13 Best Camping and Fishing spots in Arizona USA.
The scorching desert in the south and the mountains and woods in the north make up the wonderfully diversified landscape of the “Grand Canyon State.” You should look into the state’s angling prospects if you enjoy the great outdoors and have fished at least once in your life. However, you must obtain an Arizona fishing license before heading out to catch a few Smallmouth Bass or Rainbow Trout.
Below is a list of 13 Best Camping and Fishing spots in Arizona USA.
1. Big Lake, Arizona 85927, USA
An Arizona summertime family tradition.
Cutthroat trout have been biting on and off, and there are plenty of rainbow trout and crayfish for youngsters if the trout aren’t biting. The finest element may be the superb and ample campsite amenities.
Shore fishing is still an option, but as the summer progresses, you may want to hire a boat (rentals are available at the store) because most trout will be deep.
During the summer, trolling from a boat is the most effective strategy. If you’re going shore fishing, go early or late in the day, and take refuge in your truck or tent during monsoon/lightning storms.
2. Roosevelt Lake
Address: 28085 AZ-188, Roosevelt, AZ 85545, United States
Roosevelt Lake, located in Tonto National Forest, is the spot to go for bass fishing. Warmer waters and bush coves along its 20,000 acres provide nutrient-rich feed, allowing the bass population to thrive with white bass, striped bass, and catfish. Look for rocks and drop-offs where bass prefer to cluster in the Salt Arm, Tonto Arm, and Salome Cove.
The location is ideal for a day of shoreline fishing, with submerged trees and bass just waiting to be caught, particularly where Tonto Creek enters the lake.
Largemouth bass may be found in deep, cold waters near the dam and Bass Island, but they prefer shallow, warm areas near the drop-offs on warm, sunny days.
3. Show Low Lake (and Show Low Creek)
Possibly the best walleye fishing in the state. A year-round concession with 75 campsites is available (seven have electric hook-ups). A new fish cleaning station, toilets, steps from the top parking lot down to the boat launch, and ADA boat trailer parking are now available.
The lake and creek are ideal for catching trout, sunfish, and crayfish with the whole family. In addition to the renowned walleye, the lake also features smallmouth and largemouth bass, channel catfish, and bluegill, and it is stocked with 12-inch rainbow trout on a regular basis throughout the summer. With a little hook and worm, children may catch sunfish from the fishing piers or among the rocks near the dam.
4. Lake Havasu State Park
Address: 699 London Bridge Rd, Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403, United States
Smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, and striped bass are the most frequent fish taken in Lake Havasu State Park, however catfish and sunfish species can also be found.
This park, located near Lake Havasu City, is regarded as an exceptional largemouth impoundment and one of the top smallmouth lakes in the country.
This area includes an incredible 450 miles of shoreline, including a 25-mile-long lake with a well-known fishing reputation.
Head out for an exciting day of fishing, as 4 to 5-pound largemouth catches are regular here, thanks to hundreds of brush bundles scattered across the lake as part of a habitat restoration project.
5. Lake Pleasant
Location: Peoria and Morristown in Maricopa and Yavapai counties, Arizona, US
Lake Pleasant is a popular destination in the Phoenix region, located just a few miles west of Anthem. A big reservoir that is a power boater’s dream, with a variety of fish ranging from bass to catfish and tilapia.
It is the largest lake in the Phoenix area, with approximately 10,000 acres of water surface and 116 miles of shoreline.
Lake Pleasant is a prominent largemouth bass fishery and home to the sole white bass population, so you may bask in the desert’s splendor on a day of either boat-based or shore-based fishing.
When visiting this Sonoran Desert beauty, be prepared since weather conditions can change and fishing is best done between twilight and morning.
6. Patagonia Lake State Park
Address: 400 Patagonia Lake Rd, Nogales, AZ 85621, United States
Patagonia Lake State Park, an hour’s drive from Tucson, is an excellent area to fish from the shore and from a boat.
A sleeper lake that consistently produces significant quantities of bass, including 5 to 8 pounders, as well as flathead catfish, channel catfish, crappie, and bluegill.
This 265-acre man-made lake, which has good populations of a variety of species, also has rainbow trout in the winter months.
While some Christmas tree bundles have been thrown in the lake to give extra cover, the shoreline brush and water vegetation provide cover for the enormous bass population, making it a great spot for a day on the water.
7. Luna Lake Campground
Address: Alpine, AZ 85920, United States
The Luna Lake Campground is about four miles east of Alpine. The campsite is split into two sections. One part is for tent camping exclusively, while the other is for tent, RV, or trailer camping. There are three group sites accessible by reservation only: one large (100+ people) and two small (under 20 people).
The largest body of water in the Alpine area is Luna Lake. Because water is drained from the lake for agricultural purposes during the year, fishing is considerably better after the thaw than in late summer. On the lake, there is a boat launch as well as a small tackle shop and boat rental facilities. On the lake, only motors of 8 horsepower or fewer are permitted.
During the late spring and summer months, rainbow trout are frequently supplied. A marina, fishing pier, bait shop, boat rentals, and a picnic area are all available at the day use location.
Alpine is a good place to go for shopping and services. Alternatively, you may trek along the Coronado Trail Scenic Byway and Escudilla Wilderness, which spans over 2 million acres in Arizona and New Mexico.
