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News Release: For Immediate Release
DFG News Release: For Immediate Release
March 20, 2002
Why is the All-American Canal Unfamiliar to California's Anglers?
Contact: Conservation Education, (916) 653-6420
Most of California's anglers have heard of the Colorado River. On the other hand, the All-American Canal is a name unfamiliar to the majority who cast out a hook and line. Why is that? It has probably been overlooked because it's secluded and requires a long drive from the state's metropolitan areas.
But that's not to say it should be forgotten.
Nearly 175 miles from the San Diego area and 300 miles from the Los Angeles Basin, the rewards for the long drive through the desert to the California/Arizona border can be huge. Roughly 20 miles north of Yuma, AZ, and 40 miles from the Mexican border, the All-American Canal offers some of the best warm-water fishing in the state. However, because of its seclusion, few anglers reap these benefits each year. California's anglers have yet to tap into this quality fishery.
This year, action at the All-American has been exceptionally good.
"I haven't seen fishing this good in 10 years," said Rusty McBride, local game warden for the California Department of Fish and Game. "This is early. Fishing shouldn't be this good until the end of the month."
While the All-American is known to produce gigantic carp, and flathead and channel catfish, don't overlook the rest of its fishery. Unaware of what species inhabit these waters, many anglers are shocked when they catch striped bass, large and small mouth bass, crappie and tilapia. However bass and panfish are just as abundant as the bottom feeders in this wide and fast flowing canal.
A mild winter and warmer water temperatures have prompted the fish to become more active earlier this year than usual. The All-American Canal is fed by water pumped out of the Imperial Dam, a blockage of the Colorado River. Water is released from the Colorado into a large pond where the silt is removed from the water. The silt is pumped back into the Colorado River and the silt-free water is released into the All-American Canal.
This section where the water is released from the ponds into the headwaters of the All-American and continuing downstream for one-third of a mile produces the best action.
"They're catching a lot of bass and some big carp," added McBride. "The last couple of weekends I've been seeing nothing but limits of cats. I saw two flathead catfish - one was 15 pounds - and they usually don't start biting until late-June. That big flathead was caught on red worms and that's unheard of."
Eating small red worms might be abnormal, but fortunately, big catfish are the norm here. Yet the surprise this year has been the showing of lunker bass. A 10-pound largemouth bass was yanked out of the canal a few weeks ago, as were smallmouth bass up to four pounds and a whopping 30-pound carp.
Getting in on the action is as easy a using a night crawler, chicken liver or live crawdads. To increase your chances of catching fish, a second rod stamp is recommended. This allows anglers to fish with two poles and target two species of fish at the same time. Don't forget a valid California state fishing license is also required and while the second rod stamp is good for all lakes and reservoirs in the state, in the Colorado River District only it also works in canals, rivers and streams and all other bodies of water where a license is required.
One thing to keep in mind before planning a trip to the All-American is the weather. If the forecast calls for wind, stay home. Wind shuts off the bite here.
"When it's warm everyone catches fish, but when it's cold and windy only some people catch fish," McBride said.
DFG News Release: For Immediate Release
March 20, 2002
Why is the All-American Canal Unfamiliar to California's Anglers?
Contact: Conservation Education, (916) 653-6420
Most of California's anglers have heard of the Colorado River. On the other hand, the All-American Canal is a name unfamiliar to the majority who cast out a hook and line. Why is that? It has probably been overlooked because it's secluded and requires a long drive from the state's metropolitan areas.
But that's not to say it should be forgotten.
Nearly 175 miles from the San Diego area and 300 miles from the Los Angeles Basin, the rewards for the long drive through the desert to the California/Arizona border can be huge. Roughly 20 miles north of Yuma, AZ, and 40 miles from the Mexican border, the All-American Canal offers some of the best warm-water fishing in the state. However, because of its seclusion, few anglers reap these benefits each year. California's anglers have yet to tap into this quality fishery.
This year, action at the All-American has been exceptionally good.
"I haven't seen fishing this good in 10 years," said Rusty McBride, local game warden for the California Department of Fish and Game. "This is early. Fishing shouldn't be this good until the end of the month."
While the All-American is known to produce gigantic carp, and flathead and channel catfish, don't overlook the rest of its fishery. Unaware of what species inhabit these waters, many anglers are shocked when they catch striped bass, large and small mouth bass, crappie and tilapia. However bass and panfish are just as abundant as the bottom feeders in this wide and fast flowing canal.
A mild winter and warmer water temperatures have prompted the fish to become more active earlier this year than usual. The All-American Canal is fed by water pumped out of the Imperial Dam, a blockage of the Colorado River. Water is released from the Colorado into a large pond where the silt is removed from the water. The silt is pumped back into the Colorado River and the silt-free water is released into the All-American Canal.
This section where the water is released from the ponds into the headwaters of the All-American and continuing downstream for one-third of a mile produces the best action.
"They're catching a lot of bass and some big carp," added McBride. "The last couple of weekends I've been seeing nothing but limits of cats. I saw two flathead catfish - one was 15 pounds - and they usually don't start biting until late-June. That big flathead was caught on red worms and that's unheard of."
Eating small red worms might be abnormal, but fortunately, big catfish are the norm here. Yet the surprise this year has been the showing of lunker bass. A 10-pound largemouth bass was yanked out of the canal a few weeks ago, as were smallmouth bass up to four pounds and a whopping 30-pound carp.
Getting in on the action is as easy a using a night crawler, chicken liver or live crawdads. To increase your chances of catching fish, a second rod stamp is recommended. This allows anglers to fish with two poles and target two species of fish at the same time. Don't forget a valid California state fishing license is also required and while the second rod stamp is good for all lakes and reservoirs in the state, in the Colorado River District only it also works in canals, rivers and streams and all other bodies of water where a license is required.
One thing to keep in mind before planning a trip to the All-American is the weather. If the forecast calls for wind, stay home. Wind shuts off the bite here.
"When it's warm everyone catches fish, but when it's cold and windy only some people catch fish," McBride said.
