Desert Fishing in Arizona
Desert fishing is a popular activity in the Sonoran Desert due to the extreme year-round heat and the surprising amount of water present in this arid region. Many desert creatures are “adapted” to surviving in such harsh conditions, some of which can be found in Saguaro Lake. It is home to a wide variety of fish, including Rainbow Trout; Largemouth, Smallmouth and Yellow Bass; Crappie; Sunfish; Channel Catfish; Walleye; Tilapia; Yellow Perch; Carp.
Fishing at Saguaro Lake is one of the best ways to experience the natural beauty of Arizona. The desert offers the ultimate backdrop for this massive, beautiful lake with majestic saguaro cactus growing near the shoreline. This fishing destination can be rewarding for both novices and seasoned-anglers and may have surprises in store.
Where is Saguaro Lake?
Saguaro is located in Tonto National Forest, approximately 20 minutes from Mesa, Arizona. The lake is 1,100 acres, 22 miles of shoreline, 10 miles long and the maximum depth of the lake is 116 feet according to the Forest Service website.
Saguaro Lake is a popular spot for fishing, boating, waterskiing and swimming. It is open to the public year-round from sunrise to sunset. There are no facilities or services in this area other than boat ramps, parking areas, and picnic tables, though restrooms and water are available at Saguaro Lake Marina & various recreation sites around lake. There is no trash service, if you pack it in, plan to pack it out.
America the Beautiful Passes are only accepted at the Picnicking Sites. For boating, a Tonto Daily Pass and Watercraft Sticker or Tonto Discovery Pass are required. Please check fees, restrictions and general information on the forest service website. Or contact the Mesa Ranger District 480-610-3300.
Fishing at Saguaro Lake?
Fishing at Saguaro Lake is open year-round. Everyone who fishes in Saguaro Lake must have a fishing license. The bay in front of Butcher Jones and Saguaro del Norte is closed to motorized watercraft. The eastern end of the lake is closed to any wake from watercraft (please observe buoys). Motors generating a noise level of greater than 82 decibels are prohibited. The direction of travel on the lake is counter clockwise. Check the USFS web page for Saguaro Lake restrictions, fees and rules.
What Kind of Fish Can You Catch at Saguaro Lake?
Largemouth bass– The largemouth bass are stocked by the Arizona Game and Fish Department and are doing quite well. They have been there for years and have grown to be quite large. Largemouth bass grow to be about 16 inches long, but most of them are between 10-12 inches long. Worms or nightcrawlers work best as bait for these fish and can be purchased from any bait store around Tucson or Phoenix.
Catfish – Catfish are easy to catch at Saguaro Lake because they love worms. You can buy live or frozen worms at most bait shops and grocery stores. Catfish are not picky when it comes to food, so you can use just about any hook size or color (just avoid using too much weight). If you have trouble finding catfish in the water, try shaking an empty soda can in the water as loudly as possible—this will attract them!
Rainbow Trout – Rainbow trout are found throughout Arizona’s rivers and lakes. These fish are fairly easy to catch if you know where they like to hide out during the day (under rocks and logs). At night, however, they tend to move around more, so make sure you set up camp near their hangout spots during this time period.
Green sunfish – The green sunfish is one of the most common species found at the lake, along with other sunfishes like bluegill, redear sunfish, and longear sunfish. Green sunfish are easy to catch and will gladly take your bait or lure if you can find them. They average about 2 pounds in weight and can grow up to 6 inches long as adults. They’re also known as crappies because they resemble white or black crappies but lack an anal fin like true crappies!
Black Crappie: Another common type of fish found at the lake is the black crappie. These fish are typically found in brackish water with strong currents, but they have successfully adapted to living in freshwater lakes as well.
Where are the best fishing spots at Saguaro Lake?
The lake has several areas that provide good fishing opportunities. There’s a large marina with docks and piers where you can drop a line in the water. If you want to get away from it all, there are plenty of spots where you can cast your line without being disturbed by other anglers. Here are some of the best places around Saguaro Lake:
Weavers Ledge and Campers Cove
Campers Cove and Weaver’s Ledge are two great spots for anglers. Campers Cove is located on the north side of the lake, while Weaver’s Ledge is on the south side. Both offer docks where you can drop your line in the water without being disturbed by other anglers.
