Arizona Lake Fishing

Is it winter yet? Whether it is or not the mild weather is always great fishing for largemouth bass and catfish. Alamo Lake is a great bass, crappie and catfish lake.

AZ game and fish did their fall fish survey and have found near record populations of largemouth bass in Alamo Lake. The majority of the bass are slot size or larger.

There is a new species in Alamo Lake that is becoming more popular to fish, redear sunfish. These fish can get up to 2 pounds and 1 pounders are in Alamo Lake now.

Another species anglers are eager to learn about are the channel catfish that inhabit Alamo Lake. if you’re interested in catching a channel cat try the upper end of the lake where some of them are hitting the 7-8 pound weight.

Catfish are a great way to introduce young anglers to the sport as the cats in Alamo Lake are ready biters. Try hot dogs and stink baits for these fish.

Bartlett Lake is just shy of 100% full and the average water temp is around 85 degrees. Making it a good time to get out to Bartlett Lake for some largemouth bass.

It’s the time of year where the largemouth bass is feeding more aggressively and will fee multiple times throughout the day. The bite pattern can change from day-to-day but the anglers who have been timing it right are cleaning up.

For best results: For bass, use a Panther Martin rubber minnow out at Rattle Snake Cove in the morning.

Bartlett Lake is also a great catfish lake. Try worms, chicken liver, stink baits, and hot dogs. Most anglers are doing well whether on shore or in a boat.

Canyon Lake is looking good right now at 89% capacity.

For the best fishing at Canyon Lake go out to the Boulder Recreation area and fish off the pier. Here you will find a fishing pond within the lake where boats are not allowed. You an catch bluegill, largemouth bass, walleye and channel catfish.

The bass are hitting on plastic worms like Robo Worms on a drop shot. Look for overhanging vegetation.

The walleye prefer a chunk of night crawler on a jig. They also hang out near the steep, shaded submerged rocks.

The bluegills are in the back coves and are biting on worms.

The catfish are hitting the plastic worms as well but also try their favorites like hot dogs and chicken liver.

Roosevelt Lake is just over 2000 feet, about 90% full.

Where there’s shad, there’s bass and there are a lot of shad out at Roosevelt Lake. Get out to the southern coves for the largemouth bass. Rig a drop shot with plastics.

In open water look for the boils. Use shad and/or anchovies.

Also, try fishing along the Salt end along the brush line with a crank bait.

Flathead catfish are also biting. Expect them to keep biting until the lake turns.

The fall stocking season has begun and catfishing is really good.

Reports from anglers are saying that 2 pound cats are being caught with a few 3-4 pounders. The early morning and evening are best but the bite is also becoming more active during the day. Shrimp, stink baits, and chicken liver are working but hot dogs are working the best.

The catfish are fat, healthy and feisty.

For the next 10 months all urban lake anglers can look forward regular fish stocking. The stocking season began last month with catfish but once the catfish cycle ends after 4 deliveries through the fall, there will be 9 stockings of rainbow trout and back to catfish when the water temp warms back up through the summer.

Catfish will be stocked mid-September through mid-November, stop for the winter and begin again in mid-March through June.

Trout will be stocked beginning mid-November through mid-March.

Sunfish will be stocked mid-October through to the end of November and again at mid-March through the end of April.

Scotts Reservoir is nearly full and the fishing is fair. The boat ramp is accessible.

Anglers are catching rainbow trout on worms, Power Bait and salmon eggs.

Some nice sized (10-12 inches) largemouth bass are being caught on spinners, Super-Dupers and z-rays.

Channel catfish (20-25 inches) are biting on hot dogs and stink baits.

Scotts Reservoir is open to electric trolling motors only.

Rainbow Lake is down about 1.5 feet and the boat ramp is accessible. The fishing is fair but the last stocking of catfish was in June.

Anglers are catching bluegill, smallmouth bass, and bullhead catfish.

Reports say the bullhead cats are being caught around the fishing pier. Use wheat bread dough balls or night crawlers.

Bluegills are going for the green wooly bugger.

Smallmouth bass are being caught off the dock with a brown fly.

Weeds are beginning to become a problem since the days are warming up.

Rainbow Lake is open to electric trolling motors and/or 10hp gas motors only.

Fishing is good to fair at Fool Hollow Lake.

This is a great lake to take your kids on their first fishing trip. Bluegill and crappie are biting along the piers. Use small bits of night crawlers in a small hook with little weight. Fish about 1-3 feet under the pier.

There are catfish for the adults to catch but they are only ranging in the 1 to 2 pound range. Channel cats are being caught on worms and stink baits. Try fishing around rocks, trees, stumps and piers.

Shore anglers are catching rainbows on worms and green Power Bait. Go out to the southwest area of the lake for your best odds.

Spin anglers have been catching bass and walleyes on crankbait, plastic jigs with attached worms. Get out to the dam along the east arm of the lake for best opportunities to catch these fish.

Lake Mead water levels have held strong through the summer and the water elevation is around 1100 feet.

Night fishing for stripers seems to be the best option right now. Anglers are using artificial lights and are catching as many stripers as they want to clean, most ranging in the 12-18 inches.

The lights are also helping anglers catch catfish, use anchovies.

For best results: Get out on the lake in the evening with some artificial lights.