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Fall Fishing Outlook For Central Arizona
By Ty Gray
Arizona Game & Fish
Region VI Fisheries Specialist
The fall fishing outlook is good for the central Arizona waters with lakes Roosevelt and Pleasant being the likely hot spots in the early fall, while Canyon and Saguaro could take top honors in late fall/early winter once trout are stocked.
However, on any given autumn day great fishing can be found at a number of lakes, such as Bartlett, Apache, Canyon or Saguaro. Here is a lake-by-lake break down.
Lake Pleasant
Look to fish the "extremes" this time of year. Bass will be very shallow or very deep.
The topwater bite should remain good into the early fall. Major topwater eruptions of schooling bass chasing threadfin shad at various locations, typically main lake around reefs and islands but even in open water at times, are commonplace this time of year. Many of those boils will have white bass and stripers as well, especially at first and last light.
Other bass will be deep (30-50 feet) and be vulnerable to drop shots and Carolina rigs. As temperatures continue to cool, most bass will go deep and it will be time to start jigging with spoons, Carolina rigging lizards and drop shotting finesse worms.
White bass fishing should pick up at night trolling spinners and small cranks in the early fall. The best catfish bite will be using water dogs up in the creek channels or in murky coves. The crappie outlook is poor.
The lake typically levels out and begins to fill again in the latter part of October. The rising water typically signals the transition to deeper water fishing.
Roosevelt Lake
The lake level is much better this fall with a predicted low of 25 percent when Salt River Project switches to Verde River to supply canals as compared to 10 percent last year.
Boat launching will be available at Badger, Cholla and the marina ramps.
Bass fishing should be good with some topwater action in the mornings and evenings. Look for schooling bass chasing shad in coves and open water during the day.
Westy worms at night are always big producers this time of year. Later in the fall, start fishing spider jigs in deeper water and along rocky shorelines. Most of the bass will be in or under the slot but there will be a good number of "overs" in the mix.
The Crappie fishing should be fair and possibly excellent under the right conditions. Fishing minnows under crappie lights at night is by far the best way to go.
Flathead fishing typically slows down the farther we get into fall. Early fall still offers some opportunities to boat a big one, try fishing waterdogs, small carp or bluegill up in the Salt arm of the lake and around Windy Hill.
Apache Lake
Bass fishing should be fair. Garland spider jigs, imitating crayfish, are good bets for bigger bass. Try fishing jerkbaits along cliff walls even in 80-100 feet of water.
Bass will typically hang on the walls and come up after the shallow diving jerk baits. Bass anglers tossing crankbaits often hook walleye this time of year. Back trolling spinners with worm harnesses and minnows is another good bet.
When weather fronts come through, look for smallmouth bass action to pick up. Fall smallmouth can often be picked up using topwater lures.
The yellow bass bite should be better in the early fall. Locate schools with a fish finder or trolling cranks, minnows or night crawlers. When you find them, stop and drop minnows or jigging spoons into the school. Apache is home to world-class size yellows.
Catfishing will probably slow down for the flatheads but channel cats bite throughout the year. Try chicken livers, shrimp and cut mackerel. The crappie outlook is poor.
Canyon Lake
Westy worms, spider jigs and jerkbaits are your best bets in early fall. Bigger bass will be feeding on crayfish and the spider jig makes a nice replica.
Rainbow trout stockings resume in November. At that time, you can take advantage of the trout in a couple of different ways; catch ‘em or imitate ‘em. This is big bass time. Baits such as the Castaic swim baits, or Basstrix and Optimum in the rainbow trout pattern will probably produce more 10-pound-class bass at Canyon this time of year than any other lake in the state. These artificial baits are quite large and very effective.
There is a certified scale at Canyon Lake for those who like to get official weights of there fish and still release them. Go to the marina for directions to the scale. Look for the yellow bass to turn on in early fall.
Walleye fishing looks better for this fall. Anglers trolling or casting cranks and jerks in black/silver and fire-tiger patterns off points and rocky shorelines in the mornings and evenings are bound to catch these toothy critters. Channel catfish and panfish action should be fair in Lebarge Cove.
For smallmouth bass, work along rocky shorelines using Yamamoto grubs or small crayfish-patterned crankbaits.
Saguaro Lake
Bass fishing should be similar to Canyon Lake. Garland spider jigs and jerkbaits along cliff walls are good bets early on. As temperatures drop, bass will go deep. The yellow bass outlook is very good. Cicadas and jigging spoons should produce good numbers of yellows with some black bass mixed in.
Locate the schools with your electronics and drop your bait into the school. The channel catfish bite has been good and should continue through early fall. Water dogs and stink baits are top producers.
Rainbow trout stockings will resume in November. Power Bait, worms and spinners are all good bets. When trout stockings start, look to start fishing Basstrix, Optimum’s and other trout imitating baits to catch the big bass. Fishing these baits along shorelines down to 30 feet have consistently produced large bass this time of year.
The walleye-fishing outlook is good. Fish surveys this past year have shown that Saguaro is home to a large population of 18-20 inch walleye. Walleyes will hit live baits or artificials ranging from cranks to jigging spoons. Anglers are encouraged to release walleye under 14 inches.
Lower Salt River
Trout stockings will resume in November. This is always a hot spot for valley trout anglers. Power Bait, worms and spinners are all proven baits in the river. Fly-fisherman can also take advantage of the great fishing here.
Horseshoe Lake
Fishing outlook is poor for all species as the lake is empty. Anglers fishing below the dam may pick up a few bass, crappie and catfish.
Bartlett Lake
Lake level is currently near 90 percent but will start dropping after Oct. 15 when SRP switches over to the Verde River to supply canals.
Boat launching will be accessible at the main ramps and off the beach.
The bass fishing outlook is good. The topwater action has been very good so far in September and should continue well into October unless a cold storm shuts down the action.
As lake temperatures drop, fish will move deeper. Crankbaits and soft plastics will be the way to go later in the fall.
The crappie bite should improve. Fishing minnows under lights at night will produce good numbers in early to mid Fall.
Catfishing typically slows down this time of year but a few are still taken on water dogs and bluegill.
Verde River above Horseshoe Lake
The outlook is poor to fair. Anglers may pick up a few smallmouth and largemouth bass on 3-inch pumpkinseed grubs and small crankbaits.
The best way to fish the river is from canoe due to limited access. Catfishing may be good at times. Look for big holes and fish with live baits such as minnows, water dogs or hellgrammites (young of Dobsonfly). Stink baits, liver and shrimp are also good bets.
Source AG&F website