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70-acre reservoir in Apache County, Arizona. The lake tops out around 24 ft. The contours come from a model of the real basin shape and its known max depth. Read them as probabilities, not soundings, and keep them out of navigation decisions. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
On the chart, Nelson Reservoir draws 68 acres inside 2.5 miles of shoreline. Index 2.1 on the shoreline: a few honest points and pockets, nothing labyrinthine. About 72% 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 0.2 mi across at its widest. The water lies in Apache County. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Becker Lake, 10 mi northwest of here.
Start shallow in spring: rainbow trout sit in 5 to 20 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 6 to 24 ft; cold water stacks them in 5 to 24 ft. Top water on the chart: Break off the point, a drop-off in the 11 ft range, prime in winter. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. Throw a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 6 to 24 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (11 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 7 to 24 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 5 to 24 ft | dawn | Break off the point (11 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
In spring, crappie run shallow here, mostly 2 to 8 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 7 to 24 ft, and winter fish settle into 7 to 24 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 20 ft, rated prime for winter crappie. Time it for early morning and the evening. You won't need more than a jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small crankbait (trolled) most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | 1/16 oz jig + tube, Curly-tail grub |
| Summer | 7 to 24 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (11 ft) | Jig trolled/spider-rigged, Small crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 8 to 20 ft | dawn | Break off the point (11 ft) | Jig + minnow combo, Small swimbait (1.5-2") |
| Winter | 7 to 24 ft | midday | Deep basin (20 ft) | Tungsten jig + soft plastic, Tiny jigging spoon |
6 pieces of structure are mapped here — Deep basin, around 20 ft, is the deepest of them.
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 Nelson Reservoir specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Arizona fishing regulations →
Nelson Reservoir is about 24 ft (7 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, crappie on Nelson Reservoir.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 20 ft of water that rates prime for crappie 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 Nelson Reservoir 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.
Becker Lake 10 mi · Little Colorado River (Greer) 13 mi · River Reservoir 14 mi · Luna Lake 16 mi · Big Lake 18 mi · Lee Valley Lake 19 mi · Carnero Lake 20 mi · West Fork Black River 21 mi · Black River 28 mi · Quemado Lake 40 mi, NM · Woodland Reservoir 44 mi · Show Low Lake 47 mi
See how Nelson Reservoir stacks up: best crappie lakes in Arizona · 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.