hoghntr Report post Posted June 1, 2015 Lived here my whole life and think I fished more than I went to school as a kid. Dad and I fished pleasant back when it was tiny and caught mannnnny fish. So in my late teens I really turned to creek fishing and love it but can't always go for that hike. My question is with a 12' boat is there a creek/river that is fishable? im sure there is but im just not aware of these areas. or just small lakes you prefer? Im just looking for nice quiet places to get away fw days at a time when I can midweek is ideal. Boat is a trailered 12' sea nymph not a carry in Ideally I would like to catch bigger fish thn 1 I have in picture but that is fine if I catch a 100 L.O.L. non species specific just beautiful fun places wanted. P.M. any specifics if you want kept secret. thx Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AZ_SAWBUCK Report post Posted June 1, 2015 If you want to fish for Trout. I'd recommend Willow, Blue Ridge or Black Canyon for close lakes. Big lake or Reservation if you want to go for a drive and really get away. There is always the Colorado river if you want to fish a river. Check motor restrictions up by Lees Fairy. I have heard great things about the Colorado River over by CA, I think you put in by Needles then fish the slues south a few miles. Also heard the fishing is good down by Yuma on the river. Cant go wrong with Powell or Saguaro. Good Luck! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
murfys69law Report post Posted June 1, 2015 Had a friend tell me about "Martinez Lake" down by Yuma. Never been there but he said he heard they catch some nice fish there. It's an inlet off the Colorado river system I think. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hoghntr Report post Posted June 1, 2015 Ya the monster in picture above was from willow springs. I have caught nice largemouth bass and some smallies from willow but I have never had much trout luck. I did fish a 350 pound guy out of willow once but things didn't turn out well for him. I do like black canyon for bass also so guess I just forgot how to catch trout. I know cowbells/fordfenders trolled used to work well but seems like any lure I throw now catches bass. The colorado has been on my mind so will do some research. I was fishing verde river from boat but friend no longer lives on the 1 mile stretch I fished in C.V., it was nice having river in his backyard with boat always docked. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
murfys69law Report post Posted June 1, 2015 I have done real well at Willow with small crawdad lures being trolled slow. Caught a lot of brook trout as well as rainbows on em' GL Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
naturebob Report post Posted June 1, 2015 The small Rebel brand Crawdad does well any where for trout. Up here they don't sell em. I found some at wallyworld in Casper Antelope hunting. No power bait up here either. Weird place.Can't wait to try Crawdad. Maybee tomm.. I used to have an old 1962 Kcraft 12 ft alluminun flat bottom a buddy gave me for free. Every spring we would take silicone and caulk the leaks. Caught lotsa big fish with it in White Mtns............BOB! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Big Browns Report post Posted June 1, 2015 The Verde river above Bartlet can be really good! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Havasuhunter Report post Posted June 2, 2015 Any of the CO river backwaters are excellent. Depends how far you want to travel. You can take I 10 straight towards Erinburg and Blythe, turn left at the travel center in Erinburg and you'll be in business. Cibola lake is electric only and is excellent for multi species. Palo Verde Oxbow lake is also very good, but I think you need a ca license for that. All down that way is backwater after backwater. Some trailer launch capable, some not. Another option is to come to Havasu and launched at the south end of the lake. The Bill Williams NWR has a huge no wake zone that is great for small boats and kayaks. I'll give you specifics on a PM, but let's just say I catch a few fish down there.😉 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
muledeerarea33? Report post Posted June 2, 2015 Lakes in the south here are good for your boat size and not crowded week days (usually) above the spawn dang at Roosevelt maybe? Not sure the depth of the water there? Seen some small flat bottom boats launch and go up river. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hoghntr Report post Posted June 2, 2015 Lakes in the south here are good for your boat size and not crowded week days (usually) above the spawn dang at Roosevelt maybe? Not sure the depth of the water there? Seen some small flat bottom boats launch and go up river. Im to fat for a flat bottom 12' boat. I must say the 1 mile or so of verde I fished in peoples backyards was most fun for me! just love the changing waters and other wildlife around! angry beavers, otters, deer drinking, ducks, geese honking, javelina etc.. actually never caught that many fish just liked the water time. Really fun to motor down river in 10 degree temps with bow frozen to hand also. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
muledeerarea33? Report post Posted June 2, 2015 Don't quote me on the upper salt, may be ok for a V bottom too? Others here would know more than me. We've only done it in tubes and rafts and from shore Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
naturebob Report post Posted June 2, 2015 Old story about the 1962 Kcraft flat bottom. One early Dec. about 20 years ago ,Me and my 2 fishing buddies do our annual fall trip to the White Mtn's. Well we were a week to late and Sunrise was frozen. But not enough to walk on, maybee 1-2 ". So We get a bright idea to tie a 100 foot rope we had to boulder on shore and push the flat bottom boat across the ice as far as we could,close to 100 feet. We used a shovel to push against the ice. This way if the ice gave way we were in a boat. It worked. Caught several Trout. As it got dark we got the lantern out and kept on fishing. By now We were feeling pretty good too as we allways took a bottle of schnabbs to go along with the beer. Good and bad. As the nite went on and You had to use the john ,we stepped out on the ice aways and went. Luckily no one fell thru. And one buddy was big too, 6-5 and a little bulky. Ive actually got pics of this trip from the ice. I will have to dig em out and post em. We had a lot of fun in that old 12 ft flat bottom. What is good about them is You can pick em up yourself and slide it in a truck. The good old days. If You like to fish 1-3 guys its a good little boat. When I sold My cabin in Vernon in 96 ,I left it there .Dont' know if its still alive. The old 62 Kcraft..Thanks for reading......BOB! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hoghntr Report post Posted June 2, 2015 Nice! funny story.. I saw a boat at reservation lake about 100 feet out from ramp that was spinning slowly around and circles with nobody in it and half was out of water.. I saw this site at 1st light and as it brightened up a bit I realized the boat was still connected to the truck and camper it came on. ) BTW WHAT IS BEST WAY TO KEEP BATTERIES CHARGED OR CHARGE AT NIGHT WHEN ON TRIPS? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
murfys69law Report post Posted June 2, 2015 Harbor Freight has a small, med, and large solar charger that work pretty good. no too expensive. I use it to keep my camper batteries charged and they did fine. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
