To see a video of the above bass being caught and a rainbow trout caught on the very next cast, please see the “Featured Video” links bellow. August, 2014, Valley of the Sun. It is a reminder that we, humans, despite our egotistical tendency to believe otherwise, are but one small part of that which is so much larger than us. use promo code: WCProstaff-JSzmitkowski at checkout for a 5 % discount (not applicable to shipping costs and taxes). As is my preference, I visited and fished Veteran’s Oasis Lake (Chandler), Water Ranch Lake (Gilbert) and Red Mountain Lake (Mesa) with mixed results, save for stocking dates which were fruitful. Fishing at Canyon Lake provided a regular opportunity to catch largemouth bass and panfish of various species on flies. One of the great things about living in Arizona is the opportunity to fly fish every month of the year. One day, catches of largemouth bass were reasonable with catches of bluegill plentiful (best pattern was a # 14 rooks blueberry nymph tied behind a # 12 claret wooly bugger). Try using wet and dry flies. Although they followed several flies and lures, ultimately there were no takers. As is the case with fishing in general, some days on Canyon Lake had better results than others. Los Favritos Restaurant, Apache Trail, Apache Junction. Holiday preparations and (fortunately) work kept me busy and not on the water as much as usual. After the heat of summer dissipates, flows are severely decreased and the hidden treasures of the river are, I believe, truly reveled. Panfish were plentiful and largemouth bass were accommodating when offered a fly or lure. FEATURED: Lower Salt River Arizona June 25, 2016 Northeast of Mesa near Apache Junction, the Lower Salt River is the closest fly fishing destination for Phoenix residents. 106 Degrees but the river was cool. Please feel free to shop unique Fly Fishing Dojo products wear by clicking on the “SHOP” tab at the top of this page. On days that I cannot spare sufficient travel time to the big waters, then I fish these more accessible lakes. Now, we’re medically clear to go out freely. PLEASE NOTE: Unless otherwise indicated, all fish were safely released after being photographed. Here’s a few photos from a more successful day at the lake. The most productive lures proved to be rattle traps. Today I fish the lower Salt River and catch my first bass ever on artificial lures. Unfortunately, and despite our protests, fishing ranked lowest on the doctor’s definition of “necessary.” Since then, its been surgery, weekly chemotherapy, blood tests and highs and lows. The last time we were able to wet our lines was shortly before the U.S. Government shut-down in October of last year. We had a few rods with a soft plastic grub, a rat-l trap and my fly rod with a big nymph. The Lower Salt River is one of the most overlooked local fishing experiences. The various areas within the Boulder Recreation Area produced consistent panfish action, particularly on a # 16 foam ant. Sure a fat, jumping largemouth, a big ‘ole catfish or beautiful trout is great, but the simple joy of being on the water in good company – that’s the best. While most of this month’s fishing was on Canyon Lake and the urban lakes, there was a trip or two to the Lower Salt River. But such are the foibles of fly fishing. Something different to break up shooting video footage in one-hundred degree plus temperatures. That particular day was very windy & thunderstorms so, we weren’t sure if the closing was temporarily weather related. Summer fishing in the warm Arizona water involves a quest for catfish, pan fish and largemouth bass. Fishing along the shoreline adjacent to the two fishing bridge (and on the bridge themselves) provided action from Bluegill and Largemouth. Give them a try the next time you are in “AJ”. Soon a MCSO helicopter joined the search. Additionally, flows varied quite a bit, sometimes quite drastic. Di was able to get some really great video. I saw this bass cruising the shoreline (in the area of the first one lane bridge on Highway 88). Given the unusual circumstances of this month, I was only able to fish the Lower Salt a few times. The D.J. To this end, I was able to squeeze in two fast days on the water in April. Tight lines. See also: Trout Fishing in Colorado (CO) You may visit the weblog at WWW.SenseiJohn.Me You may also visit my karate blog at WWW.DeFeliceRyu.Com, Tags: Arizona fishing, bass fishing, Canyon Lake, Fly-Fishing, Lower Salt River, Red Mountain Lake, Saguaro Lake, Urban Lake Fishing, Veterans Oasis Lake, Water Ranch Lake. LOWER SALT RIVER, Tonto National Forest, AZ. I was very pleased to have not