Colorodo River - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

EastLosYaker · 10-07-2014, 10:35 PM

Does anyone have experience fishing the Colorado River? I will be heading out there the week of Thanksgiving. Thinking of fishing Willow Beach or Havasu. Any suggestions on places to camp and/or launch? Any other advice or tips would also be appreciated.

fishnfoool · 10-08-2014, 12:33 AM

Great area for big stripers. Troll and trout imitation at night on your kayak. You are allowed to fish all night there. Cast towards the banks with same trout imitation during the day.

Siebler · 10-08-2014, 08:35 AM

I usually fish down around Picacho, Ferguson Lake, and the surrounding areas. Good camping and not much of the Party crew around these parts. Tons of hidden areas that are perfect for kayaks. Good bass fishing and smaller stripers plus cats. Also HUGE populations of Bullfrogs and Crawfish so bring your pots and you gigs!

makobob · 10-08-2014, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Siebler

I usually fish down around Picacho, Ferguson Lake, and the surrounding areas. Good camping and not much of the Party crew around these parts. Tons of hidden areas that are perfect for kayaks. Good bass fishing and smaller stripers plus cats. Also HUGE populations of Bullfrogs and Crawfish so bring your pots and you gigs!

What a feast, Crawfish and frog legs, YUM!!!

Amish Ed · 10-08-2014, 11:22 AM

I fished Ferguson based on CJ's suggestion a few years ago. The road is a bit rough, but so worth it. Camped right on the water and I only saw 2 boats the 2 days I was there. Fishing was fantastic for LMB. I found all kinds of areas that a boat would never be able to get into. The only problem I had was the heat. It was 106º and was supposed to be 90º. I'd love to go back in the spring or late fall.

Siebler · 10-08-2014, 11:30 AM

The road is certainly hit or miss. When we went back in May a Smart Car could have been comfortable. Other times it reminds me why my truck is built the way it is.

Heat is the other issue but that is just part of fishing the river. When we went in may it was 112. Hottest ive had out there is 121 on a trip in September.

Iceman · 10-08-2014, 12:01 PM

I was just thinking about November and the Colorado River, thinking of a weekend at Moabi State Rec, want to fish those lakes on the AZ side

MissileTM · 10-08-2014, 12:14 PM

Just to let you know, you no longer have to have a Colorado River enhancement for your California license to fish the river. The state finally came to their senses and did away with it.

One thing you may need though if you are fishing from shore on tribal land is a permit, but only if fishing from shore on the Rez. Those can be obtained from AZ Game and Fish and some markets.

IntrntFshrman · 10-08-2014, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MissileTM

Just to let you know, you no longer have to have a Colorado River enhancement for your California license to fish the river. The state finally came to their senses and did away with it.

One thing you may need though if you are fishing from shore on tribal land is a permit, but only if fishing from shore on the Rez. Those can be obtained from AZ Game and Fish and some markets.

You still have to have out of state for Willow Beach, though don't you? That's in Arizona/Nevada, no?

EastLosYaker · 10-08-2014, 11:38 PM

Thanks for all the information. Sounds like I'm going to Ferguson then. Launch from your campsite? A kayak fisherman's dream. I will begin my research immediately. Any more specifics or tips will again be appreciated. Names of campground, fishing techniques, etc.

Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk 2

EastLosYaker · 10-08-2014, 11:39 PM

Oh, and if anyone has any cooking tips for crawfish and frog legs, please pass them along too.

Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk 2

monstahfish · 10-09-2014, 07:39 AM

I've been to willow beach a few times and caught nothing. I have seen 2 stripers, tons of carp and nothing else. Last time I went I got all the way up to the hoover dam and threw the trout swimbait all the way down river with no bites. I also found out they have stopped stocking trout as well. Has anyone had success on stripers there the last few years?

Deamon · 10-09-2014, 04:08 PM

I just did my first boil last month in Mammoth. Googled best crawfish boil. None of us had ever eaten crawfish so we were sissies about it. The other stuff was YUMMY...hard to go wrong on this type of food.

Ggiannig89 · 05-26-2016, 08:37 PM

I realize I'm posting in an old thread here

But me and a buddy are planning to do a weekend trip to the river and Ferguson lake sounds super appealing. The only thing I'm having trouble with is figuring out how to get there. If I had more time if love to explore around for a few days, but being a Saturday Sunday thing I just want to find a spot on ferguson and be done. Any help would be great. Thanks fellas. I'll be sure to post back with a report when all said n done.

Sdspeed · 05-27-2016, 05:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ggiannig89

I realize I'm posting in an old thread here

But me and a buddy are planning to do a weekend trip to the river and Ferguson lake sounds super appealing. The only thing I'm having trouble with is figuring out how to get there. If I had more time if love to explore around for a few days, but being a Saturday Sunday thing I just want to find a spot on ferguson and be done. Any help would be great. Thanks fellas. I'll be sure to post back with a report when all said n done.

