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Lake Havasu fishing

satellitemike

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It's been many years since I've fished there, do the stripers still boil around the island, I havent seen any birds hitting the water like they used to in the 80's and 90's, and are there any large mouth worth the time there?
 

185EZ

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reminds me to renew my fishing license
I've tried a few times this year without much luck
Anchovies were always a sure thing but nothing this year
 

zx14

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there are still channel cats in the channel...believe it or not, with all that activity that goes through there, toss a line out behind the boat while you are relaxing with a beverage...and you'd be surprised at the size cats you can pull in...
Yes, they love sewage.
 

The Prisoner

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there are still channel cats in the channel...believe it or not, with all that activity that goes through there, toss a line out behind the boat while you are relaxing with a beverage...and you'd be surprised at the size cats you can pull in...

Years ago the owners of House of Chan in Kingman wanted me to bring them they catfish I caught there. I don’t know how the ate that shit. It must have tasted like exhaust fumes because that’s how it smelled.

Btw. They didn’t feed it to customers. I saw them cut up the fish fast as hell and cook and eat it quick. There are different owners there now.
 

185EZ

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Catfish is good. From the right place
We used to live on a lake and catch catfish for dinner. Chicken liver was their favorite
The smaller and younger the better
Then put a nail through their head on a cutting board and skin em alive:p
 

HubbaHubbaLife

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Hey easy now fellas.... don't get down on my catfish.... I grew up on them in the Shenandoah mountain lakes in Va..... they are prehistoric beast I think by the looks of em. For sure they are bottom feeders but we always stocked our ponds with them on the farm to keep them clean. Just fry em up and taste just like bass really as I recall.
 

The Prisoner

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Hey easy now fellas.... don't get down on my catfish.... I grew up on them in the Shenandoah mountain lakes in Va..... they are prehistoric beast I think by the looks of em. For sure they are bottom feeders but we always stocked our ponds with them on the farm to keep them clean. Just fry em up and taste just like bass really as I recall.

I myself am not a big fish eater but if you like catfish I would imagine eat them from anywhere but the Havasu channel in the summer. It bet the meat is at least 92 octane. 😁
 

HubbaHubbaLife

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I myself am not a big fish eater but if you like catfish I would imagine eat them from anywhere but the Havasu channel in the summer. It bet the meat is at least 92 octane. 😁
Oh I understand and agree with all that... I forget about your shallows and all those motors in that water... there's been some recent postings and drone videos that show some beautifully clean water... even scuba diver activity threads. We all drink from that tributary as I recall ha. Matter of fact if not mistaken I believe the entire Colorado river sustains all of central and southern Cali.... my east coast based childhood friends from the south visit and water always seems to come into conversation. Especially my Florida based friends... they realize we don't have any rain to speak of and are curious how we acquire water. I've read we pay by the square yard for that Colorado river water. Fascinating.
 

HubbaHubbaLife

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Years ago the owners of House of Chan in Kingman wanted me to bring them they catfish I caught there. I don’t know how the ate that shit. It must have tasted like exhaust fumes because that’s how it smelled.

Btw. They didn’t feed it to customers. I saw them cut up the fish fast as hell and cook and eat it quick. There are different owners there now.
And just so you understand where I'm coming from.... truth is we always gave most of the cats to our black farm hands.... seemed like the folks preferred the small mouth bass. Me, I ate everything.
 

HBCraig

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There is the big striper tournament there every year.
 
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The Prisoner

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And just so you understand where I'm coming from.... truth is we always gave most of the cats to our black farm hands.... seemed like the folks preferred the small mouth bass. Me, I ate everything.

the only 2 fish i like is scrod with bread crumb topping and flounder we used to catch off Rocky Point Rhode Island.
 

boatdoc55

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The last couple of years the stripers have been VERY active up at Mesquite bay, friend and I had a couple 100 fish days up there last winter and spring. 18 feet of water with cut chovies. One out of 20 would be a nice fish but the smaller ones do eat real good. We go with the rule if we can get a 8" filet of it it go's in the live well.
If you want to jig for them find the old river channel and have at it, they WILL be bigger fish but not nearly as many.
 

El Chingon

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It's been many years since I've fished there, do the stripers still boil around the island, I havent seen any birds hitting the water like they used to in the 80's and 90's, and are there any large mouth worth the time there?
20200609_090107.jpg

Back in June "Uncle Joe" took us Striper fishing up in the river. We hit all his Honey Holes. Caught stripers at every spot. My son caught this 7lb striper on anchovies. Last year I caught a 30lb Turtle out by the casino.
 

YeahYeah01

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It's been many years since I've fished there, do the stripers still boil around the island, I havent seen any birds hitting the water like they used to in the 80's and 90's, and are there any large mouth worth the time there?
I don't know but some dude hooked a good size turtle at steam boat last weekend lol. I thought he was messing with me until it broke the surface.
 
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2Driver

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Lots of smallies around the docks in Parker. just float and cast along peoples docks.
 

DWC

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I don't know but some dude hooked a good size turtle at steam boat last weekend lol. I thought he was messing with me until it broke the surface.
Same about a month ago in Steamboat. Guy fishing off the back of his boat. Thought his line was stuck for a minute. Good size fish.
Thanks for the anchovy tip. My daughter has been busting my chops to go fishing. Picked this up at Turners this week. Filling it and hoping to break it in this weekend

91BFE24D-B9A5-4A3E-A2EF-B2A0B13DE23C.jpeg
 

boatdoc55

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I don't know but some dude hooked a good size turtle at steam boat last weekend lol. I thought he was messing with me until it broke the surface.
Lot's of cats in Steamboat also. Hot dogs work well.
 

