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Rating depth structure for smallmouth bass.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
West Clear Creek wilderness canyon. Deep plunge pools with wild and stocked trout above warmwater near the Verde. The river tops out around 8 ft. This chart interpolates between a real shoreline and a known maximum depth. It will point you at likely water, but it is not a navigation product. What the data behind the map says about each species, season by season:
West Clear Creek maps at 151 acres behind 21.8 miles of shoreline. An index of 12.7 puts the bank firmly in maze territory: point after pocket after cove, every one a casting target. Nothing on this chart breaks 15 ft, which makes the whole surface littoral: weeds, bait and ambush cover everywhere. Tip to tip the water measures near 8.5 mi with a 1.4-mi widest point. Yavapai County claims this one. Its nearest charted neighbour, Verde River, is 5 mi to the south.
Spring rainbow trout on West Clear Creek hold shallow, usually 2 to 8 ft. Depth-wise the year is flat: 2 to 8 ft in summer, 2 to 8 ft once it turns cold. Put Outside-bend hole (mile 2.7) first on the milk run — a creek channel near 6 ft that grades prime for summer. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon.
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 8 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Riffle & run (mile 0.5) (3 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 2.7) (6 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Riffle & run (mile 0.5) (3 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Outside-bend hole (mile 2.7) (6 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
In spring, brown trout run shallow here, mostly 1 to 8 ft. Summer keeps them at 2 to 8 ft, and they winter in 1 to 8 ft. Riffle & run (mile 0.5) is the standout, a rock pile at roughly 3 ft, rated prime for fall brown trout. Time it for after dark and early morning. You won't need more than a spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) most summer days.
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 | 1 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Riffle & run (mile 0.5) (3 ft) | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 60 ft | night & dawn | Riffle & run (mile 0.5) (3 ft) | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 1 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 30 ft | dusk & dawn | Riffle & run (mile 0.5) (3 ft) | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 1 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 35 ft | dawn | open water | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
When the water first warms, smallmouth bass slide up into 2 to 8 ft. There's no big seasonal slide here — summer means 2 to 8 ft, winter 2 to 8 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Riffle & run (mile 0.5): a rock pile around 3 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Keep a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig rigged through 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 | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Riffle & run (mile 0.5) (3 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Riffle & run (mile 0.5) (3 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Riffle & run (mile 0.5) (3 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 45 ft | midday | Riffle & run (mile 0.5) (3 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Come spring, look for channel catfish tight to the bank in 2 to 8 ft. Through summer count on 2 to 8 ft; the winter hold is 2 to 8 ft. Start at Outside-bend hole (mile 2.7). It's a creek channel holding about 6 ft of water and rates prime come summer. Prime time lands in after dark 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 8 ft chart-limited; documented 3 to 12 ft | dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 2.7) (6 ft) | |
| Summer | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 25 ft | night & dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 2.7) (6 ft) | |
| Fall | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 2.7) (6 ft) | |
| Winter | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 40 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 2.7) (6 ft) |
When the water first warms, flathead catfish slide up into 2 to 8 ft. There's no big seasonal slide here — summer means 2 to 8 ft, winter 2 to 8 ft. Start at Outside-bend hole (mile 2.7). It's a creek channel holding about 6 ft of water and rates prime come summer. The feeding windows run after dark 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 8 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 20 ft | night & dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 2.7) (6 ft) | |
| Summer | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 30 ft | night & dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 2.7) (6 ft) | |
| Fall | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 35 ft | night & dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 2.7) (6 ft) | |
| Winter | 2 to 8 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 45 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 2.7) (6 ft) |
Count 5 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Outside-bend hole (mile 2.7), sits near 6 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 West Clear Creek specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Arizona fishing regulations →
West Clear Creek is about 8 ft (2 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, smallmouth bass, channel catfish, flathead catfish on West Clear Creek.
Riffle & run (mile 0.5) is the top-rated area: a rock pile in about 3 ft of water that rates prime for smallmouth bass 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 West Clear Creek 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.
Verde River 5 mi · Beaver & Wet Beaver Creeks 9 mi · Sycamore Creek 15 mi · Pine Creek 20 mi · Oak Creek 23 mi · East Verde River 23 mi · Webber Creek 24 mi · Verde River (Upper) 28 mi · C.C. Cragin Reservoir (Blue Ridge Reservoir) 31 mi · Horseshoe Reservoir 35 mi · East Clear Creek 36 mi · Watson Lake 38 mi
See how West Clear Creek stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Arizona · best channel catfish lakes in Arizona · best rainbow trout lakes in Arizona · best flathead catfish lakes in Arizona
More water nearby: Yavapai County fishing maps (9 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.