By Rory Aikens
Arizona Game & Fish
The monsoon rains have been very good to the high country this summer, cooling things down, and getting fish more active. Trout tend to be a little deeper right now, so Power Bait, night crawlers and corn can work well at times.
But if you get into one of those fish-feeding lulls, try for crayfish. They are relatively easy to catch, especially for youngsters, and very easy to fix, even around the flickering evening campfire.
The secret to preparing crayfish? Simple -- bring the water to a rolling boil, take the pot off the fire (or out of the microwave), and add the crayfish. DO NOT put the pot back on the fire. Just wait until the crayfish turn bright red (usually just a few minutes), and you'll have perfectly cooked crayfish. No kidding!
Most people overcook crayfish and these crustaceans end up with the consistency of soft rubber. If you want to get fancy, add some crab boil.
Here's something else to consider -- even if you don't get enough crayfish to feed the family, or even yourself, these delectable crustaceans can spice up a lot of side dishes from pasta to rice. One of our family favorites is crayfish in wild rice stuffed into a baked trout. Not bad for pork chops either.
Also keep in mind that crayfish are not native to Arizona. In fact, this state holds the distinction of being the only state in the Lower 48 where crayfish are not indigenous. So you can help the environment by catching and eating crayfish.
Whether or not you believe that lunar phases affect fish behavior, it is well known that submersible lights don't work as well during a full moon. The full moon is Aug. 13.
That doesn't mean that night fishing won't be viable, but you may have to employ other techniques. On full moon nights, I love using a black chugger. Think about a fish underwater looking up -- black provides the best silhouette against a moon-bright night sky. The chugger puts vibration into the water.
Ever notice the long lateral line on a largemouth bass? Well, beneath those green scales are sensory organs keyed to picking up vibration, like from a dying shad. Sharks have similar sensors along their flanks. I also liken them to towed sensor arrays used by submarines (or warships searching for submarines).
Also, you might want to run about a six-inch leader behind your chugger with a small trailer. I like using a small piece of soft plastic jerk bait. I have sometimes had success running a 2-inch curly tail like the ones you use for crappie (BBC?).
You might also want to use scent. Smells may not necessarily attract bass, but they may hold onto the bait longer, possibly giving you that extra split second to set the hook.
Don't forget that this week is the height of the Perseids meteor showers. The full moon may inhibit seeing some of the smaller meteorites blasting into Earth's atmosphere, but a fiery meteor racing across the moon is a pretty awesome spectacle in the night sky. Adding to the mix this weekend is the International Space Station; visit http://science.nasa.gov/
It's all worth the price of admission - lack of sleep for most stargazers. Desert nights are just made for bottom dwellers -- catfish and carp. Relax on the shoreline, wet a line with some stink bait, corn or both, watch the meteor show in the sky, and get acquainted with Mr. Whiskers at the same time. Sure beats watching re-runs or lack-of-reality shows on TV (200 channels and nothing to watch!). If you want bass, it's time to either go deep or catch some surface action. Using drop shots is probably the best method right now for catching deep bass in our desert reservoirs. For tips on how to rig and use drop shots, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Did you know that Lake Mead has come up 26 feet in elevation at the Hoover Dam since November of 2010?
Now vast areas where salt cedar and other plants grew up are now underwater, adding nutrients, hiding cover and ambush cover. This will make a big difference at this fishery in years to come. Just thought I would share that with you. It got me excited. I love fishing Mead. It typically has that ultra-dry desert air uninhabited by suspended pollens.
My old friend Rick at the Big Lake store called and said the Governor plans to come up to Big Lake on Aug. 24 for a grand re-opening. More information will be posted at http://www.biglakeaz.com/.
Go catch some mid summer night memories. Maybe I'll see you out there.
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