FishSniper

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Plan on fishing a lot more up there this year once it cools down some.
 

Rondog4405

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I know the stripers are making a comeback.. my kids were fishing for bluegills this weekend . We were in satelite cove and backside of 3 dunes. The bluegills had no chance.. schools of baby stripers were jumping on the hook ..every cast.
 

hallett21

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Can’t remember the name of the tackle shop down by in n out. I went in there years back asking about the best way to catch strippers.

They said chum with anchovies the day before. Not sure if that still helps? Seems like it would attract everything in the lake though lol
 

boatdoc55

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I know the stripers are making a comeback.. my kids were fishing for bluegills this weekend . We were in satelite cove and backside of 3 dunes. The bluegills had no chance.. schools of baby stripers were jumping on the hook ..every cast.
That's great when the kids are catching fish!!! Hopefully they continue fishing as they get older. 😁
 

Essexive G's

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Hey easy now fellas.... don't get down on my catfish.... I grew up on them in the Shenandoah mountain lakes in Va..... they are prehistoric beast I think by the looks of em. For sure they are bottom feeders but we always stocked our ponds with them on the farm to keep them clean. Just fry em up and taste just like bass really as I recall.
I always thought the cat meat was a little “earthier”. Largemouth? If you could describe largemouth it would be light. I prefer stripper meat. Nothing beats fileting about 10 1lb. Striper and throwing them on a hibachi on a beach in a cove that you are boating camping on. While fishing for catfish from shore @ 9 O’clock at night with good beer.
 

Essexive G's

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Oh I understand and agree with all that... I forget about your shallows and all those motors in that water... there's been some recent postings and drone videos that show some beautifully clean water... even scuba diver activity threads. We all drink from that tributary as I recall ha. Matter of fact if not mistaken I believe the entire Colorado river sustains all of central and southern Cali.... my east coast based childhood friends from the south visit and water always seems to come into conversation. Especially my Florida based friends... they realize we don't have any rain to speak of and are curious how we acquire water. I've read we pay by the square yard for that Colorado river water. Fascinating.
Huell Howser from California’s Gold had an episode called The Colorado River Chain. I think there were 2 parts. He started @ Powell. He stopped at Mead, Mohave, Havasu, Parker Strip, Martinez all the way down to the border.
Very cool episode. I learned a lot.
 

Carlson-jet

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The deepest coldest water is at the dams. Old school Arizona rule.
 

River Runnin

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With all the gizzard shad boom'n the past few years, Havasu is headed to world class Striper fish'n! ;) with 40-50 pound fish fairly common!:)
 

HubbaHubbaLife

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Huell Howser from California’s Gold had an episode called The Colorado River Chain. I think there were 2 parts. He started @ Powell. He stopped at Mead, Mohave, Havasu, Parker Strip, Martinez all the way down to the border.
Very cool episode. I learned a lot.
Thanks... big fan of Huell ... I'll look for that episode, love to learn that.
 

gqchris

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Same about a month ago in Steamboat. Guy fishing off the back of his boat. Thought his line was stuck for a minute. Good size fish.
Thanks for the anchovy tip. My daughter has been busting my chops to go fishing. Picked this up at Turners this week. Filling it and hoping to break it in this weekend

View attachment 912093

I love to fish also Don. Maybe during the cooler months we can organize some fishing mixed in with offroading and boating! Ill break out my tackle also.
 
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DWC

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I love to fish also Don. Maybe during the cooler months we can organize some fishing mixed in with offroading and boating! Ill break out my tackle also.
Sounds perfect. I’m definitely in.
 

HubbaHubbaLife

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Huell Howser from California’s Gold had an episode called The Colorado River Chain. I think there were 2 parts. He started @ Powell. He stopped at Mead, Mohave, Havasu, Parker Strip, Martinez all the way down to the border.
Very cool episode. I learned a lot.
Shoot that short video wasn't the one you referred to.... I'm interested so continuing search.... Chapman U has episode search engine but KCET site was lame. Might have struck "Gold" below.... I'd enjoy learning more about The Colorado River and the Southwest water sourcing given it rains so infrequently. I know snow melt is crucial.

 

WATERDOG

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reminds me to renew my fishing license
I've tried a few times this year without much luck
Anchovies were always a sure thing but nothing this year
I got a few with Anchovies in the Gorge but nothing on the lake. Crank baits seem to work for me best on the lake. And I had good luck with plastics on south on the river.
 

WATERDOG

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The last couple of years the stripers have been VERY active up at Mesquite bay, friend and I had a couple 100 fish days up there last winter and spring. 18 feet of water with cut chovies. One out of 20 would be a nice fish but the smaller ones do eat real good. We go with the rule if we can get a 8" filet of it it go's in the live well.
If you want to jig for them find the old river channel and have at it, they WILL be bigger fish but not nearly as many.
Mesquite has been really good some days and really bad others.
 

retaocleg

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some of the biggest small mouth in the west, and stripers are abundant..........look for the bird action above to see where the shad are=boils
 
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