Arizona has some seriously amazing fishing lakes where you can reel in monster bass, trophy trout, giant catfish, and even record-breaking catches!
From massive reservoirs packed with hungry striped bass to cool mountain lakes surrounded by pine trees, Arizona offers fishing adventures you won’t find anywhere else.
Whether you’re chasing your next personal record or planning a relaxing weekend with your fishing rod, these seven Arizona lakes deserve a spot on your bucket list.
1. Lake Mohave
Lake Mohave stretches 67 miles along the Arizona-Nevada border, between Hoover Dam and Davis Dam, offering crystal-clear water and excellent fishing in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area.
It’s famous for producing trophy-sized catches, including Arizona’s state-record striped bass weighing 63 pounds and rainbow trout weighing 16 pounds, 4 ounces.
You can also reel in largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, channel catfish, crappie, green sunfish, and bluegill, making it a great spot for anglers of all skill levels.
For easy access, launch your boat at Katherine Landing near Bullhead City, where you’ll find a full-service marina, boat rentals, and other convenient amenities.
2. Lake Havasu
Next up is Lake Havasu, which spans 26.3 miles along the Arizona-California border and covers roughly 19,300 acres near Lake Havasu City.
The lake produced a world-record 5.8-pound redear sunfish in 2014, followed by an even bigger 6.3-pound catch that broke the record again in 2021.
Thanks to its reputation for impressive catches, the area hosts popular tournaments like the WON Bass Arizona Open, where anglers compete to land trophy-sized fish.
If you’re eager to get on the water, launch your boat at Lake Havasu State Park and try fishing near rocky shorelines and submerged rockpiles before checking out the famous London Bridge.
3. Lake Pleasant
Near Phoenix, Lake Pleasant is a sprawling reservoir that covers 10,000 acres when full, attracting anglers to its scenic waters about 45 minutes from downtown.
Striped bass and white bass are popular catches here, and you can target both with spoons, topwater plugs, and crankbaits or use live shad to lure in hungry stripers.
During spring, rising water temperatures draw fish into shallow areas to feed and spawn, making it a great time to explore the lake’s quiet coves and inlets.
For easy access, head to Lake Pleasant Regional Park, where you’ll find boat ramps, shoreline fishing areas, and beautiful desert views in every direction.
4. Patagonia Lake
For a quieter fishing experience, stop by Patagonia Lake, a 265-acre man-made reservoir in Santa Cruz County surrounded by leafy trees and rolling desert hills.
It may be small, but it offers plenty of exciting catches, including flathead catfish, channel catfish, crappie, sunfish, and rainbow trout stocked during the cooler months.
Largemouth bass are another major attraction here, especially in spring when they gather in shallow waters to spawn and readily strike soft plastic baits.
You can get out on the water by launching a boat or renting a kayak at Patagonia Lake State Park, where you can also fish from shore or explore the peaceful eastern no-wake zone.
5. Roosevelt Lake
In Tonto National Forest, Roosevelt Lake offers a much bigger fishing adventure, with roughly 21,493 acres of water surrounded by gorgeous desert mountains.
The lake is a popular spot for largemouth bass fishing, hosting tournaments like the Arizona Bass Federation Qualifiers and Weekend Warrior Bass Series throughout the year.
If you’re visiting in spring or fall, cast your line around submerged timber and brush, where you might also catch smallmouth bass, crappie, channel catfish, and flathead catfish.
Afterward, you can take a scenic boat ride, explore nearby hiking trails, or spend the night under the stars at Cholla Campground or Roosevelt Lake Marina.
6. Big Lake
Then there’s Big Lake in Arizona’s White Mountains, where cool mountain air and towering trees offer a refreshing change from Roosevelt Lake’s desert scenery.
Located at 9,000 feet in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests, this 575-acre lake is famous for trout fishing, including rainbow, brook, cutthroat, and Apache trout.
You can catch them using PowerBait, worms, or small spinners, while spring and fall offer great opportunities to try fly fishing around shallow coves and weed beds.
If one day isn’t enough to reel in your dream trout, spend the night at Big Lake Recreation Area, which offers nine campgrounds, hiking trails, showers, and a visitor center.
7. Upper Lake Mary
Last but not least is Upper Lake Mary, a scenic reservoir nestled among pine-covered hills in Coconino National Forest at 6,837 feet above sea level.
Unlike Big Lake’s trout-filled waters, this one is best known for northern pike, with some growing to impressive sizes and putting up an exciting fight.
Try casting spinnerbaits or large spoons around weed beds and shallow coves to catch them, or target other species like walleye, yellow perch, channel catfish, and crappie.
Before heading out, check the lake’s water levels, as motorized boats can only launch from the south ramp under current conditions, while kayaks and paddleboards have more options.
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