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Rating depth structure for largemouth bass.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
Davis Dam tailwater to Topock. Cold-release striped bass and stocked rainbows with warmwater bass and catfish. The river tops out around 20 ft. The depth picture is modeled, anchored to the true shoreline and the water's published max depth — a scouting aid, never a chart to run a boat by. Every species below gets its seasonal read from the same numbers driving the chart.
On the chart, Colorado River (below Davis Dam) draws 2,456 acres inside 82.9 miles of shoreline. With a shoreline index of 11.9, this water is all arms and coves — edge habitat well beyond its acreage. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 81% of the surface on the model — that's where the groceries are. Tip to tip the water measures near 33.3 mi with a 7.1-mi widest point. You'll find it in Mohave County. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Lake Havasu, 19 mi southeast of here.
Spring puts rainbow trout in skinny water — 5 to 20 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 5 to 20 ft, and winter fish hold in 4 to 20 ft. Spring rainbow trout concentrate at Current seam (mile 8.1), a prime-rated current seam around 11 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. A dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon covers the summer program.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 8.1) (11 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 5 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 8.1) (11 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 8.1) (11 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 4 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Current seam (mile 8.1) (11 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: largemouth bass in 2 to 10 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 8 to 20 ft before dropping to 6 to 20 ft for winter. The spot to know is Outside-bend hole (mile 12.4), a creek channel in about 15 ft of water that rates prime for largemouth bass in fall. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait gets it done.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 8.1) (11 ft) | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Outside-bend hole (mile 12.4) (15 ft) | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 12.4) (15 ft) | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
Start shallow in spring: smallmouth bass sit in 3 to 12 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 6 to 20 ft; cold water stacks them in 6 to 20 ft. Top water on the chart: Riffle & run (mile 2.5), a rock pile in the 7 ft range, prime in spring. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. Throw a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig until the fish tell you otherwise.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Riffle & run (mile 2.5) (7 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Riffle & run (mile 2.5) (7 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Riffle & run (mile 2.5) (7 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 45 ft | midday | Current seam (mile 8.1) (11 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Come spring, look for striped bass tight to the bank in 5 to 20 ft. Through summer count on 6 to 20 ft; the winter hold is 6 to 20 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Mohave Generating Station Dam tailrace: a dam tailrace around 17 ft that scores prime in spring. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A topwater walker at low light or a paddletail on a light jig is the honest summer answer here.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Mohave Generating Station Dam tailrace (17 ft) | 3-5 inch baitfish swimbait, Suspending minnow plug |
| Summer | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 60 ft | dawn & dusk | Mohave Generating Station Dam tailrace (17 ft) | Topwater walker at low light, Paddletail on a light jig |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Mohave Generating Station Dam tailrace (17 ft) | Baitfish swimbait, Metal jig |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 50 ft | midday | Mohave Generating Station Dam tailrace (17 ft) | Slow paddletail, Bucktail near bottom |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: channel catfish in 3 to 12 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 6 to 20 ft before dropping to 6 to 20 ft for winter. The spot to know is Outside-bend hole (mile 12.4), a creek channel in about 15 ft of water that rates prime for channel catfish in summer. Plan around after dark and the evening in the warm months.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | Tailout eddy (mile 6.2) (11 ft) | |
| Summer | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 25 ft | night & dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 12.4) (15 ft) | |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 12.4) (15 ft) | |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 40 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 12.4) (15 ft) |
Spring puts common carp in skinny water — 2 to 10 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 3 to 15 ft, wintering in 6 to 20 ft. Winter common carp concentrate at Tailout eddy (mile 6.2), a prime-rated eddy pocket around 11 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | open water | |
| Summer | 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Mohave Generating Station Dam tailrace (17 ft) | |
| Fall | 5 to 18 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 12.4) (15 ft) | |
| Winter | 6 to 20 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | midday | Tailout eddy (mile 6.2) (11 ft) |
Count 24 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Mohave Generating Station Dam tailrace, sits near 17 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 Colorado River (below Davis Dam) specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Arizona fishing regulations →
Colorado River (below Davis Dam) is about 20 ft (6 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, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, striped bass, channel catfish, common carp on Colorado River (below Davis Dam).
Current seam (mile 8.1) is the top-rated area: a current seam in about 11 ft of water that rates prime for rainbow trout in spring. 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 Colorado River (below Davis Dam) 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.
Lake Havasu 19 mi, AZ/CA · Lake Mohave 45 mi, AZ/NV · Colorado River (Parker Strip) 54 mi · Colorado River (Willow Beach) 68 mi · Alamo Lake 74 mi · Lake Mead 87 mi, NV/AZ · Colorado River (Palo Verde / Cibola) 109 mi · Watson Lake 125 mi · Cataract Lake 134 mi · Virgin River 138 mi · Kaibab Lake 138 mi · Colorado River (Imperial Division) 138 mi
See how Colorado River (below Davis Dam) stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Arizona · best smallmouth bass lakes in Arizona · best channel catfish lakes in Arizona · best rainbow trout lakes in Arizona
More water nearby: Mohave County fishing maps (5 charts). Browse all Arizona fishing maps. 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.