(2,088 feet, 37-percent full). Jim Goughnour of Rim Country Custom Rods with a Sept. 13 report:


Good morning, Rim Country anglers

Due to the monsoon rains last week, the water level in Roosevelt Lake remained constant again this week at 38-percent full. The Salt River is flowing at more than 200 CFPS and the Tonto Creek is slightly flowing. The water temperature is continuing to drop and is in the low-80s in the morning increasing to the mid-80s in the afternoon.

If the fall is your time to fish on Roosevelt Lake, when you can spend more time on the water, your time is officially here.

Bass fishing activity continued to improve this past week. Overall fishing was called good. The crankbaits we've been talking about the past couple of weeks continue to catch good numbers around main lake points, in 15-25 feet water.

Some top-water activity was again reported this past week so always keep a top-water bait ready to cast.

Soft plastic baits such as a Zoom Fluke and top-water baits such as a Rio Rico or buzz bait were reported successful. As the sun gets higher and the temperature gets hotter, most anglers switch to a dropshot, or Texas or Carolina rig techniques during the hottest times of the day. An experienced team of anglers is reporting that a Senko worm rigged Texas style was working very well just before dark off main lake points such as bass point.

The crappie bite on Roosevelt Lake was called fair again this past week. Success continues to be reported fishing in brush that is in 25-30 feet of water. A small 2-inch grub tail bait on the 1/16 or 1/8 ounce jighead is an excellent summer time bait for crappie and live minnows always work well. The black, blue and chartreuse color and a Lil Fishy in a silver color were reported successful.

The top fishing news this past week was about our local Bassmaster Elite pro Clifford Pirch. Last week Clifford won his third US Open Tournament Championship to go along with his three second place finishes. He has now finished in first or second place the last six of eight years of the US Open on Lake Mead. That is a pretty remarkable accomplishment. However, there is no rest in the life of a professional angler, as I am writing Clifford is on his way to Michigan for the Bassmaster All-star Angler of the Year tournament. Only the fifty top Elite pros are invited to this prestigious tournament. We all join in wishing Clifford good fishing.

Have a great week of fishing and I hope see you on the water.