Over the years I’ve fished many waters around the country, Mexicoand Canada.As a result, I’m often asked where my favorite place to fish is and what my favorite species to fish for is.It may surprise some, but my answer is whatever’s swimming in the water nearby.
Just about everywhere I travel there are people, and with few exceptions, where there are people, there are typically open water sources.Where there’s water, such as streams, pondsor reservoirs, likely as not there are fish.Consequently, when I travel, I carry fishing tackle as I’m sure I’ll find fishing opportunities.
Last weekend was a case in point.We traveled to the Phoenix metro area.Granted, it’s in the desert, but with over four million people there’s a huge water requirement.True to form, area streams, those within a couple/three hours of the city, have been dammed and provide ample water.This water is delivered in part through an extensive canal system.Further, people love their water features, so there are a number of public ponds throughout the area.
So this desert region has a diverse collection of fisheries, both in town and within a few hours’ drive.Further, there are a number of species to fish for; trout are stocked in the cooler winter months, along with catfish, bassand panfish. And they have a number of other species such as carp, suckers, white bass, yellow bass, stripersand grass carp.Actually, grass carp are quite common as they are used to control vegetation in most of the area ponds and canals.
When folks think of fisheries, I’m rather sure that irrigation structures are low on most radars.Yet over the years, I’ve had some outstanding catching fishing irrigation ditches and canals around the county, when they’re running.Sometimes canals are completely overlooked because they only run seasonally.Yet, if they’re fed from waters with fish populations, fish often get flushed into them, especially if they’re not well screened. These fish will bite just as well in canals as anywhere else.When drained, some canals have pools where the fish are concentrated, and in some cases overwinter.
Before I proceed, I need to make a couple points.First, most irrigation structures, ditchesand canals are private.Consequently, make sure it’s permissible to fish them before heading out.There’s no need to get a trespass ticket.Second, most irrigation canals have steep banks and some fast currents.Simply, they’re often very dangerous. Fall in and you’re at high risk of drowning, especially around culverts, bridgesand other diversion structures.So use extreme caution fishing irrigation waters.
While over the years I’ve fished a number of ponds and reservoirs around the Phoenix area, I’d wondered about the numerous canals, given I’d seen a few carp in a couple of them.My friends indicated it was illegal to fish them.It turns out that was half true. There are three major owners of the area canal system.Two close their canals to public use, but one allows recreation along their canals, including fishing.
So I decided to give fishing them a try, one actually, as there are a dozen plus.The section I opted to fish ran along a park, giving me options should the canal not pan.Turns out, it hada good population of grass carp. While they’re not easy to catch due to their vegetarian diet, after a few hours of effort, I managed to coax one into hitting, an approximately 36-inch fish.
So while canal fishing isn’t scenic and is often challenging, the rewards can make it a worthwhile endeavor.
