Time for the Stage and Spawn - Roosevelt Bound

In case I look new, a new archery deer obsession has made me into a seasonal fishermen, sorry for those with issues on that! It's tough fitting in all of Arizona's great outdoor activities into one calendar year.
Cold fronts seem to be coming back and forth but hopefully for the spawn sake they will stay away and the fish need to eat!
Roosevelt has been my spring residence since I was 10 and although I am young I believe I know a thing or two about Arizona black crappie.. They are different from all of these other states!! Tough to catch, finnicky on what kalins grub to hit on which day or even part there of.. Do I tip it with a minnow and hit it with smelly jelly or just trail a small red hook? Regardless those fish are out there, they need to eat and so do I!!! I haven't fished Roosevelt efficiently for crappies since last may, I'm hoping the crappies like their new home and have filled in the space cause the water changing is the last few years has been crazy..
My season officially starts this Sunday, I plan on getting out there every weekend after and plan on sharing information here with you all!
Just was excited to come on and say hello, my posts will contain more when we can really see how this year plays out!

Hey Crapkid, glad to hear your input! Some of the guys here are heading up this weekend and next. I'll be there on the night of the 25th. Never been so any info you guys can offer before my trip will be appreciated. I am going to take minnows of course and two green submersible lights. Anyway, post on brother and let us know how you do.

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Originally Posted by AZfisherdude

Hey Crapkid, glad to hear your input! Some of the guys here are heading up this weekend and next. I'll be there on the night of the 25th. Never been so any info you guys can offer before my trip will be appreciated. I am going to take minnows of course and two green submersible lights. Anyway, post on brother and let us know how you do.

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Thanks, IMO the submersibles work better in April-June but anything can happen we all know that. I usually nightfish in an area I had caught crappies in recently before and if the baitfish don't come within the first 30 minutes they probably aren't coming at all. I have had luck throwing small spinners at night from the dark into your light hopefully trailing in some predatory fish, not to catch on the spinner itself but use it to attract and vibrate to the light. Have only done this a couple times but it does seem to help one night last year in april at roosy I caught 3 yellow bass in the the first 30 minutes throwing a spinner like that then I saw fish hitting minnows under the boat.
Those yellow bass have moved into some of my favorite coves in the last 2 years prior I had never seen one in roosevelt!! Wondering if the apache drain had anything to do with that...

Grubs, Jigs (Roadrunners too), minnows, and trolling should put you on some fish, My guess it that they are still going to be suspended in deeper water. I'm going to start fishing in 30-40 feet at 6-12 feet deep and work out the kinks from there, GPS every catch and take every note these fish work in patterns.

Good Luck. To anyone interested I'm in a camoflauge bass tracker let's share a report and catch some fish!!!

It's still a little cool out at night for the night bite dude.For you I mean,not the fish.lol.Go up to Schoolhouse Point,when you put your boat in at the ramp go to the Right,about 500 yards and cross the lake till you see white cliffs,all them coves at the mouthes of them hold crappie.Stay in about 25 to 30 foot of water at first until you catch one.Have an old bobber with you on about 30 foot of line.Put a hook on it and let the fish go.Put the hook through it's dorsal fin.And watch where it goes.The bobber will show you where the school is.Then have at it.You can get your bobber later.Make sure you have a bigger bobber.

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Originally Posted by azslabber

It's still a little cool out at night for the night bite dude.For you I mean,not the fish.lol.Go up to Schoolhouse Point,when you put your boat in at the ramp go to the Right,about 500 yards and cross the lake till you see white cliffs,all them coves at the mouthes of them hold crappie.Stay in about 25 to 30 foot of water at first until you catch one.Have an old bobber with you on about 30 foot of line.Put a hook on it and let the fish go.Put the hook through it's dorsal fin.And watch where it goes.The bobber will show you where the school is.Then have at it.You can get your bobber later.Make sure you have a bigger bobber.

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Seriously one of the coolest tricks I have ever heard. Probably number one thanks for that!!

Don't do that until you catch a little dink,lol.

