San Carlos Reservoir since 1990

[CouesPursuit]

With a current fascination of SC crappie and whether the reservoir will hold water after this very dry winter, I did an analysis of water levels since 1990 that I thought some may appreciate. This interactive SanCarlosSince1990.html file should open up in a browser.  

• Brown: Dry periods (Water Elevation < 2,400 feet or No Data).

• Orange: Low periods (Volume < 20,000 acre-feet but not dry).

• Light blue: Wet periods Water Elevation >= 2,400 feet and Volume > 20,000 acre-feet. 

      Periods < 14 days were removed, low periods have no labels. 

[CouesPursuit]

I'm not a water manager and do not know any allocation for this year, but currently there is 35 CFS inflow from the Gila River (0 CFS from the San Carlos River) with ~ 250 CFS discharge from the reservoir. That is a volume deficit of 426 acre-feet/day.

Not factoring any changes in inflow, or the typical 700 CFS discharge increase coming in the summer months, San Carlos Reservoir would be empty in less than a year.

In 2024, ~200k acre-feet was released from May - December. Currently, there is ~150k in the reservoir. 

Go catch some fish while you can. 

[stanley]

Great info!   

Weekend before last, my AZT partners and I hiked from the Kelvin bridge to Picket Post.  We set-up a car camp roughly mid-point at Cochran (south side of Gila) and waded across to the trail.    I wasn't sure of water level and whether it was wadable or not, so I did a little scouting test run 4 weeks ago.  On my test run, the river was easily wadable, with the water coming just about mid calf.  On the expedition weekend, we showed-up to wade across to do our hike, and the water was up nearly to our waists. 

I was VERY surprised at the increase in water release from two weeks prior, especially given the lack of rain this year.  Chalked it up to irrigation water contract/commitments downstream....

Enjoy that crappie fishing, guys!!!! 

(Side note:  Martinez Canyon south of Picket Post is freaking amazing country!)

[Ed67]

2 hours ago, stanley said:

Great info!   

Weekend before last, my AZT partners and I hiked from the Kelvin bridge to Picket Post.  We set-up a car camp roughly mid-point at Cochran (south side of Gila) and waded across to the trail.    I wasn't sure of water level and whether it was wadable or not, so I did a little scouting test run 4 weeks ago.  On my test run, the river was easily wadable, with the water coming just about mid calf.  On the expedition weekend, we showed-up to wade across to do our hike, and the water was up nearly to our waists. 

I was VERY surprised at the increase in water release from two weeks prior, especially given the lack of rain this year.  Chalked it up to irrigation water contract/commitments downstream....

Enjoy that crappie fishing, guys!!!! 

(Side note:  Martinez Canyon south of Picket Post is freaking amazing country!)

We used to camp at that very spot at Cochran in the 80s/early 90s during the HAM javelina hunts. I saw some incredible mule deer bucks back then.
Shot my first archery javelina near south butte in 1982. 
Area seems to be overrun by ATVs/UTVs now.  

[stanley]

6 minutes ago, Ed67 said:

We used to camp at that very spot at Cochran in the 80s/early 90s during the HAM javelina hunts. I saw some incredible mule deer bucks back then.
Shot my first archery javelina near south butte in 1982. 
Area seems to be overrun by ATVs/UTVs now.  

Yep, I grew-up in Kearny and spent time running around those parts in the late 70s - early 80s.  We mainly hunted quail out there and focused our deer hunting in the washes/hills closer to town.  Some of the local Kearny guys used to kill BIG deer out in that area (Grayback....) though.

+1 on ATVs/UTVs....  Like just about every place else...

[HuntHarder]

I havnt paid much attention to SC, are these crappie farmed and just released this year?  Or are they holdover from years past?  

[trphyhntr]

33 minutes ago, HuntHarder said:

I havnt paid much attention to SC, are these crappie farmed and just released this year?  Or are they holdover from years past?  

They were stocked in May 2023 

[Roofer Billy]

The stock ponds up around point of the pines are full of bass and crappie. Nice days drive hopping from pond to pond and pitching a few lures. I've caught my share of some toads. Also get a predators license and it's sure to pay for its self. I've seen up to 6 coyotes at a time. And numerous different types of predators. And it's beautiful up there

[wildwoody]

Couple questions if you don't mind

1) are there motor size restrictions?

2) whats good for bass?

3) whats good for crappie? Minnows?

[trphyhntr]

18 minutes ago, wildwoody said:

Couple questions if you don't mind

1) are there motor size restrictions?

2) whats good for bass?

3) whats good for crappie? Minnows?

1. No

2. idk probably whatever you want to throw seems like the bite is on from the reports. 
3. Yes. 

[CatfishKev]

2 hours ago, trphyhntr said:

1. No

2. idk probably whatever you want to throw seems like the bite is on from the reports. 
3. Yes. 

Do most people use minnows or lures?

[Roofer Billy]

1 minute ago, CatfishKev said:

Do most people use minnows or lures?

Minnows and a bobber. .I'm going next Friday and Saturday. 

[stanley]

Used to catch them like crazy on small chartreuse power grubs on a VERY small jig head (like I think 1/32 oz...).   Ultra-light tackle with 3-4lb test line.   Was a BUNCH of fun if/when you got into them!

Good luck to all of the crappie fishers!!

S.

[trphyhntr]

23 minutes ago, CatfishKev said:

Do most people use minnows or lures?

Minnows optimally

[trphyhntr]

Circa 1995 SC slabs