Fall Fishing Forecast: Central region
Editor’s note: This is the final of five regional Fall Fishing Forecasts.
Apache Lake — Rating: FAIR
Lake temperatures are cooling down from the 80s in August to the 70s in November. Water levels this fall should be relatively stable with minimal fluctuation. See the current lake elevation.
Apache did have minor fish kills related to golden algae during the spring that included species other than shad. We conducted a fish survey in early April to evaluate the population and observed dead fish throughout the lake. However, we also captured quite a few fish that were doing well during our fish surveys, which indicate a good number of largemouth bass and other fish species survived the fish kills. If you see dead or dying shad at the surface, please contact AZGFD as it could be an indicator of toxin-emitting golden algae.
Largemouth and smallmouth bass are present in all sizes and fishing is expected to be fair throughout the fall. As the weather cools and fish become more active, shift to working top-water lures and fishing in shallower water. When in doubt, throw a live worm on the bottom and see what bites!
Shore fishing is best at the main launch area and at Burnt Corral. Dirt roads allow you to drive around the lake, take a short hike to the water and fish from the shore. The lake provides many coves to fish by boat. For walleye fishing, head toward the upper area of the lake past the no-ski buoys and fish Bronco Creek. A successful walleye technique involves a trolling shad pattern with crankbaits in 10 to 30 feet of water.
Make sure you have your Tonto Pass which can be purchased online and from a variety of convenience stores and sporting goods stores.
Bartlett Lake — Rating: HOT
Lake temperatures are cooling down from the 80s in August to the 70s in November. With the current weather outlook, water levels may be lower than usual. See the current lake elevation. The thermocline becomes well established in May and is usually around 35 to 45 feet. Thermal stratification continues until lake mixing occurs in September/October. Make sure you have your Tonto Pass which can be purchased online and from a variety of convenience stores and sporting goods stores.
Topwater lures, 4-inch worms or lizards, shallow-running crankbaits, and in-line spinners can all work at times for largemouth bass. Mix it up. When the shallow action falls off, go deeper using drop shots, Texas rigs, Carolina rigs and jigs. When focusing on largemouth bass, fish near shady areas with overhangs or drop-offs and points.
Bartlett is also an excellent catfish lake; shore and boat fishermen both do very well. Use chicken liver, worms or any kind of leftovers you might have that will stay on your hook.
Largemouth bass are present in all sizes and fishing is expected to be fair throughout the fall.
Fish tend to be most active during the 90-minute windows surrounding the sun and moon rise and fall. When the moon is at full or new moon stage, the effect is stronger. There are many apps that you can use that display this information for you. As fishermen know, severe weather changes have an impact on the way fish feed. If a cold front is approaching, the fish tend to move deeper into the water and lay low. Barometric pressure is a good indicator. If pressure changes quickly, the fish tend to be less likely to show interest in your bait. If the pressure change is gradual the fish will respond favorably.
It’s expected to be a good year for crappie and we anticipate fishing to be hot. Try fishing around submerged trees or on shelves. Try using live minnows or jigs tipped with minnows. Flathead catfish are present throughout the lake but are more common upriver or by the dam. Look for spots where the water is murkier with vegetation or rocky covering nearby. Fishing for catfish should be great this fall. Try using catfish baits like chicken livers for smaller catfish. To catch a trophy size try using live sunfish or carp.
Canyon Lake — Rating: FAIR
Lake temperatures are cooling down from 80s in August to the 70s in November. Water levels this fall should be relatively stable with minimal fluctuation. See the current lake elevation.
Canyon had minor fish kills related to golden algae during the spring that included species other than shad. We conducted a fish survey in early April to evaluate the population and observed dead fish throughout the lake. However, we also captured quite a few fish that were doing well during our fish surveys, which indicates a good number of largemouth bass and other fish species survived the fish kills.
