Arizona Lake Fishing

Fishing Dead Horse Ranch State Park

Dead Horse Ranch State Park boasts of 423 acres of outdoor opportunities for fishing, hiking, camping and several other outdoor actives. The Verde River runs through the park and forms large lagoons which are called Dead Horse Lake by some. There are 80 miles of fish able water in the park and the lagoons are stocked regularly by the AZ game & fish.

Dead Horse Ranch is a great place for both spin anglers and fly fishing. Spinners focus on using spinners, worms and power bait.
Fly fishing is best along the Verde River between the River Front Park and Dead Horse State Park.
Dead Horse Ranch Fish

• Rainbow trout
• sunfish
• Channel Catfish
• Largemouth bass

Dead Horse Ranch Rules

• No Amplified Music and PA systems
• No Swimming in lagoons
• No Firewood gathering
• No Generators
• No Rowboats and float tubes are only permitted in lower lagoons

Small boats are permitted along with float tubes but restrictions do apply.

Dead Horse Ranch Amenities

These amenities are at Fain Lake.

• Handicap access is available including cabin rental with accessible showers and restrooms near camp site.
• Bathrooms & Showers (with hot water)
• Picnic area (covered Ramadas)
• BBQ grills
• Playground
• Camp Sites
• Hiking Trails
• Visitor Center (open 8 am to 5 pm)

Getting to Dead Horse Ranch State Park

The easiest way to get to Dead Horse Ranch is to take the I-17 towards Cottonwood. Then Exit on Highway 260 for Cottonwood. Stay on Main Street (Hwy 260) and follow the signs to Dead Horse Ranch State Park.

Map To Dead Horse Ranch State Park, AZ

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What is a Ford Fender?

The image above is a Ford Fender (top) and various blade options (bottom). A Ford Fender is a fishing lure for a popular fishing technique called trolling. Trolling is a fun, easy and effective technique that is suitable for all ages. Trolling is a great way to introduce youngsters to fishing but is also a a tried and true technique that experienced anglers enjoy using.

What is Trolling?

Trolling requires a boat, a motor or oars (a means to move the boat forward), fishing rod and real, a blade string (Ford Fender or other trolling lure) and a lure. The troll and lure are attached to your fishing line and is then let out behind your moving boat. The amount of line let out depends on the size of the troll and how deep you want to fish. The slower the boat the deeper the troll goes.

Trolling is typically used in a freshwater body such as a lake or impoundment and is used to catch trout.

How a Trolling Lure Works

As you troll the lake, the blades will attract fish both with the flash of light reflecting off the blades and the vibrating sounds from the spinning of the blade. Fish will follow the flash and sound to the source, spot the trailing lure and go after it.

Choosing the Right Trolling Lure?

Trolling is most effective in deep, murky water or on an overcast day. When trolling you want to stay in the middle layer of water which will be from 15 to 50 feet down in most lakes. The middle layer has a lot of dissolved oxygen and forage fish (food for the fish we want to catch).

The size and shape of the blade is important because it determines how fast the blade will rotate and any particular sound vibrations it will make during trolling. A round blade will swing slow and wide from the shaft of the troll. A narrow blade will spin fast and close to the shaft. Narrow blades are best suited for fast trolling where larger blades are used for slower trolling.

The color and number of blades is also important. For example, a larger troll with several blades is best used for deep trolling or in murky water. Clear water or depths of only 10 to 20 feet require fewer, smaller blades. A nickel finish works best on bright days or in clear water. Brass and copper finishes are best suited for murky, deep water. A brass, 50/50 brass-nickel or copper finishes for overcast days.

Rigging a Trolling Lure

The troll itself consists of a rudder (red plastic shown in the image above), blades, a shaft (the cable that runs the troll) and a swivel. The rudder is at the front of the troll and prevents any line twist. The blades should swing freely on the cable to attract fish. The swivel is used to tie on a leader and a lure. The leader is usually between 12 and 18 inches but some anglers have used leaders that range up to 5 or 6 feet.

