Sept. 29 report from Jim Goughnour of Rim Country Custom Rods:

Anglers are reporting good to very good bass fishing conditions for Roosevelt Lake. The huge bait schools of shad continue to be the focus of many anglers. These bait balls are being reporting in 20 to 100 foot depths of water.

Crankbaits, jerkbaits continue to catch good numbers of schooling fish, but this week a spoon has been added to the list of successful baits.

A 1-ounce Kastmaster and Crippled-Herring spoon on a long cast will allow the bait to flutter down as an injured shad. Bass cannot resist this approach. Anglers are reporting up to 12 bass caught on consecutive casts using this technique.

The lake level currently stands at 37 percent full. The recent moisture throughout the Roosevelt Lake watershed has slightly increased the flows into the lake. The Salt River is flowing at 50 percent of its normal rate for this time of year while the Tonto Creek has slowed to about 11 percent. The water temperatures are in the mid to high 70s during the day. The water clarity in the main lake remains very clear however, the increased flows have stained the water on the Salt River end of the lake.

I spoke recently with a few anglers at Green Valley Lake in Payson. I watched a father teaching his young son how to cast while grand-dad sat in a lawn chair laughing. These anglers, along with many of us are awaiting the first AZGFD Community Fishing trout stocking which will occur during the week of October 22. Fishing at Green Valley Lake is a fantastic family activity and a great learning experience for our younger anglers.

Have a great week of fishing and I hope to see you on the water. (2,086 feet, 37-percent full).