Martinez Lake, AZ.

By Donnie Vachon

Martinez Lake is located on the lower Colorado River, 31 miles north of Yuma, Arizona, and is a perfect place to go for some wintertime fishing.

The chain of lakes along the Colorado River consists of Lake Powell, Lake Mead, Lake Mojave, Lake Havasu and the Imperial Reservoir, which includes Martinez Lake.

The entire system holds 63 million acre-feet of water and flows at a rate of 4,000 to 16,000 cubic feet per second, depending on irrigation needs and remaining storage capacity.

The Imperial Reservoir, in addition to Martinez Lake, includes many small lakes: Face Lake, Squaw Lake, Ferguson Lake and Island Lake to name a few along with endless hidden backwater arroyos.

From Lake Martinez the lower Colorado River stretches 70 miles upstream to Blythe and downstream seven miles to the Imperial Dam.

The river, prior to completion of the dam system, was an active waterway where steamboats carried cargo and passengers up and down the river from the Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California) to Mojave, approximately 900 miles.

In the late 1800s, steamboats and stagecoaches were the only means of transportation along the river. Because of heavy gold and silver mining, the traffic was intense with many medium-sized towns surrounding the productive mines. To this day, there are gold and silver mines along the Colorado River in Yuma, La Paz, and other locations along the river still in operation.

Immediately to the north of Martinez Lake is the Imperial National Wildlife Refuge that encompasses 55,000 acres on both sides of the river, stretching over 35 miles. The refuge is used as a stop over for some 235 species of migratory birds. Mammals commonly seen along the river in the refuge include deer, big horn sheep, wild horses, wild burros, coyotes, raccoons, foxes, beavers and bobcats.

For the hunter, dove, duck, geese, quail and deer hunting are within easy reach of Lake Martinez.

As the tournament trails are winding down for the year and I am in need of a change, the first place that comes to mind is Martinez Lake and the lower Colorado. The quiet backwater bassin' can really soothe your soul. There's not much that can compare to raising my jack plate up as high as it can go and powering my Skeeter through the one-foot wide opening of a thick green forest of tulles. As you push through the one to two foot deep trail you are completely swallowed up by the towering growth and then moments later, there you are in a 20-foot deep, hidden backwater arroyo. It's just yourself and hundreds of undisturbed bass waiting for your first presentation.

A word of caution to the first time tulle pusher. These trails into the backwaters are, many times, only one to two feet deep and you need to be aware of how the water is flowing. You may get your boat in that morning, but if the water level is dropping, you may not get back out a few hours later.

I know of anglers who have been stuck and waited for days for the water to reach a high enough level to get their boats back out. It's a good idea to carry a small shovel and a push pole.

A trick I use, when fishing Martinez Lake for more than one day, is to put a zip tie on one of the poles at the dock, marking the water level. The next day when I launch I can check the "zip-tie" to see what the water flow is doing before heading out. This will give me a pretty good idea of what backwaters I can get into before making the run up there.

WINTER

The best water to fish this time of year would be the main river where the running water of the river will be warmer than the calm, still water in the backwater areas and lakes. Fish tulle-lined banks, look for areas that create current breaks. The fish will tuck up along the crease between the faster and slower currents. Main river eddies created by any cut in the shoreline are also a good bet. Flip and pitch jigs, tubes, zipper-type baits in basic black, browns and purples. Winter fishing here can be slow and will require patience and repeated presentations. But with the mild desert temperatures, it's a very nice time to fish.

SPRING

As backwater temperatures begin to warm, bass quickly seek prespawn areas and start to stage at the entrance or mouths of the backwater arroyos. When the water reaches prime spawning temperatures fish will enter the arroyos and move onto the shallow spawning flats. The best backwaters will generally have some current, reducing the build up of silt and providing a harder bottom for the fish to spawn.

Prespawn patterns include spinnerbaits, a slow presentation with a jerkbait, or a free falling Senko or fluke.

For spawning fish on the beds, a 6-inch lizard or a 4-inch tube in green pumpkin with some chartreuse in the tail is the ticket.

Fishing for bedding fish here can be a lot of fun and is always on my to-do list when spring rolls around.

SUMMER

Bass will often remain in the backwaters and lakes throughout most of the summer, with the exception of the late summer months -- late August and September -- in which the backwater surface temperatures get very toasty. This can generally result in fish moving out to seek the cooler current flowing along the main river's tulle-lined banks.

Fish can be caught on a number of baits during this time. Just pick one of your favorites and go fishing. Some of my choices are spinnerbaits and soft jerkbaits if I am fishing in a lake or backwater. Flipping also works very well. I like to flip a big tube bait, a Zipper worm or a jig on the river.

Remember, when you're fishing this time of year, be prepared, this is the desert and it can bake you. The temperatures can reach well over 110 degrees and will zap your body of fluid faster than a bass can hit your Super Spook. Drinking plenty of water and using sunscreen are a must.

FALL

Fall fishing can be outstanding.

During the peak summer months the water can reach temperatures of 90 degrees or more. The hot water slows the reaction bites to a near stand still. By mid-October through November, lake temperatures will fall to a range of 70 to 80 degrees and that really gets the bass going again.

It's not uncommon to pull into a backwater area and see schools of shad being torn apart by stripers and bass, promoting some of the best topwater action anywhere. Super Spooks and Lucky Craft Sammys, are among the top picks. Don't overlook the steep rocky banks and bluffs just around the corner in Ferguson Lake. Hopping a brown jig here can fill the boat.

Accommodations at Martinez Lake are many. Motels and cabin rentals are plentiful. There are also several locations for camping with R.V.s and they usually have reasonable daily or weekly rental rates. There is a restaurant and cantina, a convenience store and R.V. camping with full hook-ups.

At the neighboring Fishers Landing, there is a boat launch, fuel, restaurant, cantina, store and a boat repair shop.

For more information call Martinez Lake at 1-800-876-7004, or visit them on the web at martinezlake.com.

For a place that has it all, the lower Colorado is a great place to explore. See you on the water and watch out for those sand bars. Editors Note: Donnie Vachon is a member of the Skeeter/Yamaha Pro Team and fishes on the Bassmasters' Invitational Trail, WON Bass Pro/Am events as well as local team tournaments with his three sons Daniel, Kyle and Brady.

Donnie is sponsored by: Skeeter Boats, Yamaha Outboards, Sundown Marine, Quantum, PinPoint, Sawyer Cook and Co. Boat Insurance, Crosswalker Lures, AA's Worms, and Propellers of San Diego.