Bass pro Debbie Blanchard casts to smallmouth bass in a Havasu canyon. Because they spawn before the largemouths do, smallmouths are common in February. Photo courtesy of Debbie Blanchard.

One of the perks of living in the desert is year-round bass fishing. When others are still drilling holes to reach their smallmouths and largemouths, Arizona's desert rats are gearing up for the spawn and boating giant bass.

In February, things begin to heat up on desert waters. Big bass move toward shore in search of food and places to nest. Two lakes known for their trophy bass -- both largemouths and smallmouths -- are Lake Havasu and Roosevelt Lake.

LAKE HAVASU
Lake Havasu was created in the 1930s with the construction of Parker Dam. During World War II, an R-and-R camp for the armed forces was built on the peninsula. That peninsula is now "the Island."

In 1963, Robert McCulloch bought 26 square miles of desert, the current site of Lake Havasu City. In 1968, he became the proud owner of the authentic, original London Bridge.

McCulloch had the bridge dismantled, the pieces numbered and shipped to the desert. By 1971, the bridge had been re-built at Lake Havasu. The land beneath it was dredged out to form a channel, turning the peninsula into an island connected to the mainland by the London Bridge.

Today, you can drive your boat under the London Bridge. The shores of the channel are a popular place for boats to beach while their owners sunbathe and visit with each other.

You won't find many sunbathers in February, however. Early mornings can be very chilly. But if there's no wind, you'll be shedding your jacket by afternoon. By the end of January, the water temperatures rise into the 50s. And from there, things get nothing but better.

Havasu lies on the Colorado River, so there is always current on the main lake, even if you don't notice it.

Structure ranges from steep cliffs to rocky banks to sandy beaches, and there are miles of reeds and tules all year long.

"Early in February, it can seem like the fish are on strike," said local resident and tournament angler Debbie Blanchard. "But before long, the big smallmouths start to move in, and you can catch a lot of really big fish."

The smallies start to spawn when the water reaches about 58 degrees, and they spawn deeper than largemouths do. Debbie looks for beds in at least 10 feet of water.

They're easy to spot because smallmouth nests are as much as three times as big as largemouth beds. The smallmouths also excavate clear down to the rock, making the big pale beds very easy to spot in the clear water of Havasu's main lake.

This time of year, Blanchard begins in the main lake. Her first stop will be the Pilot Rock or Steamboat area, and then she'll fish south toward the Bill Williams River.

"The river area actually warms up first, because the water there isn't as clear," said Blanchard.

She fishes the primary points with a Carolina rig or a split-shot rig.

Fish will stage on these points in 15 to 25 feet of water until they decide to spawn.

Bait, Tackle
To be successful at Havasu, a Carolina rig needs to be more like a slightly beefy split-shot rig. On her Carolina rigs, Blanchard uses 6- to 8-pound-test fluorocarbon line and a 1/4-ounce weight.

The fish at Havasu are very line-sensitive, and the water is extremely clear, so if you try braid or even heavy mono, you may end up skunked. Best baits for Carolina and split-shot rigs include Senkos in green and white laminate, purple with blue flake, and root beer with red and gold flakes.