only visited an urban “old friend” but to have also confirmed that this old friend still held some impressive fish. The whiskered fish eventually ducked under a log and broke my 5X tippet. Topwater action was extremely exciting. Year-around, you can take advantage and enjoy the Lower Salt River's trout fishing. These areas included up river from the Water Users Recreation Area and down river from Phon D. Sutton Recreation Area. As we cast, we watched the drama unfold with officers on horseback, and helicopter. Most of my fishing this month was at this, my favored, Urban Lake. As summer progresses and river tubing takes over the Lower Salt River, my fishing tends towards the “big lakes” –  Canyon Lake and to a lesser extent Saguaro Lake. Here is a link to a free promotional video on You-Tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-pC-tPUrYE. A MSCO officer came by to check fishing licenses. Thursday, August 21st the flows significantly decreased. Some of the best action using the fly rod was found with a large purple salt water fly with a # 14 wet alexandra fly tied behind it. over a twenty-four hour period. Well, here’s how our month went (and one really great day). You can now arrange for either a fly fishing lecture or lesson with Sensei John, please see the “LESSONS & LECTURES” Page tab above. For a look at fly fishing at Phon Sutton where the first two casts produced a largemouth bass and a rainbow trout, please click the following link to our video: Lower Salt River – 2 casts – 2 fish – LINK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcbxR6L_n-I, 2. 'You will miss 100 percent of the shots you never take.' We often heard “Come out with hands up and we can work this out, if we come in to get you, you’re going to jail.” Here’s a link to the full story: https://flyfishingdojo.com/2014/06/09/match-the-hatch/. With thoughts focusing on the Holiday Season, I wish you all a very Happy Holiday; may you all find peace, love and joy as you open your hearts to the Holidays. My stream-side notes don’t indicate the fly I selected to match-the-hatch, but I do recall it had a hackle tied parachute style. To avoid spooking the fish, I decided to throw the fly. Some of the fish were of legendary proportion; at least large enough to brag about over a cold drink. We were able to visit Veterans Oasis, Water Ranch and Red Mountain during May. During our stay on the east coast, myself and film crew created a few karate kata videos on the pristine shores of the Atlantic Ocean on Cape Cod, MA. Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ncZJ0s0HNI. Not only that but in the driest and hottest week so far, this fool lit a fire for smoke to calm the bees and ended up burning an acre of brush. The earlier the time of day, the less hiking I do. The problem with fishing the river is one of changing water flows. I fished my preferred locations, including Boulder Recreation Area, roadside locations along Highway 88 and the shoreline around the first one lane bridge with moderate success. This made for hot fishing, not necessarily meaning fast, consistent catches. We fished in the Boulder Creek Recreation Area and the shoreline along the one lane bridge. As a Thank-you for reading, I have listed a two-pack of FlyFishing Dojo on E-bay for only $ 1.00 which includes mailing. (Here’s my post link: https://flyfishingdojo.com/2013/10/10/october-2013-fishing/ ). PLEASE NOTE: Unless otherwise indicated, all fish were safely released after being photographed. We were walking the bank, going back to the truck when we saw a huge catfish an inch or so away from and facing the concrete retaining wall. At the Lower Salt River, below Saguaro Lake, is known for its Rainbow Trout, Catfish, Sunfish and Largemouth Bass fishing. One planning note involves the Boulder Recreation Area. I’m sure even if I did have such an acquaintance, their resources would be used for other endeavors. Fishing the Lower Salt River involves a lot of hiking; moving from location to location in search of fish. Water levels on the Lower Salt River below Stuart Mountain Dam could fluctuate between 800 cubic feet per second to as much as 3,000 cubic feet per second today and tomorrow, the Tonto National Forest announced. We fished that area again on August 19th and it was still closed. This months new product  FFD LOGO CLASSIC THONG, Here’s a convenient link: http://www.cafepress.com/flyfishing_dojo.459914580#, Tags: Arizona fishing, Canyon Lake, Ernest Hemingway, Fisherman-Warriors, Fly-Fishing, Lower Salt River, Saguaro Lake, Sanchin Kata, Sensei John, Tonto National Forest, Urban Lake Fishing, Veterans Oasis Lake, Water