Arizona Fishing Report
This Arizona fishing report focuses on the waters managed by Arizona State Parks and Trails. Typically, the tactics and trends discussed here can be used by anglers throughout the state to enjoy an elevated fishing experience in a variety of Arizona waters. The specific fishing information found here will change seasonally so check back often to enjoy fishing success regardless of when you've planned your visit.
Visit the spring bass fishing page and get helpful Arizona spring bass fishing tips from our partners Fishin48. They cover pre-spawn, spawn, and post-spawn techniques, bait selection, and the best locations you can catch Arizona bass right now, and every spring.
If you would like to share your fishing success or information about your tactics, please email us at socialmedia@azstateparks.gov or tag us on social @azstateparks.
January 2024 Lyman Lake Fishing Report
1/19/2024 Report by: Park Ranger Donna Hartell
Fishing has slowed down and shore access is becoming limited by ice forming around the lake. Despite frigid temps and ice, some anglers are still experiencing success with Lyman’s walleye and channel catfish. Most of the walleye are being caught near the dam in 25 feet of water on Chatterbaits and lipless crank baits fished near underwater structure. The channel catfish are biting best on nightcrawlers or anchovies fished on a slip sinker rig.
December 2023 Lake Havasu Fishing Report
12/16/2023 Report By: John Galbraith of Bass Tackle Master
Striper fishing remains good near schools of shad off the CA side of the main basin from Havasu Landing Casino south to the chalk cliffs. Trolling, casting, or jigging tailspinners, blade baits and spoons near shad schools during early morning and late afternoon hours has been the most productive tactic for numbers of fish. Live shad, however, are producing quality sized stripers from 2 to 4lbs. Use a 4' throw net (the largest legal size) or a snag hook to catch shad to use as live bait.
Smallmouth bass are biting good on shad colored jerkbaits like the Staysee 90 or white/shad pattern Ratl Traps.
Unless you can locate them down deep in their winter schools with sonar, fishing for redear sunfish has been slow. Begin your search in 25 to 40ft of water off main lake points.
November 2023 Alamo Lake Fishing Report
11/12/2023 Report by: Park Manager Drew Collett
The late season crappie bite is on at Alamo Lake! Fish are being caught all night under lights and into the early morning hours on minnows and jigs. After the lake stratified over the weekend, the schools have moved up in the water column to about 10 feet from 30 feet of water making them more accessible throughout the lake.
Alamo Lake bass are being caught on Senkos and Chatterbaits the same color as the dragonflies that are on the lake surface. The best time to catch them is 12 to 4 pm after the water warms up a bit. Lake levels are still high at just 5 feet below full pool, so there’s plenty of room on the lake to catch lifelong fishing memories!
November 2023 Lake Havasu Fishing Report
11/02/2023 Report By: John Galbraith of Bass Tackle Master
Striper fishing is great right now at Lake Havasu if you’re able to locate schools of their favorite food, shad. If you’re using a boat, an electronic fish finder will come in handy…but what if you don’t have a boat and still want to take advantage of the great striper action at Havasu?
Scan the lake looking for birds feeding on shad near the lake surface, chances are the stripers are actively feeding just below. Get as close as you can and cast a 3.8 Keitech plastic swimbait, a 3/4 oz Rat-L-Trap (in Silverado color), or a jerkbait like the Pointer 128 (in Chartreuse shad) near the action. Even if you don’t get your lure right in the middle of the feeding frenzy there will still be feeding fish on the periphery. Focus your search around Bill Williams/Havasu Springs, the Chalk Cliffs, and the areas near Lake Havasu State Park.
If you’re into bait fishing, try catching your own! Since shad are schooled up in the cooler water, they’re easy to catch with a throw net. Check the fishing regulations on AZGFD.com to learn the legalities of this productive bait collecting technique before your trip.
The largemouth fishing is also good right now at Havasu. Try small white or shad colored jerkbaits like the Pointer 100 or Rapala X-Rap. For smallmouth, try brown or red crawdad colored crankbaits in 8-15 feet of water.
October 2023 Lyman Lake Fishing Report
10/24/2023 Report by: Park Ranger Donna Hartell
It might be cooling down up there, but the fishing has been HOT at Lyman Lake State Park! Anglers are having success with both walleye and channel catfish. Chatterbaits have accounted for a majority of the recent walleye, and your standard catfish offerings like nightcrawler, shrimp, anchovies, and prepared stink baits are landing a good number of high country catfish for patient anglers. Some of the better spots can be accessed by boats, although our main cove right by the park entrance has been producing a lot of fish for shore anglers.
September 2023 Alamo Lake Fishing Report
09/12/2023 Report by: Park Manager Drew Collett
Night fishing for Alamo Lake bass is working well with lots of decent fish being caught on jigs and drop-shot setups. Multiple reports have come in regarding Brush Hogs and Robo Worms as “go to” night baits right now at Alamo. The pre-dawn topwater bite is going strong here but dies off after the sun is up. Switch to soft plastics around deeper cover after the topwater action falls off.
Channel catfish are being caught on a regular basis at Alamo and anglers are experiencing success with a variety of baits. Shrimp, anchovies, nightcrawlers, and prepared “stink” baits are all catching fish. Alamo has a lot of great shoreline spots so you don’t need a boat to take advantage of awesome catfish angling here! Find a spot along shore and set up. If they’re not biting, move down the shoreline and try a different bait. Repeat as many times as necessary until you find the fish.
July 2023 Lake Havasu Fishing Report
07/06/2023 Report By: John Galbraith of Bass Tackle Master
Average water temp 79 degrees
The Striper Bite seems to be fair in the morning hours from 6am to 8am, specifically from the mouth of the river south to Calif Bay. Boils have been happening on and off during this time. Try trolling Ratl Traps, soft swim baits, or shallow running minnow plugs in areas where water birds like Grebes are gathering over schools of shad.
The Havasu catfish bite seems to be good during the evening hours in bays where the grass isn't too thick. Live Bluegills, Cut Mackerel, and anchovies are working well now, but it might be a good idea to throw out some extra chum to attract the cats from longer distances.
Smallmouth and Largemouth bass are hitting Poppers, Buzzbaits, and super spooks in the early AM hours. Try fishing the outside edges of shallow weedmats. Carolina Rigged Plastics like Brush hogs, curly tail power worms, and Senkos are working well over submerged weed beds in 8 to 15ft of water. A 3/8 to 1/2oz weight with 10 or 12lbs test should do the trick. Try adding a glass bead between the swivel and sinker to attract the bass in lower visibility water.
Good luck out there!
June 2023 Lake Havasu Fishing Report
06/12/2023 Report By: John Galbraith of Bass Tackle Master
The Lake Havasu striper bite has been good lately, especially in the morning between 5am-730am. Try Lucky Craft Pointer 128/158s or Bill Lewis Ratl Traps in the north end of the main basin all the way south to Black Rock and California Bay. If you're into cut bait fishing, anchovies or sardines have been productive lately as well.
Anglers have been catching big channel and flathead catfish by using sunfish or bluegills in the 2.5" to 4" range as bait. Try a Carolina rig with 3/4 to 1oz. sinkers with 12 to 15lb test and a 24 to 36" leader for best results.
If you're interested in world-class redear fishing, try using nightcrawlers around submerged grass beds. Some quality fish over 2lbs have been caught here recently. Have fun and happy fishing!
