BY JEAN WILSON

The Yuma area has long been known for its rivers, both the Colorado River and the Gila River. Many canals feed off the Colorado River, such as the Gila Main Gravity Canal, Salinity Canal and various other agricultural canals. Other waters that are created by the Colorado River include Mittry Lake and Martinez Lake. Other man-made ponds include Fortuna Pond, Redondo Pond, Quigley and Growler Pond. Such waterways create a unique environment for fishing opportunities in the southwest desert.

Yuma has some of the greatest fishing opportunities in the state of Arizona, as well as the entire United States. Species of fish include flathead catfish, channel catfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, striped bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, tilapia, striped mullet, carp, black crappie and even stocked rainbow trout.

Yuma has weather that can support fishing year-round. Fishing is usually best in the early spring and fall months. The canal systems are excellent for catfish. Anglers can have success in the early morning hours and early evening during the warm summer months. During the winter months, catfishing is good all day long.

Anglers can use a variety of baits. Main choices are stinkbaits, both homemade and store bought. Also nightcrawlers are excellent. Canals also hold largemouth bass, which can be caught on a variety of lures, as well as on nightcrawlers. Bluegill will bite worms or even corn. Striped bass also are found in the larger canals such as the Gila Main and can be caught on chicken liver or worms and can be found around fast-moving water.

The Colorado River has several access points for shore and boat access and holds just about every warm-water fish species. The largest fish found in the Colorado River is the flathead catfish, which can reach sizes of 70-plus pounds. These monster fish are usually caught at night with live baits such as bluegill or goldfish.

Mittry Lake is home to an array of wildlife and is an excellent spot to toss a fishing line in. Photo by Scott Jungman

Largemouth bass reach sizes of 16-plus pounds. Places along the Colorado River such as Martinez Lake hold these lunker fish. Many bass clubs, both local and statewide, regularly fish tournaments in the Martinez Lake area. Bass will bite various spinnerbaits, plugs, plastics and natural baits.

There are several ponds in the Yuma area, which have excellent fishing opportunities. One such pond is Fortuna Pond. This is a small acreage pond and usually stocked with channel catfish and rainbow trout.

Three stockings occur of both fish per year. Catfish are stocked in the fall months, usually October, November and December, while trout get stocked in the winter months of December, January and February. Trout will bite on powerbait and worms as well as lures. Channel catfish will bite chicken liver, worms and stinkbaits.

Fishing requires a fishing license. See the Arizona Game and Fish Department 2004 Fishing regulations for complete license requirements and information. Fishing licenses are sold in most hunting and fishing stores in town as well as at the Yuma Game and Fish office. Fishing licenses are also sold online at Arizona Game and Fish’s Web site: www.azgfd.com.

Game and Fish also has a free brochure about Yuma-area fishing holes. The brochure contains fishing information about all the Yuma-area fishing spots including the Colorado River and ponds throughout Yuma. This brochure also contains driving directions and a map to all fishing holes in Yuma.