Fishing Report For Saguaro Lake, AZ

Current Report: Good

The lake gets heavy fishing pressure, but nice fish are being caught by dedicated anglers. Plenty of 5 to 7 pound bass are caught here and tournaments often take a 4 to 5-pound average to compete. Bass over 10 pounds also show up with some regularity. Finding bass in the grass is a top technique here, as well as fishing the steeper rock walls of the canyon.

FALL. Now that late Fall taking over, bass are moving out of shallow coves and shallow bays, following schools of baitfish back into 10 to 25 feet of water. Steep banks from Butcher Jones Beach area, through the narrows, to Ship Rock are producing nice fish. Currently jerkbaits, deep-diving crankbaits, slow-rolled spinnerbaits, artificial worms, spoons and jigs are catching most of the bass. Later in Fall, as deeper water cools, bait and bass move out to ledges, channel edges, points and humps where flutter spoons, jigs and drop shots are often good choices in 15 to 30 feet of water.

WINTER. Winter will isolate largemouth around slightly deeper structure, flats, points and creek channels. They can be found from 15 to 40 feet deep, around main-lake channel edges, steep rocky walls, and rock piles. Here they hold, feeding less frequently, awaiting warmer water to return in Spring. Slow presentations are key to getting bites. On warmer days, especially during late afternoons, bass may move shallower to feed.

SPRING. Once water temperatures rise into the low 60's, largemouth will move from deep wintering holes, to shallower water nearby spawning areas. Anglers report good topwater action from mid Spring through Summer, especially early in the morning, and on cloudy days. Vibrating jigs, jerkbaits and spinnerbaits typically get bites just away from the shoreline. At this time they are feeding aggressively in about 2 to 12 feet of water, and preparing for the spawn. Once water warms into the mid to high 60's, they will move into 2 to 5 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 12 to 30 feet deep. Deep-diving crankbaits, vibrating jigs, plastic worms, jigs, worms, 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 will be caught in 2 to 15 feet of water, on topwater lures, square-bill crankbaits, spinnerbaits and a variety of other lures. Wacky-rigged stick worms always catch finicky bass when the bite is slow. Largemouth bass here feed on shad, small sunfish and crawfish. During the hotter parts of the day, they are being caught on deep shaded banks and structure, points, channel edges, and ledges 20 to 50 feet deep. Some of the best reports seem to be from anglers fishing walls in the Narrows.

Current Report: Fair

FALL. Baitfish, which earlier moved into shallow flats, coves and bays, have moved deeper again along with crappie. Decent crappie are being caught while feeding heavily, in preparation for the cold Winter. Anglers report that 8 to 30 feet of water is where most bites are coming. Minnows, hair jigs, and crappie jigs, are good options during this feeding marathon. Late fall starts the migration deeper, toward winter holding areas, for both crappie and baitfish. Small flutter spoons, fished in 15 to 25 feet of water, are a good option during this transition. Good results are coming around deep grassy flats, points, creek channels, and rock piles.

WINTER. Once the shallows start cooling rapidly, crappie will migrate to deeper holding areas, mostly off shore. At this time they are typically caught using a very slow presentation, in 15 to 40 feet of water. Most are caught around deep creek channel bends, flats with grass and drop offs, and main-lake structure. If they are suspending in open water, they often relate to some cover, or structure change, directly below them. During warming trends, especially warm afternoons, they are drawn into 8 to 15 feet of water to feed.

SPRING. In early Spring, crappie begin staging in 12 to 15 feet of water, just outside spawning bays and shallow flats. Spring is prime time to be on the water, as crappie have moved shallow to spawn. At that time, they are typically caught in 3 to 10 feet of water. Vegetation, docks, brush and rock piles are where most anglers catch crappie, using small crappie jigs or live minnows. After the spawn, crappie typically move outside the spawning area and hold on cover close by, in 12 to 25 feet of water. Early and late in the day they are being caught in 3 to 8 feet of water. Once they move deep, anglers report success using fish finders and forward facing sonar to locate schools of crappie, which tend to stack vertically around cover. Light tackle, with 4 lb to 8 lb line, is a popular choice.

SUMMER. Water temperatures get quite warm, and crappie fishing is usually pretty good. They feed in 8 to 15 feet of water early and late in the day, until the hot Summer sun causes them to retreat to depths of 20 to 50 feet. Also, a few have embedded in the shade of slightly shallower vegetation and structure. This is a good time to focus around grassy flats and deeper rock piles. Anglers are also locating schools of crappie hanging over deep structure and around creek channel edges, using fish-finder electronics.

Current Report: Fair

Rainbow trout are stocked, at the Saguaro Lake Marina, and at Butcher Jones Beach, by the AZ Game & Fish Department.

FALL. Early in Fall, cooling water temperatures in the shallows, drew rainbow trout out of deeper Summer depths. Now, anglers are now catching them 10 to 30 feet deep on rocky banks, wind-blown points, rocky structure, humps, and anywhere baitfish are gathering. Early mornings, and in the evenings, these trout move up into 5 to 12 feet of water. Now that they had a full summer to grow, there are some nice size rainbow to be caught. Small spinners, spoons, jigs, miniature crankbaits and swimbaits are good choices, as are salmon eggs and prepared baits. Later in Autumn, they move into 15 to 25 feet of water.

WINTER. When Winter sets in jigging spoons, and jigs tipped with bait, are catching nice limits of rainbows out of 15 to 50 feet of water. These baits work well around the old river channels and the deeper humps and cuts. Trolling with leaded line or downriggers, or vertical jigging with spoons and jigs, are the best approach during the cold-water season. Slowly worked offerings are more likely to attract bites in this cold water.

SPRING. As water begins to warm in early Spring, rainbow trout move from their late winter holding areas to shallow, warmer water 5 to 25 feet deep. A good number of rainbows are typically caught from mid morning to late afternoon, during the warmest water of the day. Shallow flats, and rocky structure are quick to warm in the afternoon sun. Trout are also drawn to mid-lake humps and channel breaks. A wide variety of small spinners, spoons and bait are catching most of the fish.

SUMMER. Once Summer is here to stay, the warmer water drives rainbow deeper, 40 to 80 feet deep. Trolling with spoons, spinners and crankbaits, using downriggers or leaded line, and drift fishing with bait, are currently the most productive methods. Following drop-offs into deeper water, along structure or creek channels, is a major key to getting bites. Deep water around the Stewart Mountain Dam area, draws trout to these colder depths. Anglers fishing from the bank are using salmon eggs, corn, nightcrawlers or Berkley PowerBait, with heavy weights on a Carolina rig, to get baits in deeper water.

Current Report: Fair

Smallies take second place to largemouths here, but there are some nice ones being caught. Small crankbaits, jerkbaits, and finesse presentations like drop-shot rigs prove effective in enticing bites from these smallmouth bass.

Current Report: Fair

Bluegill are being caught all around the lake. They prefer rocky areas and are also being caught around grassy and weedy areas.

Current Report: Good

Channel catfish can be caught all around the lake, but many catfish enthusiasts are focusing on the upper end of the lake. For weekend anglers, most any rod and reel will work for catching channel catfish. For serious catfish enthusiasts, 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.