Moving to Arizona
PredLuR
Posted 2/6/2015 7:22 AM (#752225)
Subject: Moving to Arizona





Posts: 291


Location: Madison, WI
Might be making the move out to Arizona this spring (Tuscon area) after spending my entire life in the Hayward area and now Madison area. Any other guys done this before and/or are out there now? Just some pointers or things to look for would be helpful. Dont see much in the way for lakes so I dont know if the boat is going to make the journey. Obviously nothing is going to replace the musky fishing but anything else out there that is within reasonable distance that can take its place (fishing wise). Thanks.
Travis A.
Posted 2/6/2015 7:29 AM (#752227 - in reply to #752225)
Subject: Re: Moving to Arizona





Posts: 157


Location: Lincoln, NE
Monster Flatheads down there.

http://cdn.grindtv.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/arizona-catfish.j...
Medford Fisher
Posted 2/6/2015 7:37 AM (#752228 - in reply to #752225)
Subject: Re: Moving to Arizona




Posts: 1058


Location: Medford, WI
Here's one thread on AZ fishing: http://www.muskyhunter.com/forum/showthread.php?4357-Arizona-musky-...

Maybe coming soon...: http://muskie.outdoorsfirst.com/board/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=95...

Big Dangler
Posted 2/6/2015 8:52 AM (#752244 - in reply to #752225)
Subject: RE: Moving to Arizona




Posts: 59


Arizona has the most boats per capita by state in the US. I have heard this claim and read it from several sources for the past 10 years. Whether they are the most or not, is inconsequential, they are atleast in the conversation. My parents been out there for 25 years, and there is a lot of rivers and dammed up lakes. Crappie fishing is ridiculous. I did a half day on Roosevelt with my retired parents and we caught 54 crappies, the guide had a counter. There is no size or numbers limit because they are overpopulated and we cleaned them all and ate them. Bass fishing is good too. Not to mention that some of the lakes are sheer cliffs that go 200 feet or so high. gorgeous. Flatheads are huge too. Then there is the whole river-flyfishing thing. Just no muskies or pike really that i know of, but fishing is never far away, and its really affordable out there.
Slamr
Posted 2/6/2015 9:03 AM (#752246 - in reply to #752225)
Subject: RE: Moving to Arizona





Posts: 7039


Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs
No clue about the fishing but go cheer on my Wildcats.


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Junkman
Posted 2/6/2015 9:15 AM (#752249 - in reply to #752225)
Subject: Re: Moving to Arizona




Posts: 1220


There's a really nice bait shop/guide service outside of Scottsdale called, "The Hook-Up." I've fished with their guides while on vacation (bass) and had a really fine time. The practice is for the guides not to fish, (which is odd for me) and it isn't low-cost, but I was happy with the day.
BenR
Posted 2/6/2015 12:00 PM (#752277 - in reply to #752225)
Subject: Re: Moving to Arizona


The tiger lakes in NM are not too far and I would guess your #'s and average size would go up from where you are currently fishing....
ToddM
Posted 2/6/2015 12:33 PM (#752283 - in reply to #752225)
Subject: RE: Moving to Arizona





Posts: 20219


Location: oswego, il
Been through tuscon(tuke-sone if you have been there) a few times not seen much in the way of fishing there. Powell is on the northern border which is a cruise.
Cedar
Posted 2/6/2015 12:55 PM (#752287 - in reply to #752225)
Subject: RE: Moving to Arizona




Posts: 353


Location: Western U.P.
A couple of Musky lakes in the Northern half of AZ, and 2 (I believe) in the NW part of NM. Came across them in a Google search a while back. The fishing at these sounded decent, and could be worth investigating.
Skog
Posted 2/6/2015 6:59 PM (#752329 - in reply to #752225)
Subject: Re: Moving to Arizona




Posts: 28


Big sunfish

http://www.in-fisherman.com/panfish/world-record-sunfish/
muskyrat
Posted 2/6/2015 7:11 PM (#752333 - in reply to #752225)
Subject: Re: Moving to Arizona




Posts: 455


I often ponder what would be worse. Living in a nice climate with no Muskies or living in a primetime area like MN or ONT full time and freezing for three quarters of the year.
dfkiii
Posted 2/6/2015 8:43 PM (#752346 - in reply to #752333)
Subject: Re: Moving to Arizona





Location: Sawyer County, WI
muskyrat - 2/6/2015 7:11 PM

I often ponder what would be worse. Living in a nice climate with no Muskies or living in a primetime area like MN or ONT full time and freezing for three quarters of the year.


I have a few neighbors that do both.
ToddM
Posted 2/7/2015 8:36 AM (#752391 - in reply to #752346)
Subject: Re: Moving to Arizona





Posts: 20219


Location: oswego, il
dfkiii - 2/6/2015 8:43 PM

muskyrat - 2/6/2015 7:11 PM

I often ponder what would be worse. Living in a nice climate with no Muskies or living in a primetime area like MN or ONT full time and freezing for three quarters of the year.


