Arizona Fishing Report

Lake Pleasant is fishing absolutely fantastic right now. The largemouth are stacked on the main lake points and secondary coves. I've been putting clients on 20–30 fish days consistently. Topwater is producing big fish in the first two hours after sunrise — poppers and walking baits are the ticket. Once the sun gets up, drop shots and shaky heads in 10–15 feet are cleaning up.

Striped bass are also showing up in good numbers near the dam and the deeper channel areas. If your group wants a mixed bag of species, this is the lake right now.

Bartlett is fishing well despite slightly stained water from recent monsoon runoff. The stain actually helps — bass are less spooky and more willing to commit to reaction baits. I've been throwing spinnerbaits and chatterbaits along the rocky banks with great results. The coves on the upper end of the lake are holding good numbers of fish in the 2–4 lb range.

Water clarity should improve over the next couple of weeks as the monsoon season winds down. This lake rewards anglers who work the structure — rock piles, submerged brush, and dock areas are all holding fish.

Roosevelt is my top pick for trophy bass right now. The big fish are moving shallower as water temps cool, and I've seen some absolute giants in the 6–8 lb range this week. The Salt River arm is producing the most consistent action — work the submerged timber and brush piles with a Texas-rigged creature bait or a big swimbait.

This is a longer drive from Phoenix (about 90 minutes) but absolutely worth it for serious anglers. The scenery alone is worth the trip, and the fishing is as good as I've seen it all year.

Saguaro is fishing a bit slower than the other lakes right now — the water temp is still a touch warm and the fish are sitting deeper. That said, it's still a beautiful lake and a great option for beginners or families. The canyon walls and scenery make it a memorable trip even on a slower day.

I'm targeting the deeper channel edges and the shaded canyon walls in the afternoon. Finesse techniques — drop shot, ned rig — are outperforming power fishing right now. Expect this lake to heat up (fishing-wise) as we get into October.