a white bass. Carp are an oily freshwater species of fish and are native to Europe and Asia. When it comes to Lake Pleasant, John Murray says you just have to remember that the fish are there.You just have to keep trying until you find them. Trolling slowly with a worm is one of the best ways to hook a striped bass! First of all, John says, don’t discount any part of the lake — fish all over, no matter what time of year or time of day it is. Lake Bob Sandlin, about 10 miles southwest of Mt. If you are good at throwing spinnerbaits, do it. You can usually find shallow fish all year long at this lake. 15.75 in., Goldwater Lake. Being approximately 7 miles long and 2.5 miles across, the lake spans over 10,000 acres when completely full. 45.25 in., Lake Pleasant. 28.0 in., Canyon Lake Randall E. White, Mesa 4/22/97. Striped bass can be caught as deep as the 100-foot range - especially during summer and winter. Bluegill are incredibly aggressive and will quickly attack anything that looks like it could be eaten. You don’t usually use a leader and swivel, you just pinch a split-shot onto the line about 18 inches up from the hook. Slip a glass bead on your line, then a 3/4- to 1-ounce egg sinker. Top Water Presentations, Fishing Drop … Most effective way to fish this spot: Boat, kayak, float tube. Fishing Lures – It’s pretty hard and darn near impossible trying to catch a fish without using some sort of lure or bait. Access to the area is restricted (violators will be prosecuted) until the closure is lifted.”. The newest things I've been doing lately is learning how to break down and clean all my reels, teaching my boy how to kayak fish, and bushcraft wilderness survival. Morristown, AZ 85342, Number of lanes: 0. I'm an Arizona native and daughter of an Ojibwa Indian dad who took me camping, shooting, and hunting all my life. Otherwise these make excellent fish fry meals. Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce 1604 N. Jefferson Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window), Two Great Winter Hikes (Walks) Close to Phoenix, John Murray's Tips for Fishing Lake Pleasant. One minute it will be smooth as glass and within 15 minutes, the flap of a humming bird wing will cause 30 MPH winds to rip across the lake. So what are the best tips for fishing Lake Pleasant? Map to learn more about fishing at Pleasant, however the average weight range... And start fishing with live eels, read on white buzzbait with a touch of has. 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