Willow Beach, Arizona

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Willow Beach is located on the Arizona side of the Colorado River between Lake Mead and Lake Mohave. Both lakes are part of the Lake Mead National Recreation Area administered by the U.S. National Park Service.

Contents

Willow Beach was a major trade center for Mojave and Virgin Ancestral Pueblo people along the routes between Coastal California and the American Southwest between 500 and 1200 CE. [1]

Fish species

Hatchery

Willow Beach is the location of the Willow Beach National Fish Hatchery which is run by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior.

The hatchery produces Rainbow Trout for sport fishing. Rainbow Trout are stocked year round. The hatchery also raises Razorback Suckers and Bonytail Chub, both endangered species.

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Fishing in Colorado has brought in a large amount of revenue for the state. In 2019 Colorado Parks and Wildlife estimated outdoor recreation contributed roughly 62 billion dollars to the state economy. Fishing was reported to be the 5th most popular outdoor activity and 110, 511 fishing and hunting combination licenses were sold. Ice fishing makes up part of this total fishing revenue and is a common annual sport for Colorado residents and out-of-state visitors. There is no legal definition of ice fishing season. Rather, people begin to ice fish once the lakes freeze over with thick enough ice. Colorado Parks and Wildlife also recommend that people always ice-fish with another person. Typically, this starts in December and ends in April for Colorado. Lakes size, depth, elevation, and seasonal weather can cause variance to the season. Once the lakes freeze over with thick enough ice, anglers go out onto the ice, drill holes through the ice, and fish for a variety of species.

References

  1. William Hoyt Smith, “Molluskan Religiofauna Between the Southwestern United States and Southern California” (doctoral dissertation, University of Oregon, 2002), 23.

35°52′13″N114°39′34″W / 35.87028°N 114.65944°W / 35.87028; -114.65944