When we lit out of Lake Skinner in Riverside County, the weather was a cloudy and off and on rain.
It was about 3:10 when we arrived in the city limits of Yuma. Really.
This was going to be a boondocking adventure and I had the 2 Honda EU2000i generators gassed up and extra fuel ready for TV time when Jesse was going to want it and we wanted to charge up our gadgets.
Our first night we pulled in to Quail Hill BLM Imperial Dam (LTVA) and I was not impressed. Seemed to be a lot of long term campers there. I guess that stands to reason as it is not far to Winterhaven.
Come the next day we set out to Mittry Lake Wildlife Area
Now getting here is a bit of a rough time as the dirt roads are VERY washboarded
But it is WORTH IT in my humble opinion.
We drove until we found and empty site as close to the water as possible so I could launch the kayak without moving and keep it near the water for maximum fishing time.
We found a GREAT site but getting the trailer level was a bit challenging as the ground was full of rip-rap type rocks.
We stayed here 5 days and I had a great time on the water. It was so peaceful, no boats and a few other kayakers came by. We were set up near a channel lock and there was a constant flow of water that made you think you were near a waterfall.
Here is a video of our little camp:
| The Mittry Lake Wildlife Area offers a wide variety of habitats, from open lakes to cattail marshes and streamside woodlands, providing an equally wide opportunity for wildlife-based recreation. This combination of habitats provides abundant opportunities for fishing, wildlife watching, hiking, boating, and hunting. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Recreational Opportunities | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Mittry Lake has recently undergone rehabilitation work, including marsh dredging, revegetation and fish habitat improvement, making it an ideal location for small game hunting and sportfishing. Major species for small game hunting include waterfowl, dove, quail, and rabbit. The area is also very popular for nature study and bird-watching.Camping: There are no facilities or designated areas for camping, but camping is allowed. Please call the Bureau of Land Management Yuma Field Office at (928) 317-3200 for more information.Boating: There is a three-lane boat launch ramp for motorized boating on the lake. Numerous waterways connect to the main lake body and make exploring by boat a pleasant experience. Recent improvements to the main boat launch area include handicap parking, paving of the upper parking area and the installation of a new ADA approved restroom.Fishing: The most common species encountered in Mittry Lake are largemouth bass, flathead and channel catfish, bluegill, tilapia, crappie and carp.Hunting: The Mittry Lake Wildlife Area is located within Game Management Unit 43B.CAUTION: Temperatures vary from 30°F in December and January to 120°F in June and July. Rainfall averages about three inches per year, with most occurring during the winter months. Restrictions:
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| Location | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mittry Lake is located in Yuma County, about 18 miles northeast of Yuma, Arizona, on the east side of the Colorado River between Laguna and Imperial Dams.Directions: From Yuma, take Highway 95 north to East Imperial Dam Road, then turn left (west) toward the lake, following wildlife area signs.– View a map of this location | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wildlife | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Mittry Lake Wildlife Area provides riparian, wetland, and aquatic habitat for many wildlife species.Birds: Desert-scrub and riparian woodland habitats are home to diverse desert wildlife. Neotropical birds find the area attractive. Riparian birds like the yellow-billed cuckoo, summer tanager, and the federally endangered southwestern willow flycatcher may use the area.Yuma clapper rails nest on site. Surveys have also revealed California black rails, and Virginia rails nesting along the shore. The marsh also supports American coot, common moorhen, western least bittern, and pied-billed grebe.Winter users include duck species, sora, American white pelican, double-crested cormorant and northern harrier. Year-round users include black-crowned night-heron, great blue heron, snowy egret, osprey, and many others.Mammals: Mammals that frequent the area include mule deer, javelina, bobcats, desert bighorn sheep and even wild burros.
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| Area Description | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Most of Mittry Lake Wildlife Area is within the floodplain of the Colorado River. Habitat types consist of wetlands, marsh, open waters, and desert upland. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Management History, Objectives and Goals | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In 1951, the Arizona Game and Fish Commission and the Secretary of the Interior (acting through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation) entered into a lease and cooperative agreement to develop and manage a portion of the Mittry Lake area. In 1971, the U. S. Department of Interior gave the Arizona Game and Fish Department administrative authority over 3,575 acres of land and water at the lake for the management of fish and wildlife, including migratory birds.Management emphasis on e is to optimize the wildlife habitat potential for present and future generations for public hunting and other wildlife-oriented recreation. The management emphasis is based on the 1951 lease and cooperative agreement, which allows for the establishment of a public shooting area, waterfowl resting ground and provisions to improve conditions for the propagation of fish. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||