Now thats a neat trick.We have not been fishing for crappie for about 10 years.When we did we never caught that many so we gave up on them.We are going to start up again this year.I need to try to figure out how to catch them buggers.We never caught more than 6 in a day.go figure.

I should'nt be telling you guys all of my tricks,lol.But, Schoolhouse Point Campground is where I go at least once a month for the whole weekemd.And we probably catch 100 a trip.Only keep maybe a dozen or so.I love that end of the lake.And the flatheads will start running up the Salt.Great time for Roosevelt coming up.So,if you see a 95 white Pro Deep V-17 Bass Tracker leaning to the side it is me,lol.

I think I mentioned this before but I am in a camoflauge 17 ft bass tracker, unfortunately my bow mount troller crapped out this summer trolling for rainbows so i'll be the guy with his hand on his motor too.. I fish the salt end less often but this year like any other I follow the fish. Hope to see you out there.

Have you tried any of these up there?I use them to find the crappies,then do whatever works after that.At least you know there are some around.I just starting tying the ultra minnows,but used to use a white crappie thunder on a 1/16 pz. minnow head.These are 1/10 oz. with calf tail.I can't wait to try them out.Hope the bass can stay away for a little while.I'm hungry,lol.

I have used miniature spinnerbaits and some like yours where they clip with jigs but since I have never had much luck on the feathered jigs out here I haven't tried that specfic combination. I do have GREAT success casting tiny, shiny spinnerbaits for both large crappie on the beds and largemouth...

I look forward to reading your reports. I will be on Lake Alamo 23 & 24 March 2010. I will let you know how it turns out.

One of my biggest regrets is that i didn't get to fish Roosevelt or San Carlos either time i was out there visiting my brother now he's back home in Mo so i probably never will:(do my a favor ya'll show me pics of exactly what i missed...........good luck fellas i hope you whack em!!!

Hey Bruce, that is a good idea! I know it is going to be cold but unfortunately it is the only time he can go. He is in town only for a few days for some kind of job training and can go Thurs night.
He's been to Rosey before and was talking about going by way of Payson. Is that the end you guys are talking about? Also, you said something about the Flatheads? He is wanting to bring in some big cats too lol. We may not end up getting to the lake until it is already dark. I am hoping to get there sooner but it just depends on if he can get out of his training early for the last day. Hey bugman, can't take any scenery pics after dark but if I get a chance to hit Canyon lake next friday like I am planning to I will do my best. I gotta go try out my new fishfinder and figure out how it works.

Elkman - you and I are apparently riding in the same boat LOL I have yet to catch a significant amount of crappie. I figure the it will happen once I get out there and make a serious practice of it. I have some high hopes for this summer.

You will be in the Tonto end if you go through Payson,I go through Globe up the 60 and that is the other end of the lake.I don't know much about that end of the lake.I know that Art Chaimberlin goes up that end and he has'nt had to much luck lately.Make sure you get your minnows before you leave town,as it will be late and everything will be closed when you get up there.

I hope to hit rosy up atlest once this yr.

Roosevelt tomorrow, have everything loaded.. Post some pics early next week pretty sure I should have some kind of luck.. To anyone out there this weekend.. Fish ON!

Bugman I'll get some pics for you my friend but are you sure you want to do that to yourself lol?? Just kidding MO offers things we can't it all goes around this beautiful North American continent! Good luck to everyone put some slabs on the table!

Good luck,have fun,be safe and be sure to catch some of those slabs and make this ole Mo fisherman drool over what he's missin.......we have nice fish and plenty of em but we just can't compete with a few states for size and your lucky enough to live in one of em........go get em buddy!!!!

Can anyone out there suggest a good guide for Roosevelt Lake. I will say "Thank Yoy" in advance.

Art Chaimberlin does it.Take a look at azbasszone.com and he you can get a hold of him.Good luck

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Originally Posted by chardonsdad

Can anyone out there suggest a good guide for Roosevelt Lake. I will say "Thank Yoy" in advance.

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Here's some additional info: http://www.crappie.com/crappie/arizo...r-phoenix.html

And another option is LeRoy Price: Home

You Can't go wrong with any of these options