The trout season is in full force along the Mogollon Rim and up in the White Mountains. The stream flows are dropping more every day and the fishing continues to steadily improve. We have received really good reports from Tonto, Christopher and Canyon Creek over the past several weeks. As far as the White Mountains Becker Lake continues to the hot spot for lake fishing and the streams are all starting to turn on. There were fishkills at Carnero, Crescent and Sunrise Lake. We are hearing Christmas Tree will be receiving its first stocking of the year soon. It is time to get up in the mountains.
As far as what we have been up to, lots of fishing over the past couple weeks. From Largemouth in desert lakes to trout in mountain streams and lakes in both Arizona and Colorado, we have been spending a ton of time on the water. Here are some of the highlights from our travels.
Yuma Bass
Arizona High Country
Antero Lake, Colorado
It seems like everywhere I have been this spring it has been extremely windy. At Pyramid Lake it was a good thing, every place else, not so much. I know it is always windy March through May in the deserts and high country of the West, but this year it has been relentless. For Arizona the winds of winter and spring dropped much needed precipitation, filling up lakes and streams around the state. For me the winds brought change. After spending the last several years as part owner and manager of Arizona Fly Fishing in Tempe, we made the tough decision to shut the business down. I spent the first few months of this year on the road finishing up some remaining destination trips.
When I finally returned home I was tired and unsure of what the future held. I knew one thing, I did not want to have to get a “real job”. I have spent half of my working life in the industry I love and could not imagine being too far away from my passion. I had been getting to know the team here at Desert Sportsman over the previous months and fell in love with the store and their plans for the future. The decision to join the team was an easy one and I am really excited about our future together. There have been many familiar faces I have seen in the shop over the last month as well as many of you I am meeting for the first time. I look forward to working with and meeting you all.
There is also change in the air at Desert Sportsman. We are in the process of creating an entirely new online experience for our customers to compliment our physical shop and E-bay shop, so make sure to check back frequently as there are big changes coming. Here is a glimpse of some of the upcoming changes; Full e-commerce store with thousands of items; Innovative and unique ”Sportsman’s Map” to aid customers in their travels around the world; Constantly updated fishing reports of our personal adventures as well as our destination trips; Product reviews on the latest gear and several other features that are under development.
I have had the chance to get out and do some fishing as well over the past few weeks. The first week of May found me back in Nevada for a few days of stillwater fishing. The wind was howling every day which limited our time on the lake, but luckily we were able to find a stream in the area that had high enough banks to protect us a bit. The fishing was incredible with many big rainbows landed.
Closer to home we are finally starting to see the end of spring runoff, giving us access to all of our favorite spots. It is going to be a great year in the state of Arizona, minus the loss of a couple of high mountain lakes to winterkills(Carnero, Crescent and possibly Sunrise). I have been checking out some of my spots and the water is still high and cool, but clear and we did managed to catch some fish. I am really looking forward to spending more time close to home this summer, enjoying the increased water. Here are some photos from last week.
Desert Sportsman is pleased to announce the arrival of the much anticipated Sage Xi3, 99, and Vantage series rods!
The “Xi3″ replaces the Xi2 series and is constructed from Sage’s new “Salt H2O Technology” graphite. We recently fished some Xi3 prototype rods in Belize and the performance was nothing less than astounding. The rods are extremely light in the hand in respect to their line designations and provide line speeds that cast large saltwater flies with little effort. MSRP: $695-$775.
Sage also introduced the “99″, an industry first dedicated nymphing rod. Built from the legendary G5 graphite and measuring 9′9″, this rod has a taper specifically designed to handle heavy nymph rigs including big indicators, big flies, and lots of lead. After having the opportunity to fish the 99, our initial reaction was enhanced mending and line management along with the ability to sling unreal amounts of lead on long leaders. This rod would be an excellent choice for chironomid rigs on our lakes. MSRP: $699.
The “Vantage” replaces the ever-popular Launch series of rods and will provide anglers with unparalleled performance at a reasonable price. The Vantage is an unbeatable value and will outmatch any other rod in its class. Like every Sage rod, the Vantage is built in the USA, has a lifetime unconditional warranty, and offers graphite technology that is leaps and bounds ahead of the competition. MSRP: $225-$255.
