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Fishing Colorado River (Willow Beach): what the data says
Black Canyon below Hoover Dam. cold, clear year-round trout and trophy striped bass in the Willow Beach gorge. 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.
Rainbow Trout fishing at Colorado River (Willow Beach)
In spring, rainbow trout run shallow here, mostly 5 to 20 ft. By summer they slide out to 7 to 25 ft, and by winter most fish are in 5 to 25 ft. Channel current seam (mile 7.9) is the standout, a current seam at roughly 13 ft, rated prime for spring rainbow trout. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 7 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 7 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 5 to 25 ft | dawn | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Largemouth Bass fishing at Colorado River (Willow Beach)
In spring, largemouth bass run shallow here, mostly 2 to 10 ft. By summer they slide out to 8 to 20 ft, and by winter most fish are in 8 to 25 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Outside-bend hole (mile 2.1): a creek channel around 19 ft that scores prime in winter. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Tie on a texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait and you're in the game.
| 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 (Willow Beach)
Spring smallmouth bass on Colorado River (Willow Beach) hold shallow, usually 3 to 12 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 8 to 25 ft, and winter fish settle into 8 to 25 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Channel current seam (mile 7.9): a current seam around 13 ft that scores prime in summer. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig gets it done.
| 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 |
Striped Bass fishing at Colorado River (Willow Beach)
Start shallow in spring: striped bass sit in 5 to 20 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 8 to 25 ft, and winter fish settle into 8 to 25 ft. The spot to know is Hoover Dam tailrace, a dam tailrace in about 21 ft of water that rates prime for striped bass in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a flutter spoon (deep) or a umbrella rig (trolled) and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Bucktail jig + trailer, Walking topwater (dawn) |
| Summer | 8 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Flutter spoon (deep), Umbrella rig (trolled) |
| Fall | 7 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Topwater walker, Jerkbait |
| Winter | 8 to 25 ft | midday | Alabama rig (slow), Flutter spoon |
Channel Catfish fishing at Colorado River (Willow Beach)
In spring, channel catfish run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 8 to 25 ft, and winter fish settle into 8 to 25 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Outside-bend hole (mile 2.1): a creek channel around 19 ft that scores prime in summer. Plan around after dark and the evening in the warm months.
| 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 |
Common Carp fishing at Colorado River (Willow Beach)
Spring common carp on Colorado River (Willow Beach) hold shallow, usually 2 to 10 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 3 to 15 ft, and winter fish settle into 8 to 25 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Tailout eddy (mile 0.3): a eddy pocket around 14 ft that scores prime in winter. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months.
| 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
- Hoover Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 21 ft
- Main-channel hole (mile 6.1): creek channel, around 20 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 2.1): creek channel, around 19 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 3.9): creek channel, around 19 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 11.5): creek channel, around 19 ft
- Tailout eddy (mile 0.3): eddy pocket, around 14 ft
- Slackwater eddy (mile 9.7): eddy pocket, around 14 ft
- Channel current seam (mile 7.9): current seam, around 13 ft
Common questions
How deep is Colorado River (Willow Beach)?
Colorado River (Willow Beach) 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 (Willow Beach)?
Anglers target largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, channel catfish, rainbow trout, striped bass, common carp on Colorado River (Willow Beach).
Where is the best fishing spot on Colorado River (Willow Beach)?
Channel current seam (mile 7.9) is the top-rated area: a current seam in about 13 ft of water that rates prime for rainbow trout in spring. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Colorado River (Willow Beach)?
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.
Nearby waters
Lake Mohave · Lake Mead · Colorado River (below Davis Dam) · Virgin River · Lake Havasu · Colorado River (Parker Strip)
See how Colorado River (Willow Beach) 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
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