Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass
Fishing in Arizona.

Bass are one of the most sought after of all the game fish. Its appeal spans cultures, age groups and genders to tap on the heart strings of anglers everywhere. Join us in our endeavor to offer information about bass fishing on your favorite bass lake in the Arizona area.

The state record largemouth was taken out of Canyon Lake and Roosevelt Lake produced the state record smallmouth.

Bass Lakes In Arizona.

The state offers excellent fishing waters, each with their own special appeal. Roosevelt is the largest. It is the head lake in a chain of 4 lakes and collects fresh water from the Salt River and Tonto Creek. This influx of fresh water promotes high spawn rates and provides nutrients for a healthy food chain. Roosevelt lake sports both largemouth and smallmouth populations, with plenty of each. Depending on the season and time of day one can catch largemouth's from the surface down to 40 or 50 feet deep.

Apache Lake, the second lake in the chain, offers some very fine smallmouth fishing as well as pretty decent largemouth fishing. It is a flooded river channel with awe inspiring surroundings which include wildlife refuges.

Canyon Lake, third in the chain, is another flooded river channel and offers primarily largemouth fishing. This lake is known for smaller quantities of bass yet typically higher quality. Many large fish are caught on Canyon Lake each year.

The fourth lake in the chain is Saguaro. It again offers primarily largemouth bass fishing. As the last lake in the chain it supports a much smaller population which is hindered further by the fact that the lake level is intentionally fluctuated more than 10 feet in a 24 hour period for production of electricity.

Bartlett Lake is on the Verde River northeast of Phoenix. It offers largemouth bass fishing which may vary from year to year depending on dramatic water level fluctuations.

Lake Pleasant northwest of Phoenix is a quick drive from town and offers excellent largemouth fishing. It supports a good population of bass as well as offers some lunker fishing at times.

San Carlos Lake in eastern Arizona is a haven for big bass when the water level remains beneficial for several years in a row. At times this lake can deliver a limit of bass in the six to seven pound range.

Alamo Lake on the Bill Williams River in western Arizona is another lake which offers stringers of big bass when the water levels cooperate for a few years in a row.

On the Colorado River Lake Powell, Lake Mead, Lake Mohave, Lake Havasu and Martinez Lake all offer fine largemouth bass fishing. These are big waters which support both quantity and quality of bass. These typically clear water reservoirs test the anglers skills and offer many ways to catch bass.

Bass are aggressive feeders and agile enough to chase down and catch most of their favorite foods. They are most easily caught during a feeding spree but can be enticed into striking an anglers bait for reasons other than hunger. They are predatory by nature and at times will strike at anything that enters their world. They are also territorial and at times strike anything that ventures into their domain. If it moves and they can get it into their large mouth, bass will attempt to eat it.

Largemouth Bass
Micropterus salmoides

Also known as bucketmouth, this fish has a mouth that opens wide enough to swallow its own head. It will attempt to eat virtually anything it can catch and swallow. Growing to well over 20 pounds, it is much bigger than it's cousin the smallmouth bass.

Fishing For Largemouth Bass

SPRING
Top Baits: Spinnerbaits, crankbaits and plastic worms.
Fish shallow to moderate depths as the bass move into the shallows for warmer water, spawning and food source activity. Try shallow-water flippin on cloudy days or in murky water.

SUMMER
Top Baits: Crankbaits, Jigs and plastic worms.
Fish shallow in the mornings and evenings and move deeper as the sun rises. "Deep" depends on the overall depth of the lake you are fishing. In some lakes you may need to go as deep as 60 feet while others seldom hold fish below 35 feet. Largemouth's often feed at night during the hot summer months.

FALL
Top Baits: Spinnerbaits, crankbaits and spoons.
Fish shallow to moderate depths in the mornings and evenings. As the bass move deeper during the day move to outside deep structure and use spoons or jigs.

WINTER
Top Baits: Jigs, pork baits and plastic worms.
Try shallow in the mornings then move deeper as the sun rises. Bass are not very active in cold water, so move your bait in a slow, easy to catch manner and fish deep cover and structure. "Deep" depends on the overall depth of the lake you are fishing. In some lakes you may need to go as deep as 60 feet while others seldom hold fish below 35 feet.

Smallmouth Bass
Micropterus dolomieu

While the smallmouth only grows to about half the size of the largemouth, it is much more agile, faster and powerful for its size. It eats pretty much the same foods, just smaller specimens. It is without argument one of the finest game fish an angler can pursue. The thrill of the frantic runs and jumps are the source of many a fisherman's dreams.

Fishing For Smallmouth Bass

SPRING
Top Baits: Small crankbaits, small jigs and plastic worms.
Fish shallow to moderate depths as the smallmouth move into the shallows for warmer water, spawning and food source activity. Gravel points and submerged humps are prime holding areas.

SUMMER
Top Baits: Small crankbaits, Jigs and plastic worms.
Fish shallow in the mornings and evenings and move deeper as the sun rises. Use lures that mimic crawfish as this is a favorite food for smallmouth bass. Follow points and rocky or gravel structure deeper until you establish the proper depth. Smallmouth's are also known to feed at night during the hot summer months.

FALL
Top Baits: Small jigs, small crankbaits and spoons.
Fish shallow to moderate depths in the mornings and evenings. As the sun rises move deeper toward outside structure and use small spoons or jigs.

WINTER
Top Baits: Jigs, spoons and plastic worms.
Try shallow in the mornings then move deeper as the sun rises. Smallmouth are less active in cold water, so move your bait in a slow, easy to catch manner and fish deep structure. "Deep" depends on the overall depth of the lake you are fishing. In some lakes you may need to go as deep as 60 feet while others seldom hold fish below 45 feet.

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Arizona fishing information.

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All About Fishing for Bass in Arizona.

22 lbs - 4 oz

16 lbs - 14 oz

60 - 80 Degrees

Prefers slightly stained to murky water with cover and little or no current.

11 lbs - 15 oz

7 lbs - 1 oz

58 - 72 Degrees

Prefers clear to slightly stained water and is comfortable in mild current. Prefers gravel and rocky areas.