Ranch Lake. On those summer days when I can spare a few hours to fish and the changing flows keep me off the river, I fish Canyon Lake. On two occasions, this area was closed for improvements; so, if you plan to fish at this location, there is a possibility you may be disappointed. My optimism is buoyed by the rumor that improvements at Boulder Recreation Area have been completed and the area is again open. I cast to a cruising largemouth as “bad boys, bad boys, what ya gonna do?” drifted through my mind. The Lower Salt River, just minutes from some of the Valley of the Sun’s population centers, is stocked with trout throughout the winter and offers good shoreline fishing options as well. In fact, it’s the only cold-water trout fishery in the U.S. that’s located in a desert, according to the Arizona Game and Fish Department. More fish followed. Current fly fishing conditions are still good. Arizona, Valley Of The Sun –  May, 2011, turned out to be a difficult month on many fronts, including an unexpected return to New Jersey to attend the memorial and funeral for a very dear friend. It was only for an hour on a local urban pond and no fish were caught, but what a great day! Arizona fishing #castmastersfishing #arizonafishing SUBSCRIBE FOR NEW VIDEOS EVERY WEDNESDAY LUIS' INSTAGRAM - https://bit.ly/31T5bWVJORDAN'S INSTAGRAM - https://bit.ly/33PXX82LUIS' VLOG CHANNEL - https://bit.ly/2vg2rWlJORDAN'S VLOG CHANNEL - https://bit.ly/2Z305dH--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Want to send us something? Look for my next fishing journal at the end of this month. There are plenty of hatches on the Salt River. Due to other commitments, I spent little, if any time at Canyon Lake. In these dog days of summer fishing success on the Lower Salt varies depending on river flows. little one. Please see to it that the treasure of the urban lakes is not taken for granted; obey all applicable rules (including respecting areas off limits to fishing), don’t litter (there is nothing as intolerable as fishing debris) and respect the harvest quotas. However, AZGFD reserves the right to not publish photos and reports for any reason, including inappropriate content, or obvious violations of fishing regulations. The reports seem too “short and sweet” – nonetheless, here it is. I check the flow beginning three days before any planned trip and the in morning before heading out. Whether fishing is “good” or “bad’ I cannot help but feel connected to this environment. August was different. Please feel free to shop unique Fly Fishing Dojo products wear by clicking on the “SHOP” tab at the top of this page. A bit early for near triple digit temperatures here in the Valley. Fly Fishing The Salt River Arizona The Salt River in Arizona, is a 200 mile long river but only a small section of the river supports trout. Please see the “LECTURES & LESSONS” Page tab above for more information. We caught several black bass on our journey. Sensei John is available for guest speaking engagements. Below is the water flow chart for the Lower Salt River for the month from WWW.Watershedmonitor.Com. You might be able to catch some bass or sunfish in the deeper holes. This month’s featured FFD Logo Product is the FFD Logo Trailer Hitch Cover; purchase information and link is below. This can only mean one thing – rainbow trout fishing is back. 1. My “go-to” fly patterns included a # 14 wire caddis nymph tied behind a sparkle shad streamer and a # 14 ju-ju bee nymph tied behind a # 16 orange/black wooly bugger. Almost immediately after that one of our team members was diagnosed with stage four cancer. I fished Water Ranch on June 8th and was shocked to have other fisherman give me reports of dead catfish from a recent stocking and green algae. Di and I were fishing in the area of the Phon D. Sutton parking lot. The import of this preparation increases in proportion to increasing temperatures in the Arizona desert. All species of fish, including, bass, perch, catfish, bluegill, crappy and trout,  could readily be seen cruising shallow waters or rising to the surface to feed. ENDNOTES: When the bite slowed, we hiked a few yards up and down the river. - Wayne Gretzky .  