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Pena Blanca Lake Details
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Rated: 0.57 / 10
21 votes
8047 visits
|
Pena Blanca Lake
Location
Description: |
Pena Blanca means “white rock” in Spanish. Named for the light-colored bluffs overlooking the water. It is surrounded by Pena Blanca Canyon in the Pajarito Mountain foothills. The lake is a beautiful 49 acre lake and is at an elevation of 3,800 feet. Pena Blanca Lake was built in 1957, by the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
Fishing is great at Pena Blanca lake. Bass, catfish, rainbow trout, bluegill and crappie. Bird watching, photography and hiking are other ways to enjoy the lake. The Pena Blanca Trail is a fairly level path that follows the shoreline most of the two mile route around the lake
Be prepared for cool weather in the winter months. High elevation can be quite cool. In the summer months the lake can become extremely crowded
Heavy silting from major storm runoff in the last three decades has shrunk the usable lake size and, because the waters are so eutrophic (well-nourished), shoreline vegetation proliferates. Habitat improvements began in 1985 with the sinking of tree limbs from a nearby pecan grove and weighted Christmas trees from seasons past—both actions designed to maintain a variety of structures and to allay the silting and sterility that aging desert lakes all ultimately face |
Records
/ History: |
Name: Rey E
Pena Blanca Lake
9 P.M August 2001
"Using a small (yello belly / green top) crank bait
on the second cast I caught a 3.1 lb crappi.
It was a great fight
Hope to have it mounted soon."
|
 Climate: Be prepared for cool weather in the winter months. High elevation can be quite cool. In the summer months the lake can become extremely crowded.
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| Licence: |
AZ State Fishing Licence W/ trout stamp |
| Cost
/ Fee : |
n / a |
| Hours
/ Season: |
n / a |
| Best
Time to Visit: |
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| Times
to Avoid: |
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Accessibility
|
 |
Accessibility
Information |
Picnic Areas: Upper Thumb Rock Picnic Area has paved, designated parking with an accessible restroom. One ramada with standard picnic tables is accessed by a paved route with slopes of less than 8%. Lower Thumb Rock Picnic Area has paved parking and |
|
Area
Size /
Lake Depth: |
65 feet |
Altitude
/
Elevation: |
3,800 feet |
Lake
Size /
Trail Length: |
45 - 49 acers |
Hike
Time /
Drive Time: |
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| Latitude: |
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| Longitude: |
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| Difficulty: |
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Pena Blanca Lake
General
Rules: |
Pena
Blanca Lake Experiences Fish Kill </font><br>
<b>10-2003 </b><br>
<font size="2"> Pena Blanca
Lake in southern Arizona experienced a fish
kill recently because low oxygen in the water
caused by natural events.</font></p>
<p align="justify"><font size="2">
Arizona Game and Fish Department biologists
attribute the loss of oxygen to a combination
of events during the past several months.
“The large influx of floodwaters in
late August stirred up the anoxic sediment
layers on the bottom of the lake, which resulted
in the initial loss of oxygen,” says
biologist Don Mitchell.</font></p>
<p align="justify"><font size="2">
Water quality surveys by Game and Fish Department
biologists showed that oxygen levels were
extremely low last week. The water quality
conditions diminished even more during recent
cloudy weather. </font></p>
<p align="justify"><font size="2">
“Typically, the aquatic vegetation in
the lake creates oxygen on sunny days through
photosynthesis and then consumes oxygen at
night when photosynthesis is not active. Cloudy
days will shut down photosynthesis, causing
oxygen levels to continue to decrease,”
Mitchell says.</font></p>
<p align="justify"><font size="2">
The extent of the fish kill is unknown. Department
biologists will continue monitoring water
quality the next several weeks. It is not
known when conditions will improve: it could
take months. Biologists plan to restore the
fish population once water conditions improve.</font></p>
<p align="justify"><font size="2">
Trout stockings are scheduled to begin in
early November but could be delayed if water
conditions do not improve. |
|
Boat
/ Auto Rules: |
Single electric motors only, concrete boat ramp, fishing dock, and lakeshore trail |
Camping: |
15 unit campground, group use area, picnic areas |
Restrooms: |
restrooms, drinking water |
Dogs: |
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Horses: |
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Bikes: |
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Pena Blanca Lake |
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Access
Road Description: |
Paved roads to the lake |
Distance
from Tucson |
63 miles from Tucson |
Distance
from Phoenix |
4 hours |
Distance
from Flagstaff |
|
|
Directions: From Nogalas, you can get to Pena Blanca Lake by taking Interstate 19 north for 8 miles up to the Ruby Road exit. Then take the Pena Blanca/Ruby Road exit12 left and head west to the lake. The drive over to the lake is approximately 10 miles on a paved road.
