FunFishing the Colorado River
June 4, 2008
Welcome to the Colorado.
Largemouth bass in the Topock Marsh are biting on a medley of baits. At the South Dyke they are loving watermelon/red flake worms, and shaky tail worms in black and red flake and chartreuse and watermelon candy colors. In the shallows, the fish seem to prefer crankbaits in a shad, citrus shad, and pearl white color. North Dyke is a different story. Texas rigged six inch lizards in a pumpkin, junebug, and rootbeer color are reaping more strikes. No news on catfish, but one angler picked up a couple of 5-pound stripers under the little bridge at North Dyke. Stripers aren’t usually found in the warmer waters of the marsh, but they sometimes end up there via the spillway.
The Topock Gorge can be characterized as consistently inconsistent. One day it’s fish aplenty and the next it’s famine. When it’s good, it’s better than first-rate with limits of stripers between 2- and 5-pounds. But when it’s bad, it’s sad. The fish count is down and stripers only tip the scale between 1- and 2-pounds. Rumor has it a 12-striper was taken at the top of the Topock Gorge near Park Moab and another full-figured one around the pipeline–the pipeline has been a smokin’ spot to fish. But without proof of picture or a name and date, it’s hard to know for sure. Anglers subconsciously add a pound or two to the weight of their fish. However as William Sherwood Fox–Silken Lines and Silver Hooks, 1954–says, “...of all the liars among mankind, the fisherman is the most trustworthy.” What is known is that quality fish are in the Gorge. This might be a good time to revive some facts on large fish. Female stripers reach sexual maturity at around the fourth year and can produce as much as 65,000 eggs in a season. A thirteen year old female can produce close to 5,000,000 eggs. Large eggs hold the most growth potential. Habitat factors such as water temperature and food supply affect growth but on the whole, big fish yield larger and in most instances healthier eggs than younger females. Three big stripers were lost by Becky and Roy Story of Kingman. Two slipped off the hook and one spooled the line. The Story’s were reeling from the excitement! The couple may have missed out on some hefty stripers, but they didn’t loose their 5-pound largemouth–check out the picture in the gallery. With just nine fish between them, Grady Walker and George Willey of Bullhead City experienced a sluggish day. On the other hand, the weight of their catch was enough to appease any disappointment–all were between 2- and 5-pounds. Catfish activity is starting to intensify, and the sizes are averaging between 1- and 3-pounds. Whisker fish are opportunists and relish the same bait as stripers–at least in this neck of the river. If you’re thinking Mediterranean delight, you’re right!
See you on the river. Until the next time, Keep your sinker in the water and the plug in your boat, and remember no matter what time of day or year it's always FunFishing on the Colorado!
Capt. Doyle
“Fishing is just fishing. But, catching is a gift.”
~ Quote from a long ago and forgotten fishing magazine
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