Phoenix is known for its wide variety of outdoor activities, but you may not have realized that fishing is one of them. You’ll find multiple types of trout, carp, and more, but fly fishing in Phoenix is a particular favorite. So, if you’re looking to try your hand at this popular, year-round sport, check out one of these spots.
Oak Creek
Oak Creek is known for its abundant trout, which is stocked from the Page Springs Fish Hatchery located upstream. Be wary of Grasshopper Point during the summer, however, as the temperatures rise to the point where the fish struggle to survive. About 6 miles north of Sedona, you’ll find better year-round fishing opportunities. Late spring is good because of hatches, while Fall is also a nice time.
Fishing here can, at times, be either a breeze or a challenge. The reason is you’ll find newly stocked trout, holdover trout, and wild trout. It all depends on which you are fishing for at the time.
Tempe Town Lake
Tempe Town Lake is a popular spot for anglers, as it’s right in town. Be mindful, though, as some areas of the lake, such as Tempe Beach Park, are not zoned for fishing. Here, as with other spots in the state, all you need in order to do some fly fishing is an Arizona fishing license. There are certain times of the year when the lake is stocked with rainbow trout, for which you’ll need a trout stamp on your license.
Lower Salt River
The Lower Salt River runs between Phoenix and Lake Saguaro, which is about a one-hour drive from central Phoenix. It’s not only ideal for fishing, it’s quite scenic and home to a variety of local wildlife and birds. Largemouth bass, sunfish, rainbow trout, and catfish can be found year-round in the Salt River below Saguaro Lake.
Lake Pleasant
After construction of the state’s main dam and completion of its diversion dam, the Arizona Game and Fish Commission started stocking fish in Lake Pleasant. Today, you can find 12 different fish species, including largemouth bass, white crappie, black crappie, white bass, striped bass, channel catfish, flathead catfish, tilapia, bluegill, redear sunfish, green sunfish, and bigmouth buffalo fish.
Lake Pleasant Regional Park hosts several fishing tournaments throughout the year as well.
Encanto Lake
Encanto Lake has been rated as one of the best urban fishing spots in the greater Phoenix area. You can find catfish, trout, bass, and more around the shores, but you have to follow the rules. Private boats are not allowed, and you cannot fish from the golf course.
Encanto Lake also enforces daily fishing limits:
- Four catfish
- Four trout
- Ten sunfish
- Two bass, minimum of 13 inches
- One white amur, minimum of 30 inches
Phoenix has a variety of lakes, streams, rivers, and ponds that are stocked with fish that you can either take home for dinner or practice on through catch and release. You’ll find many options that will excite everyone, from the novice to the expert fly fisherman.
“Rainbow” via Flickr by Jinx!. Used with permission via CC BY-SA 2.0 / cropped from original
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