The resurrection of Lake Havasu

Take an in-depth look at Lake Havasu, the site of the fourth Bassmaster Elite event of the 2015 season.

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The Bassmaster Elite Series will visit Lake Havasu May 7-10. The 19,300-acre reservoir of the Colorado River serves as the California-Arizona border. (Photo courtesy of lakehavasu.org)
The Bassmaster Elite Series will visit Lake Havasu May 7-10. The 19,300-acre reservoir of the Colorado River serves as the California-Arizona border. (Photo courtesy of lakehavasu.org)
Lake Havasu City is famous for the London Bridge, which was bought by city founder Robert McCullough in the 1960's for $2.4 million. (Photo courtesy of buyhavasuproperty.com)
Lake Havasu City is famous for the London Bridge, which was bought by city founder Robert McCullough in the 1960’s for $2.4 million. (Photo courtesy of buyhavasuproperty.com)
The bridge was assembled on dry land and a channel was cut beneath it, forming Lake Havasu City’s famous “Island.” This aerial shot was taken in 1972, less than a year after the bridge was rededicated. (Wikipedia/Charles O’Rear)
The bridge was assembled on dry land and a channel was cut beneath it, forming Lake Havasu City’s famous “Island.” This aerial shot was taken in 1972, less than a year after the bridge was rededicated. (Wikipedia/Charles O’Rear)
London Bridge is second most popular attraction in Arizona after the Grand Canyon. Visitors can take a walking tour and see World War II strafing scars in the bridge’s granite. The area is also popular with boaters, but with heavy traffic, not so much with anglers. (Wikipedia/Jon Sullivan)
London Bridge is second most popular attraction in Arizona after the Grand Canyon. Visitors can take a walking tour and see World War II strafing scars in the bridge’s granite. The area is also popular with boaters, but with heavy traffic, not so much with anglers. (Wikipedia/Jon Sullivan)
The north section of the lake is made up of the rugged terrain of the Lake Havasu Wildlife Refuge. (Photo courtesy of fws.gov)
The north section of the lake is made up of the rugged terrain of the Lake Havasu Wildlife Refuge. (Photo courtesy of fws.gov)
Topock Gorge is also on the northern end of the 25-mile long lake. (Photo courtesy lakehavasucity.org)
Topock Gorge is also on the northern end of the 25-mile long lake. (Photo courtesy lakehavasucity.org)
Bassmaster Elite Series pro Dean Rojas lives in Lake Havasu City and says he has seen fishing in the lake improve in his 17 years there. (Photo courtesy of lakehavasucity.org)
Bassmaster Elite Series pro Dean Rojas lives in Lake Havasu City and says he has seen fishing in the lake improve in his 17 years there. (Photo courtesy of lakehavasucity.org)
After Parker Dam was built in 1938, two species of fish living in the Colorado River watershed became endangered. The bonytail chub was listed in 1980. (Wikipedia)
After Parker Dam was built in 1938, two species of fish living in the Colorado River watershed became endangered. The bonytail chub was listed in 1980. (Wikipedia)
The razorback sucker, which can grow to three feet, was designated as endangered by California in 1974. Both fish saw major declines due to loss of habitat, but a project helped recover populations. (Wikipedia)
The razorback sucker, which can grow to three feet, was designated as endangered by California in 1974. Both fish saw major declines due to loss of habitat, but a project helped recover populations. (Wikipedia)
The Lake Havasu Fisheries Improvement Program began in 1993. Seven federal and state agencies participated in the largest fish habitat restoration project in the United States. (Photo courtesy of fws.gov)
The Lake Havasu Fisheries Improvement Program began in 1993. Seven federal and state agencies participated in the largest fish habitat restoration project in the United States. (Photo courtesy of fws.gov)
Shimano America donated a specially designed pontoon boat to aid in the sinking of thousands of structures, which covered 875 acres in 42 separate coves. (Photo courtesy of fws.gov)
Shimano America donated a specially designed pontoon boat to aid in the sinking of thousands of structures, which covered 875 acres in 42 separate coves. (Photo courtesy of fws.gov)
