Fishing Report For Hawley Lake, AZ

Current Report: Good

Rainbow trout are the main attraction here, but there are other species available. Many of these trout exceed 12 inches. Ongoing stocking maintains a good fishery for anglers. The White Mountain Apache Tribe Game & Fish Department reports good catches on worms as well as green and rainbow powerbait for all trout species here.

WINTER. Now that Winter has sets in, jigging spoons, and jigs tipped with bait, are catching nice limits of rainbows out of 10 to 30 feet of water. These baits work well before, during and after ice fishing, around the old river channel in the main basin, near the dam, and along deep channel troughs. Trolling with leaded line or downriggers, or vertical jigging with spoons and jigs, are the best approach during the cold-water season. Slowly worked offerings are more likely to attract bites in this cold water.

SPRING. As water begins to warm in early Spring, rainbow trout move from their late winter holding areas to shallow, warmer water 5 to 15 feet deep. A good number of rainbows are typically caught from mid morning to late afternoon, during the warmest water of the day. Shallow flats and rocky structure are quick to warm in the afternoon sun. Points, shallow coves, and flats adjacent to deep water are popular in Spring. A wide variety of small spinners, spoons and bait are catching most of the fish.

SUMMER. Once Summer is here to stay, the warmer water drives rainbow deeper, 15 to 30 feet deep, occasionally deeper. They do feed shallow for short periods in the mornings and evenings, in 5 to 15 feet of water. Trolling the main basin with spoons, spinners and crankbaits, using downriggers or leaded line, and drift fishing with bait, are currently the most productive methods. In summer trout commonly suspend above the thermocline, above humps, deep channel edges and mid-lake structure. Following drop-offs into deeper water, along structure or creek channels, is a major key to getting bites. Anglers fishing from the bank are using nightcrawlers or Berkley PowerBait, with fairly heavy weights on a Carolina rig, to get baits in deeper water.

FALL. Cooling water temperatures in the shallows, draw rainbow trout out of deeper Summer depths. Anglers catch them 8 to 15 feet deep on rocky banks, wind-blown points, and flats. On deeper rocky structure, humps, and ledges rainbows feed in 12 to 15 feet of water, anywhere baitfish are gathering. Now that these trout have had a full summer to grow, there are some nice size rainbow to be caught. Small spinners, spoons, jigs, miniature crankbaits and swimbaits are good choices, as are salmon eggs and prepared baits.

Current Report: Fair To Good

Fishing for brown trout is not much different than for rainbows. Weekend anglers are catching brown trout on spinners, nightcrawlers and PowerBait®, plus a variety of other small offerings. Brown trout can be very aggressive, and put up a good battle. Some of the larger browns are susceptible to being caught on small jerkbaits.

WINTER. Winter has set in, and anglers have been catching a few browns prior to the lake freezing over. Once the ice is safe, ice fishing is quite popular here. Jigging spoons and jigs tipped with bait are catching most limits of brown trout, in 20 to 35 feet of water. After ice out, trolling, drift fishing and jigging spoons all work well. Slower presentations improve catch rates as these trout have a low metabolism in the colder months.

SPRING. As water begins to warm in early Spring, brown trout move from their deep winter holding areas to shallower, warmer water. Annually, after ice-out, weekend anglers are catching brown trout on spinners, small jerkbaits, nightcrawlers and a variety of other prepared offerings. They congregate around shallow flats - 5 to 15 feet deep. Some of the most productive fishing happens from mid morning to late afternoon, on mid-depth humps.

SUMMER. Once Summer is here to stay, the warmer water drives brown trout deeper, 20 to 30 feet deep, and deeper. Early in the morning and at dusk, they are being caught shallower in these low-light conditions. Trolling around river channel ledges and structure, using downriggers or leaded line, or drift fishing with bait, are currently the most productive methods. Anglers fishing from the bank are using fairly heavy weights, on a Carolina rig to get baits into deeper water.

FALL. Cooling water temperatures again draw browns shallower. Successful anglers are catching them early in the season 10 to 20 feet deep on points, rocky structure, humps, and mouths of bays where baitfish are gathering. Brown trout spawn in the Fall. Decent catches are report on jerkbaits, miniature crankbaits, small spinnerbaits and swimbaits. Once they have had a full summer to grow, it's a good time to catch a trophy. When they move out to structure in deep water, spoons, jigs and bait are catching browns.

Current Report: Fair To Good

The diet of a brook trout is similar to that of rainbows. Flies, small spinners, small swimbaits, worms, corn and powerbait are catching brookies.

WINTER. As the lake begins to freeze over, brook trout search the thermocline edges and deeper shelves, around 15 to 30 feet deep.

SPRING. Expect to find brook trout in 4 to 12 feet of water early in the day, around weed edges near deeper water, where anglers are catching them on spinners and flatfish. As the day warms, brookies drop into 15 to 25 feet of water.

SUMMER. Seeking cooler water temperatures, brook trout migrate to deeper, cooler water. Early mornings find them in 8 to 18 feet deep. Mid day they drop into 15 to 30 feet of water. Brook trout are being caught using a wide variety of lures and baits.

FALL. As the weather begins to cool in Fall, brookies are getting more active, typically in 4 feet of water or less. They are typically caught on virtually any trout lure, from spinners shallow, to crankbaits in 5 to 10 foot of water, and on jigs, bait and spoons from 5 to 25 feet deep. Earl Creek in the western section of the lake, is popular for brookies.