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Rating depth structure for rainbow trout.
Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.
450-acre lake near Springerville. The lake tops out around 35 ft. This chart interpolates between a real shoreline and a known maximum depth. It will point you at likely water, but it is not a navigation product. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
The outline encloses 547 acres, worked by 7 miles of shoreline. A middling shoreline index (2.1) gives it some bays to work without being a maze. 55% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft), per the model — cover, weeds and forage water. End to end it runs roughly 1.5 mi, about 1.4 mi across. It sits in Apache County. Its nearest charted neighbour, West Fork Black River, is 5 mi to the south.
When the water first warms, rainbow trout slide up into 5 to 20 ft. By summer they slide out to 8 to 30 ft, and by winter most fish are in 7 to 35 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Old creek channel: a creek channel around 18 ft that scores prime in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Keep a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (9 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Old creek channel (18 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Old creek channel (18 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 7 to 35 ft | dawn | Break off the point (16 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Come spring, look for brook trout tight to the bank in 2 to 15 ft. Expect a summer slide to 10 to 30 ft, then a winter hold in 3 to 20 ft. Start at Deep basin. It's a deep basin holding about 30 ft of water and rates prime come summer. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. A small spoon fished deep or a trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (9 ft) | Small inline spinner (gold), Tiny spoon |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (30 ft) | Small spoon fished deep, Trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm |
| Fall | 2 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (9 ft) | Small spoon (orange), Spinner |
| Winter | 3 to 20 ft | dawn | Break off the point (16 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Tungsten jig + plastic |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: cutthroat trout in 3 to 15 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 10 to 35 ft before dropping to 9 to 35 ft for winter. The spot to know is Break off the point, a drop-off in about 16 ft of water that rates prime for cutthroat trout in summer. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a trolled spoon (small) or an inline spinner gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (9 ft) | Inline spinner (silver/gold), Small spoon |
| Summer | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (16 ft) | Trolled spoon (small), Inline spinner |
| Fall | 5 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (9 ft) | Casting spoon, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 9 to 35 ft | dawn | Break off the point (16 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Marabou jig |
The chart marks 7 structure features on Big Lake; the deepest is Deep basin at about 30 ft.
Access data: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) — community-mapped launches. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
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 Big Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Arizona fishing regulations →
Big Lake is about 35 ft (11 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, brook trout, cutthroat trout on Big Lake.
Break off the point is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 16 ft of water that rates prime for cutthroat trout in summer. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
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 Big 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.
West Fork Black River 5 mi · Lee Valley Lake 6 mi · River Reservoir 10 mi · Little Colorado River (Greer) 12 mi · Black River 13 mi · Carnero Lake 17 mi · Nelson Reservoir 18 mi · Luna Lake 19 mi · Becker Lake 20 mi · Woodland Reservoir 35 mi · Show Low Lake 39 mi · Silver Creek 45 mi
See how Big Lake stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in Arizona
More water nearby: Apache County fishing maps (9 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.