Fishing Report For Bartlett Lake, AZ

Current Report: Fair To Good

Bartlett Lake continues to deliver nice catches of largemouth bass, as it has for several years now. Thorough fisheries management by the Arizona Game & Fish Department has maintained a quality bass fishery, providing both quantity and quality for anglers. Smallmouth bass also reside here in fewer numbers. Recent results by locals, and bass fishing tournament participants, attest to the fact that fishing for largemouth bass has been quite rewarding. A significant number of larger bass also roam these waters, so there is always the potential for catching a lunker.

WINTER. The cold of Winter has isolated largemouth around deeper structure, flats, points and creek channels. Water temperatures are currently in the 50's, and bass can be found on the bottom, or suspending from 10 to 20 feet deep, occasionally shallower on warm, sunny days. Often, some of the larger bass will isolate away from schools in 5 or so feet deeper water. They are currently being caught around the Yellow Cliffs and on river-channel ledges. Here they hold, feeding less frequently, awaiting warmer water to return in Spring. Slow presentations with drop shots, jigs, finesse worms, or lipless crankbaits are often the key to getting bites, just before, during and after, ice fishing.

SPRING. Once water temperatures rise into the low 60's, largemouth will move from deep wintering holes, to shallower water near spawning areas. Anglers report good topwater action from mid Spring through Summer, especially early in the morning, and on cloudy days. Vibrating jigs, crankbaits, jerkbaits and spinnerbaits typically get bites just away from the shoreline. At this time they are feeding aggressively in about 8 to 15 feet of water, and preparing for the spawn. Bartlett Flats, SB Cove and the Rattlesnake Cove area are all popular in Spring. Once water warms into the mid to high 60's, they will move into 3 to 10 feet of water, and create nests, then lay their eggs. Immediately afterwards, females move to deeper water and males remain to guard the eggs, and then the fry. After a couple weeks, the males also move to slightly deeper water, around 10 to 15 feet deep. Deep-diving crankbaits, vibrating jigs, drop shots, plastic worms, jigs, spoons, and swimbaits catch bass during this period.

SUMMER. Water temperatures will warm considerably in Summer. Bass will feed shallow, early and late in the day, where they are typically caught in 5 to 10 feet of water, on topwater lures, crankbaits, spinnerbaits and a variety of other lures. During Summer, keep an eye on the thermocline to determine the maximum depth to fish, as there is very little oxygen below the thermocline. Largemouth bass here feed on shad, herring, small sunfish and crawfish. During the hotter parts of the day, they are being caught on points, channel edges, and ledges 20 to 45 feet deep. Drop shots, and wacky-rigged stick worms often catch finicky bass when the bite is slow.

FALL. When Fall arrives, bass here will follow schools of baitfish into coves and shallow bays where crankbaits, swimbaits, and slow-rolled spinnerbaits have been successful in prior years. In early Fall, anglers typically have success in 15 to 20 feet of water, around points and shallow flats leading to deeper water. As deeper water cools, bait and bass move out to ledges, channel edges, points and humps. Here flutter spoons are often the ideal bait in 15 to 50 feet of water, or deeper. Some of the larger bass will seclude themselves away from the school, often in slightly deeper water.

Current Report: Good

Most any rod and reel will work for catching channel catfish at Bartlett Lake. However, using the right equipment enhances success, especially when you hook one of the big boys. A medium action, to medium-heavy action rod is ideal, in the 6' to 7' range. Use a slip sinker or Carolina rig with popular catfish baits on at least 10-pound line. Use sharp hooks with bait holders on the shank, or circle hooks for live bait. The state record channel catfish is over 33 pounds, and Bartlett Lake holds some pretty big ones. Flathead catfish also reside in the lake and grow to monster sizes. Night fishing for catfish often delivers better results than daytime fishing.

WINTER. This cold, Winter weather has channel catfish gathering in deep holes. They are virtually dormant, especially now that the water has cooled into the 40's. They hole up in pockets, along river channels, ledges, and structure in the basin areas from 10 to 20 feet deep. Here, they await the warmer water of Spring. Slow presentations, especially cut bait, can still entice strikes. Often during mid day, through the afternoon, anglers are catching them a bit shallower on the same structure.

SPRING. In Spring, when water temperatures rise into the high 40's, channel catfish start their migration into coves, and up into the river. Early in the season, look for them 10 to 15 feet deep. They hold here, and feed aggressively, around relatively shallow cover until water warms into the mid 70's, at which time they begin the spawn process in 2 to 8 feet of water. Following the spawn, they move out toward the basin in 15 to 25 feet of water. Anglers are using slip sinkers, 3-way rigs, or Carolina rigs to get, and keep, the bait close to the bottom. Later in Spring focus on shallower flats, during late evening and into the night.

SUMMER. In Summer, slow-moving water, at the river end of the lake may draw catfish to feed. Otherwise they are scattering, locating cover in slightly cooler water. Reports indicate the most successful anglers are using nightcrawlers, cut bait, minnows or shrimp. Most channel cats hold in 15 to 30 feet during the day, and 8 to 12 feet during the night. Popular areas in Summer include Rattlesnake Cove, Ship Rock and around the Bartlett Dam. Fishing from late in the day until midnight produces some of the best results, as this is their prime feeding time.

FALL. Fall is one of the better times of year for catching channel catfish. Early in Fall they cruise the shallows in 10 to 15 feet of water, in search of food. Later, in the season they migrate away from the shallows and current, to moderately deep flats and channel edges on the main body of the lake. Night fishing on Bartlett Flats is popular. They can typically be found from 10 to 25 feet deep. Fishing for channel catfish is often productive around any kind of structure. Road beds, stumps, wood, creek channels and rocky points are all good places to begin. Drift fishing or slow-trolling baits along mid-depth structure is popular and generally productive. Use a slip sinker or Carolina rig setup, with cut bait, nightcrawlers, shrimp or prepared baits. They typically remain in these areas and feed aggressively in preparation for Winter.

Current Report: Good

For many years now, good numbers of big flathead catfish can be found in Bartlett Lake, especially up in the Verde River end of the lake. The state record flathead catfish, over 76 pounds, was caught out of this lake. Fishing for flathead catfish is most often productive in the river end of the lake around any kind of structure.

WINTER. In Winter, the flatheads go virtually dormant, especially if water cools into the low 40's. They hole up in pockets from 5 to 15 feet deep along channel edges, humps amd long points, and await warmer water. Fishing the channel off the edge of the big flats outside Rattlesnake Cove is often a great spot when water levels are high. Anglers with boats are getting ideal access to these river channels, but anglers fishing from the bank are still catching a few.

SPRING. In Spring, when water temperatures rise into the mid 50's, flathead catfish start their migration up river. They hold, and feed aggressively, around cover in 20 to 35 feet of water. Once the water warms into the mid 70's, they begin the spawning ritual, primarily from the Yellow Cliffs, up the Verde River. Slip sinkers, 3-way rigs, or Carolina rigs all work well, with enough weight to keep the bait close to the bottom, especially in current.

SUMMER. In Summer, slow-moving water, at the river end of the lake is usually productive. Flatheads are feeding deeper during the day, around 30 to 40 feet deep, and in 10 to 25 feet of water at night. Successful anglers are using live cut bait and shrimp, or live bluegill, shad and sunfish caught out of this lake. Night fishing with live bluegill has delivered many of the larger cats, as this is prime feeding time.

FALL. Fall is one of the best times of year for catching big flatheads. The Verde River in flow, and other creek channels are where most big flatheads are caught. They roam around in 20 to 40 feet of water and feed fairly aggressively.