8. Pine Grove Campground
Address: 19356 Lake Mary Rd, Flagstaff, AZ 86001, United States
Pine Grove Campground has 46 large individual campsites. There are coin-operated showers, picnic tables, campfire rings, cooking grills, drinking water, and accessible flush toilets at the facility. The lakes include boat ramps and easy fishing access at Lake Mary Narrows.
The 1.8 million acres of Coconino National Forest have pristine lakes, red granite cliffs, arid basins, and pine tree canopies. The lakes surrounding these forested campsites serve as a rest stop for migrating waterfowl, a wintering location for rare bald eagles, and a feeding place for resident ospreys. The region also has a large population of elk and mule deer.
9. Valentine Ridge Campground – Mogollon Rim
Address: Nf-188, Young, AZ 85554, United States
Valentine Ridge Campground is located on the south side of Valentine Canyon, below the Mogollon Rim. Canyon Creek is nearby and famous for its rainbow trout fishing.
The campground is nestled among Ponderosa pines, white and Douglas firs, and is a 1.5 mile drive from Canyon Waterway, a trout creek stocked by the Canyon Creek Hatchery.
The hatchery offers self-guided visits until 4 p.m. every day of the week. The hatchery is situated between the Upper Canyon Creek and Airplane Flat campgrounds.
This campsite does not have any water. Please bring your own water. Bear proof your campground and practice bear safety here.
10. Sinkhole Campground – Willow Springs Lake
Address: AZ-260, Payson, AZ 85541, United States
Sinkhole Campground is about a mile away from Willow Springs Lake, which has 150 acres. 13 campsites (sites 1 -13) are first come, first served, and 13 campsites may be reserved in advance. The campsite is bordered by Ponderosa pines, and visitors may occasionally glimpse local animals. Hiking and mountain bike paths are close, and the General Crook Trail, which travels along the Mogollon Rim, is approximately a mile distant. Expect frigid evening temperatures in the spring and fall.
Willow Springs Lake is home to rainbow trout and the occasional largemouth bass. There is a boat ramp for your convenience, and your motor is limited to 8 horsepower.
Willow Springs is readily fished from the shore, however you may need to go a short distance down the coast to find a peaceful spot to fish alone.
The Rim Visitors Information Center lies at the intersection of State Route 260 and Rim Road.
Showers are available at Canyon Point Campground, which is located 5 miles east of the visitors center on S. R. 260. The cost to use the showers is $6.00.
Accessibility
Within the facility, there are accessible campsites and drinking water. Within 10 miles of the property, there is a boat dock, a boat ramp, and paths.
11. Ashurst Lake and Forked Pine Campgrounds
Address: Forest Road 82E, Flagstaff, AZ 86001, United States
Forked Pine Campground has greater views of the San Francisco Peaks, Arizona’s highest mountain at 12,643 feet.
The camp hosts often depart the region during the winter months (early October), although the campsites are open all year.
Bring water and remember to pack out anything you bring in.
When the camp hosts go, the bathrooms will be closed.
Fishing
Ashurst Lake offers good fishing for Northern Pike and stocked Rainbow Trout.
Bring steel leads with you for the Northern Pike, which will cut your line with their keen teeth.
Muddy rivers make fly fishing difficult, but bait fishing can provide monster Northern Pike.Several Ashurst fishermen have told me that maize drenched in chopped garlic works wonders for catching fish.
Just before the turnoff to Ashurst Lake off Lake Mary Road, there is a really good off-road area. When you reach the Ashurst Lake turnoff, go up through a couple of steep curves and take your first left into a gravel road. A quarter mile to half mile back is a cleared area where you may ride several jumps. There are also a number of dirt roads in the region that demand to be explored.
12. Winn Campground – Lee Valley Recreation Area – White Mountains
Address: AZ-273, Greer, AZ 85927, United States
Winn Campground is about 10 miles west of Big Lake in the Lee Valley Recreation Area. Lee Valley Reservoir is only 2.2 miles away and has excellent fly and lure fishing.
In late spring, the reservoir is stocked with Apache trout and Arctic Grayling, making it one of the few spots in the world where you may fish for them.
The West Fork of the Little Colorado River may be reached by going through the forest to the west. The Little Colorado River’s Sheep’s Crossing is also close.
The only item missing from Winn Campground is a local grocery, which is 10 miles away in Big Lake. There are two group campsites, each of which can accommodate 50 people and up to 14 cars. According to the camp host, this is the greatest camping in the White Mountains. I could agree, especially if you enjoy a peaceful camping. The campsites are spread out with lots of space between them.
If you haven’t reserved a campsite for one of the key summer holidays, such as Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, or Labor Day, this is an excellent campground that should have spaces when everything else is packed.
Stargazers will enjoy this campsite because it is located in one of the darkest regions.
13. Diamond Rock Campground – East Fork of the Black River
Address: Arizona, United States
Diamond Rock Campground is the highest campground on the East Fork of the Black River. Only tiny trailers can fit into one of the 12 campgrounds, which are compact and densely knit. Diamond Rock is a short distance from the river and is pleasantly sheltered by ponderosa trees.
The campsite also has a few sites with wooden shelters constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the 1930s.
The Wallow Fire of 2011 passed through this area of the forest. There is minor spotting, but the most of the region is unaffected. The photos in this gallery were captured two years after the fire.
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