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Best channel catfish lakes in Arizona

59 Arizona waters hold channel catfish, 4 mapped with real state-agency depth surveys. Ranked below by size and depth-data quality — open any water to see exactly where to fish it: depth contours, scored spots with plain-English reasons, seasonal windows and bait picks. Scent-driven bottom feeder. Holes, channels and inflows — best after dark.

1. Lake Powell — 516 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #1: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites
2. Lake Havasu — 105 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #2: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 64 public access sites
3. Lake Mead — 526 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #3: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 7 public access sites
4. Lake Mohave — 147 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #4: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 7 public access sites
5. Roosevelt Lake — 181 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Tilapia, Smallmouth Bass, CrappieWhy #5: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 9 public access sites
6. Apache Lake — 266 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Tilapia, Smallmouth Bass, WalleyeWhy #6: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 3 public access sites
7. San Carlos Lake — 75 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #7: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
8. Colorado River (Palo Verde / Cibola) — 22 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Striped Bass, Flathead CatfishWhy #8: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
9. Lake Pleasant — 293 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Tilapia, Smallmouth Bass, White BassWhy #9: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 6 public access sites
10. Bartlett Lake — 174 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #10: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 3 public access sites
11. Canyon Lake — 128 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Tilapia, Smallmouth Bass, WalleyeWhy #11: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 3 public access sites
12. Horseshoe Reservoir — 39 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #12: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 2 public access sites
13. Colorado River (below Davis Dam) — 20 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Rainbow TroutWhy #13: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
14. Upper Lake Mary — 39 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #14: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 3 public access sites
15. Saguaro Lake — 89 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Tilapia, Smallmouth Bass, WalleyeWhy #15: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 7 public access sites
16. Alamo Lake — 50 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Tilapia, Crappie, BluegillWhy #16: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 1 public access site
17. Verde River — 8 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Flathead CatfishWhy #17: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
18. Oak Creek — 8 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Rainbow Trout, Flathead CatfishWhy #18: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
19. Colorado River (Yuma Division) — 15 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish, Common CarpWhy #19: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
20. Virgin River — 10 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Channel CatfishWhy #20: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
21. Gila River — 8 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish, Common CarpWhy #21: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
22. Verde River (Upper) — 8 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Flathead CatfishWhy #22: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
23. Colorado River (Parker Strip) — 25 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Flathead CatfishWhy #23: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
24. Tempe Town Lake — 18 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Tilapia, Crappie, BluegillWhy #24: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 3 public access sites
25. Fool Hollow Lake — 32 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #25: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 3 public access sites

…plus 34 more Arizona waters holding channel catfish.

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When to fish channel catfish in Arizona

• Spring 3–12 ft — Warm inflows and shallow mud flats after rain.
• Summer 8–25 ft — Deep holes by day; cats roam shallow flats to feed at night.
• Fall 10–30 ft — Fish concentrate in river/creek channels and deeper holes.
• Winter 20–40 ft — Stacked in the deepest holes; slow natural baits.

Also in Arizona: best largemouth bass lakes · best tilapia lakes · best smallmouth bass lakes · best walleye lakes · best crappie lakes · best bluegill lakes · best rainbow trout lakes · best striped bass lakes · best flathead catfish lakes · best common carp lakes · best brown trout lakes

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