Desert Sportsman has every new rod in stock and ready for your next adventure. Please contact us for more details: info@desertsportsman.com
Deep in the Sierra Ancha mountains, Sean’s dad introduced him to flyfishing at the age of ten. He was hooked and his dad eagerly handed down an Al Ellis 4 weight glass rod rigged with a Pflueger 1492. Much of his childhood was spent in the in the mountains wading the streams casting Western Coachmans and Royal Wulffs to hungry wild rainbows.
About the same time he picked up a fly rod, Sean also began quail hunting over a German Shorthair and pursuing big game. His father would take him out of school for extended trips to the mountains and his supportive teachers would always say “You will teach him more about life than we ever will”.
Now married to his high school sweetheart with three children and a busy real estate career, Sean’s time away is spent in the remote backcountry of the southwest following his bird dogs after Mearns and Scaled quail, chasing large trout and trophy big game.
Desert Sportsman is pleased to have Sean join our team as a field editor. Sean will review the latest and greatest products from our top brands and provide fishing and hunting reports from across the west.
My first few steps into a stream last week were met with a great deal of excitement and anticipation! I couldn’t wait to get my new Simms Rivershed boots in the water considering I’ve spent the last 25 years wading and slipping in felt sole boots. The hike into this stretch of creek completely blew me away. I’ve naturally become accustom to sliding and skiing my way into most canyons with the precarious combination of felt soles and pine needles. The new Vibram StreamTread soles, however, seem to bite the ground and offer the same stability you expect out of a great hunting boot.
The slight film of algae that appears on the rocks this time of year always causes me to exercise extreme caution. When I stepped into the water and began wading, I had an immediate feeling of security and solid stance despite the otherwise slick as ice nature of the bottom. The more I waded upstream the more I was in shock over the stability I had and my confidence began to grow. I found myself not paying as much attention to the stream bottom and was able to look for fish as I waded.
Another pleasant advantage I enjoyed was the weight difference these light weight boots offered. I can’t even begin to tell you how relieved I was not slogging the dead weight of the water soaked felt soles around the stream banks and eventually, up and out of the canyon. To say the least, these boots changed the way I wade and greatly decreased my fatigue level at the end of the day. I fished the new boots for two solid days and put several miles on my feet without feeling the usual day after aches and pains I’ve experienced in the past.
Do yourself, your feet, and your wading confidence a favor … Stop by Desert Sportsman and grab a pair of Simms Vibram StreamTread boots!
It’s a calling that stirs us from the last point of quail season all the way through spring crappie season. We gear up with the latest tackle in hopes of an opportunity at a brown trout of a lifetime. All of us are ready to go but nature holds the cards and we wait until conditions are perfect for a trophy hunt.
Arizona is blessed with some of the most scenic and unique trout habitat found anywhere. From deep canyon streams to secluded stillwaters, Arizona rivals many other destinations in its ability to produce quality brown trout.
This spring, the Desert Sportsman team had many trips to destinations throughout our state. Some trips were close to home while others ventured into waters that rarely see any angling pressure. The hunt for trophy browns continues to provide a challenge that can test the wit and will of even the most seasoned angler.
Caught on a varied selection of flies, the big browns seem to key in on presentation rather than specific patterns. Throughout the spring season fish were caught on a variety of flies from midges to heavy streamers and just about everything in between.
The spring season also offers up unique opportunities on Arizona’s high country lakes. Sight fishing the lakes can be an incredible experience as fish can be seen cruising the banks looking for an easy meal. Simple steamer patterns are very effective during the early season as the fish display their predatory traits.
In addition to targeting a few stillwaters, all of us spent considerable time plying the smaller streams in search of trophies. Most of the streams are no bigger than five or ten feet across yet they continue to offer up fish of memorable proportions. Some of the waters have recognized names while others enjoy relative obscurity.
While browns of this quality can be caught across our nation and in many other countries, there’s something special about catching them in Arizona.
Arizona’s big predatory browns are so solitary in nature that they seldom offer themselves to anglers. It seems as though every season a few are willing to expose their weaknesses and take a fly. The best way to reward a trophy brown is to take a quick photo and release the fish as fast as possible to ensure a vibrant existence for the remainder of its life.
Most of us prefer to fish with others who enjoy the trophy hunt. We share shots at different pieces of water and enjoy watching one another fish. Net skills are important, no one wants to lose a fish from a failed net job. Even when we’re separated the yell of the word “NET” signifies a quick call to action to swiftly find your buddy and give your best effort to bring the trophy to hand.
