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54-acre lake in Coconino County, Arizona. The lake tops out around 50 ft. The chart is a model: real shoreline, published maximum depth, interpolated in between. A planning tool, never a navigation product. Every species below gets its seasonal read from the same numbers driving the chart.
Traced from the shoreline, Bear Canyon Lake runs 55 acres with 2.9 miles of edge. The 2.8 development index tells the story — a convoluted bank whose fishable edge far outruns the acreage. About 62% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft on the modeled chart — that's the weed-and-bait zone. The basin spans about 1.1 mi end to end and 0.3 mi across at its widest. The water lies in Coconino County. For a second option, Christopher Creek lies 5 mi southwest.
The spring pattern is a shallow one: rainbow trout in 5 to 20 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 8 to 30 ft before dropping to 8 to 40 ft for winter. The spot to know is Break off the point, a drop-off in about 23 ft of water that rates prime for rainbow trout in winter. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (13 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (23 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (13 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (23 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Start shallow in spring: arctic grayling sit in 2 to 10 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 3 to 15 ft; cold water stacks them in 8 to 25 ft. Top water on the chart: Break off the point, a drop-off in the 23 ft range, prime in winter. Fish it in the evening and early morning and you'll meet the bite. Throw a dry fly (parachute adams, elk hair caddis) or a small inline spinner until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday & dusk | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | 1/16 oz spinner (silver), Small dry fly (Adams, Griffith's) |
| Summer | 3 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Dry fly (parachute Adams, elk hair caddis), Small inline spinner |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft | midday | Break off the point (23 ft) | Small spoon, Beadhead nymph under indicator |
| Winter | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (23 ft) | Tungsten jig + waxworm, Small jigging spoon (gold) |
The chart marks 6 structure features on Bear Canyon Lake; the deepest is Deep basin at about 43 ft.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Arizona waters are set by the Arizona Game & Fish Department — and special regulations can apply to Bear Canyon Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Arizona fishing regulations →
Bear Canyon Lake is about 50 ft (15 m) deep at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
Anglers target rainbow trout, arctic grayling on Bear Canyon Lake.
Break off the point is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 23 ft of water that rates prime for rainbow trout in winter. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by species and season.
For rainbow trout, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Bear Canyon Lake is regulated by the Arizona Game & Fish Department. Check the official Arizona regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Christopher Creek 5 mi · Knoll Lake 5 mi · Woods Canyon Lake 5 mi · Tonto Creek 7 mi · Willow Springs Lake 10 mi · Chevelon Canyon Lake 12 mi · Haigler Creek 12 mi · East Clear Creek 14 mi · C.C. Cragin Reservoir (Blue Ridge Reservoir) 16 mi · Chevelon Creek 16 mi · Black Canyon Lake 18 mi · Webber Creek 20 mi
See how Bear Canyon Lake stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in Arizona
More water nearby: Coconino County fishing maps (16 charts). Browse all Arizona fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.