Fishing

Fishing Forecast

Southeast AZ | North Central AZ

Fishing Rating: Hot Good Fair Poor

Southeast Arizona

Arivaca Lake – Rating: 

Fishing in the winter can be slow at Arivaca Lake as the fish go deeper and spend less time feeding. Although early mornings and late evenings are still going to be the most productive times, anglers should find fish to be active throughout the day. Arivaca can be tough to fish if you’re not accustomed to the aquatic vegetation that grows thick at this lake. During the winter months slow moving crankbaits fished mid-level are the best approach.

Cluff Ranch Ponds –

Rainbow trout stockings continue through the winter months, although at less frequency and amount of fish due to operational issues at Page Springs Hatchery. The trout that have been stocked however are much larger than typical size. Various baits and lures will catch trout, such as: PowerBait, salmon eggs, nightcrawlers, mealworms, and corn. Lures proven to work include: small spinners (size 0-1), spoons and even small jigs tipped with various plastics imitating worms, minnows or creatures. A good rule of thumb for all fish is having a variety of baits/lures in different sizes and colors, placing it in different depths and retrieving it a different speeds. Continue to change until you find a combination that works. Fishing early in the morning or late in the evening generally will lead to more success.

Dankworth Pond – Rating:

Rainbow trout stockings continue through the winter months, although at less frequency and amount of fish due to operational issues at Page Springs Hatchery. The trout that have been stocked however are much larger than typical size. Various baits and lures will catch trout, such as: Powerbait, salmon eggs, nightcrawlers, mealworms, and corn. Lures proven to work include: small spinners (size 0-1), spoons and even small jigs tipped with various plastics imitating worms, minnows or creatures. A good rule of thumb for all fish is having a variety of baits/lures in different sizes and colors, placing it in different depths and retrieving it at different speeds. Continue to change until you find a combination that works.

Frye Mesa Reservoir – Rating: 

Frye Mesa Reservoir presents a unique opportunity to catch a native Gila trout. The reservoir receives retired broodstock from Mora National Fish Hatchery as well as our Page Springs state hatchery. Gila trout can be caught with similar methods used for rainbow trout. Fly fishing with nymphs or wet/dry flies is productive. If using a spin casting reel, small spoons and spinners as wells as PowerBait or worms can work. The daily bag limit is two trout. The road to the reservoir is rough and a higher clearance all-wheel drive vehicle is recommended.

Parker Canyon Lake – Rating: 

During the winter months, anglers can expect that fishing for the warmwater species will slow as fish move into deeper water and become less active with the cooler water temperatures. Rainbow Trout stockings continue through the winter months, although at less frequency and amount of fish due to operational issues at Page Springs Hatchery. Anglers wanting to catch the rainbow trout can use bait such as earthworms, mealworms, salmon eggs or PowerBait. A good technique is to fish with light tackle and vary the depth, color and type of bait until you find where the fish are hanging out and the bait they prefer. Small lures such as spoons and spinners from Mepps or Rooster Tail are excellent choices. Anglers using small lures should work small areas of the lake in a fan pattern, covering all of the water in front of them and remember to vary the speed of your retrieve. Regardless of your choice of bait and technique, all anglers should keep in mind that as the day progresses, the fish’s preferences can also change. So be prepared to change things up when the fishing slows.

See the file for the remainder of the lakes in the Southeast Arizona region:

Patagonia
Pena Blanca
Riggs Flat
Roper
Rose Canyon

North Central Arizona

City Reservoir

Dead Horse Lagoons

Trout stocking resumed in November.  As we head into winter Dead Horse provides some of the best catch rates for Rainbow Trout around.   Trout can be easily caught on a variety of Power Bait colors, homemade dough baits and spinners.  Fly fisherman also have great success here.  There is an entrance fee at Dead Horse Ranch State Park which is currently $7 per vehicle (1-4 adults) and $3 for an individual (walk in/bicycle) and the hours are 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Seasonal hours may apply and will be posted at the entrance.

See the pdf file for the remainder of the lakes in the North Central Arizona region:

Dogtown
Fain
Goldwater
Lynx
Mingus
Verde River
Watson
Willow