Fishing Facts & Fun
Fishing spots, tips, and AVHR lakefront vacation homes across the greater Phoenix area.
Want to try fishing in the greater Phoenix area?
- All residents and non-residents, 10 years and older, are required to have a fishing license. Licenses are good for one year from date of purchase and valid for all public waters in Arizona. There are 6 different licenses to choose from. The income from all licenses contributes to conservation efforts.
- The best times of year to fish here are April to May and late summer to early fall.
- The best hours to fish are early morning, evening and nights.
- Bodies of water for fishing include the Salt River, lakes, large reservoirs and ponds.
- Many communities have homes situated on ponds and lakes and these, as well as park lakes and the Salt River, are stocked spring, fall and winter to increase anglers' chances of catching fish.
- Fishing rules and limits are usually posted near the entrance to the park or body of water.
- Use 10-14 pound test line for bass and crappie; use lighter line for trout.
- Preferred bait includes worms, corn, shrimp and dough for catfish; live minnows and nightcrawler for trout; stick baits, imitation crawfish and sunfish for bass.
- More information about fishing is at the Arizona Game and Fish Department website.*
Favorite fishing spots and opportunities in our area:
- The Salt River is stocked with trout and bass.
- Canyon Lake in the Superstition Mountains has Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Rainbow Trout and Flathead and Channel Catfish.
- Bartlett Lake, a 2,815-acre reservoir in Maricopa County, is known for year round fishing for bass, crappie, catfish and panfish.
- Saguaro Lake is a dammed reservoir on the Salt River with bass, carp, trout, crappie, sunfish, catfish, Walleye, and Tilapia.
- Lake Pleasant is north of Phoenix and a favorite for a variety of bass and crappie.
- Veterans Oasis Park is a 5 acre park in Chandler that has a stocked community fishing lake.
- Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch in Gilbert is stocked with trout for community fishing.
AZ Vacation Home Rentals has vacation homes on community lakes that are stocked and permit catch and release fishing:
- Val Vista Lakes are 3 lakes, 76 acres in size, with 6 miles of shoreline for catch and release fishing.
- Boating is permitted on Val Vista Lakes.
- Common Carp, Channel Catfish and Largemouth Bass are the most common fish caught.
- Our homes on Val Vista Lakes are Gilbert Lake Gem, Gilbert Lake Treasure, and Lake Magic.
- Fishing rods, gear and kayaks are stocked at these homes.
Gilbert Lake Gem
Gilbert Lake Treasure
Lake Magic
- Another home on a community lake that is stocked for catch and release fishing is Hidden Harbor on Desert Breeze Lake in Chandler.
- Desert Breeze Lake is four acres with an average depth of eight feet and a maximum depth of 12 feet.
- Common catch includes Rainbow Trout, Bluegill, Redear Sunfish, Hybrid Sunfish and/or Largemouth Bass.
Hidden Harbor
- We also have a home on Tempe Lake (near Lakes Community) which is popular for catch and release fishing.
- Tempe Lake is stocked with Rainbow Trout monthly from November to February.
- Bass, Tilapia, Channel Catfish and Bluegill are also caught here.
- Fishing rods, gear and kayaks for guests' use are at the home.
- Our home on Tempe Lake is Tempe Driftwood Lake View.
Tempe Driftwood Lake View
Planning Time on the Water?