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 |
|
Type
of Wildlife /
Type of Hunting: |
Bass, catfish, rainbow trout, bluegill and crappie |
Bag
Limits /
Harvest Laws: |
State limits apply |
Stocking
Schedule: |
|
| Posted
By : |
Bubba
|
| Created
on : |
Fri. Apr 14, 2006 |
| Last
Updated: |
Wed Aug 9 2006 |
|
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Area List
 Visitor
Comments on Pena Blanca Lake
Pena Blanca Lake Sat. Mar 20, 2010
Rating: 5 out
of 10 |
Sat. Mar 20, 2010 |
|
| nice alot of fish but lots of weeds
From: joshua |
Pena Blanca Lake Sun. Nov 29, 2009
Rating: 5 out
of 10 |
Sun. Nov 29, 2009 |
|
| Walked the entire lake today and was encourged to see it actually has a few acres of water at the dam end. Many of the fish habitat structures have been turned over, apparently due to winds, but will still work as desired. No boat ramp at all now and don't know if one will be built as the lake fills. I believe it will take at least four years of adequate rain to approach being full.
From: David |
Pena Blanca Lake Thu. Nov 26, 2009
Rating: 5 out
of 10 |
Thu. Nov 26, 2009 |
|
| We drove by today, no water in site. But it made a nice walk for the dogs. They loved it!
From: Stephen |
Pena Blanca Lake Thu. Nov 19, 2009
Rating: 5 out
of 10 |
Thu. Nov 19, 2009 |
|
| hi deep is the lake now?
From: danny kirkendall |
Pena Blanca Lake Sun. Sep 6, 2009
Rating: 5 out
of 10 |
Sun. Sep 6, 2009 |
|
| The renovation process is complete, but the lake is still nearly empty. There is only about 200 yards of water at the deepest end near the dam. The natural inflow is raising the level little by little. I don't know how long it's going to take for the lake to be refilled, but with heavy monsoon runoff the lake could accumulate water quickly.
From: juandelnorte |
Pena Blanca Lake Sun. May 3, 2009
Rating: 5 out
of 10 |
Sun. May 3, 2009 |
|
| Back in the day 1970 (ya i'm old) this lake was great!Limits of bluegill,crappie,cats,and some nice bass.They used to trim the underwater weeds back during the spring for better access.Soon after the silt and weeds began taking over the south end of the lake. Too bad about the mercury pollution I heard it was from the runoff from the silver and gold mines located around the lake.The Ruby mine/ghost town is just a few miles down the dirt road south of the lake. Makes a nice side trip if the fishin is slow.
From: Chris Leisure |
Pena Blanca Lake Thu. Jul 24, 2008
Rating: 5 out
of 10 |
Thu. Jul 24, 2008 |
|
| How is the lake doing, it has been a few years ago that i was fishing there, are they going to drain the lake,, I have had so much fun there and love the fishing, pleas let me know,, Okie from muskogee,, danny,
From: danny Kirkendall |
Pena Blanca Lake Fri. Oct 26, 2007
Rating: 5 out
of 10 |
Fri. Oct 26, 2007 |
|
| Caught a 9lb and 15lb channel cat within 15 minutes of each other
From: Aaron Burkham |
Pena Blanca Lake Mon Jun 5 2006
Rating: 5 out
of 10 |
Mon Jun 5 2006 |
|
| Something needs to be done about the weeds in the lake, they have made the lake almost unfishable in most spots. Surveys about the aquatic vegitation are by the boat dock.
From: Mike |
Pena Blanca Lake Tue Apr 18 2006
Rating: 5 out
of 10 |
Tue Apr 18 2006 |
|
| We went there on Saturday. Very few people. Tough fishing but the lake looks good. We only caught a couple but we did see alot of big bass. Water is very clear and no problem getting boat in.
