Desert areas will continue to be hot for the next few days, with highs near 100, finally dropping to the low 90s next week. In the high country, expect pleasant days and chilly nights.

Central Arizona

Biologists conducted their annual flathead catfish electrofishing survey the week of Sept. 13. At Bartlett Lake, 112 flathead catfish were caught in a one-day survey. The flatheads ranged from 3 inches to 41 inches in length. The largest weighed in at just over 37 pounds. At Lake Pleasant, 183 flathead catfish were caught in the one-day survey. The flatheads ranged from 3 inches to 48 inches in length. The largest weighed in at just over 48.5 pounds. All the catfish were collected, weighed, measured, tagged, and released unharmed. By tagging flathead catfish, we learn about how fast they are growing in our Arizona Lakes. 

Getting reports of good largemouth bass and striper fishing at Roosevelt, Saguaro, Bartlett and Pleasant. As surface water temperatures continue to fall and daytime and nighttime air temperatures drop, both the topwater bite and night bite should produce good fishing.

North Central Arizona

Kinnikinick Lake

Brown trout were recently stocked here. This is a great area to enjoy the fall “cast and blast” squirrel and/or duck hunting along with fishing. Small spinners and spoons retrieved slowly seem to be working best.

Oak Creek

Oak Creek was recently stocked with Gila trout. People are catching them on flies and spinners. Be aware there is a section of catch-and-release single point barbless regulations on Oak Creek.

Kaibab and Dogtown lakes

These lakes near Williams are continuing to produce trout when fishing with PowerBait and spinners. 

Western Arizona/Lower Colorado River

Colorado River - Below Davis Dam
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will resume rainbow trout stocking in October and continue stocking through March. 

Lake Havasu

Twenty-nine teams participated in a tournament on Lake Havasu over two days on Sept. 25-26. The largest bass caught was 5.65 pounds. Over those two days, anglers caught 142 largemouth bass and 89 smallmouth bass.

Lake Powell

See this week's Lake Powell Fishing Report from Wayne Gustaveson.

Fall Fishing Forecast

Be sure to see our Fall Fishing Forecast for the different regions in Arizona.