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Tempe Town Lake is the trout fishing hot spot this year. Regular stocking continues to improve the number of catches. Including a fresh new batch this week.

Rainbow trout: Power bait, worms and spinners are all working right now for the rainbows.

Carp: Carp are also in the lake. Go to the south side of the lake and try corn on a slip sinker. They are a decent size and put up a good fight.

Largemouth Bass: The bass are going for spinners like Rooster Tails. Try a green color.

Hot Spots for Rainbow Trout at Tempe Town Lake

• East of Rural Road on ASU side
• East side of the lake just east of Scottsdale Road
• East side of bridge

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Dead Horse Ranch State Park

Dead Horse Ranch State Park is on 423 acres of land, includes the Verde River and 80 miles of fishing opportunity.  Located near Cottonwood, Arizona on highway 260.

The Dead Horse Ranch lagoons are pooled bodies of water created by the Verde River and are regularly stocked by the AZ game & fish.

Fishing Dead Horse Ranch State Park

Fishing continues to be good and is a wonderful spot for family day and a picnic. Rainbow trout, sunfish (bluegill and crappie), Channel Catfish and Largemouth bass are all available to be caught.The lagoons have been recently stocked with over 3,000 rainbows.

Results are best for spinner and fly fishing. Spin anglers use powerbait, worms or small spinners. Fly anglers love to fish the Verde River and the state park.

Pay attention to bag limits

The bag limits at Dead Horse Ranch are different than other state parks. So keep them in mind when fishing.

• 4 catfish
• 4 trout
• 2 largemouth bass with a 13 inch minimum length
• 10 sunfish

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Rainbow trout stockings will take place on Thursday Nov. 13 at all Urban Fishing Program wasters.Stockings will continue every 2 weeks until March 2009. All urban lakes were also recently stocked with bluegill which are a feisty little fighters.

This punch of new life into the urban waters should make fishing full of action and hungry, biting fish. The trout action is really good in the Green Valley lakes in Payson.

Best results:

Urban trout anglers – use scented dough balls such as the infamous Power Bait. The tried and true worm will also work. If you prefer to fish with artificial lures, a small trout lure works best.

If you’re going after those feisty bluegills try mealworms, corn and doughballs. Fish your bait below a small bobber.

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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.

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Nelson Reservoir is down almost a foot with the boat ramp by the dam still accessible. The fishing is fair since the last stocking of rainbow trout was in May.

Thick weeds surround the boat ramp at the upper end of the lake so it is best to use the ramp by the dam.

Anglers are using worms, Power Bait, and salmon eggs.

Spinn anglers prefer spinners, Super Dupers, and z-rays.

Fly anglers are using wooly worms, prince nymphs, and zug bugs.

The lake is open to electric motors and/or 10 hp gas motors.

For best results: Get out on the water in the early morning to beat the heat and catch the fish.

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Fishing is poor out at Greer Lakes, even with rising water levels.

Anglers are catching rainbow trout on worms and green or yellow Power Bait but the trout are tiny.

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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.

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Big Lake is one of the most exciting trout fishing lakes in Arizona. The trout caught at Big Lake are the closest to wild as it gets in Arizona. The lake is stocked in the fall with a couple thousand fingerling trout. Big Lake also has the most divers trout population in the sate.

The fishing this summer is fair to good with anglers reporting catches around 12-15 inches.

Shore anglers have been catching rainbows and brookies on worms, yellow Power Bait, and salmon eggs.

Boat anglers are trolling cowbells with a worm.

Spin anglers are using spinners like Rooster Tails and Mepps, z-rays and spoons.

Fly anglers are using peacock ladies, wooly worms, semi-seal leeches, and prince nymphs.

For best results: Get out early and go to the coves. There you’ll find this time of year that the damselflies (dragon fly) are hatching in the coves. Use a damselfly pattern lure or fly. For example, if you see blue dragon flies flying around, use a blue lure. Same works for Power Bait and the shore angler.

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