Fishing near Central/Thatcher/Safford

[onthefly]

I'll be heading up this afternoon to visit some family in central. Wanted to know if there is anything within 30 minutes of central worth checking out.

Give me your honey holes!
Thanks

[Jason Kline]

The Safford Ranger District of the Forest is still closed, there is no trout fishing available in the valley right now. You can try for bass or bluegills at Cluff Ranch or Roper Lake.

[aztightlines]

Dankworth Pond is part of Roper Lake state park - same permit for day use as Roper - and is located a few miles south of Safford off Rte 191, across from the Swift Trail highway (going up the mountain).

Good luck, guess the Coronado Forest is still closed over there, hope it opens soon - like it has for the Catalina Mts.

I have had some fun in years past at Roper Lake and Dankworth Pond, both springfed and grow some really nice bluegills, crappie and largemouth.

Got chased out of Dankworth one night in my floattube - a territorial beaver took exception to my presence, closely following me around the pond and slapping his tail. I beat a hasty retreat.

[joe]

AZT,
Taken by a beaver, that's funny.

[aztightlines]

At first I thought the tail slaps were some kids screwing with me, but looked over at the tree stumps that were gnawed to points by said beaver, calculated how to protect my bird legs from underwater beaver attacks (I could not)... and lived to fight another day.

Owned by a beaver, kind of sad, but it did happen.

[MudBug]

Originally Posted by aztightlines

Owned by a beaver, kind of sad, but it did happen.

Don't worry, all men get owned by a beaver at some point in their lives. It's just the way things are.

[joe]

On my indigenous trout quests outside of AZ, I have, on different occasions, encountered beavers shot in the head. They were likely shot by ranchers who did not want their water rights dammed by beavers.

[Fish Manager]

Dankworth is closed for renovations right now. We have it drained and are planning to remove the cattails by burning in them in August or early September so no fishing there! Roper and Cluff are your only options.

[aztightlines]

In the words of SNL character Emily Littella...Never Mind...about Dankworth. Cool little spot, though, right off the highway.

Good they are expanding the acreage of the lake, the cattails and reeds were encroaching more every year so less and less open water for fishing..

[fshfanatic]

I have been chased out of a few prime holes by angry beavers..