Tag Archives: Fishing

Flagstaff/Williams fishing: hit Dogtown before dog days of summer

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dogtownbrownNo question: Dogtown Reservoir south of Williams is one of Arizona’s trout fishing hot spots. A shred of evidence: Joshua Rose on Saturday caught this gorgeous 23 ¾-inch, 4.3-pound brown trout out of Dogtown.
Rose caught the fish on corn PowerBait.

This 50-acre lake in the Kaibab National Forest is being stocked consistently and is one of the best bets for a high country Arizona trout fishing adventure. Some experienced anglers are catching plump winter holdovers.
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Effective baits have been PowerBait, small spinners, and wet flies such as bead-headed prince nymphs and zug bugs. Make sure the spinners are small — no heavier than 1/8 of an ounce. Some anglers are having success slow-trolling spinners.

A couple weeks ago, 10-year-old Matthew R. duped this 3 pound-pound that measured 19.5 inches.

Where to trout fish in Flagstaff/Williams area
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Stocking trucks from Page Springs Hatchery have been loading up trout into Flagstaff/Williams regional waters the past few weeks .

Here is AZGFD Region 2 Aquatic Wildlife Program Manager Scott Rogers’ top 5 spots to fish near Flagstaff and Williams (all are being stocked with trout).

  1. Dogtown Lake
  2. Ashurst Lake
  3. Cataract Lake
  4. Frances Short Pond
  5. City Reservoir (Santa Fe Dam)

A high chance of rain is predicted for Flagstaff and Williams Friday and Sunday (trout sometimes bite great just before a storm), and these waters should be great options throughout April.

Grab your gear and your fishing license and get ready for a pine-scented weekend! Temporary fishing permits available at some Williams merchants.

The road to Dogtown has some beautiful trees including Aspens and Oaks. It is a great drive in fall.

The road to Dogtown has some beautiful trees including Aspens and Oaks. It is a great drive in fall.

Time for fishing

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White Horse lake panorama

WILLIAMS — We visited White Horse Lake and found that it filled quite well from our fair winter weather. It was restocked last month with trout.

Camping space directly around the lakes are fee-based camping spaces, but they do have free day use areas. Along the road to White Horse there are free camping areas laid out.

The trails to Bill Williams Mountain are currently open. The road to Buckskinner and to the Santa Fe Dam are also open.

It seems that all is in order for a good camping, fishing and hiking season in Williams. Some are already taking advantage of the opportunities as space are filling up.

Williams gets a gusher

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640-15-04-20-5WILLIAMS — There is a quote attributed to W.C. Fields concerning why he does not drink water. The various versions are really not appropriate here. Suffice it is to say that W.C. Fields will not be drinking water in Williams.

Ian Tabeling checks the pH and temperature of the water before releasing crop into the water.

Ian Tabeling checks the pH and temperature of the water before releasing crop into the water.


Well, not just because he has been dead for many years now. It is also because the Arizona Game & Fish truck arrived from the Peach Springs hatchery to restock the local lakes.

Ian Tabeling told me he stocked Santa Fe and was there to stock the Buckskinner reservoir—to the delight of the anglers waiting for a bite. His partner was stocking White Horse, he said.

This is welcome news for anglers who have been trying with no success since the reservoirs were lowered because of recent drought conditions.

(Sorry. Forgot to ask his partners name or if they were stocking Dogtown or Kaibab.)