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Fishing Colorado River (Parker Strip): what the data says
The Parker Strip (Lake Moovalya), Parker Dam to Headgate Rock. largemouth, smallmouth and striped bass in a busy river pool. The river tops out around 25 ft. The contours are modeled from the water's real shoreline and maximum depth. Treat them as a rough guide, and never use them for navigation. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
Largemouth Bass fishing at Colorado River (Parker Strip)
Start shallow in spring: largemouth bass sit in 2 to 10 ft that time of year. They move out to 8 to 20 ft in summer and finish the year down in 8 to 25 ft. The spot to know is Channel bar / point (mile 8.7), a point in about 10 ft of water that rates prime for largemouth bass in fall. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 8 to 25 ft | midday | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
Smallmouth Bass fishing at Colorado River (Parker Strip)
In spring, smallmouth bass run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. By summer they slide out to 8 to 25 ft, and by winter most fish are in 8 to 25 ft. The spot to know is Channel bar / point (mile 8.7), a point in about 10 ft of water that rates prime for smallmouth bass in fall. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Tie on a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 8 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 8 to 25 ft | midday | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Channel Catfish fishing at Colorado River (Parker Strip)
Start shallow in spring: channel catfish sit in 3 to 12 ft that time of year. By summer they slide out to 8 to 25 ft, and by winter most fish are in 8 to 25 ft. The spot to know is Outside-bend hole (mile 2.5), a creek channel in about 19 ft of water that rates prime for channel catfish in summer. Best bite is after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | |
| Summer | 8 to 25 ft | night & dusk | |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | dusk | |
| Winter | 8 to 25 ft | midday |
Flathead Catfish fishing at Colorado River (Parker Strip)
Start shallow in spring: flathead catfish sit in 5 to 20 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 7 to 25 ft, and winter fish settle into 8 to 25 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Tailout eddy (mile 14.3): a eddy pocket around 14 ft that scores prime in spring. Plan around after dark and the evening in the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | night & dusk | |
| Summer | 7 to 25 ft | night & dusk | |
| Fall | 7 to 25 ft | night & dusk | |
| Winter | 8 to 25 ft | midday |
Common Carp fishing at Colorado River (Parker Strip)
Spring common carp on Colorado River (Parker Strip) hold shallow, usually 2 to 10 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 3 to 15 ft, and winter fish settle into 8 to 25 ft. The spot to know is Tailout eddy (mile 14.3), a eddy pocket in about 14 ft of water that rates prime for common carp in winter. Best bite is early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | |
| Summer | 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | |
| Fall | 5 to 18 ft | midday | |
| Winter | 8 to 25 ft | midday |
Notable structure
- Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 21 ft
- Parker Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 21 ft
- Main-channel hole (mile 10.6): creek channel, around 20 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 2.5): creek channel, around 19 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 4.3): creek channel, around 19 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 6.5): creek channel, around 19 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 12.4): creek channel, around 19 ft
- Tailout eddy (mile 14.3): eddy pocket, around 14 ft
- Tailout eddy (mile 0.3): eddy pocket, around 14 ft
- Channel bar / point (mile 8.7): point, around 10 ft
Common questions
How deep is Colorado River (Parker Strip)?
Colorado River (Parker Strip) is about 25 ft (8 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.
What fish are in Colorado River (Parker Strip)?
Anglers target largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, channel catfish, flathead catfish, common carp on Colorado River (Parker Strip).
Where is the best fishing spot on Colorado River (Parker Strip)?
Channel bar / point (mile 8.7) is the top-rated area: a point in about 10 ft of water that rates prime for largemouth bass in fall. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Colorado River (Parker Strip)?
For largemouth bass, 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.
Nearby waters
Lake Havasu · Alamo Lake · Colorado River (below Davis Dam) · Colorado River (Palo Verde / Cibola) · Colorado River (Imperial Division) · Colorado River (Laguna Division)
See how Colorado River (Parker Strip) stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Arizona · best smallmouth bass lakes in Arizona · best channel catfish lakes in Arizona · best flathead catfish lakes in Arizona
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