All about fishing the Phoenix, Arizona Lakes
The twelve lakes in the Phoenix metro area are intensively stocked approximately 22 times per year with either trout or catfish
Central Arizona Paddlers Club:
Phoenix, AZ 85064 – Kayaking, rafting and canoeing.
Take lessons for kayaking and canoeing
Arizona Dragon Boat Association
Places to Fish and Boat in Arizona
Camping in the High Country of Flagstaff
Arizona Game and Fishing Department : Major Phoenix-based boating areas are found along the Chain of Lakes ( Saguaro, Canyon, Apache and Roosevelt Lakes in the Salt River Valley and the Verde River Valley (Horseshoe and Bartlett Lakes ). In addition, Firebird Lake, on the Gila Indian Reservation, south of Phoenix is a small man-made lake devoted exclusively to commercial sporting events. Lake Pleasant is northwest of Phoenix along the Aqua Fria River. San Carlos Lake is 200 miles east of Phoenix on the Apache Reservation. In northern and eastern Arizona, Lakes Powell , Mead and Havasu and areas along the Colorado River welcome water sports enthusiasts.
Arizona Fishing Reports Whether you’re fishing in Lake Pleasant, Flagstaff, or Lake Havasu, the Arizona Fishing Reports directory has a link to every known fishing report in Arizona with a website.
Free bed fishing for bass by Goodyear Sportsman’s Warehouse :Wired Worm & Jig Seminar, and Fishing with Jerk Bait Seminar, Fall Bass fishing in Arizona Seminar, Arizona Bass Federation youth casting state championship !
Tunnel Reservoir, Greer, 1-928-735-7201 and Dead Horse Ranch State Park, Cottonwood, 1-928-567-2478. Lower Lake Mary, Flagstaff, 1-928-774-5045. D’Ambro Pond, Kingman for kids only,and preregistrations required 1-928-692-7700. Red Mountain Park Lake, Mesa 602-789-3240. Lynx Lake in Prescott, 1-928-717-1073. Surprise Lake, Surprise, 602-789-3240. Rose Canyon Lake, Tucson, 1-520-622-9597.
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The reservoirs along the Colorado River are some of the largest in the country. The Imperial Dam, Lake Havasu, Lake Mohave, Lake Mead, & the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, which includes Lake Powell, all lie along the Colorado River between Arizona and Utah, Nevada and California. Several other big reservoirs are located around Phoenix, including Apache Lake, Bartlett Lake, Horseshoe Reservoir, Lake Pleasant, and Roosevelt Lake.
We have more boats per capita than any other state in the nation! Why? Because we have many lakes that store our water for the future. They offer wonderful boating, fishing, water sports and pure leisure on a houseboat vacation!
Arizonans take water seriously, damming rivers for flood control, surfacewater, rafting , fishing, water-skiing, boating, and recreation.
Outdoors Megastore at 9380 W. Glendale Ave., in Glendale.
The store’s 160,000 square feet has more than 200,000 items for sale .
This is fish hooks, poles, boats, hunting and outdoor equipment.
The 40,000-gallon walk-through aquarium has entertaining as well as educational value.
Apache Lake From Fountain Hills, take Arizona 87 north about 50 miles to Arizona 188. Turn right, drive 31 miles to Arizona 88. Turn right, drive past Roosevelt Dam, and proceed about 5 miles to Forest Rd 183 or about 12 miles to Forest Road 79. Each leads to the lake. Boating: Paved ramps at Apache Lake Marina and the Burnt Corral Recreation Site. About 2,600 surface acres in size.
Bartlett Lake Cool off by boating, and not owning a boat: Bartlett Lake Boat Club 480-221-5737. Take to the water in a different boat every day. Pick up any supplies, bait or tackle needed from the ship’s store.
Canyon Lake Take U.S. 60 east to Exit 196, turn north and take Idaho Road 2.3 miles to Arizona 88. Turn northeast and proceed 15 miles. Fishing: Bass, bluegill, carp, catfish, green sunfish, rainbow trout, walleye.
Hawley Lake, Fort Apache Reservation, from Payson, take Arizona 260 east through Show Low and Pinetop/Lakeside. Continue past Hon-Dah 9 miles to the signed turnoff at Arizoan 473. Go south on Arizona 473 for about nine miles. 260-acre lake has stocked Apache, brown and rainbow trout. Elevation of 8500 in the White Mountains.