During fall, some nice largemouth bass caught be caught near overhanging vegetation and structure. Yellow bass are hanging out at the points where the substrate drops off. Early morning is the best time to fish. Largemouth bass are present in all sizes and fishing is expected to be fair throughout the fall. Canyon is known for its large bass; however, it’s a little harder to catch fish here if you aren’t familiar with the lake. As the weather cools and fish become more active, shift to working top-water lures and fishing in shallower water.
Recently the Palo Verde ramp underwent a renovation and is now open. Shore anglers can try fishing off of Acacia day-use recreational area where habitat is placed near the buoys. Shore anglers should also try their luck at the newly renovated Boulder Recreational Area. This recreational area is restricted from motorized watercrafts and is a great place to kayak and there is also a fishing pier. During our recent fish survey we caught quite a few largemouth bass in the back of the cove.
If you see dead or dying shad at the surface, please contact AZGFD as it could be an indicator of toxin-emitting golden algae.
Make sure you have your Tonto Pass which can be purchased online and from a variety of convenience stores and sporting goods stores.
Lake Pleasant — Rating: GOOD
Lake temperatures are cooling down from 80s in September to the 70s in November. Water levels should slowly be declining throughout the fall as water is being drawn through the Central Arizona Project (CAP) canal. As of mid-September, the lake had fallen to 36-percent full (down 40 feet in 2 months). See the latest water levels.
October can be the best time of year to fish for striper and white bass. The fish are adapting to the weather changes and cooling water, which results in more aggressive feeding patterns. The fish are gorging on shad, crawdads, and anything else they can ambush and fill their bellies for the winter. Jigging spoons will be effective this time of year. Bounce the spoons off the bottom or try experimenting retrieval speeds when jigging. Anglers should also fish coves and shorelines since striper will be chasing shad towards the shore/structure to ambush them. This will create boils and great top-water conditions.
Try casting paddletail swimbaits or use top water spooks to increase catch limits.
In recent and past surveys, we also surveyed high populations of flathead catfish holding in the Agua Fria and Castle Creek arms.
The eagle closure area is open during the fall. The closure begins Dec. 15 to June 15, to prohibit boaters from reaching the upper end of the Agua Fria River via the main lake. The area above the closure provides prime spawning grounds for striped bass. These stripers tend to congregate in the Aqua Fria River arm during the closure. The Department, in coordination with Bureau of Reclamation and Bureau of Land Management, have worked to get more angler access without causing a negative effect to bald eagles. The joint effort has resulted in reopening the access road off of Table Mesa Road and constructing a primitive boat launch area that is open for a brief time period each spring allowing access to Lake Pleasant above the eagle closure. To catch striped bass, try using live shad, anchovies, silver Kastmasters, plastic swimbaits and top-water lures.
Largemouth bass numbers have been reported to be better than previous years and fishing is expected to be good throughout the fall. As water temperature cools and fish become more active, try fishing shallower waters and fishing top-water lures.
Try your luck at striped bass fishing top-water shad imitation lures targeting shad boils that pop up throughout the lake. Scan the surface until you find a boil then cast into and around the edges using top-water baits or swimbaits. Anglers have good success fishing anchovies under lights at night. The lights draw in schools of shad and the striped bass are drawn to those schools. You can also try and fish the shad boils.
Flathead catfish are present throughout the lake but are more common in the Aqua Fria River arm or by the dam. Look for spots where the water is murkier with vegetation or rocky covering nearby. Fishing for catfish should be great this winter. Try using catfish baits like chicken livers for smaller catfish. To catch a trophy size, try using live gizzard shad, sunfish or carp.
Lower Salt River — Rating: GOOD
The Lower Salt River flow and water temperatures are largely controlled by the release of water from Saguaro Lake at Stewart Mountain Dam, and from Bartlett Lake via the Verde River. During the winter and much of spring, releases from Saguaro Lake are slowed to a trickle, creating more intermittent pools and shallow water along the stretch of river upstream of Phon D. Sutton recreation site where the Verde River comes in. See the current river flows.