Campers Cove is a good place to go if you want to catch largemouth bass, but it’s also possible that you might find some channel catfish there too. The best time to fish for largemouth bass in this area is when the water temperature is between 70-80 degrees F (21-27 C).
Weavers Ledge can be fished year-round because it doesn’t freeze over during the winter months like other parts of Lake Saguaro do (like Big Bay). This spot can be good for catching crappie and bluegill during the warmer months and white bass or walleye during the colder ones.
Butcher Jones and Peregrine Cove
Just east of the marina and the public docks and platforms sit two coves: Butcher Jones and Peregrine Cove. These areas are shallow, with a channel that is often clogged with floating vegetation mats and large rock banks. Scan the area with your fish finder for artificial habitat. Fishing around these structures, or habitats, will often hold bluegill and shad, which in turn attract bass. If you see such fish, consider fishing there.
Holes in the vegetation can also attract bass; some of these holes will be created by submerged vegetation, but some will not be. If you see shad or bluegill in the area, try grass-flipping jigs, wacky rigs, Mojo rigs, Texas rigs, or weedless tubes over these holes. If there is no vegetation left to inhabit these holes, fish them over with topwater lures or buzzbaits if you see baitfish present there. Fish along the edges of these open water areas using crankbaits, lipless crankbaits, spinnerbaits, frog lures, or soft plastic swimbaits.
Mesquite Flats
Mesquite Flats is a great place to fish. There are many different types of fish in this area, including bass, catfish, and carp. The water is clear and clean; it’s not too deep or too shallow; it doesn’t get too wide during high tide either! The large amount of artificial habitat in this area will hold bass, crappie, yellow bass, and catfish. Large ‘holes’ in the weedbed can be found, and these should be fished with a grass flipping jig, wacky rig senko, Mojo rig, Texas rig, weedless tube, or even a drop shot.
In summer, when the water is high, this area turns into a mat of floating vegetation where frogs and buzzbaits are common. Jigging into gaps or jumping under overhangs can be very effective. If you’re looking for some good fishing spots around Saguaro Lake, then I would recommend Mesquite Flats because there are so many different kinds of fish there, which makes it very fun!
Ship Rock and The Meadows
The Meadows, named for the meadowlarks that nest in them, is one of the most popular fishing spots in Saguaro Lake, and Ship Rock is another great place to cast a line as well. These two areas are well known for their great fishing, shallow water structure and clear water – the perfect combination for catching trophy-sized bass.
Ship Rock and The Meadows are great locations to find bass, yellow bass, and crappie. They have submerged brush and man-made structures where baitfish can hide. Sometimes crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and swimbaits work well here; sometimes drop shots work best on these fish.
Effective baits for this area include topwater lures, buzzbaits, crankbaits, spinnerbaits, umbrella rigs, chatterbaits, and jerkbaits. Crankbaits, spinnerbaits, swimbaits, and other topwater lures fished around the bank and the surrounding area will be good choices in most conditions, while jigs such as Neko rigs and drop shot rigs are great when the weather is calm or you’re looking for fish sitting tight to the rocks.
Bluff Walls between Bat Cliffs and Razorback Point
The bluff walls between Bat Cliffs and Razorback Point are located on the east side of Lake Saguaro. The water temperature here is around 73 degrees Fahrenheit, making it ideal for game fish like bass, catfish, and sunfish.
Willow trees line the shoreline, and steep rocky banks offer submerged rock piles and boulder fields that are great for flipping, pitching, punching, and fishing topwater. Catfish and bream can be found around the rocks, with flounder scattered all over. To fish this spot, you should bring a variety of baits. You will want to use crankbaits, jigs, Texas rigs, and Carolina rigs. The most popular way to fish here is in your boat.
Choose a reel and fishing rod
You will need to choose a rod and reel that fit your fishing style. Different rods and reels are better for different kinds of fish, so it’s important to know what kind of fish you are targeting before making your selection. Your reel should be matched to the type of line being used in order to maximize performance and avoid breakage or damage. It is also possible for one rod to be used for multiple species by changing out its line depending on what type of fish one wishes to pursue at that particular time.
