Lazy Trout Store & Motel Greer, AZ

During Fall Break from school this year, I was able to spend 3 days at the Lazy Trout Store & Motel in beautiful Greer, AZ.  I normally stay somewhere else but as it was only me with no family, I tried new lodgings.

Understand that my goal of driving 6 hours from Phoenix is to catch fish, not sight seeing but catching big beautiful trout.  No other reason.  Having said that, here's how my trip went.

Upon arriving at the Lazy Trout Store, I was greeted warmly by the owners, Ted and Nancy.  Having been setting the trip up via emails with Ted for months, it was like seeing family.









Nancy gave me my key to room #1, newly renovated with knotty pine, and my all important fishing pass.  My room was only about 20 paces from the store which was very convenient.

The store is stocked with everything you could possible need from food, liquor, fishing gear and clothes.



 

The room was very comfortable and the sweet smell of knotty pine was terrific.  Two beds, queen and twin, so I had plenty of room to spread out my gear.

Now for the serious fishing information.  I selected the Lazy Trout because they offer 3 small private fishing lakes stocked with trophy sized rainbow trout.  You might think catching stocked trout in a small lake would be a cinch.  Trust me when you have to do it with a single barbless fishing fly on either a fly rod or spincast rod, it is not a piece of cake.  It takes skill and most of all patience.  These fish are feed daily so they are not hungry.  The water is carefully monitored for adequate oxygen which is supplied with wind turbine to keep the fish healthly and strong.

During my stay I caught many fish with the smallest being around 16" and the biggest around 18".  Larger fish were caught but not by me.  Ted has the home advantage and he demonstrated his understated skill by catching something around 22" while giving lessons to some visitors.

Very nice.

Biggest of time there.











The Lazy Trout is a much more economical place to stay in Greer than most of the other accommodations available.  You do have to pay a fee to fish while you are there but overall the price per night is lower than most others.  The motel rooms are compact but well appointed with a very comfortable feel.  With only 8 rooms, this location is neither crowed or noisy at anytime.

If you want to get away from the big city where you can hear elk bugling in the evening and early morning,  see a family of deer walking around the lake while you are fishing or to be greeted by a family of rabbits outside your room at first light, then the Lazy Trout would be a great place to stay.

I had a very relaxing 3 days and can't wait to go back!

My Visit to the New Phoenix Agave Library

I took the opportunity to visit the new Agave library on the day of its grand opening and here are my first impressions. Let’s start with the pros and then the cons.

This new creation of Will Bruder & Partners, LTD offers large Children’s and Teen areas including a very nice Storytime room separated from the rest of the Children’s area. Also included is a very large Public Meeting room. The location is easy to get to right off of Pinnacle Peak Road and 36th avenue with plenty of parking with access at both ends. At this point I am out of pros.

On the con side, I will try to keep it short. Will Bruder & Partners, may be great architects for some buildings but they have once again demonstrated their total lack of knowledge of what goes on in a library. The interior of the building has concrete floors, concrete block walls and a completely unfinished ceiling. Looking upwards you can see the unpainted wooden trusses, air ducts and electrical wiring. The interior is totally devoid of any sound absorbing materials; on the contrary noise is reflected in every direction. Beyond the building the furniture leaves much to be desired. Anyone with a laptop needing power will not be able to use a table. The only electrical outlets, few as they are, are near reclining chairs making an effort to study impossible. The only place to really use a laptop effectively is in one of the three study rooms. Two of the rooms are about the size of large closets while the third will seat 6 to 8 people comfortably. Part of the floor is filled with public Internet computers, which is great for those using them. There is also a training area equipped with 24 computers but the area is separated off from the main floor by ceiling to floor yellow plastic strips. Not very attractive visually and most certainly not noise reducing.

Overall this building would make a terrific airplane hanger or garage but not a very good library. Another colossal waste of our tax dollars.