Keep these tips in mind next time you’re out fishing
If you head for the Colorado River for fishing, watch low water levels at a lot of areas with sandbars showing — check carefully so you don’t get your boat stuck.
Stripers seem to be in open water areas with moving currents — watch for birds diving into schools of shad and try topwater for best inland stripers. For a good surface lure, try Walkthe-Doggies chuggers (my guess is a newer version may be worth a try) or slim minnows — other suggestions are live shad and silver spoons.
For largemouth bass, try deep water jigs, spinnerbaits, crankbaits and even try topwater chuggers and poppers. When bass aren’t interested in either lures by themselves, try a spinnerbait-jig combination to add a bit of flash to help the fish spot the lure. The vibration enables them to hone in on it with their inner ear and lateral-line sensors.
Winter walleye, now in our neck of the woods, are super eating and can be found deep — although they will often come up along rock shelves and sometimes even to the surface in search of prey. In those instances, try working with crankbaits.
Winter planting of rainbow trout in the Yuma area has gotten started Jan. 8-13 at Fortuna Pond and Redondo Lake with other plants scheduled for Jan. 22-27 at West Wetlands Pond as well as Somerton Council Avenue Pond. Fish with a rod with light to medium bending resistance Jean Wilson for the best effect. With trout, lighter is better! The best bet is to check with the fishing guys at Region IV Game and Fish office for some tips on what lures and colors are working best. I keep bright pinks and yellows on hand along with small marshmallows and small worms to work with combinations that bring best results for me depending on the day and time of day.
Real fun fishing for sure and trying your luck at our ponds gives you the chance to have your kids along so when they get tired of fishing, they can run a bit to let off steam. Be sure to have enough drinking water and snacks along — great family fishing. Having them wear PFDs makes it even better on the off chance they fall into their fishing waters.
Fishing clubs
• Desert Bass Anglers “The Fun Way to Fish:” Colorado River waters were very low for the 26 boats that launched out of Fisher’s for their latest tournament, mostly done upriver. Congratulations to winners with the team of Brenton Lute/ Craig Johnson taking the lead with 15.79 followed by Jacob Lute with 15.59 in 2nd place. Lynn Domby/ Tim Price took 3rd with their 15.18 total weight while Curtis Cernik succeeded in taking 4th place with 14.88. Enjoying Big Fish honors was Curtis Cernik with his 1st place largemouth weighing 6.22, a prespawner. Taking 2nd place Big Fish was Tristan Casaus with a 5.51 bass. The Junk Fish option was taken by Brian Hout/Gary Bass with a 5.71 carp. Just out of the money was the team of Jerry Fisher/Josh Elms with their 13.97 total weight. A good time to get your 2018 dues paid if you have yet to do it to get into the fun points competition on the water. Non-members are welcome to fish but with no points given. Call Mac or Bobbi McDermott at 726-1984.
• ABA American Bass — Yuma Division: Call Jeff at (952) 824-0553 to learn about tournaments coming up or visit ABA American Bass — Yuma Division. More information as I hear.
• Desert Draw Series Pro/Am Bass Fishing Club: The Jan. 20th bass tournament launching out of Fisher’s Landing will begin fishing competition for the new year. Call Michael Obney at 928 750-7081 for details. This club promises to be well worth taking part in with fishing pole in hand.
• Yuma High School Bass Fishing Club: A great way for any youngster to learn all about fishing for bass. Members of both the Yuma Valley Rod and Gun Club and Desert Bass Anglers assist the kids in providing boats and equipment as well as guiding the youngsters, both guys and glas, in gaining a good share of fishing know-hows. Call Terry Hurt, school sponsor, at 580-6567 or visit StudentAnglerFoundation.com to get started. Any interested H.S. student will be a part of a exciting year for our next generation of anglers at Fisher’s Landing/Martinez Lake.