Lake Mead: On the border of Nevada and Arizona, is a huge lake, although a bit smaller than Lake Powell. Located 259 miles from Phoenix, most people head to Lake Mead for houseboat vacations.
Lake Pleasant: Formed when the Waddell Dam was constructed on the Agua Fria River. Picnic, rent jet skis, or just enjoy the rocky landscape and cool views. Fishing: Bass, bluegill, crappie. Known for its windy conditions, Lake Pleasant is ideal for sailing, about 10,000 surface acres in size. Kayaking is also popular on the lake.
Lake Powell: Located about 280 miles north of Phoenix and is the most popular houseboat vacation spot. You can rent a houseboat for 3, 5, or 7-day vacations and cruise this enormous lake with its various coves and canyons.
Roosevelt Lake: Located about 2 hours northeast of Scottsdale, off the road towards Payson and is the largest of the four Valley reservoir lakes on the Salt River. It is the best for waterskiing because the lake is large enough that it doesn’t get crowded. Roosevelt Lake has a full-service marina and is ideal for power boating, waterskiing, camping, fishing (Bass, Bluegill, catfish, crapple) and jet skiing. Launch areas for boats at Roosevelt Marina, Cholla Bay, Bermuda Flat, Bachelors Cove, Orange Peel and the Cholla, Widy Hill, Grapevine Group, Indian Point and Schoolhouse recreation areas. 1-928-467-3200.
Saguaro Lake Starting at Fountain Hills, take Arizona 87 north about two miles to Bush Highway (Forest Road 204). Turn right and proceed four miles to the lake. Fishing: Bass, bluegill, carp, catfish, green sunfish.
Salt River Rafting on a 52-mile stretch of the Upper Salt River (which is rated Class III, medium difficulty, on the international scale) through the Salt River Canyon. This section of the river drops at an average of 25 feet per miles as opposed to 8 feet per mile on the Colorado River. This all adds up to great rapids and a thrilling adventure.
Tempe Town LakeWhile away a sunny afternoon catching your limit of Town Lake’s 11 varieties of fish or enjoy sunset from the coxswain’s seat in a rowing shell. The 13-acre Town Lake Marina is located on the north side of Tempe Town Lake and south of the 202 Freeway at about College Avenue. The site contains a half-acre lagoon and marina to provide a safe water harbor for lake operations in case of flood conditions. The marina has a 5-lane boat launch ramp and 83 boat trailer spaces. Secured dry boat storage is provided in 52 of the 83 boat trailer spaces. There is another 144 vehicle parking spaces for the entire site. The half-circle lagoon has docks with 23 boat slips.
Urban lakes in the valley:
The man-made lake of the Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch is frequently stocked with catfish, bass, bluegill and other species.
The Game and Fish state agency annually stocks more 220,000 pounds of fish into 20 lakes in the Urban Fishing Program, including about 250 fish each time Water Ranch is stocked. To be able to fish there, one must be 14 or older, need a $16 state-issued urban-fishing license and fishing equipment.
Urban lakes
More than 49,000 “urban anglers” fished last year.
Fish caught at all lakes are safe to eat.
Fish stocked in lakes are purchased from private fish farmers. For example, channel catfish originate in Arkansas and rainbow trout come from farms in Colorado.
Source: Arizona Game and Fish Dept.
Arizona Sailing and Power Club
Phoenix, AZ 85067
Arizona Boating and Watersports magazine
Visitors to the state can enjoy plenty of great fishing opportunities in any of the lakes, streams, creeks and even urban areas in Arizona. Reaching more than 11,000 feet in elevation, the White Mountains draw fishermen looking for bass, catfish and trout. The Imperial Reservoir upriver through the Cibola National Wildlife Refuge on Arizona’s West Coast offers largemouth bass that weigh in at more than 12 pounds! And don’t forget ice fishing, which is available in the White Mountains on the eastern side of the state. With a year-long fishing season and plenty more opportunities throughout the entire state, you’re sure to find a great place to cast your line
Source: the Arizona Guide.
Lees Ferry 0n the way to the North Rim of Grand Canyon. On the Colorado River, recommended for fly fishing.