The smallest water often yields the largest fish. The fish in the photo below was caught in a well known rim country stream. Once a fish grows large enough to eat stocked rainbow trout their growth potential becomes exponential. This fish was hooked in a riffle no more that 12 inches deep.
The memories created on these excursions will not be soon forgotten. Sessions around the campfire often include the top plays of the day and a discussion or two about the next day’s gameplan. As the oak burns down and the stories grow thin everyone has the same thought: When can we get out here again?
After years of refinement and testing, the highly anticipated Abel QC series has just been released. Built around Abel’s legendary cork drag system and a new “Quick Change” spool design, this reel is sure to set the standard by which all other high quality reels will be judged.
The simplicity of the quick change mechanism allows users to change spools effortlessly while fishing. Simply back off the drag, rotate the knob on the spindle, and the spool is free. This attribute is especially useful in areas where fish are found at varying depths requiring the use of different lines for specific presentations.
While the innovative design and and overall appearance of the new QC series is a departure from Abel reels of the past, the build quality and reliability is Abel quality through and through. The reel has a unique out-going click and retrieve click that is different from any other Abel reel offered in the past. The QC has the same great low start-up inertia cork drag and wide range of drag settings that make Abel reels so desirable.
The new Super 7/8 QC weighs 8.8 ounces with a spool diameter of 3.750″ and spool width of .950″. The reel holds 200 yards of 20# backing with a WF-7-F line and 175 yards of 20# backing with a WF-8-F line. Retailing for $760 in standard black, the new QC is available in any finish currently offered by Abel. Stop by to check out our selection of QC’s and take a look at the new standard in high performance fly reel design.
Every year from the beginning of February until the middle of April, several lakes around Arizona have what some natives call a “Crappie Bonanza.” For the last two years my dad, Dick O’Connor, and myself have set our sights on these speckled slabs. This year, as soon as quail season wrapped up, I had crappie on the brain and after two outings to San Carlos Lake we are happy to report the catch-rate and the overall experience to be nothing short of what we had hoped for. 
In addition to the crappie there is the occasional common carp to cast to. As the water temps begin to warm there are always a few Largemouth bass to be found in the shallows.
As it is now March, and the stream fishing in the mountains is just a few short weeks away, we will try to squeeze a couple more outings to our favorite lakes.
For more information on warm water fly-fishing opportunities, please contact us at: info@desertsportsman.com
On Sunday, March 1st, Desert Sportsman Sales Manager Mike O’Connor won the Phoenix ISE “Best of the West” casting competition. His winning cast of 105′ was enough to edge out 13 other qualifiers. In order to qualify for the event each caster had to make a 90′ cast in a total of four attempts. Once qualified, each caster had a total of four attempts to make his best cast in the final event.
Each regional winner is granted a chance to compete in the “Best of the West” finals held March 15th in Salt Lake City. Mike will head up a few days early for practice sessions and ISE promotional events. For more information on the competition please visit: www.sportsexpos.com
Last week, Katie and I travelled to New York in search of browns and steelhead. We were greeted at the airport by Jason Czora, a native of the area and a great local guide. After getting our rods strung up and throwing our waders on, we were ready to get on the river.
Day one started with ugly weather that seemed to get worse as the day went on. Having the right outerwear was essential. Our Simms waders and jackets performed flawlessly, turning a nasty day into a comfortable experience. We fished hard all day and managed to land a few chunky browns.
Our second day brought better weather but at a cost. It seems as though the big browns and steelhead of the region prefer dreary days and cool temperatures. The weather was great but we found the fishing to be a bit slower than the first day. Jason managed to land a nice brown and I caught a decent steelhead.
Our last day of fishing was spent on a different piece of water holding the possibility of better steelhead fishing than the other local waters we fished. Katie and I managed to hook quite a few and had a great time fighting the fish in fast water. Both of us were amazed at the sheer beauty of this particular river and the great looking water it held.
After three days of fishing, Katie and I headed to New York City to unwind for a few days and visit friends in Brooklyn. We were very appreciative of the gracious hospitality offered by our friends Aaron and Haily Tweedie, and we had a great time in the city with them. Katie and I enjoyed a day at the American Museum of Natural History and the American Folk Art Museum. We also had the fortune to visit some of New York’s better eateries including “Melt”, “Tides”, and “26 Seats”.
Our sincere thanks goes out to Jason Czora and the Tweedie’s. We thoroughly enjoyed the trip and look forward to getting back into those fish again next season!
For more information on fishing in New York please visit: www.steelheadaddictiongs.com
