Rez lakes lure anglers

Ethan Begay, 3, fishes with a makeshift fishing pole as his dad, Terrance, and his brother, Dwight, cast at Wheatfield Lake on Monday. While the month of May is the busiest for fishing on the lake, officials say there already has been a lot of activity on the lake and are predicting a good fishing year. [Photo by Brian Leddy/Independent]

By Natasha Kaye Johnson
Diné Bureau

WHEATFIELD — Fishing season is here and is ready to get into full swing.

As May is the most popular month for fishing, the Navajo Nation Fish and Wildlife has already sold close to 500 year-round fishing permits.

Of the 19 lakes spread across the Navajo Nation, department staff said the most popular lakes include Wheatfield, Tsaile, Morgan, Ganado, Chuska, and Asaayi.

Staff acknowledged that Whiskey Lake is another popular destination, but because of muddy and treacherous roads, it will not be open until May 31.

The major lakes, depending on their size, were stocked with between 1,000 and 8,000 rainbow trout, channel catfish, or blue gills within the past year. This past October was the department's most recent placement of fish with a total of 12,000 fish at Wheatfield Lake, 12,000 at Tsaile Lake, 5,000 in Chuska Lake, and 2,000 in Cutter Lake.

The fish are produced by the tribe's year-round fish hatchery in Toadlena.

The department plans to restock all lakes at the end of April, except for Trout Lake and Sawmill Pond, which are dried out.

"The lakes are 24 hours, so you can fish at midnight if you want," said Marna Begay, office specialist for Navajo Fish and Wildlife. A one-day fishing permit is $7 and a three-day permit is $15. For a season permit, the cost is $18 for Navajo tribal members and $35 for non-Navajos. The department is also encouraging fishers to purchase water craft permits, which are $18.

"The bigger fish hang out in the middle of the lake," said Begay. "There's good fishing out there."

Because of the high-volume of fishers this season, the department will also be keeping an eye out for people fishing without permits.

"There are game wardens out there and we're always out there looking for violators," said Begay.

People caught fishing without a license will have their fishing supplies confiscated and will be issued a ticket. The fine amount will be determined by the court.

To report someone fishing without a license, call 928-871-7062. For more information, visit www.navajofishandwildlife.org.