Painted Rock Lake - Gila River Bass Fishing Reports

Started by Bob La Londe, January 26, 2005, 08:27:31 AM

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Bob La Londe

Last summer I visited Painted Rock lake to take a look.  The lower lake was totally bone dry.  A couple weeks ago after all the rain in the central Arizona area there was beginning to build up some water behind the dam.  They started dumping water down the river.  It should be good for the lower Colorado River as increased flows will move some things around and wash out some of the excess weed growth.   

Most of you guys probably don't know anything about Painted Rock.  Basically its named for some old indian writings on a nearby rock pile.  The dam can form a huge upper lake to retain and control flood waters.  Below the dam is a large pit where earth was removed to build the dam.  When they were finished it resulted in a good size lake below the dam.  For many many years they maintained a small flow out of the dam to keep the lower lake up.  Sometime in the last decade of there wasn't enough water to do this.  The lower lake is what most people were refferring to when talking about Painted Rock Lake.  There is a semi improved campground along the south shore.  I visited the lake last summer and it was bone dry.  The campground was closed.     

I am excited.  I hope the lower lake comes back to life.  Its the first place I ever heard of flipping, but they didn't call it flipping back then.  (25-30 years ago)Basically a couple guys where throwing back into the brush on the north and west sides of the lake using 72 pound braided nylon line.  I hope they reopen the campground.  I can get into the lake from the back side, but the only place you can launch a trailer boat is in the campground.
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