Not too many years ago, tell a friend that you were traveling to Lake Havasu City for any other reason than to indulge in some wild river antics, and the response might be a puzzled stare. But tell that same friend – better yet a fellow angler – of your destination today, and you will receive a nod that signals sincere appreciation for fine freshwater fishing.
Since 1992, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, Anglers United, Arizona Game & Fish Department, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, California Fish and Game, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Bureau of Reclamation have combined efforts and funding with community volunteer assistance to establish Lake Havasu as one of the West’s best bets for bass, stripers, crappie and catfish.
A total of 875 acres of artificial habitats called “crappie condos,” “catfish houses” and “bass bungalows” – some up to 20 feet high – have been strategically placed in coves around the lake, enabling game fish to spawn, rest and evade predators. These habitats also shelter two endangered fish species, helping them rebuild their populations. Since the project completion in 2002, a total of 42 separate coves housing these constructed habitats exist under the waters of Lake Havasu.
The fisheries program was implemented with three primary goals: increase sport fishing opportunities, improve access and facilities for shoreline anglers, and augment the dwindling populations of two endangered fish species – the razorback sucker and the bonytail chub.
The lake’s 450 miles of shoreline is fringed with secluded coves providing ideal fishing conditions. Framed by the desert and the Colorado River, Lake Havasu is home to not only black and striped bass, but also blue gill, black crappie, green sunfish, channel and flathead catfish and carp.
While Lake Havasu provides plenty of boat, dock and shoreline fishing opportunities, the Lake Havasu Fisheries Program has greatly improved this fisherman’s paradise. New fishing docks, foot trails, parking facilities and restrooms have been built at several locations around the lake. Two of the new improvement sites include the Site Six and Mesquite Bay projects, which boast around-the-clock free handicapped-accessible fishing docks, new access trails, new restroom facilities and parking, and expanded boat trailer parking.
Other free public access spots where the fish love to bite include Havasu Springs Resort and Take-Off Point. Havasu Springs Resort features a lighted floating fishing dock, while Take-Off Point has a boat ramp and shoreline fishing platforms. Both sites, located off Arizona Highway 95 near Parker Dam, were completed as part of the Lake Havasu Fisheries Program in 1994.
Lake Havasu has 138 boat-in campsites, with Lake Havasu Marina, Site Six and Windsor Beach providing boat launching, dry storage, boat rentals, gasoline, repairs and slips.
By boat, anglers can choose a variety of fishing styles, testing the deep waters in the middle of the lake, anchoring in the coves and marshes along the lake’s edge, or drifting in the Colorado river upstream from the lake. Both novices and seasoned anglers can haul in one of Lake Havasu’s plentiful bass, weighing an average of 2-4 pounds each.
Lake Havasu was created in 1938 with the construction of Parker Dam on the Colorado River. The city was founded in 1963 by chainsaw magnate Robert McCulloch, and was incorporated in 1978.
Lake Havasu City is centrally located to Southern California, Nevada and Arizona. Offering affordable, diverse and accessible vacationing in a warm, dry climate year-round, Lake Havasu City is has developed into one of the premiere relocation destinations in the Southwest United States. Lake Havasu is not only a great place to visit but an even better place to call home as new residents flock to this water-lovers paradise on the Colorado RIver. That’s why real estate is in such great demand in Lake Havasu City with great upside investment potential. Contact our Preferred real estate agent if you’re seeking homes for sale including lakeside homes, luxury estates, golf property, condos or vacation homes.
*Info provided by a Lake Havasu
Convention & Visitor’s Bureau Press Release