Hunt happenings
• AZ Sportsmen for Wildlife Conservation (AZSFWC) urges us to “Decline to sign a misleading petition being promoted by the Humane Society of the U.S. (HSUS) along with Arizonans for Wildlife, to use the Anti-Science “Wildcat petition” to stop hunting of wild cats in Arizona. This proposed ballot proposition would remove a key management tool from the Arizona Game and Fish Department out of wildlife management. They want to use politics to manage our wildlife and our wildlife deserves better!
Here are the facts: • There are no “trophy hunts” in AZ, for any animals, including mountain lions; • Mountain lions and bobcats are not endangered, their numbers are growing; • Jaguars, ocelots or lynx, are federally protected and cannot be hunted; • Your AZ Game & Fish Department employs 350 scientists to manage all of Arizona’s 800 plus species of wildlife. By declining to sign, you will help to keep science as the basis of wildlife management, not politically motivated based ballot box management from an out-of-state political organizations with ZERO record of funding wildlife. Send them the message by NOT signing their petition.
• Yuma Valley Rod and Gun Club: If you missed the January club meeting or yesterday’s fishing derby, other meetings are held the 1st Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. (a great dinner, reasonably priced, at 6:30 p.m. prior to the business at hand) at American Legion Post 19 Hall, 2575 Virginia Dr. with all outdoor enthusiasts, including hunters and fishermen, women and families most welcome. Learn what is going on in the outdoors, including what HSUS is attempting to do. The club has put together a full list of hunting and fishing activities of interest to us all each month for a great year in 2018 with the next event, the All Members Bass Derby launching out of Fisher’s Landing Feb. 10th. Call Clint Fraser at (928) 580-3231 or Danny Woods 928 448-8476 for details.
• Sprague’s Sport Shop firearms classes: A complete world of education is on hand for everyone at Sprague’s including classes for the AZ CCW, AZ Hunter Safety Education, Reloading, along with Refuse to be a Victim for the ladies, First shots — rounds one and two, Shooting tips from the National Shooting Sports Foundation, The Active Shooter Defense Classes, as well as Basic Gun Maintenance and Know your AR. For dates and times, call Sprague’s at
• HAHWG Outdoor Skills events: Visit www.azgfd.gov/outdoorskills to check out all the outdoors camps put together by Arizona outdoors organizations with the assistance of Game and Fish to get our kids ready for safe and successful hunt opportunities in Arizona. HAHWG has done a bang-up job of putting these events together for our youngsters benefit. a big thanks to all the organizations making these events possible. These camps are always ready to put mentors to work with the youngsters — if interested, call the event host to make arrangements. Your help will be appreciated.
Shooting sports
• 4-H shooting sports: For information on a great organization for youngsters, call the Yuma 4-H office at 726-3904 or Stan Gourley at 344-0740.
• Renegade Archers of Yuma: Please give us call if you’d like to shoot the trail of 3D animals at the Foothills Archery Range. Call Kevin at 726-0953 or Jean at 247-4450 for shooting times and directions to the range. If you’d like to learn to shoot archery — It’s FREE. Call us — we’ll be glad to assist in your learning. The practice range at the Foothills Archery Range is open (also free) daylight hours all week for archers much needed practice and enjoyment. PLEASE do what you can to prevent vandalism while at the range so all can enjoy.
• Yuma Trap and Skeet Club: Anyone interested in trap and skeet? Shoot 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays and Sundays. Tuesdays and Thursdays noon to 4 p.m. matches. Call Bob Avila at (928) 919-0622. For information on the Yuma Young Guns with the Scholastic Clay Target Program, active at the trap and skeet range at Adair Park, call Head Coach H. McNutt at (928) 580-0918.
