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142-acre reservoir in Apache County, Arizona. The lake tops out around 12 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. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
River Reservoir maps at 142 acres behind 3 miles of shoreline. A middling shoreline index (1.8) gives it some bays to work without being a maze. Nothing on this chart breaks 15 ft, which makes the whole surface littoral: weeds, bait and ambush cover everywhere. Call it 1.1 mi long by 0.5 mi wide at the broadest reach. Apache County claims this one. If the bite dies, Little Colorado River (Greer) is 2 mi to the northeast.
When the water first warms, rainbow trout slide up into 3 to 12 ft. There's no big seasonal slide here — summer means 3 to 12 ft, winter 2 to 12 ft. Start at Break off the point. It's a drop-off holding about 5 ft of water and rates prime come winter. The feeding windows run 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 | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (5 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 2 to 12 ft | dawn | Break off the point (5 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: brown trout in 1 to 12 ft. The depth story barely changes: 4 to 12 ft through summer, 2 to 12 ft in winter. Top water on the chart: Break off the point, a drop-off in the 5 ft range, prime in summer. Time it for after dark and early morning. Summer baits: a spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 4 to 12 ft | night & dawn | Break off the point (5 ft) | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 2 to 12 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 2 to 12 ft | dawn | Break off the point (5 ft) | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
When the water first warms, common carp slide up into 2 to 10 ft. Summer is a 2 to 12 ft game here, winter a 4 to 12 ft one. Start at Shallow bay flat. It's a weed flat holding about 3 ft of water and rates prime come spring. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | |
| Summer | 2 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | |
| Fall | 3 to 12 ft | midday | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft | midday | Deep basin (10 ft) |
In spring, yellow perch run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. Summer keeps them at 4 to 12 ft, and they winter in 4 to 12 ft. Shallow bay flat is the standout, a weed flat at roughly 3 ft, rated prime for spring yellow perch. Time it for early morning. You won't need more than a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 4 to 12 ft | dawn | Deep basin (10 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 4 to 12 ft | midday | Deep basin (10 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (10 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Structure-wise the chart holds 6 features, led in depth by Deep basin at roughly 10 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 River Reservoir specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Arizona fishing regulations →
River Reservoir is about 12 ft (4 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, brown trout, common carp, yellow perch on River Reservoir.
Shallow bay flat is the top-rated area: a weed flat in about 3 ft of water that rates prime for common carp in spring. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every 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 River 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.
Little Colorado River (Greer) 2 mi · Lee Valley Lake 7 mi · Carnero Lake 8 mi · Big Lake 10 mi · Becker Lake 11 mi · Nelson Reservoir 14 mi · West Fork Black River 16 mi · Black River 23 mi · Luna Lake 24 mi · Woodland Reservoir 30 mi · Show Low Lake 34 mi · Silver Creek 37 mi
See how River Reservoir stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in Arizona · best common carp lakes in Arizona · best brown 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.