This may help...

http://www.blm.gov/az/st/en/prog/rec.../fergusen.html

EastLosYaker · 05-27-2016, 11:32 AM

Was not easy to find, especially since we arrived at night. Totally worth it though! Fishing was ridiculous in terms of both size and quantity. Looking forward to your report!

Ggiannig89 · 05-27-2016, 07:57 PM

Thanks for the help fellas

Iceman · 05-28-2016, 05:16 PM

Really been trying to sneak over to Havasu for a couple days camping and fishing, before it gets too hot out there.

10-07-2014, 10:35 PM	#1
EastLosYaker Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: East Los Angeles Posts: 220	Colorodo River Does anyone have experience fishing the Colorado River? I will be heading out there the week of Thanksgiving. Thinking of fishing Willow Beach or Havasu. Any suggestions on places to camp and/or launch? Any other advice or tips would also be appreciated.

10-08-2014, 12:33 AM	#2
fishnfoool Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Long beach Posts: 303	willow beach Great area for big stripers. Troll and trout imitation at night on your kayak. You are allowed to fish all night there. Cast towards the banks with same trout imitation during the day.

10-08-2014, 08:35 AM	#3
Siebler Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Richland Oregon Posts: 1,547	I usually fish down around Picacho, Ferguson Lake, and the surrounding areas. Good camping and not much of the Party crew around these parts. Tons of hidden areas that are perfect for kayaks. Good bass fishing and smaller stripers plus cats. Also HUGE populations of Bullfrogs and Crawfish so bring your pots and you gigs! __________________ CJ Siebler

10-08-2014, 11:22 AM	#5
Amish Ed Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Grants Pass, OR Posts: 1,906	I fished Ferguson based on CJ's suggestion a few years ago. The road is a bit rough, but so worth it. Camped right on the water and I only saw 2 boats the 2 days I was there. Fishing was fantastic for LMB. I found all kinds of areas that a boat would never be able to get into. The only problem I had was the heat. It was 106º and was supposed to be 90º. I'd love to go back in the spring or late fall. __________________ Amish Ed You can't catch it again if it's dead!

10-08-2014, 11:30 AM	#6
Siebler Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Richland Oregon Posts: 1,547	The road is certainly hit or miss. When we went back in May a Smart Car could have been comfortable. Other times it reminds me why my truck is built the way it is. Heat is the other issue but that is just part of fishing the river. When we went in may it was 112. Hottest ive had out there is 121 on a trip in September. __________________ CJ Siebler

10-08-2014, 12:01 PM	#7
Iceman Administrator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: 1-2 miles off the point Posts: 6,948	I was just thinking about November and the Colorado River, thinking of a weekend at Moabi State Rec, want to fish those lakes on the AZ side __________________

10-08-2014, 12:14 PM	#8
MissileTM Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 90	Just to let you know, you no longer have to have a Colorado River enhancement for your California license to fish the river. The state finally came to their senses and did away with it. One thing you may need though if you are fishing from shore on tribal land is a permit, but only if fishing from shore on the Rez. Those can be obtained from AZ Game and Fish and some markets.

10-08-2014, 11:38 PM	#10
EastLosYaker Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: East Los Angeles Posts: 220	Thanks for all the information. Sounds like I'm going to Ferguson then. Launch from your campsite? A kayak fisherman's dream. I will begin my research immediately. Any more specifics or tips will again be appreciated. Names of campground, fishing techniques, etc. Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk 2

10-08-2014, 11:39 PM	#11
EastLosYaker Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: East Los Angeles Posts: 220	Oh, and if anyone has any cooking tips for crawfish and frog legs, please pass them along too. Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk 2

10-09-2014, 07:39 AM	#12
monstahfish Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 421	willow beach I've been to willow beach a few times and caught nothing. I have seen 2 stripers, tons of carp and nothing else. Last time I went I got all the way up to the hoover dam and threw the trout swimbait all the way down river with no bites. I also found out they have stopped stocking trout as well. Has anyone had success on stripers there the last few years?

05-26-2016, 08:37 PM	#14
Ggiannig89 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: El Cajon Posts: 512	I realize I'm posting in an old thread here But me and a buddy are planning to do a weekend trip to the river and Ferguson lake sounds super appealing. The only thing I'm having trouble with is figuring out how to get there. If I had more time if love to explore around for a few days, but being a Saturday Sunday thing I just want to find a spot on ferguson and be done. Any help would be great. Thanks fellas. I'll be sure to post back with a report when all said n done.

05-27-2016, 11:32 AM	#16
EastLosYaker Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: East Los Angeles Posts: 220	Was not easy to find, especially since we arrived at night. Totally worth it though! Fishing was ridiculous in terms of both size and quantity. Looking forward to your report!

05-27-2016, 07:57 PM	#17
Ggiannig89 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: El Cajon Posts: 512	Thanks for the help fellas

05-28-2016, 05:16 PM	#18
Iceman Administrator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: 1-2 miles off the point Posts: 6,948	Really been trying to sneak over to Havasu for a couple days camping and fishing, before it gets too hot out there. __________________