My Favorite Arizona Fishing Waters

A variety of fishing waters are available in this area. Small lakes and larger lakes, creeks with convenient follow-the-road access, and hike-in streams. 

Fossil Creek is unique among the streams in the area.  This beautiful little stream tumbles down the steep terrain from Fossil Springs, and eventually into the Verde River. For decades this stream hosted two small hydro (electric) generating plants. Much of the stream was not available to the public due to the electric generating activity. Because of the inaccessibility, rare native fish survived here.

A few years ago the utility company removed the generating plants and partnered with conservation organizations, the Forest Service, and the Game & Fish Department to return the creek to it's natural state.  

The other fishing waters include: 

• Ashurst Lake
• Coconino Reservoir
• Kinnikinick Lake
• Marshall Lake
• Upper Lake Mary
• Lower Lake Mary
• Marshall Lake
• Oak Creek
• West Fork (of Oak Creek)
• Lower Oak Creek
• Beaver Creek
• West Clear Creek
• Upper Verde River

My favorite Arizona fishing waters? I have several favorites, depending on who's with me and how much time we have to fish... and the time of year.

Lower Lake Mary can offer good fishing for stocked rainbow trout... when it has water in it... and it is full right now!.

It sometimes goes dry in low moisture years. It lies right along Lake Mary Road and is accessible by kids and to some extent, handicapped fisher-folks.

Upper Lake Mary also lies alongside Lake Mary Road, just south of the lower lake. This lake also has good accessibility from the road.

This lake holds a great variety of game fish, including species normally thought of as warm water fish.

Large mouth bass, yellow bass, crappie, sunfish, and channel cats share these waters with northern and walleye pike, as well as trout. Upper Lake Mary is a long narrow body of water. This coupled with the types of fish in the lake making fishing from a boat more desirable.

A favorite Arizona fishing waters may depend on what kind of fish you are after that trip.

Marshall Lake is on the mesa above the lakes Mary. The turn off of Lake Mary Road is well marked between the lower and upper lakes. This is a shallow lake that is usually stocked with trout. I see waders, belly boats, and canoes used here, along with fishing from shore.

Coconino Reservoir is a small stocked trout lake south of Ashurst Lake on Anderson Mesa. You get there by walking along what used to be a rough dirt road after going past the boat ramp and through the campgrounds at Ashurst.

Kinnikinick Lake is a trout lake accessible by a gravel road that can get rough. That means fewer people and fishing pressure. It's worth a visit now and again.

My favorite Arizona fishing waters just has to include Oak Creek.

The beauty and off-season tranquility just add to the experience of fishing Oak Creek... and when the lakes above are ice-covered in winter, this is the place to be.

Oak Creek runs alongside highway 89A through Oak Creek Canyon north of Sedona. This area requires a Red Rock Pass use permit. The West Fork of Oak Creek is a hike-in area... but well worth the extra effort.

Oak Creek offers stocked rainbow trout and is very accessible.

This is where I taught my kids to fish. They used gold egg hooks with a little dough bait made from dog chow. We would be on the creek at daylight. By the time the sunlight hits the water, the fishing action slows down.

The West Fork of Oak Creek offers several miles of wild brown trout fishing. It's a great place to get a fly or hopper wet. Get in there at first light to beat the day hikers.

Beaver Creek is at a lower elevation and is more comfortable to fish in cooler weather. Hike up into the canyon for a little solitude.

West Clear Creek is most often accessed from its lower end near the town of Camp Verde. Accessing the upper section can be challenging... and the middle section a real challenge.

Fossil Creek is a unique place that I hesitate to mention again. The character of this area is fragile (at least, in my mind). Too much activity here will "love it to death" in just a few years.

My favorite Arizona fishing waters for a family to enjoy is Ashurst. It offers all that South of Flagstaff fishing is about. All parts of the shoreline are very accessible, but somewhat rocky in several stretches.

The view of the peaks is grand, the hosted campground is clean and (usually) quiet. The shade trees and cool breezes are plentiful. This photo was taken before sunrise, when shade isn't a priority.

I usually fish the lakes from shore at first light (as you can see in the photo above). I pre-rig three rods... two spinning rods and a fly rod. I carry them all to the water and I may use them all.

I rig the fly rod with two streamer flies, a colorful streamer with a little yellow in it on the end of the line and a less colorful brownish streamer on a 6 inch dropper about two feet ahead of the other fly.

I rig one spinning rod with a small KastMaster spoon for mid-depth fishing.

The other rod is rigged for bait fishing... a small weight on the end of the line, with two small, snelled gold egg hooks about one and three feet up the line. I use Berkley Power Bait in chartreuse, red, pink, or rainbow colors. This is my "last resort" rod.

All these favorite arizona fishing waters items are available at Bass Pro Shops and Cabalas.

As with most trout waters, the action improves in early spring and late fall, even though the weather can get pretty raw. I've not tried the ice fishing here, but others do it.

I've had good luck fishing Ashurst. That may have something to do with my liking for this lake.

My favorite Arizona fishing waters are open to you. Please give them a try real soon.

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