This Month’s featured product is the FFD Logo bandanna. I even hooked into one catfish that, for whatever reason, known only to the fish itself was induced to strike at a # 12 apache lady wet fly. I walked the shoreline casting about and fished my preferred spots with some determination, but there was nothing to be seen or enticed. I did have one heart stopping moment when a large carp chased and was briefly hooked on a # 14 pink san juan worm pattern. PLEASE, remember the daily bag limit of four AND you need an Urban Fishing License. Only 40 minutes from Phoenix, it is a favorite for anyone looking for a quick fishing trip. Again, I fished the dry flies with my 6 foot ultra-light Fenwick Ferrulite fly rod, a 9 foot leader with a 7X or 8X tippet. These federal lands belong to each and every one of us. The fishing bridge at Boulder Recreation Area has been repaired and is again open for fishing. Experience this special day for yourself; here is a link to a video made on that day. After water flows increased to summer levels, I concentrated my fishing at the Water Users Recreation Area. As morning progressed and temperatures warmed, dry fly action could be fast and furious. You can also do so by visiting At long last, it looks like we can once again get out on the water. Here’s the results of that final week. I have several of these type of locations in my geographic arsenal. Salt River Tubing has been a summer staple in the Valley of the Sun for over 40 years. This is a video showing the beautiful Salt River in Arizona. With the fast water flow, I preferred to fish the lower salt river with my two longest fly rods, an 8 foot, Fenwick Ferrulite Rod and my monster-caster, a 9 foot, Sumo Distance XS fly rod. LINK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M__4r1qAavU. For my part I mixed fishing pleasure with the business of filming my Sanchin Kata for non-martial artists DVD. Then we moved on. We visited Red Mountain Lake and Discovery Pond regularly. I used various locations in Tonto National Forest, and my favorite fishing locations at the Lower Salt River, Canyon Lake and Saguaro Lake, as background for the videos. As the summer progresses, fishing will be limited to those locations that are not impeded by river tubing. Conditions : SALT RIVER: Trout stockings usually occur twice a month* through June, making trout fishing in the desert a worthwhile endeavor. Videos will be posted every Wednesday so subscribe so you don't miss a thing! We hope that we are able to continue to fish in these venues and provide more reports in the coming months. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. The lower Salt river is stocked every winter with catchable-sized rainbow trout. Do; however, use caution. These lakes are part of an industrial/office park. You can now arrange for either a fly fishing lecture or lesson with Sensei John, please see the “LESSONS & LECTURES” Page tab above. Link: http://www.cafepress.com/flyfishing_dojo.459912522#, Please feel free to shop unique Fly Fishing Dojo products wear by clicking on the “SHOP” tab at the top of this page. Having said that, my usual fly rig of a streamer (sparkle shad or muddler minnow) as a head fly and wet fly or nymph (bloody mary, red serendipity, rainbow warrior0 as a tail fly did not disappoint. It felt – – good. Strange, but I’ll take it. While it is commonly known for summer-time lazy river tubing, the Salt River has an abundance use promo code: WCProstaff-JSzmitkowski at checkout for a 5 % discount (not applicable to shipping costs and taxes). Our fishing centered around the Lower Salt River and Canyon Lake. I always look for new fishing spots along the lake’s shore. I’m anticipating cooler temperatures and the stocking of catfish starting in the middle of September by Arizona Fish and Game. View our Lower Salt River fishing map for more info. Today I fish the lower Salt River and catch my first bass ever on artificial lures. As a Thank-you for reading, I have listed a two-pack of FlyFishing Dojo on E-bay for only $ 1.00 which includes mailing. It is home to a year round bass, carp and sucker population and is stocked April through March with Rainbow Trout. Sensei John is available for lectures on the interrelationship of fly fishing and martial arts protocol, ideology and philosophy. No one can work everyday in the hot months without going stale. Late fall and winter is always my favorite time of year on the river. I too love taking home a catfish or two in the summer months and a trout or two in the winter months. The 200-mile Salt River is a popular spot among Phoenix locals. This pattern produced a steady stream of palm-plus sized bluegill. Health-wise we did good. Bass and panfish were also plentiful at Saguaro Lake. Improve your fishing enjoyment and productivity with a simple protocol from Karate known as “Sanchin.” Sanchin takes less than two minutes to perform and is a great way to prepare to fish, rejuvenate yourself during difficult fishing times or simply enhance your fishing experience. 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