10/06/2026
50 Years of Catches 🎣 | 1988
Sara Welchert showing off a 10.5 lb. catch — and according to the archives, waterdogs were the bait of choice that day!
A little fishing trivia: Despite the name, a “waterdog” isn’t a fish (or a tiny aquatic dog 😂) — it’s the larval stage of a salamander, and waterdogs have a long history of being used as live fishing bait in Arizona. They’re actually regulated separately from live baitfish in the state.
We’re digging through 50 years of catches and memories, one photo at a time.
We may be closed for the season, but adventure isn’t. Get outside, enjoy our lakes & woods, and send us your catches! 🎣