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Water Sports

BOATING AND RIVER ACCESS

There are miles of shoreline to be explored along the Colorado River – but damconstruction has made it a little tricky to find your way to deep water. Here’s aquick guide to upstream access points:

Mittry Lake Wildlife Area lies between Laguna and Imperial dams northeastof Yuma. With 750 acres of water surrounded by 2,400 acres of marsh andupland, this is a birding and fishing hot spot with 10 piers, restrooms, two boatramps; no improved facilities, but camping is allowed (check with BLM). There’sa 1/2-mile nature trail at Betty's Kitchen Interpretive Area at south end of lake.

By land: Take Highway 95 east to Avenue 7E, follow Avenue 7E north pastLaguna Dam (about nine miles, pavement ends, 7E becomes Laguna Dam Road).Betty's Kitchen is to left just past dam, or continue north to boat launch. More info: Bureau of Land Management, 928.317.3200.

Imperial Dam area, California side:

Squaw Lake is a day-use and camping area with accessible restrooms, outdoorshowers, fire rings, drinking water and boat ramps; camping limited to 14 days ina 28-day period. Senator Wash Dam and Reservoir is an off-stream reservoirthat allows water skiing, sailing and fishing, with a boat ramp and campingfacilities (summer visits limited to 14 days in a 28-day period).

By land: Follow S24 north from Winterhaven and look for signs; at main fork,signs will point west to Imperial Dam, Senator Wash; go past Senator Wash toreach Squaw Lake. More info: Bureau of Land Management, 928.317.3200.

Imperial Dam area, Arizona side:

Fisher’s Landing (928.539.9495), is operated by a private company as a BLMconcession. There’s a bar and restaurant, bait shop, fuel dock, conveniencestore and RV camping. Fisher’s also is the launch site for trips operated by YumaRiver Tours (928.783.4400).

Martinez Lake Resort (928.783.9589) is one of the only areas of privateland along this part of the river, and offers lots for sale. The resort includes acantina, restaurant, lodging and camping. It also has a marina and boat launchwhere you can rent pontoon and fishing boats, canoes and kayaks.

Imperial National Wildlife Refuge is just upstream from Martinez Lake.
Water skiing is prohibited in wilderness areas, but there’s a public boat launchand day-use area at Meers Point, no camping allowed on refuge.

By land: Follow Highway 95 north (past “big guns”), left on Martinez Lake Roadthen west about 10 miles: Turn right on Red Cloud Mine Road for Refuge; aheadand left to Fisher’s Landing, ahead and right to Martinez Lake Resort.

Upstream areas with limited land access:

Above Martinez Lake, the river mostly runs through wildlife refuge lands andland access to the river is limited. Tent camping is allowed on the Californiaside of Ferguson Lake, outside refuge boundaries, but you have to get thereby boat. Above Ferguson Lake, the refuge encompasses both banks until youreach Picacho State Recreation Area (760.996.2963 or 760.393.3059), whichincludes eight miles of California shoreline.

Once a lively gold-mining town, this is now a popular park with full and car-topboat launches, 54 primitive campsites (campers and trailers permitted), a groupcampground, and two boat-in group sites, with picnic tables, fire rings, drinkingwater, chemical toilets, solar showers and RV dump station. No drinking waterat five smaller campgrounds upriver. Water skiing permitted on adjoining river.

By land: Take S24 north from Winterhaven, watch for signs - go straight whereS24 bends right. Only first six miles of 24-mile road paved; rest usually passablefor cars, trailers and motorhomes, but may wash out during storms.

North of Picacho, the river again runs through the Imperial National WildlifeRefuge and there is no public access by land. At river mile 86, you enter the Cibola National Wildlife Refuge, which surrounds Walters Camp (river mile88), a popular midway stop between Blythe to Martinez Lake.

By land: Take I-8 west 15 miles to Ogilby Road (S34, exit 134), north on Ogilby25 miles to Highway 78, then right 16.5 miles to Walters Camp Road.

Fishing

While the damming of the Colorado reduced the flow of water at Yuma’sdoorstop, it created a nearly limitless landscape of backwater channels andhidden lakes upstream. These cool waters are home to world-class fishingfor largemouth, smallmouth and striped bass, as well as flathead and channelcatfish, tilapia, crappie, mullet and bluegill.

Popular spots include the Imperial Dam area, with Senator Wash Reservoir andSquaw Lake; the Imperial National Wildlife Refuge with Martinez Lake, FergusonLake and the meandering channel of the Colorado River; the Picacho StateRecreation Area along the California side of the Colorado north of Yuma; andMittry Lake, just north of Laguna Dam.

For more info, call Bureau of Land Management at 928.317.3200 or ArizonaGame and Fish at 928.342.0091. There’s a weekly fishing report and blog onthe Game and Fish website (http://www.azgfd.gov/h_f/fishing.shtml). Fishinglicenses can be purchased at more than 300 dealer locations across the state.

Local fishing clubs conduct tournaments throughout the year. The best sourcefor current fishing news is Jean Wilson’s outdoors column in The Yuma Sun, http://www.yumasun.com/sections/sports/outdoors.

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