Arizona has a lot to offer in terms of freshwater fishing lakes. Here’s a run down a few of the most popular lakes in AZ and the most popular fish to be caught there.
Lake Havasu is an excellent bass lake for Arizona anglers. With the cooler weather the bite has slowed but this just means you need to work your lures a little slower and deeper than normal. Use plastics, cranks, spinners and jigs. The fish are deep this time of year so topwaters and other floating baits you can put away until spring.
Sizes are ranging from 13 inches and up for largemouth bass. The skilled angler could hall in a 4 pounder. Smallmouth bass are also abundant in Lake Havasu, as well as striped bass. Stripers are in the size range of about 12-18 inches with an occasional 8 pounder waiting to be caught.
Bass aren’t the only species to be caught in Lake Havasu, channel cats are also a popular catch among Arizona anglers. Cats are ranging in the sizes or 3 - 10 pounds and are biting on anchovies, spam and mackerel.
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.
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.
Catfish anglers, you’ll love Lyman Lake. Channel catfish are biting on worms and stink baits. Fishing for catfish this summer is your best bet at catching anything on Lyman Lake.
However, a few anglers are reporting a some hits on largemouth bass. Try crankbaits, spinners and spoons.
Fishing along the river is ok. It’s slowed since the last stocking in March.
Best spots:
For trout go to the Riverfront Park in Cottonwood. Use night crawlers and dry flies.
For largemouth bass try the area of Camp Verde. Use small plastic jigs or in-line spinners.
Channel catfish are beginning to bite. Try the Verde Valley and use night crawlers or chicken liver in the early evening.
Lake elevation is 1,658 feet, which is 96-percent full.
Fishing is a little inactive compared to April, at least for largemouth bass.
Channel catfish seem to be biting mildly but the need a lot of coaxing. Try dead minnows, silver rattle traps, and night crawler.
600,000 walleye sac fry were stocked end of April.
Lake elevation is 1,909 feet (95-percent full).
Channel catfish, largemouth bass, crappie, trout and small mouth bass are all being caught at Apache right now.
Go to the coves for the catfish or try Alder Creek.
For trout, try the cooler water near Horse Mesa Dam or by the fish habitat. Use power eggs.
Small mouth bass can be found near rocky shores.
Walleye were stocked at the end of April; 2.4 million walleye sac fry, to be exact. Walleye are biting the best. Try trolling with shad-patterned crank baits just off Bronco Creek.
Reports say that one angler brought in 17 largemouth bass using Senkos and spinner baits.
The largemouths aren’t the only fish biting right now. The catfish and bluegills are also excellent.
For channel catfish try shrimp, hot dogs, or worms and fish off the bottom.
The latest stocking included 15 - 20 inch catfish and are restocked every 2 weeks.
The trout season kicks off on the 15th.
With fish stockings taking place every 2 weeks through March at urban fishing lakes and ponds, the fishing is expected to be good to great this season.
For best results use scented dough balls like Power Bait, worms, or small trout lures like spinners and spoons.
Bluegill are currently biting and reports are saying the action is good. Try meal worms, corn, or dough balls with a small bobber.
Catfish action is fair. Use hot dogs, stink bait, dough balls and shrimp. Catfish stocking has stopped for the winter and will resume in the spring.