Until trout are stocked in November, worms are a good all around bait and jigs will work for the sunfish and bass. Corn will entice the carp. You can catch roundtail chub (a delectable native fish) in the deep water around Coon Bluff, Phon D. Sutton and Granite Reef areas. They will hang out in the pools. You can catch them with trout lures, KastMasters, Mepps or worms. Make sure you have your Tonto Pass which can be purchased online and from a variety of convenience stores and sporting goods stores.
Access to the river is mostly through Tonto National Forest Recreation Sites where a Tonto Pass is needed to park. In order from Saguaro Lake downstream to Power road, these sites are: Water Users, Blue Point Bridge, Coons Bluff, Phon D Sutton, and Granite Reef Dam recreation sites.
Trout stockings usually occur twice a month* through June, making trout fishing in the desert a worthwhile endeavor. Try drifting a weightless earthworm through moving water, or dropping in some PowerBait in the deeper pools. This is also a great opportunity to try your hand at fly fishing, and a size 8 wooly bugger will catch just about anything that swims.
Bass can be found throughout the river, but during the period of low flows are generally stacked in the deeper holes. The Granite Reef Dam recreation area is a popular spot for kayak bass fishermen, and because it is below where the Verde River comes in, water levels stay more consistent throughout the year. Try using square bill crankbaits and spinnerbaits when the fish are more active and slowing it down with a dropshot rig when nothing else seems to be working.
The Lower Salt River has a variety of other species to offer that can be caught on rod and reel including carp, catfish, yellow bass, and native desert and Sonoran suckers. These species are rarely targeted along the river but can be just as much fun to catch.
*As a guideline, trout are primarily stocked at Phon D Sutton and Granite Reef recreation sites during the winter, and Water Users and Blue Point Bridge during the summer.
Roosevelt Lake
Fishing Rating — Rating: HOT
Lake temperatures are in the 80s and expected to reach the 70s by November. Anglers have been enjoying some of the best largemouth bass action in years at Roosevelt, particularly on bass in the 3-pound range. A recent tournament had 5-fish bags weighing an exceptional 25 pounds. Anglers also are saying crappie are holding tight to fish habitat.
The shad spawns this year on the lake were highly successful; accordingly, anglers should consider using shad-imitation crankbaits.
Decreases in winter and summer precipitation means lower water levels as we get farther into the year. However, unless this coming winter has better precipitation and snowpack the water levels could continue to drop next year. See the current lake elevation. Despite lower water levels, fish should have plenty of habitat thanks to all the hard work by all our partners and volunteers on fish habitat improvement sites.
Fish tend to be most active during the 90-minute windows surrounding the sun and moon rise and fall. When the moon is at full or new moon stage, the effect is stronger. There are many apps that you can use that display this information for you. As fishermen know, severe weather changes have an impact on the way fish feed. If a cold front is approaching the fish tend to move deeper into the water and lay low. Barometric pressure is a good indicator. If the pressure changes quickly the fish tend to be less likely to show interest in your bait. If the pressure change is gradual the fish will respond favorably.
Largemouth bass are present in all sizes and fishing for them is expected to be good throughout the fall. As the weather cools and fish become more active, shift to working top-water baits and fishing in shallower water. When in doubt throw a live worm on the bottom and see what bites!
It’s expected to continue being a good year for crappie and we anticipate fishing to be good. Try heading towards the Salt River arm and fishing around the submerged trees or around the newly placed habitat. Fishing for channel catfish and flathead catfish should be excellent throughout the winter. The best place to fish for trophy-size flathead is the entire Salt River arm.
Make sure you have your Tonto Pass which can be purchased online and from a variety of convenience stores and sporting goods stores.