The best tackle for lake fishing is a medium-heavy rod, usually between 7 and 10 feet in length. The longer the rod, the more line can be used to cast out and bring it back in at a faster rate. This is important if you are going after larger fish, such as catfish or bass.
Some people prefer to use a spinning reel, while others prefer baitcasting. If you are a beginner, it is best to go with a baitcasting reel, as they are easier to learn on than spinning reels. A spinning rod can also be used for fishing at Saguaro Lake, but it will require more practice and skill before one gets good at it. If you want to learn more fishing tips or review a gear selection guide you can check out Trizily.com – Fishing Resources
Best Bait for Saguaro Lake
The best bait for Saguaro Lake is live bait. This can be worms, crickets, or mealworms. Earthworms are also good because they are easy to find and they come out of the ground when you dig for them! Nightcrawlers are another great choice because they have lots of legs that help them move around fast—perfect for catching fish that like to swim away from humans quickly!
Try different baits. The fish at Saguaro Lake aren’t picky, but they do like to eat certain things more than others. If you’re having trouble catching a fish, try using a different type of bait and see if that gets better results.
If you’re trying to catch something specific (like catfish or bass), check out some online resources for information about their diet and preferences; it can really pay off in terms of how many fish you end up catching!
You can also experiment with different types of hooks—straight-pointed hooks are generally easier to cast than “J” hooks (which are typically used for catching catfish), but some people prefer them because they provide more control over where their lure lands on the water’s surface!
Baits vary depending on the time of day and location, but there are some general guidelines for what works best for each species:
- Catfish prefer crickets, moths, and worms.
- Bluegill prefer minnows and small shad.
- Trout prefer nightcrawlers or worms.
Weather at Sagauro Lake
The weather in Saguaro Lake is highly variable, so you need to be prepared for anything. The temperature can range from hot (90 degrees F) to cool (40 degrees F), depending on the time of year and elevation. Humidity levels are high in the summer months, but they drop significantly over night when temperatures drop below freezing. Wind speed and direction change constantly throughout the day, which means that you’ll need multiple types of gear if your fishing plans include casting into open water or drifting along shorelines. Rainfall is most common during monsoons between July and September; however, there are also occasional thunderstorms in other months as well!
Fishing is best in the spring and fall. In the warmer months (May through September), fish tend to be more active at night or near dusk, making early morning or late afternoon your best bet for catching them.
Fish in the morning or late afternoon
The best time to catch fish is when they are most active. Fish will be more likely to bite in the early morning or late afternoon, when it’s cooler. On hot days with no wind and high clouds, fishing may not be as successful because fish don’t feel comfortable moving around on such a warm day.
Fish are more active when it rains—and if you’re trying to catch trout, this could make all the difference! If you’re lucky enough to get an early morning or late afternoon rain shower that lasts for just a few minutes (or maybe even an hour), then your chances of catching something improve.
If you go …
With the right planning and preparation, you can have an enjoyable day at the lake. Remember to pack plenty of food and drinks, a change of clothes for everyone, sunscreen and bug spray (if needed), as well as any other items that may be necessary for your specific activity. You’ll need to bring extra water. You can’t rely on your average fishing spot to have clean, drinkable water. If you don’t want to carry around several gallons of bottled water, you should bring either a filter or purifier for your own use.
Be sure to check the weather before you head out so you can dress appropriately; it is better to bring too many supplies than not enough! If you follow these tips, you should be able to enjoy a day of fishing at the lake in relative comfort.
From Mesa, travel 27 miles north on State Hwy. 87 to Bush Highway/Forest Road (FR) 204 and turn right. Follow FR 204 for 4 miles to the Lake.
Check for alerts and road closures before you go.
About the Author
“Robert Moreland is the founder of Trizily.com, an online resource for recreational fishing enthusiasts. He has been fishing since he was a child and has always loved it. He has been involved in many different aspects of the sport, including teaching and writing about it.”