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Best smallmouth bass lakes in Arizona

23 Arizona waters hold smallmouth bass, 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. Current- and rock-loving fighter. Lives around gravel, boulders and hard-bottom structure.

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. Lake Pleasant — 293 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Tilapia, Smallmouth Bass, White BassWhy #7: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 6 public access sites
8. Canyon Lake — 128 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Tilapia, Smallmouth Bass, WalleyeWhy #8: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 3 public access sites
9. Horseshoe Reservoir — 39 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #9: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 2 public access sites
10. Colorado River (below Davis Dam) — 20 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Rainbow TroutWhy #10: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
11. Saguaro Lake — 89 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Tilapia, Smallmouth Bass, WalleyeWhy #11: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 7 public access sites
12. Verde River — 8 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Flathead CatfishWhy #12: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
13. Oak Creek — 8 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Rainbow Trout, Flathead CatfishWhy #13: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
14. Verde River (Upper) — 8 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Flathead CatfishWhy #14: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
15. Colorado River (Parker Strip) — 25 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Flathead CatfishWhy #15: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
16. Fool Hollow Lake — 32 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #16: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 3 public access sites
17. Upper Salt River — 12 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Flathead CatfishWhy #17: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
18. Black River — 8 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Brown TroutWhy #18: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
19. Colorado River (Willow Beach) — 25 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Rainbow TroutWhy #19: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
20. Show Low Lake — 39 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, BluegillWhy #20: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
21. Beaver & Wet Beaver Creeks — 6 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Brown TroutWhy #21: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
22. West Clear Creek — 8 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Rainbow Trout, Flathead CatfishWhy #22: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
23. Tonto Creek — 7 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Rainbow Trout, Brown TroutWhy #23: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached

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When to fish smallmouth bass in Arizona

• Spring 3–12 ft — Gravel and rock flats near deep water; spawning happens on hard bottom.
• Summer 10–30 ft — Offshore rock humps and deep points; smallmouth suspend near bait.
• Fall 8–25 ft — Feeding hard for winter — long tapering points and rocky drops.
• Winter 20–45 ft — Deep, vertical presentations near rocky wintering holes.

Also in Arizona: best largemouth bass lakes · best tilapia 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 common carp lakes · best brown trout lakes

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