This time of year at urban Arizona waters

[Kenneth Wiley]

So I was at Kiwanis park lake today and caught 14 gills and a bass off a black with white stripe beetle jig off the bottom and a McDonald twin Colorado size #00 with size #14 hook with meal worm on the end.

However: all the fish small and big are chasing all the way from minnows to shad but very touchy on lures. I have my teen daughters this weekend and recently bought them both good spinning outfits and I want them to have a fish packed time.

Does anyone have any advice on canals and or urban lakes or ponds that are best at this time of year for panfish ? Because I have a bounty of 1/64 ounce jigs, and beetle spins and 1/16 and 1/32 rooster tails and aglias. I just wana go where we can find a pocket and get some nice slab ers. Gills, reds, perch, rainbow and crappie all. Their not spawn bedding yet and I'm primarily a sight pitching fisher.

Any ideas are appreciated

[Leo Nguyen]

Keep that info coming! Thanks for the post.

[Kenneth Wiley]

Cool I'll try it . Thanks

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

PS ... also remember that until there is a good mix of forage throughout the water column, the larger fish will be near the bottom. A light slip sinker rig is also a good idea under these conditions.
1/8-1/4 is enough if there are no currents.
Think micro sized Carolina Rig, both still fished and VERY SLOWLY inched along the bottom. I add a small piece of black foam near the hook, just enough to float my bait - grub, worm, or small soft plastic - so it is gently floated above the bottom a few inches.

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

Comment by McScruff, aka, David 11 seconds ago
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Even in AZ, I'm sure water temps are low. Without knowing precisely the temps let's assume that much.
This means the fish may be in pre-spawn feeding mode - but consistently CHASING raucous baits may still be a stretch. Their metabolisms may not be up to a lot of running after things. That's why you are seeing a reluctance to do so.

So play to that. Find more grubs or worms and feed them with little to no weight. Small "stealth" floats are a good tactic. Since you have had *some* success with artificials, mix the live bait with small spinners or spoons - - wherever you find a flat near deeper water that is warmed by the sun and which has wood/weeds/or rocks.
So sleep in; take the kids for biscuits and talk. No point showing up until some warmth appears on the flats. Then pick your areas carefully, where the fish can forage from deeper water to warming flats with cover. Catch them at that transition.