Angling Publications - Index

Angling Publications - may2008 - Index

ALABAMA
The fishing in both Magnolia and Fish Rivers is
good, particularly in Fish River. Limits of speckled
trout are being caught on grubs, especially white
ones. DOAs are also productive in white. As the
Gulf waters warm up, cobia will become more
prevalent, and good numbers of bluefish are being
caught early mornings in the passes at Orange
Beach. Large numbers of redfish are also being
caught in both the rivers and the Gulf. Until the
water warms up more, the flats in the bay will be
slow. For current reports contact Spencer Johnson
at Fairhope Fly Shop in The Church Mouse
(251-928-1619; chmouse5@bellsouth.net).
ALASKA
May is still early for northern trout unless you’re
dropping big streamers, translucent alevin or
egg patterns into rivers running into Prince William
Sound and drainages south of the Alaska
Range that you can reach on the Richardson
Highway, the Tok Cut-off, and the eastern half
of the Glenn Highway. In May and June there’s
a surge of fresh trout and trout-size fish into the
freshwater rivers of this region of Dolly Varden,
rainbows, cutthroat, grayling and lake trout. It’s
a wet-fly show. Patterns that imitate salmon fry,
alevins and even the venerable egg-sucking leech
are tough to beat. There’s also a good early run of
June sockeye salmon. Check locally at Whittier,
Valdez, Cordova, Glennallen, Copper Center,
Sourdough and Paxson for hot spots.
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ARIZONA
Arizona Game & Fish predicts this is going to be
the best fishing season in Arizona in 25 years. The
reason is simple . . . water! In 2005 water levels rose
in most lakes and spawning was highly successful.
Those bass are now 3 pounds or more, and crappie
are numerous and big. This year snow and rain
have again filled all the lower lakes and have the
mountain lakes overflowing. Even the water level
at Lake Powell is up substantially. Water covers the
cut which has been dry for several years. In addition
to the bass fishing, trout should be fat and happy in
most White Mountain lakes. Streams will be a little
late in clearing due to the heavy snow pack, but all
the prime lakes should be outstanding with one sad
exception. Because of the heavy snow cover, oxygen
in Crescent Lake is low and has caused a major fish
kill. Still, your problem will be which of the many
great fishing opportunities you should sample. For
help contact Arizona Flyfishing (480-730-6808;
www.azflyfishing.com).
ARKANSAS
“Heavy rains this spring have tailwater fisheries
high, and the best action is from drift boats,”
reports McLellan’s Fly Shop (479-251-7037)
in Fayetteville. The shop suggested anglers cast
big, bright flies in the North Fork and White Rivers.
Size-12 San Juan worms, flashback scuds and
day-glow egg patterns are good choices. Due to the
high water, McLellan’s suggests longer-than-usual
leaders with large strike indicators and plenty of
weight to get your fly down into the strike zone.
The shop also noted that smallmouth action on
the Buffalo and Kings rivers has started to heat up
as the weather turns warmer.
CALIFORNIA
The mile or so of East Walker River below the
dam is where monster browns and rainbows go
to frustrate fly guys. There’s beaucoup foot-long
trout to play with, but it’s the big guys hunkering
under the cutbanks that attract anglers to this
stretch of the East Walker. Pack the box with big
brown trout patterns: Matukas, assorted marabou
streamers, pheasant tail nymphs, prince nymphs,
hare’s ears, zonkers, muddlers, and woolly buggers
(including a few humongous articulated patterns).
You may see a little dry-fly action, especially caddis,
but ignore it. The big fish do. Keep flinging
bottom dredgers if you want a fight to brag about.
Sink-tip lines and stout fluorocarbon leaders are
critical for a prayer of landing one. These fish get
teased by some pretty savvy fly guys so don’t head
downstream expecting easy trophies. They come
hard, but they’re several pounds big and worth
bragging about. Ken’s Alpine Sporting Goods
(760-932-7707) keeps track of the action and top
flies from Main Street in Bridgeport.
COLORADO
The good news is that there has been a lot of snow
in Colorado . . . in some places over 200% of
normal, and the trout will have plenty of water this
JASON BORGER ILLUSTRATION