Fishing in Arizona.     After 28 years I have returned.   There are options.  I haven’t been going myself buty I have been watching.    This is what I came up with.

Options statewide, I have it somewhat divided into sections of the state and somewhat “general.”

The urban areas have lakes and canals.   Stocked.    In Florida, stocking just isn’t a thing.   In Arizona it is very important.  So many people want to do it right near where they live.   Urban lakes and canals make this possible.    Arizona, not known for water, has plenty of fishing possibilities.   The point is, if you like to fish, there are places to go.  

The mountain lakes, streams have opportunities.    Greer, three lakes:  Tunnel, Bunch and River.    16 miles, Crescent and Big Lake.    Lee Valley Reservoir in between.   The Little Colorado River, definitely options.    Alpine, you have Luna Lake.   White Mountain.   Sunrise.  Nelson’s Reservoir, halfway between Alpine and Springerville.   Going back toward Pinetop you have A 1, Horseshoe Ceinega and Hawley.   Show Low, Fools Hollow and Show Low Lake.     A 1 is a mudpuddle but there are fish.   The fly fishermen do well there.     Big Lake is easily the best option for having action.  

To the north:  Lyman.    Mormon Lake.    Roper and Dead Horse should be mentioned.   Ashhurst.    Lynx.  Ackre.   

The Rim lakes.    Black Canyon, Willow Springs and Woods Canyon.    Excellent opportunities closer to Phoenix.    These lakes, just as you arrive to the top of the Rim, excellent trout opportunities.       In some of the lakes, smallmouth bass and catfish are possible.   Below, Tonto and Verde Creeks along with Christopher Creek have fish.  

The Colorado River provides Lake Mohave, Lake Mead, Bullhead City and Havasu and on the Utah border Lake Powell.    Marble Canyon has excellent trout opportunities.    You can’t talk Arizona without mentioning Lees Ferry.  

Big destinations closer to Phoenix:  Alamo, Roosevelt Canyon, Saguaro, Apache, Bartlett and Pleasant.     These are your “crappie” lakes.   Striped bass, catfish.    The Salt River.    Even the Gila River.   San Carlos is an Indian reservation option.   Tempe Town Lake is urban but it is an option for those who want to catch a fish.  

Southern Arizona, Parker Canyon Lake is a good choice.   Patagonia and Arivaca are also destinations.  From Tucson you can go up the mountain and get to Rose Canyon Lake which they keep stocked with trout.    Mount Lemmon, a close drive, fish can be caught in a shorter drive.   Parker Canyon was good for trout in my day.   Huge catfish can be caught but smaller catfish are easy.    Arivaca is the smallest of the three but there are fish there.   Patagonia has some promise.  

Miscellaneous elsewhere:    Surprise.   Cibecue Creek.   Pena Blanca. Roper.   Bear Canyon.   Oak Creek.    Wet Beaver Creek.   Horseshoe.   Fain Lake.   Clear Creek.  Haigler Creek.   Kiwanis, Knoll, Silver Creek, Litchfield Lake, Estrella ponds.   Biscuit Tank.   Blue Ridge.   Buckeye.  Carnero.   Cataract.   Chevelon.   Cibola.   Cluff Ranch.   Coconino.   Concho.  Cyclone.   Dankworth.   Dogtown.   Earl Park.  Frye Mesa.   Goldwater.   Granite Basin.  Greasewood.   Hasayampa.   Horsethief Basin.   Hulsey.   Imperial.   JD Dam.   Kaibab.   Kinnikinick.    Long.   Many Farms.   Martinez.   McClelland.    Mittry.   Painted Rock.   Perkins Tank.   Picacho.   Potato.   Rainbow.   Reservation.   Riggs Flat.   Red.   Black Creek.   Rogers.   Russel Tank.   Santa Fe.   Scott.   Soldiers Annex.   Stehr.  Stoneman.   Sullivan.   Topock Marsh.  Tremaine.  Threemile.  Watson.  Whitehorse.  Willow Creek.   Woodland.  Palerma, Chavez Crossing, Mansel Park, Desert West, Pacheta, Round Rock,, Red Mountain Park, Little Reservoir, Whipple, Adobe Island, Pioneer Park, Green Valley Park, Castle Creek, Riverview Park

