Find a Fishing Buddy in Phoenix
Arizona
Phoenix is ringed by desert reservoirs that fish far better than most people expect. The Salt River chain — Saguaro, Canyon, Apache, and Roosevelt lakes — plus Bartlett and Lake Pleasant hold largemouth and smallmouth bass, striped bass, white bass, crappie, and big flathead and channel catfish. In the cooler months, Arizona stocks trout in dozens of urban community lakes right in the city, and trophy trout water sits a couple hours north in the high country. MyFishingBuds connects Phoenix-area anglers so you can share a boat on Pleasant or the Salt River lakes, fish the urban ponds after work, or find a partner for a summer night catfish trip.
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When to fish Phoenix
In the desert, spring comes early — bass spawn as soon as February and March and fish well into spring, then move deep for the summer. Summer means fishing at dawn, dusk, and night to beat the heat: catfish at night, stripers and white bass chasing shad on the big lakes, and topwater bass early. Lake Pleasant's striped bass and white bass boils are a summer highlight. Fall is a strong second bass window. Winter is trout season in the valley — Arizona Game and Fish stocks the urban community lakes from roughly November through March, making for easy, family-friendly fishing.
→ Today's best fishing times in Phoenix (sunrise, sunset & moon)Top species
- 🎣 Largemouth Bass
- 🎣 Striped Bass
- 🎣 White Bass
- 🎣 Flathead Catfish
- 🎣 Crappie
- 🎣 Rainbow Trout (winter, stocked)
Where to fish
- 📍 Lake Pleasant
- 📍 Saguaro Lake
- 📍 Bartlett Lake
- 📍 Roosevelt Lake
- 📍 Salt River
Local tips for Phoenix
Lake Pleasant is the closest big lake to the city and the striped/white bass destination — summer shad boils bring fast surface action. The Salt River chain (Saguaro, Canyon, Apache) is scenic canyon-lake bass and catfish water a short drive northeast. In summer, fish early, late, or at night — the midday desert heat is no joke, and a buddy makes a dawn launch or a night catfish session a lot more fun and safer. In winter, the Arizona Game and Fish urban lakes program stocks trout in ponds all over the valley for easy, close-to-home fishing.
🪪 Arizona fishing license
Anglers fishing in Phoenix need a valid Arizona fishing license. Resident, non-resident, and short-term options are all available — see our complete state-by-state guide for current 2026 prices and direct purchase links.
See Arizona license prices →Phoenix fishing FAQ
Do I need a fishing license in Phoenix?▾
Yes. Arizona requires a fishing license for anglers 10 and older, valid statewide including the urban community lakes and the desert reservoirs. See our Arizona license guide for current resident and non-resident prices and short-term options.
What can you catch fishing near Phoenix?▾
The desert reservoirs hold largemouth and smallmouth bass, striped bass, white bass, crappie, and big catfish. In winter, Arizona stocks rainbow trout in dozens of urban community lakes around the valley, and high-country lakes a couple hours north add more trout.
When is the best time to fish around Phoenix?▾
Spring (February through April) for the bass spawn, summer for stripers, white bass, and night catfish (fish dawn, dusk, or after dark to beat the heat), and winter for stocked trout in the urban lakes. The desert's early spring and mild winter make for a long fishing calendar.
Is there trout fishing near Phoenix?▾
Yes — two kinds. From about November through March, Arizona Game and Fish stocks rainbow trout in urban community lakes right in the valley for easy fishing. And the high country a couple hours north (the Mogollon Rim lakes and streams) holds trout through the warmer months.
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