When you're thinking of casting your line for walleye in Arizona, try Lake Powell, Show Low Lake, or picturesque Fool Hollow Lake. Lake Powell's dramatic canyons hold impressive walleye with no limits on your catch. Show Low Lake, known for record-breaking walleye, sits high in the mountains offering stunning views. For something scenic, Fool Hollow Lake is full of fish and surrounded by natural beauty. Roosevelt Lake and Lyman Lake also promise excellent fishing amidst diverse aquatic life. By understanding each lake's unique features and the best seasonal strategies, you're set to make the most of your walleye fishing adventure.
Key Takeaways
- Lake Powell offers exceptional walleye fishing with no limits and record-breaking catches in scenic canyon settings.
- Roosevelt Lake, popular for bass fishing, also provides opportunities for walleye alongside a variety of game fish.
- Show Low Lake, a high-altitude location, is famous for its record walleye catches amid tranquil surroundings.
- Fool Hollow Lake's picturesque environment hosts diverse fish species, making it ideal for walleye fishing enthusiasts.
- Lyman Lake in the White Mountains is known for its large size and moderate depth, ideal for walleye fishing.
Lake Powell
Nestled amidst breathtaking canyons, Lake Powell is a premier destination for anglers seeking a diverse fishing experience. With just a Utah fishing license, you're set to explore both the Utah and Arizona portions of this vast reservoir. It's a walleye haven, especially from mid-April to May, when the fishing peaks. You'll want to target the slick rock canyons in the lower lake, where walleye lurk 15 to 25 feet down. The lake also holds the record for the largest Channel Catfish caught in Arizona, weighing 24 lb 0 oz and caught above Hite in 1966.
When it comes to technique, keep your lures in contact with the bottom. Plastic worms, double-tailed jigs, or night crawlers work wonders. The best times to fish are early morning, late evening, or night. Jigging is effective—mimic the local baitfish with a jerky, vertical motion. If you prefer bottom fishing, slowly work your lure down the canyon's center. Walleye numbers could be increasing at Lake Powell, thanks to the availability of more forage in the lake.
Lake Powell encourages anglers to catch as many walleye and striped bass as possible, with no limits on these species. However, remember to release any endangered species, like the Colorado pikeminnow or razorback sucker, immediately. Whether you're a seasoned angler or a beginner, Lake Powell offers an unforgettable fishing adventure.
Roosevelt Lake
In the heart of central Arizona, Roosevelt Lake stretches across nearly 20,000 acres, offering a bass fisherman's paradise amidst submerged brush and timber. While the lake is renowned for its bass fishing, walleye enthusiasts might need to look elsewhere. Here, you'll find an abundance of largemouth and smallmouth bass, making it a hotspot for anglers seeking a thrilling bass fishing experience. The lake's structure and cover provide ideal habitats for these bass species, ensuring plenty of opportunities to reel in a catch. With its excellent top-water bite in the early morning, anglers can enjoy the excitement of schooling bass chasing shad. Notably, Lake Roosevelt in Washington supports 32 species of fish, including walleye, which adds to the diverse fishing opportunities it offers.
Roosevelt Lake isn't just about bass, though. The waters are teeming with a variety of game fish, including channel and flathead catfish, black crappie, bluegill, and yellow bass. This diversity makes it a fantastic destination for anglers of all preferences. However, it's important to follow Arizona's general fishing regulations, as specific rules for walleye aren't applicable here.
Differentiating itself from Washington's Lake Roosevelt, which boasts walleye fishing, Arizona's Roosevelt Lake focuses more on bass. The absence of walleye-specific regulations underscores its regional specialization in bass fishing. So, pack your gear and prepare for a memorable day of bass fishing at this beautiful Arizona lake!
Show Low Lake
Roosevelt Lake may be a haven for bass, but those in pursuit of walleye will find their true calling at Show Low Lake. Nestled in the White Mountains of east-central Arizona, this 100-acre gem sits 6,500 feet above sea level. Renowned for its record-setting walleye catches, the lake promises an unforgettable fishing experience. The rocky bottom near the dam offers an ideal habitat, drawing anglers enthusiastic to test their skills. The lake is also known for producing multiple state record walleye, which adds to its allure for avid fishermen. Show Low Lake's clear waters and abundant submerged structures create a perfect environment for walleye to thrive year-round.
As you prepare your tackle, consider deep-diving crankbaits and jigs for those rocky areas. In spring and fall, walleye frequent shallower waters, while summer sends them deeper. The lake's open shoreline, free from dense weed growth, is perfect for shore fishing—especially during early morning or late evening when walleye are most active. Casting crankbaits parallel to the shore or using a bottom-bouncer rig with a nightcrawler can yield impressive results.
For access, Show Low Lake Campground provides boat launch facilities and campsites. Remember, boats must be 10 horsepower or less. While winter freezes limit access, spring's thaw reopens this walleye wonderland, inviting you back to explore its depths and shores.