From: Andy |
Pena Blanca Lake Easter Weekend 2005
Rating: 5 out
of 10 |
Easter Weekend 2005 |
|
Had a great time! Went fish'n for bass but not quite warm enough yet I guess. Crappie and sunfish really active. Trout still very active also. Most of them caught were trout.
Wonderful place!
From: Tom and Honeys |
Pena Blanca Lake 3/11/2005
Rating: 5 out
of 10 |
3/11/2005 |
|
| Has been stocked with trout, and the trout fishing is good. Use any traditional trout bait: Power Bait, corn, or salmon eggs. The key is to find the depth the trout are at. Whether you are fishing off of the bottom using a sliding egg sinker, or off of the top using a bobber, adjust the length of your leader until you start getting into the fish. Fly-fishing from a boat or float tube is excellent. Bring a variety of flies, as these fish can be finicky. Water levels are somewhat down, but you should still be able to launch a boat. The mercury advisory for all warm water fish is in effect. Bass less than 13 inches long must be released
From: AZGF Fishing Report March 11, 2005 |
Pena Blanca Lake FEB. 28 2005
Rating: 5 out
of 10 |
FEB. 28 2005 |
|
| At around 9:00 or 10:00 in the evening walk on back to the second to last cove and throw out a couple of poles. Rig them up for bottom fishing with a nice size of hotdog on your trebel hook. Sounds kind of fishy but never has let me down when it comes to catching some cats.
From: DuTcH |
Pena Blanca Lake Sept. 17, 2004
Rating: 5 out
of 10 |
Sept. 17, 2004 |
|
Sunfish, crappie and bass fishing is fair. Try mealworms for the bluegill. The mercury advisory for all warmwater fish is in effect. Bass less than 13 inches long must be released.
From: Arizona Game and Fish Department |
Pena Blanca Lake 7/27/2004
Rating: 5 out
of 10 |
7/27/2004 |
|
One angler caught bluegills and crappies by from his Kayak on July 19 while fly-fishing with dry flies imitating damsel fly nymphs. Very few trout left in the lake. With warming temperatures, the trout are in deep water. Sunfish, crappie and bass fishing is good. Try mealworms for the bluegill. A mercury advisory for all warm water fish is in effect. Trout are okay to eat. Bass less than 13 inches long must be released.
From: Arizona Game and Fish Department |
Pena Blanca Lake 6/17/2004
Rating: 5 out
of 10 |
6/17/2004 |
|
| Very few trout left in the lake. With warming temperatures, the trout are in deep water. Sunfish, crappie and bass fishing are good. Try mealworms for the bluegills.
From: Arizona Game and Fish Department |
Pena Blanca Lake 6/5/2004
Rating: 5 out
of 10 |
6/5/2004 |
|
| Caught the Trout before 10am.Sunfish hitting all day. Used Powerbait and night crawlers. Get to the lake very early for Trout. Bass starting on top water baits. Big bass in the dam area. Probably last time for Trout. Fire restrictions in place for campfires and smoking. Good luck.
From: Frank and Dianne |
Pena Blanca Lake 5-29 & 31-04
Rating: 5 out
of 10 |
5-29 & 31-04 |
|
| Rainbow trout still hitting on Power bait any color. # 12 treble hook trolling slowly. Near plaque rock and dam area. Parked boat near rocks by dam and observed two 5 lb (+) bass swimming 5 feet below surface in clear water. Wouldn't hit anything. Going back this weekend for another meal!
From: Frank and Dianne |
Pena Blanca Lake 5/18/2004
Rating: 51 out
of 10 |
5/18/2004 |
|
| The reservoir is full. With warming weather, fishing should pickup for warm water species. Mercury advisory for all warm water fish is in effect. Trout are okay to eat. Bass less than 13 inches long must be released
From: Arizona Game and Fish Department |
Pena Blanca Lake 5/12/2004
Rating: 5 out
of 10 |
5/12/2004 |
|
| The reservoir is full. With warming weather, fishing should pickup for warm water species. Mercury advisory for all warm water fish is in effect. Trout are okay to eat. Bass less than 13 inches long must be released
From: Arizona Game and Fish Department |
|
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