A summary: 

  • Phoenix area – Chaparral Lake, Copper Sky Lake, Cortez Lake, Desert Breeze Lake, Desert West Lake, Encanto Lake, Evelyn Hallman Pond, Kiwanis Lake, Pacana Pond, Paloma Lake, Papago Ponds), Pioneer Lake, Red Mountain Lake, Rio Vista Pond, Riverview Lake, Steel Indian School Park, Surprise Lake, Veteran’s Oasis Lake.
  • Tucson area – Silverbell Park, Kennedy Lake, Sahuarita Lake, Lakeside Lake.
  • Prescott area – Yavapai Lakes.
  • Casa Grande area – Dave White Regional Park Pond.
  • Payson area – Green Valley Lakes.
  • Yuma area – Council Avenue Pond, Fortuna Pond, Pacific Avenue Athletic Complex (PAAC) Pond, Yuma West Wetlands Pond.

Nighttime fishing is good.   A lantern will draw fish to you in these southern lakes. 

Don’t forget:   Ponds parks and golf courses.

Arizona’s Urban Lakes

Chandler

Desert Breeze Lake
Veterans Oasis Lake

Gilbert

Water Ranch Lake

Mesa

Red Mountain Lake
Riverview Lake

Peoria

Rio Vista Pond

Phoenix

Alvord Lake
Maricopa County, AZ – Alvord Lake is an urban fishing lake located in Cesar Chavez Park in Laveen, Arizona, at the southwest corner of 35th Avenue and Baseline Road.

Fish species include Largemouth bass, Sunfish, Catfish (channel).

Urban Fishing License Required

Canal
Maricopa County, AZ – Evelyn Hallman Pond, at Evelyn Hallman Park (formerly Canal Park) this is a small man-made lake located west of Scottsdale Road and south of McKellips Road in the northern part of Tempe, Arizona. Lying on the east side of the Cross Cut Canal (from where it gets its water) it must be reached from the east.

Park and lake were renamed in 2006 for Evelyn Hallman, mother of mayor Hugh Hallman.

Fish species include Rainbow Trout, Largemouth Bass, Sunfish, Catfish (Channel), Tilapia and Carp.

Chaparral Lake
Maricopa County, AZ – Chaparral Lake is located in Chaparral Park in west Scottsdale, at the northeast corner of Hayden and Chaparral Roads.

Fish species include Rainbow trout, Largemouth bass, Sunfish, Catfish (channel), Catfish (flathead), Tilapia and Carp.

Cortez Lake
Maricopa County, AZ – Cortez Lake is located in Cortez Park in northwest Phoenix, at the northeast corner of 35th Avenue and Dunlap Avenue.

Fish species include Rainbow trout, Largemouth bass, Sunfish, Catfish (channel) and Carp.

Desert Breeze Lake
Maricopa County, AZ – Desert Breeze Lake is located in Desert Breeze Park in west Chandler, southwest of Ray Road and McClintock Drive on Desert Breeze Boulevard.

Fish species include Rainbow trout, Largemouth bass, Sunfish, Catfish (channel), Tilapia and Carp.

Desert West
Maricopa County, AZ –

Encanto
Maricopa County, AZ –

Kiwanis Lake
Maricopa County, AZ –

Papago Ponds
Maricopa County, AZ –

Red Mountain
Maricopa County, AZ –

Rio Vista
Maricopa County, AZ –

Riverview
Maricopa County, AZ –

Steele Indian School Pond
Maricopa County, AZ –

Surprise Lake
Maricopa County, AZ –

Water Ranch
Maricopa County, AZ –

Sahuarita

Sahuarita Lake

Scottsdale

Chaparral Lake

Surprise

Surprise Lake

Tempe

Evelyn Hallman Pond

Kiwanis Lake
Tempe Town Lake

Tucson

Kennedy Lake
Lakeside Lake
Silverbell Lake

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