Arizona Lake Fishing

Blue Ridge has very little shore fishing opportunities. If you don’t have a boat or floating device, I recommend not going to Blue Ridge. That said, it is a beautiful body of water with decent fishing.

Most anglers are using orange power bait, fished just 2 feet off the bottom. You can also try yellow/black rooster tails, black/red panther martins or neon yellow z-rays. Use the spinners in the afternoon and let sink about 10-12 feet and retrieve in a slow moderate pattern.

For best results: Get over near the dam with orange power bait. Fish 2 feet off the bottom between the outhouse and the dam.

Black Canyon Lake is almost full, the boat ramp is accessible and the fishing is fair.

Green and yellow power bait seems to be working well for most anglers, on shore or in a boat. You can also try, salmon eggs, spinners, or wooly buggers.

For best results: Get out on the water at first light. Troll with a cowbell and a worm on the hook.

Bear Canyon Lake, like Chevelon Lake, is a hike-in lake. There is a short but steep trail that’s winds down to the water. There is nice shore access for the shore fisherman but Bear Canyon Lake is best experienced with a float tube, inflatable or canoe.  You can use an electric motor but not gas motors.

The fishing is fair to good out at Bear Canyon Lake. You best shot at a catch is at first and last light. Just about anything used to catch trout works here, from salmon eggs, to z-rays and power bait and zug bugs.

Regular summer rain showers aren’t much to talk about but when the summer monsoons come rolling, now that’s a different story.

When the monsoon thunderstorms start building in the mountains, the barometer drops causing the insects to fly low in the sky, prompting the trout to feed actively.

The most active trout will be near the surface catching those unlucky bugs that have either fallen into the water or flying just above the water.

In these conditions most traditional trout fishing techniques will work. However, the best technique will be to mimic the environment. Fly anglers can easily take advantage of this situation but you don’t need a fly rod to mimic flying insects.

For best results try using a casting bubble with a tapered fly line attached with a fly on the hook. You can find the tackle for this rig at any fly fishing tackle shop. It really is a fun technique. Often you will see a trout jump out of the water and strike your fly in the air.

To cast your new rig, just throw it out with the leader and fly attached. Then slowly reel it in with a stop-and-go action. You’ll need to experiment to get the timing right. Sometimes little flicks of the wrist to make the fly dart will prompt a striker reaction from the trout.

Also try live insects such as grasshoppers or cicadas.

Once the thunderstorm opens up; seek shelter. All the new graphite fishing poles make for great lightning rods. So put away the pole and wait for the storm to pass. This is a great time to animal watch. The cooling rain brings out deer and other wildlife.

Due to the high pH levels no stocking will take place until the numbers come down.

12 inch rainbows are being caught at Riggs Flat.
Try using small spinners.

The water is very clear making it easy to see fish swimming around. There is a 10 foot ring of weeds around the shore making it difficult to use lures but the fish don’t seem interested in worms or baits.

The road is open at Willow Springs Lake and the lake is full. The boat launch accessible and Willow Springs Lake allows only electric trolling motors and/or 10 hp gas motors.

The lake has been stocked with nice sized trout and anglers are catching them on lures. Trout have also been active at the surface down to 15 feet. Try worms, power bait and salmon eggs on a small hook. For lures try z-rays, spinners and rapalas. For flies try wooly worms, wooly bugers, peacock ladies and prince nymphs.

For best results try trolling with a lure.

After a long winter, Blue Ridge is open and accessible. The lake is also full and spilling over.

This lake is best accessed with a boat as there is very little shore to launch your line. However, there are a few great fishing holes deep into the lake where you can tie up your boat and do a little shore fishing. Blue Ridge is a popular lake for float tubes, kayaks, and canoes.

Trout fishing is picking up. Expect larger hold-over trout.

For best results try trolling with spinners or fishing off shore with corn, worms or power bait.

Knoll Lake is open and accessible from Forest Service Road 300 (Rim Road).

Fishing is decent and with larger hold-over trout available.

For best results: For the larger trout use earth worms on a hook with a bobber about 4 feet down just off the shore. Use a boat. For shore fishing, use yellow/orange Power bait on a hook and bobber.

Anglers are catching their limits out at Bear Canyon Lake. It was just stocked last week and fishing is pretty good.

Bear Canyon Lake is a hike-in only lake. The trail down to the lake is short but steep and winding. Keep this in mind for the way back up after a day of fishing.

The lake is best accessed with float tubes and other small carry-in water craft. However, there is good shore fishing access.

Try worms, power bait, salmon eggs. You can also try lures like spinners, z-rays and super dupers. For fly fishing use wooly worms, wooly buggers, peacock ladies, and zug bugs.

For best results try a yellow Rooster Tail, Berkley Gulp or a silver spoon.

This lake is open to electric trolling motors only.

Trout were stocked on the 18th and the bite has picked up. With 13 – 14 inch trout being caught, you have a good chance catching a nice sized fish.

Try using a KastMaster or power bait on a hook with a bobber. Best time to get the bite is early morning and in the evening.

Bluegill are also plentiful. Try small worms on a small hook.