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Best common carp lakes in Arizona

24 Arizona waters hold common carp, 1 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. 20-pound freight trains in every water. Feed on shallow mud flats — sight-fish them like bonefish.

1. Roosevelt Lake — 181 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Tilapia, Smallmouth Bass, CrappieWhy #1: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 9 public access sites
2. Apache Lake — 266 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Tilapia, Smallmouth Bass, WalleyeWhy #2: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 3 public access sites
3. Colorado River (Palo Verde / Cibola) — 22 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Striped Bass, Flathead CatfishWhy #3: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
4. Lake Pleasant — 293 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Tilapia, Smallmouth Bass, White BassWhy #4: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 6 public access sites
5. Bartlett Lake — 174 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #5: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 3 public access sites
6. Canyon Lake — 128 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Tilapia, Smallmouth Bass, WalleyeWhy #6: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 3 public access sites
7. Horseshoe Reservoir — 39 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #7: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 2 public access sites
8. Colorado River (below Davis Dam) — 20 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Rainbow TroutWhy #8: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
9. Saguaro Lake — 89 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Tilapia, Smallmouth Bass, WalleyeWhy #9: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 7 public access sites
10. Alamo Lake — 50 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Tilapia, Crappie, BluegillWhy #10: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 1 public access site
11. Colorado River (Yuma Division) — 15 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish, Common CarpWhy #11: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
12. Gila River — 8 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish, Common CarpWhy #12: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
13. Colorado River (Parker Strip) — 25 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Flathead CatfishWhy #13: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
14. Tempe Town Lake — 18 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Tilapia, Crappie, BluegillWhy #14: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 3 public access sites
15. Fool Hollow Lake — 32 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #15: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 3 public access sites
16. Patagonia Lake — 70 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #16: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 3 public access sites
17. Colorado River (Willow Beach) — 25 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Rainbow TroutWhy #17: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
18. River Reservoir — 12 ft max · Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Common Carp, Brown TroutWhy #18: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
19. Verde River (Lower) — 8 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish, Common CarpWhy #19: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
20. Colorado River (Imperial Division) — 25 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish, Common CarpWhy #20: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
21. Lower Salt River — 10 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Rainbow Trout, Common CarpWhy #21: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
22. Silverbell Lake — 7 ft max · Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish, Rainbow TroutWhy #22: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 2 public access sites
23. Kennedy Lake — 12 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #23: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
24. Colorado River (Laguna Division) — 12 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Striped Bass, Flathead CatfishWhy #24: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached

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When to fish common carp in Arizona

• Spring 2–10 ft — The best sight-fishing of the year — mudding fish in warm bays.
• Summer 3–15 ft — Chum a spot and wait — carp patrol the same flats daily.
• Fall 5–18 ft — Heavy feeding before winter; find the warmest water.
• Winter 10–30 ft — Podded up in deep, slow water.

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

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