Roosevelt Lake
Rating: Hot

Lake temperatures are in the mid 60s. Water levels should remain steady as SRP is pulling water from the Verde system. Last winter along with the last few months there has been quite a bit of precipitation and the water level is currently at 69% full. Hopefully, we continue to see plenty of winter precipitation and snowpack and the water level continues to rise for the coming year. See the current lake elevation at https://streamflow.watershedconnection.com/Dwr . Fish should have plenty of habitat with a lot of the shoreline shrubs and trees submerged, as well as, all the fish habitat improvement sites. Check out the fish habitat site locations at https://fishaz.azgfd.com/!

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Roosevelt Lake - Lake temperatures are in the low 70s and expected to reach the low 80s by August. Bass anglers should find good-to-excellent fishing on Roosevelt Lake, including an excellent top-water bite as schools bass will chase shad during early mornings onto shallow flats and the backs of coves. Try walking frogs baits or other shad-pattern top-water lures. Be sure to not set the hook too quickly when getting a top-water bite: this can rip the hook away from the fish.

We recently installed the final artificial habitat structures into Roosevelt Lake.

Catfish action can be excellent this summer as well, especially during full moon nights. Most catfish anglers fish from the shorelines on the Salt River end of the lake or near the dam. The best baits include cut baits (meat, fish or chicken) or prepared dough baits.

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Bartlett Lake on Thursday was 97-percent full, having risen about 10 feet during the past week. SRP on Thursday afternoon was releasing 4,200 cfs out of Horseshoe Dam.

Roosevelt Lake was up to 56-percent full and has risen 17 feet during the past month.

Percent Full as of March 12, 2019
Roosevelt Lake (Roosevelt Dam) 58
Apache Lake (Horse Mesa Dam) 98
Canyon Lake (Mormon Flat Dam) 92
Saguaro Lake (Stewart Mountain Dam) 95

Anglers are reminded to be careful when crossing low-lying areas and washes.

Winter Fishing Forecast:

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PHOENIX — With golden algae levels lower than previous samples, the Arizona Game and Fish Department informed the Forest Service on August 14 that Saguaro Lake can resume hosting fishing tournaments.

Fishing tournaments temporarily were suspended in June when golden algae (Prymnesium parvum) blooms developed over large portions of Saguaro Lake. Golden algae produces a toxin (prymnesin) that affects any organism with gills.

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Saguaro Lake tournaments remain suspended

PHOENIX - The U.S. Forest Service (UFS) has been notified by the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) that fishing tournaments at Apache and Canyon Lakes can resume, effective immediately.

Fishing tournaments were temporarily suspended when golden alga (Prymnesium parvum) blooms developed over large portions of the lakes. Golden alga produces a toxin (prymnesin) that affects any organism with gills. Although golden alga is still present, the blooms have subsided considerably and are no longer producing toxin.

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ROOSEVELT LAKE — (2,125 feet, 69-percent full).

June 2 report from Jim Goughnour of Rim Country Custom Rods:

Bass fishing on Roosevelt Lake is good. As bass transition to a summer pattern, anglers are using drop-shot, Texas-Rig and Carolina-Rig techniques. Artificial baits such as worms, lizards, crawdads were all recently reported successful by experienced anglers. The water condition has improved dramatically and is now clear down to 15 foot. The more stable June temperatures will steadily increase the lake water temperature. Anglers who enjoy night-time fishing are anticipating the upcoming full moon to launch an hour before sunset and fish “after-dark.”

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