There are several canals running under Chandler Blvd. Their source is the Granite Reef dam, so the water flowing through them is from the Salt River, the Verde River, and the Colorado River.
We fish the Consolidated Canal, the main source of drinking water for the City of Chandler, and NOTHING like the L.A. River. I can cast out, and within ten minutes hook into a huge carp, catfish, or even a yellow bass.
Although the water is clean and the fish are fine to eat, we catch and release.
Yeah well I think we’re talking about 2 different Chandler’s. I guess you’re speaking of Arizona. I’m speaking of Los Angeles, San Fernando Valley. I think the water under LA’s Chandler canals come from the Hansen Dam. Which isn’t much of a dam as a far as water volume goes. More of a floodgate than a dam but they built a decent park around it.
Don’t fish much anymore. When I did as an adult it was almost always fresh water and almost always catch and release unless we were going to eat it that day, e.g. when camping. As a kid my uncle would take us out on those one day excursions leaving from Malibu or Santa Monica piers and it was very unpredictable. Lot of rock fish. Once a kid with a plastic kiddie rod hooked a 50 lb halibut. The toy rod he had could never pull it in, but a bunch of old hands (with gloves) pulled it in by hand. No reel. Was comical in a way looking back, and amazing to see these guys fighting the fish with just some elbow grease. Literally pulling in 2 feet at a time, wrapping it around their elbows, then pulling some more like wrapping an extension cord.