Fishing and hiking

[domromer]

Whats a good hike that's pretty easy that includes both fishing and hiking? Somewhere north of the valley. Close to Flag if possible

[Shi]

You might want to try Chevlon Canyon (near Payson area). It's an easy hike in with good fishing! Mary

[Shi]

In response to Shi's reply: http://www.hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=764

[Pythor Sen]

My fiancee and I were thinking of honeymooning in the area between Knoll Lake and Willow Springs. Does anyone know if it's feasible to do some hiking, fishing, and camping in the area? Are the lakes accessible by truck in March? How long does FR300 stay closed? That seems to be the artery to the area. I read on the Apache-Sitgreaves website that you can get to them by snowmobile or more primitive means, but...we hadn't planned on doing that. Would rather not, actually. How long are the lakes iced up? I'm not really into ice fishing at this point.

Thanks.

[azbackpackr]

March? Yikes. Can't make that call until March comes. So far this winter has been just about the snowiest we've had since I moved up here in '99. I'm usually still cross country skiing in March. And if you are tent camping, it is going to be cold at night until late May, snow or no snow. Maybe you are used to that, that's fine and dandy, but I don't want you to get the wrong idea. We car camped at Carnero Lake (near Green's Peak in the Springerville Ranger District--site of the '98 Rainbow Festival) one Mother's Day weekend. Nice little lake, had it all to ourselves, but dang, it was cold at night! I had two sleeping bags, plus blankets, and it was still cold! Probably 10 or 15 degrees. During the day, though, I was wearing shorts and sandals.

I'd go out to the Colorado River in western AZ if I wanted to fish in March. It's nice and warm out there!

[Dschur]

My fiancee and I were thinking of honeymooning in the area between Knoll Lake and Willow Springs. Does anyone know if it's feasible to do some hiking, fishing, and camping in the area? Are the lakes accessible by truck in March? How long does FR300 stay closed? That seems to be the artery to the area. I read on the Apache-Sitgreaves website that you can get to them by snowmobile or more primitive means, but...we hadn't planned on doing that. Would rather not, actually. How long are the lakes iced up? I'm not really into ice fishing at this point.

Thanks.

Forest road 300 can be closed until April or May this last year we took a hike up there that leads from the road at Willow Springs on the last weekend in March and it was still closed. There was so much water around that area that there were lots of miny lakes all over the area and people were trying to go around the closed road sign. The were getting stuck in the mud. I wouldn't expect it to be open until at the earliest in April with the way the rain and snow have been coming this winter.

[chumley]

West Clear Creek is nice in March. Depending on the weather in the week before you go, the water may be brown from spring runoff.

Because it's an out-and-back, it can be as easy or difficult as you like. While the grade is almost flat, the hike out is upstream, so the return is a gentle downhill.

http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=146

Also, the plateau lakes will all be full this spring due to the good snowpack this year. (As I write this today, the remote snow sensors are reporting snow depths in the 4 FEET range right now!) Good fishing will be found at Ashurst, Kinnickinick, Upper and Lower Mary, and even Stoneman and Mormon Lakes! (which are often dry). Many of these lakes are stocked with fish, but possibly not as early in the season as March. Google "AZGFD Weekly Fishing Report" for all the information you'll need. There are not an abundance of established hiking trails near the plateau lakes, but there are lots of roads, and much of the area is wide-open prairie which can make for some spectacular scenic "wandering."

[Hoffmaster]

Good fishing will be found at Ashurst, Kinnickinick, Upper and Lower Mary, and even Stoneman and Mormon Lakes! (which are often dry).

I can't wait to hit these again! Particularly Ashurst and Upper Lake Mary. My favorite thing to do is to put a whole anchovie on a 2/0 hook, and cast it out as far as possible. Wait a couple of minutes and then hang on! The Narrows at Upper Lake Mary is the best place to catch big pike using this technique. At Ashurst, rainbow trout colored spinners will land you pike and trout. They will both hit rainbow Powerbait as well (yes, even the pike!). I eat good every time I go up there!