Fool Hollow Lake
Fool Hollow Lake, a picturesque retreat near Show Low in Arizona's White Mountains, offers a diverse fishing experience. Spanning about 150 acres with an average depth of 23 feet, it invites anglers to explore its waters teeming with walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, black crappie, sunfish, and carp. To fish here, make sure you have a state fishing license and trout stamp if you're over 13. Keep in mind that there are watercraft and motor restrictions, allowing only electric motors or those with 10 horsepower or less. For the best results, hit the lake early morning or late evening. Try using nightcrawlers, spinner baits, jigs, and minnow-imitating crankbaits, especially if you're targeting walleye or bass. Trolling around submerged structures and drop-offs can be particularly rewarding. During low-light hours, you might find walleye lurking in shallow waters near the shore.
Stay overnight at one of the 31 tent camping or 92 RV sites, many with water and electric hookups. Boating is relaxed here, with restrictions to electric or 10 HP gas motors. Facilities include two boat ramps, fish-cleaning stations, and picnic areas. With a day-use fee of $6 per vehicle, Fool Hollow Lake remains accessible year-round, rarely freezing over even in winter.
Lyman Lake
Nestled in northeastern Arizona, Lyman Lake is the largest lake in the White Mountains region, offering a vast 1,500-acre playground for fishing enthusiasts. With an average depth of 22 feet and reaching up to 57 feet, it's an ideal spot for a variety of fish, especially walleye. Thanks to a successful spawning program, the walleye population is thriving, making this lake a prime destination for anglers. The lake's high elevation and cooler temperatures provide an excellent environment for walleye to flourish. You'll find walleye most active around the rocky and weedy areas. For a successful catch, try casting Chatterbaits and lipless crank baits near the dam in about 25 feet of water. The daily bag limit is six walleye, so plan your fishing trip accordingly. If channel catfish are more your style, nightcrawlers or anchovies on a slip sinker rig work wonders. Lyman Lake is home to several protected native fish species, including the Colorado pikeminnow, which is a testament to the diverse aquatic life found here.
Winter months bring challenges, with ice forming around the lake, limiting shore access. However, determined anglers can still find success, especially in the main cove by the park entrance. Remember, a state fishing license is required for those over 13, and live baitfish are allowed only in approved areas. Lyman Lake promises an adventurous outing with diverse fishing opportunities.
Lake Pleasant
While Lyman Lake in Arizona offers exciting walleye fishing opportunities, Lake Pleasant presents a different story altogether. Situated in the scenic Adirondacks of New York, not Arizona, Lake Pleasant is a walleye haven with a diverse fish population. You'll find smallmouth and largemouth bass, rainbow and brown trout, brown bullhead, yellow perch, chain pickerel, rock bass, and lake trout swimming in its waters. Lake Pleasant and Sacandaga Lake are connected by a channel, allowing for unique fishing experiences when water levels are high. Public access is straightforward, with an unpaved launch available in Speculator and an accessible fishing platform at Cherry Brook's mouth. If you're aiming for walleye, remember the specific regulations: the season runs from the first Saturday in May through March 15, with a catch limit of three walleye per day, each needing to be at least 18 inches long. Ice fishing is permitted during the open season, providing anglers with additional opportunities to catch walleye in the colder months. Trolling is a favored technique here, especially along submerged structures like timber and rocky points. Crankbaits or spinner baits work wonders along these edges. Early in the season, try your luck in the shallower waters where walleye tend to gather. Do note the presence of invasive spiny waterfleas, so verify your gear is cleaned, drained, and dried to prevent their spread.
Seasonal Fishing Tips
When it comes to walleye fishing in Arizona, understanding seasonal patterns can markedly enhance your success on the water. In spring, focus on spawning areas in shallow and mid-depth waters. Use smaller jigs and minnows to mimic natural prey, especially around the upper ends of lakes like Show Low Creek and Fool Hollow Lake. Early morning and evening are prime times, and targeting submerged structures, weed beds, and rocky points will increase your chances.
As summer heats up, walleye retreat to deeper waters. Equip yourself with deep-diving crankbaits and weighted lines. Early morning and late evening are your best bets for finding fish in shallower waters. In Show Low Lake and Saguaro Lake, rocky structures near dams are hotspots. Trolling along shelves in Saguaro Lake can be particularly fruitful. During the summer, walleye are known to exhibit greater activity on overcast days compared to bright, sunny days, so consider planning your fishing trips accordingly.
In fall, walleye migrate to shallower waters and feed actively. Use crankbaits or larger live baits, and target near-shore weed beds in Lyman Lake. Rip-rap shores and dam areas are excellent spots, especially at dawn and dusk. Walleye fishing is popular with millions of anglers who often find success during these active feeding periods.
During winter, walleye retreat to deep waters. Ice fishing with tip-ups or jigging with spoons in deep areas is effective. Slow-trolling with live bait in reservoirs like Roosevelt and Apache Lakes can yield results, particularly at night.
