The Colorado River and its backwaters are home to a variety of finny creatures, including crappies, perch, bluegill, striped bass, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, tilapia, carp and various species of catfish, including flatheads, some of which are large enough to cause one great concern as to just exactly where one should grab it to land it!  Most of the species are even found in the Valleys, canals and drainage ditches.

Flatheads in excess of 40 pounds been taken on occasion and those in the 10 to 20 pound class are not at all uncommon.  Inasmuch as the flathead feeds only on live prey, most anglers use goldfish, carp minnows, small bluegill or waterdogs for bait.  Better pack a pretty heavy rig for those babies, and with heavy line.

The ultralite rig will come in handy for bluegill and perch on nightcrawlers, and crappie, caught on nightcrawlers, worms and with small crappie jigs, fished slowly.  A small safety pin spinner attached to the jig, retrieved or trolled slowly, is very effective.

The prime location for stripped bass is most likely just below the diversion dam, some 12 miles North of Blythe on Highway 95.  Fishing with moderately heavy gear, large lures and both live and cut bait have been used successfully.

Small mouth bass up to 4+ pounds are taken on live crawdads, shinners and artificial lures such as crankbaits, spinnerbait, plastic grubs and worms.  Spinning, spincast and baitcasting and rigs one would regularly use for bass fishing will do fine on these superb fighters.

The largemouth bass fishing offered in the area would have to be classed as excellent, with 3 to 6 pounders being caught regularly and quite a few in the 6+ pounds are recorded each year.  They are in excellent physical condition and will give you some exciting battles.  They are taken on live bait and on just about every conceivable artificial lure invented and by every method from flipping to trolling.  Even in the colder weather good catches may be had and during the warmer weather, the topwater bite can be awesome!  While a boat is not necessary to catch bass, one is certainly preferable.  A boat lets you get to those honey holes not accessible from the shore.

Upon your arrival, check in with the Blythe Chamber office for directions to the many launching and camping facilities available.  Then visit to some of the bait and tackle establishments will be most helpful in learning what s going on at that particular time of year.

   Remember, the worst day of fishing is better than the best day of working!  Oh yes, while we want you to enjoy eating a mess of fish, we also urge you  to practice catch and release.  It will sort of make you feel good when you turn a few loose!

Fishing License Fees Effective January 2002

Those 16 years and older must have a fishing license

Fishing Licenses Available at:            

B & B Bait

10380 8^th Avenue      

(760) 921-2248

K-Mart

1455 W. Hobsonway  

(760) 921-8442

Yellowmart

228 W. Hobsonway  

(760) 922-4215