• Yuma Territorial Longrifles Club: “Open” black powder matches at the Adair Park range, 1st and 3rd Saturdays at 8:30 a.m. Call Roger Bickel at 726-7453. Ask about .22 matches. Plan now to attend the 2018 Yuma Territorial Long Rifles Rendezvous at the range January 11, 12, 13, 14 with FREE primitive and Tin Teepee Camping and Traders Row (All traders welcome, no fee). Events are rifle paper&gong, Trade Gun Gong&Paper, Pistol Gong&Paper, Squirrel Gun Aggregate (40 cal. or less), Flint Lock Aggregate, Chunk Gun Novelty (no special gun required). Fees” adult $20, Family $30 plus $10 blanket prize per shooters. Ranges open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with all firing to be completed by 5 p.m. Saturday. Fort shoot at 10 a.m. Sunday morning/ Saturday Bar-B-Q & Potluck. Shooters (including spouse & children) ticket is 1 side dish. Non-registered: $10 plus potluck dish per person. Call James Ingram 580-9888 or Glenda Graves at 580-0915.
• Cholla Gun Club: Shooting is ongoing at the Adair Park metallic silhouette range — get your firearms in order and join in the shooting. Signup at 8:30 a.m. for shooting at 9 a.m. sharp. Matches open to the public with instructions when necessary. All firearms must comply with NRA guidelines. Membership in NRA is not required. No belted magnums — cartridges must not result in damage to targets. Small bore defined as .22 long rifle. Ammunition (no .22mags). The club business meeting is 7 p.m. on the 2nd Tuesday now through March at Villa Alameda RV Park on Ave. 5E. Call Glenda Graves at (928) 580-0915. Matches are: • 4th Saturday with shoot fee $5 per gun: Big bore long range pistol; Cowboy lever action rifle, small bore hunter pistol; hunter pistol. Pistol cartridge lever action rifle; .22 lever action rifle. • 4th Sunday with shoot fee $5 per gun: Black powder cartridge and Vintage Military rifle silhouette or fun match. Vintage military rifle is any military built up to 1952. No M-14’s. Chickens shot standing. Pigs, turkeys, rams shot off ground rest — replicating military positions while standing. • Alternating Tuesdays 9 a.m. — Schutzen .22 rifle match on the black powder range with 20 shots bench rest at 100 yards, 20 shots standing at 100 yards. Bench rest match 50 shots @ 50 yards. • Wednesdays 9 a.m. — Informal get-togethers for fun and plinking off the bench or standing. Practice shooting skills, test ammo for the gun you want to shoot. Everyone welcome. • Wednesdays 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. — BPCR silhouette, vintage Military rifle and cowboy lever action rifle and .22 long range silhouette practice and/or match. • Fridays 9 a.m. — .22 rifle and pistol silhouette fun matches. Informal gettogether for .22 rimfire rifle and pistol only. Everyone welcome.
• High Power Rifle and Pistol Club of Yuma: Check with Joseph Murek at umpire1@q.com or Gerald Brooker at brookergerald@att.net or call Paul Lerma at 580-7456 or Brooker at 1-858 349-1311. Ask about the Club Junior Shooters activities. Visit the club web site at hprifleyuma.net.
• Yuma Matchmasters: The Annual Cowboy Action Shoot/Territorial Prison Breakout is planned for Januay 12, 13, 14 at the small bore range at Adair Park with visitors welcome. A variety of matches are offered each month at the range, all open to shooters at 7 a.m. with the steel challenge the 1st Saturday, Multi-gun matches the 1st Sunday. IPSC combat matches held the 2nd Sunday with the Cowboy Fast Draw the 3rd Saturday and SASS cowboy matches the 4th Saturday. I hope to have results from the latest Cowboy Action shoot for next week’s column or call Irene Snyder at (209) 613-4598 or George Wagner at (719) 660-9466 with questions. Visit the club website at hprifleyuma.net.
• Southwest Bowhunters Archery Club: Archery is offered to archers on Sundays with their practice range also open all week. Call Keith Parsels at 782-1097.
Contact Jean Wilson at jeanrenegade@ gmail.com or call 247-4450.