Anyone From The Phoenix Area?

[zeth]

Well moving to Phoenix in the next few weeks if all goes well with the job interviews. 

Taking a year off fishing tournaments (non-boater) and well not sure what opportunities there really are for those without a boat in the Phoenix area. The house we bought is like 30 min to Saguaro so that's nice but bank fishing big lakes can be hit or miss. If anyone wants to help me get my bearrings with fishing around phoenix that would be great.

[Fisher-O-men]

Lake Pleasant is to the north, and Roosevelt is south and east, I think.  There is an area near the airport called Salt River.  Don't know if it is actually salt.

[zeth]

No one?

 

Went over to Canyon lake the other day when I was in town for interviews.  Canyon lake looks nice. Lot's of bass boats out. Literally just down the road from my house so that's nice.  I've been to Saguaro as well. Not much opportunity to bank fish at either due to terrain so not sure if that's worth my efforts. 

[WRB]

I would stop in the local Phoenix tackle shops and BPS in Mesa. There are urban bass fishing in small lakes around the area. The well known big lakes may not be easy to fish from shore and water levels change greatly seasonally.

Some lakes offer rental boats.

There is another big lake east of you San Carlos lake on the Gila River that doesn't get much fishing pressure because access requires a permit from the Indian reservation, but has good bass fishing and easy shore fishing.

Scout around there some good small ponds and lakes around the Phoenix area.

Tom

[zeth]

I would stop in the local Phoenix tackle shops and BPS in Mesa. There are urban bass fishing in small lakes around the area. The well known big lakes may not be easy to fish from shore and water levels change greatly seasonally.

Some lakes offer rental boats.

There is another big lake east of you San Carlos lake on the Gila River that doesn't get much fishing pressure because access requires a permit from the Indian reservation, but has good bass fishing and easy shore fishing.

Scout around there some good small ponds and lakes around the Phoenix area.

Tom

Thanks for the tip. 

[CarlF]

My father in law winters in Apache Junction. The chain of lakes just north of him are loaded with largemouth. The Arizona fish and game site also has a ton of information on reservoirs around the phoenix area.

[WRB]

The Verde River below Bartlett lake to about Fort Mcdowell had* good urban bass fishing for a shore angler.

The water flows year around, but gets very low in the summer, you need to explore where the deeper pools are located.

Further north is the Mogillon rim lakes that are known for trout, a few like Black lake have bass and northern Pike!

The Salt River chain of lakes you have already discussed, Roosevelt being the largest and a good bass.

It gets hot hot hot in the summer in the Phoenix area, the rim lakes offer a cooler temps.

Tom

* haven't bass fished the Verde River for a long time, you need to check it out with a local tackle store for current good bass spots.

[zeth]

Thanks again. When I first went out to buy our house we stopped by the Lower Salt River coming out of Saguaro. Saw tons of 1-2 pound bass.  So maybe theres bigger in there as well. Trying to join the Federation to meet some people and haev a  chance at getting on the water. need a d**n boat. maybe new job will be what I'm hoping. 

[Airman4754]

I spent ten years between Tucson and Phoenix. If you want to have a blast get a 6" glide bait and fish the urban lakes. You'll see them on their bed. Stand as far away as possible so you can still see them, cast as far as you can over them. Just work the glide bait right up to them and dead stick it. They will usually stare it down for awhile then attack it. 

It's a blast. Catch & Release is key with those tiny man made waters. 

[Tucson]

Try  this website for AZ fishing info:   http://www.azbasszone.com/forums/index.php?

A lot of juvenile crap is posted but there is a lot of info on fishing our desert lakes.

Roosevelt has been very low for a couple of years but the lower lakes in the chain are in good shape.

[Dave Jakes]

Hey Zeth, this is my first time looking through this section of the forums, glad I saw this posted here.  I've lived in the east valley my whole life.  I grew up fishing Saguaro and Canyon since I was 5 so I know these lakes pretty well.  My family sold the bass boat a few years back which left me fish less for a while (as you said, bank fishing is pointless here).

I recently got into kayak fishing and it completely revitalized my fishing life.  If you aren't in a position where a bass boat is possible, I highly suggest you look into kayaks/motorless route.  Even on our big reservoirs like Saguaro, Canyon, and Roosevelt, there are plenty of great motorless areas.  Often times I just paddle across the channels and battle with wakeboard wakes anyway.  Still great fishing!

I run a pretty helpful group on Facebook with a lot of great guys.  Of our 1,100 members, I'd say about 50 are fairly active and willing to help out.  You can find it by searching for AZ Motorless Anglers on Facebook.

I also write a blog: http://davejakesfishin.blogspot.com .  I focus on kayak fishing in Arizona, so you may find a lot of that information helpful as well.

And lastly, if I haven't pushed this kayak fishing thing enough, check out TBA (total bass addicts) Motorless Division.  We are mid way through our first official season as Arizona's only legitimate motorless tournament circuit.

If you want any more info on Phoenix area fishing or kayak fishing let me know and I can probably point you in the right direction.  I'm usually out on the water at least once a weekend and have a few extra kayaks I let buddies use if you ever want to get out for a day.

[USNavyVet]

Zeth you still looking to go out. I have a few float tubes that we could take out. I just went to Canyon this past weekend got a 3.5# hit me up if you ever wanna give it a go.

[warrior1]

On January 22, 2016 at 10:38 AM, Tucson said:

Try  this website for AZ fishing info:   http://www.azbasszone.com/forums/index.php?

A lot of juvenile crap is posted but there is a lot of info on fishing our desert lakes.

Roosevelt has been very low for a couple of years but the lower lakes in the chain are in good shape.

I've found good information on that site as well, but be prepared to get slammed if they don't like your question or think you're not as good of a fisherman as they are.  They throw insults and vulgarities on a whim.