Structures like these ‘crappie condos,’ built from cinderblocks and construction fencing, were first used in Saguaro Lake. They were strategically placed in Lake Havasu. (Photo courtesy of fws.gov)
Structures like these ‘crappie condos,’ built from cinderblocks and construction fencing, were first used in Saguaro Lake. They were strategically placed in Lake Havasu. (Photo courtesy of fws.gov)
Gene Gilliland, B.A.S.S. conservation director, said the Lake Havasu project was innovative and so successful because it was conducted on such a grand scale. (Photo courtesy of fws.gov)
Gene Gilliland, B.A.S.S. conservation director, said the Lake Havasu project was innovative and so successful because it was conducted on such a grand scale. (Photo courtesy of fws.gov)
Besides the condos, trees reaching as high as 20 feet off the lake bottom, catfish houses like these gave fish cover. (Photo courtesy of fws.gov)
Besides the condos, trees reaching as high as 20 feet off the lake bottom, catfish houses like these gave fish cover. (Photo courtesy of fws.gov)
Gilliland visited Lake Havasu several years ago and imaged he’d find a barren, desert bowl. (Wikipedia)
Gilliland visited Lake Havasu several years ago and imaged he’d find a barren, desert bowl. (Wikipedia)
Gilliland was surprised to learn that vegetation was growing in about 20 percent of the lake. He said weeds were everywhere in water 10 feet deep, which surely aided in the fishery’s recovery. (Photo courtesy of lakehavasucity.org)
Gilliland was surprised to learn that vegetation was growing in about 20 percent of the lake. He said weeds were everywhere in water 10 feet deep, which surely aided in the fishery’s recovery. (Photo courtesy of lakehavasucity.org)
Rojas said he’s seen bags increase in the past decade. He and son Austin took second in a 2013 event, catching 18.45 pounds of smallmouth. (Photo courtesy of Dean Rojas)
Rojas said he’s seen bags increase in the past decade. He and son Austin took second in a 2013 event, catching 18.45 pounds of smallmouth. (Photo courtesy of Dean Rojas)
Rojas said grass thrives in the summertime on Lake Havasu, especially in a second tributary. The Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge has miles of cottonwood and willow trees along its shores. (Wikipedia)
Rojas said grass thrives in the summertime on Lake Havasu, especially in a second tributary. The Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge has miles of cottonwood and willow trees along its shores. (Wikipedia)
The Lake Havasu project also included the construction of six fishing piers with facilities and parking. (Photo courtesy of fws.gov)
The Lake Havasu project also included the construction of six fishing piers with facilities and parking. (Photo courtesy of fws.gov)
Parker Dam, built in 1938 to generate hydroelectric power, is 320 feet high, of which 235 are below the riverbed, making it the ‘deepest dam in the world.’ (Wikipedia)
Parker Dam, built in 1938 to generate hydroelectric power, is 320 feet high, of which 235 are below the riverbed, making it the ‘deepest dam in the world.’ (Wikipedia)
The Elite anglers should be able to spread out in the lake’s 19,300 acres, but traffic jams can occur there. The lake hosts 750,000 visitors a year and is known for ‘party coves’ during spring break and holidays. (Photo courtesy of Ariz. Game and Fish)
The Elite anglers should be able to spread out in the lake’s 19,300 acres, but traffic jams can occur there. The lake hosts 750,000 visitors a year and is known for ‘party coves’ during spring break and holidays. (Photo courtesy of Ariz. Game and Fish)
With the lake ranking in the Top 20 of Bassmaster’s Top 100 Bass Lakes, the Elites should still be able to show off the great fishery, with one-day bags expected to rival the three-day winning weight of 22-10 in the last B.A.S.S. event there in 2003. (Wikipedia)
With the lake ranking in the Top 20 of Bassmaster’s Top 100 Bass Lakes, the Elites should still be able to show off the great fishery, with one-day bags expected to rival the three-day winning weight of 22-10 in the last B.A.S.S. event there in 2003. (Wikipedia)