I have a few neighbors that do both.


interesting kind of like reverse snow birds!
fishhawk50
Posted 2/7/2015 3:41 PM (#752434 - in reply to #752333)
Subject: Re: Moving to Arizona




Posts: 1416


Location: oconomowoc, wi
muskyrat - 2/6/2015 7:11 PM

I often ponder what would be worse. Living in a nice climate with no Muskies or living in a primetime area like MN or ONT full time and freezing for three quarters of the year.

I'll freeze!
PredLuR
Posted 2/7/2015 4:39 PM (#752441 - in reply to #752333)
Subject: Re: Moving to Arizona





Posts: 291


Location: Madison, WI
muskyrat - 2/6/2015 7:11 PM

I often ponder what would be worse. Living in a nice climate with no Muskies or living in a primetime area like MN or ONT full time and freezing for three quarters of the year.


And thats where i am at. Im not afraid of the cold and snow, ive been in it all my life, just getting old every year, and if i were still up in northern wisconsin it would be different. Im ok with sitting by a pool 11.5 months out of the year and still going to LOTW a few weeks a year (which is gonna happen, thats part of the deal).

The plan is too return in about 15 years and start going back and forth like alot of people do.

thanks for the replies and definately makes me think the boat may stay....or sell and buy something that works better down there.

Badgers for life..........

Edited by PredLuR 2/7/2015 4:40 PM
woodieb8
Posted 2/7/2015 4:52 PM (#752443 - in reply to #752225)
Subject: Re: Moving to Arizona




Posts: 1529


im old still in snow. but muskies from june to December on l.st clair priceless... walleye. perch dinners mmm. price of beer sucks in Canada but im a scotch man..
ToddM
Posted 2/7/2015 8:08 PM (#752460 - in reply to #752443)
Subject: Re: Moving to Arizona





Posts: 20219


Location: oswego, il
woodieb8 - 2/7/2015 4:52 PM

im old still in snow. but muskies from june to December on l.st clair priceless... walleye. perch dinners mmm. price of beer sucks in Canada but im a scotch man..


walleye? Don't you mean pickerel?:-)
MuskyMidget
Posted 2/9/2015 4:21 PM (#752759 - in reply to #752225)
Subject: Re: Moving to Arizona




Posts: 921


I lived in Arizona from 2006-2009. I brought my boat down with the intention of going to New Mexico to fish for Tigers. Good intentions, but never made it there. Boat sat in garage.

I was not aware of any musky lakes in northern AZ. But one post above does mention that there are.
MuskyMidget
Posted 2/9/2015 4:26 PM (#752760 - in reply to #752225)
Subject: Re: Moving to Arizona




Posts: 921


I just looked and the AZ DNR does not list musky or tiger musky in their list of sport fish in the state.

Cedar
Posted 2/9/2015 6:17 PM (#752781 - in reply to #752225)
Subject: RE: Moving to Arizona




Posts: 353


Location: Western U.P.
Cannot find the article I was reading about AZ muskies that listed a couple of lakes with Tigers?? A few years ago I had emailed my dad in AZ a link to that article for him to get out after them. I remember looking them up on a map in relation to where he lived, so I'm pretty sure that I didn't imagine it, but just did a quick search and couldn't find a thing on them now. Also sent him links for info on 2 in NM - Bluewater Lake and Quemado Lake. Both within about 5-6 hrs of where he lives, just W of Phoenix.
2roofmusky
Posted 2/10/2015 9:36 AM (#752857 - in reply to #752760)
Subject: Re: Moving to Arizona





Posts: 90


MuskyMidget - 2/9/2015 4:26 PM

I just looked and the AZ DNR does not list musky or tiger musky in their list of sport fish in the state.



I have family in the Phoenix area and have done a lot of research on this subject. There is literally no trace of a Muskie in AZ. There is NO state record Muskie listed either. There is no doubt they have the waters to sustain a fish able population but only Pike are present at this time.
Cedar
Posted 2/10/2015 10:25 AM (#752863 - in reply to #752225)
Subject: RE: Moving to Arizona




Posts: 353


Location: Western U.P.
From the AZ Daily Sun in Flagstaff (1973).

"Thirty thousand six hundred muskellunge sac-fry were planted last week in Mormon Lake southeast of Flagstaff by the Arizona Game and Fish Department. Fisheries Assistant Jack Boland said the muskies were planted on May 24, and added that threadfin shad have already been stocked in the lake to provide a ready source of food once the muskies get big enough to eat them"

Not much else on this, but doesn't sound like they survived.
jhillman17
Posted 2/10/2015 10:35 AM (#752865 - in reply to #752225)
Subject: Re: Moving to Arizona




Posts: 51


I had heard they were planted in the northern part of the state up by flagstaff area. I looked at going to college at northern arizona and read about them in the late 90's... but haven't paid attention to anything after that when i didn't end up going to school there. But there are some lakes in western NM with Tigers. I think it was Lindners Angling Edge that just did a show a few weeks ago about tigers in NM.