Saguaro Lake — Rating: GOOD
Lake temperatures are cooling down from the 80s in September to the 70s in November. Water levels this fall should be relatively stable with minimal fluctuation. See the current lake elevation.
Saguaro had minor fish kills, mostly shad, related to golden algae during the spring. Saguaro was the least affected by golden algae as compared to Canyon and Apache lakes. The thermocline becomes well established in May and is usually around 15 to 20 feet. Thermal stratification continues until lake mixing occurs around October.
In general, for the largemouth bass, target points and drop offs. Spinnerbaits, Senkos, dropshots, Texas-rigged worms, jigs, Hula grubs, small cranks, KastMasters and Roboworms are can work for a variety of anglers in 10 to 30 feet of water pretty much all over the lake. Saguaro is notorious for monster largemouth bass.
Fish tend to be most active during the 90-minute windows surrounding the sun and moon rise and fall. When the moon is at full or new moon stage the effect is stronger. There are many apps that you can use that display this information for you. As fishermen know, severe weather changes have an impact on the way fish feed. If a cold front is approaching the fish tend to move deeper into the water and lay low. Barometric pressure is a good indicator. If pressure changes quickly the fish tend to be less likely to show interest in your bait. If the pressure change is gradual the fish will respond favorably.
Largemouth bass are present in all sizes and fishing for them is expected to be good throughout the fall. As the weather cools and fish become more active, shift to fishing shallower and using top–water lures. When in doubt throw a live worm on the bottom and see what bites!
Yellow bass are abundant throughout the lake and fishing should be great. During the last fish survey in 2016 we caught multiple yellow bass larger than the current state record of 1 pound, 15.8 ounces. This lake has the ability to leave that record in the dust. Try using jigs, spoons, spinners, small crankbaits, minnows and worms. Schools of yellow bass look for groups of shad, so if the bite slows, don’t be too impatient to move off a good point you’ve located. Use sonar from a boat to locate shad groups more precisely — yellow bass are not far behind. They may be below or to the side of schools. Pitch your lure adjacent to or drop it through the school, allowing it to settle to the bottom. Many times bass take the lure on the way down and you won’t feel a bite until you reel in and tighten your line.
If you crave catfish, set your line near the bottom and use worms, minnows and chicken livers as bait. Try fishing for catfish where water flows into the lake from a side canyon, especially if the side canyon waters flow into a deep hole.
For shore anglers, try fishing along the docks and shore near the second ramp. You also can follow a trail beyond the docks that winds along a cliff from which you can fish. Butcher Jones Recreational Area is another shore-access fishing site that has a trail you can fish along as well as a side cove along the cliffs.
If you see dead or dying shad at the surface, please contact AZGFD as it could be an indicator of toxin-emitting golden algae.
Make sure you have your Tonto Pass which can be purchased online and from a variety of convenience stores and sporting goods stores.
Tempe Town Lake — Rating: FAIR
(Community Fishing Program water)
Fishing at Tempe Town Lake is likely to be fair due to a severe fish kill that lasted several weeks to months from late winter to early spring. Fish stockings were suspended until follow-up testing determined golden algae was no longer detected. Golden algae related kills have tapered off at Tempe Town Lake and fish stockings have resumed!
The Community Fishing Program stocked channel catfish during the summer. As water temperatures cool down stocking will return at the beginning of October. To catch stocked channel catfish, try using baits on the bottom like hot dogs, bacon, nightcrawlers, shrimp, chicken livers, or stink baits. Largemouth bass, yellow bass, sunfish, tilapia, and carp populations have greatly decreased with the late winter fish kill and are likely to remain slow-fishing until populations increase.
Boating anglers beware: power boats are restricted to single electric motors and operators must have a City of Tempe annual boating permit. Proper floatation devices are required on board. The boat ramp is located on the north side of the lake near the marina.
Shore anglers may want to find some shade around the lake. A good spot is under the Mill Ave or Scottsdale Road bridges on both the north and south side of the lake.
