Carnero Lake White Mtn s AZ

[Flyfisher20"]

Went to Carnero Lake on Saturday, 6-9-18. Water low. Windy day. Three of us caught and released approx. 25 Rainbows. Average size 14". Wind blow us off at about 1:20 pm. We caught most fish on a pattern that our friend John B tied. Maroon Micro Leech, bead head sizes 14 and 16. Fish 3' below an indicator in about 4' of water. Usually, movement of fly produced a strike.

[M Lopez]

How are the weeds?

[Mike Lyons]

Mike,
The lake is down 10-15% but the water quality is surprisingly good. Two feet of visibility, nice and cool and nearly no evidence of weeds! The fish are fat, healthy and in good numbers.

I will hit it again in the morning. No evidence of the damsel hatch yet but an indicator rig with a single ice cream cone Chronimid @ 3' will keep you as busy as you want to be. Go now, while the water is still there.

[M Lopez]

Thanks Mike. I too have been surprised by the water quality all spring and summer. Seems like it started at the end of last summer when the weeds just crashed. Still not sure what happened then, but the weeds haven't been bad since.

Glad to hear the fish are doing well also. Like you said, fish it now while its good.

[AJacks]

How’s is it launching a pontoon/boat there. Last year i went over there and you had to carry your pontoon a little ways to launch

[JBatina]

It's terrible at the launch on the west side. Saw guys enter over on the dam. I was up there with Mark, water quality was surprisingly good, as it was clear and at 59 degrees. Fish were healthy. It was really low and i really fear for what is coming for the lake and it's fish

[M Lopez]

Launching is tough at the designated west side area. But folks should not be driving to the east side during Stage II fire restrictions. Legally not supposed to drive off numbered roads on the Forest during these restrictions and that road (if you call it a road) is not an official road. Walking around it okay, but its a long walk with a pontoon. Best spot to launch on the west side is a short walk north of the parking area (if your craft is portable).

We got some good rain this last weekend, which was great for the forest, lakes, and streams (and the critters that live in them), but we're headed back to near record high temperatures later this week and not out of fire danger yet.

[GoWhtSox]

Went today and all big fish dead or dying. It was sad.

[herefishy]

did you take the water temp?

[zebramidge]

Fished Carnero a month ago and chased healthy, hungry rainbows. Returned this am and saw dozens of dead or dying fish. Water temp was 63 but lake is low and weeds are coming up fast. Very sad to see a fishery go down this quickly.