Yes, there is real fishing in the desert
Most people do not pack a rod for Arizona. The ones who do are usually the happiest guests of the week. Fishing near Scottsdale means a chain of reservoirs on the Salt and Verde rivers, all within about an hour of the house, plus a stocked lake in the middle of town. Largemouth bass are the main event, with crappie, catfish, sunfish and, in the cooler months, rainbow trout.
This is the short version we give guests who ask: which water to try, what is open right now, what paperwork you need and when the fish are actually biting.
Saguaro Lake
Saguaro Lake is the closest of the Salt River reservoirs and the easiest first trip. It sits under tall cliffs east of the city, in the Tonto National Forest, and the marina has boat rentals, ramps and a restaurant. Bass anglers come for the largemouth and the habitat structures Arizona Game and Fish has placed around the lake. Yellow bass, bluegill and catfish fill in the rest of the day.
It gets busy with pleasure boats on warm weekends. Go early, and fish the coves and cliff edges before the wakes start.
Bartlett Lake and the Verde River
Bartlett Lake is a reservoir on the Verde River northeast of Cave Creek, and it is the natural pick if you are staying in North Scottsdale. It holds largemouth and smallmouth bass, crappie, sunfish, and channel and flathead catfish. The largemouth are plentiful rather than huge. Crappie school up in deeper water off the points and along the Yellow Cliffs in the cooler months. First and last light are the best hours.
The Verde itself, above and below the lake, is river fishing for bass and catfish through cottonwoods and desert. Access is through Tonto National Forest sites, and conditions change with releases from the dams, so check before you drive out.
Canyon Lake: check before you plan around it
Canyon Lake, on the drive toward Tortilla Flat, is known for big largemouth and some of the best scenery in the region. It is also closed right now. The Tonto National Forest closed the lake and its ramps on September 8, 2026, so SRP could lower the water for dam inspections and maintenance, a project it expects to take about 16 weeks. Check SRP or the Forest Service for the reopening date before you put it on the schedule.
The Lower Salt River for winter trout
Below Saguaro Lake, the Lower Salt River turns into a trout stream in winter. Arizona Game and Fish stocks rainbow trout during the cooler months, mostly at the recreation sites near the bottom of the river, such as Phon D. Sutton and Granite Reef. Winter flows are low and clear, which makes it good water for a fly rod or light spinning gear.
In summer the same river is full of tubers. Treat it as a November-to-March fishery and check the stocking schedule on the Game and Fish website, because dates move with weather and water quality.
Chaparral Lake: an hour of fishing without leaving town
Chaparral Lake, in Chaparral Park on Hayden Road in central Scottsdale, is part of the Arizona Game and Fish Community Fishing Program. The department stocks rainbow trout in the cooler months and channel catfish in spring and fall, and stocking stops in the summer heat. You can fish from the shore or the pier, and only non-gas boats such as canoes, kayaks and electric-motor boats are allowed.
It is the right answer when you have an hour before dinner, a child who wants to catch something, or no interest in towing a boat. Community waters have their own posted daily limits, so read the sign at the lake.
Fishing licenses and passes
Anyone 10 or older needs an Arizona fishing license from Arizona Game and Fish, and that includes Chaparral Lake. Children 9 and under fish free. Licenses are sold online, so buy it before you leave the house rather than hunting for a store.
Most of the lake sites in the Tonto National Forest, including Saguaro and Bartlett, also require a Tonto recreation pass for your vehicle. Regulations and limits change, so read the current Game and Fish rules for the water you plan to fish.
- Arizona fishing license: required at 10 and older, bought from Arizona Game and Fish
- Tonto recreation pass: for most Forest lake sites, Saguaro and Bartlett included
- Daily limits: posted at Community Fishing waters, set statewide everywhere else
- Boats at Chaparral Lake: no gas motors
Hiring a fishing guide
If you are here for a few days and do not know the water, a guide is the fastest way to catch fish. Local bass guides run half-day and full-day trips on tournament-rigged boats, choose the lake that is fishing best that week, and bring the rods and tackle. Some specialize in striped bass at Lake Pleasant, northwest of Phoenix, and a few run fly-fishing trips for bass and carp.
Book ahead in spring, which is the busy season. A half-day trip that starts at dawn leaves the afternoon for the pool.
When to fish near Scottsdale
Spring, roughly March through May, is the best all-round season, with bass moving shallow and the weather still mild. Winter is trout season on the Lower Salt and at Chaparral Lake, and crappie fishing picks up at Bartlett. Summer fishing is a dawn job: be on the water at first light and off it by mid-morning. Fall improves as the water cools, and by November most of the options are back.
Where to stay for a fishing trip
Troon Ranch Casitas in North Scottsdale put you on the right side of town for Bartlett Lake and an early start, with a pool to come back to. Wild West Estate, near Old Town, sleeps 16 and is central for Saguaro Lake and a short drive from Chaparral Park. Call us at (480) 781-0717 and we will tell you which water is fishing well when you arrive.
Questions we get asked
What is the best lake for fishing near Scottsdale?
Saguaro Lake for an easy first trip with a marina and rentals, Bartlett Lake if you are staying in North Scottsdale. Canyon Lake is closed for an SRP drawdown that began in September 2026.
Do I need a fishing license in Arizona?
Yes, if you are 10 or older. Buy it from Arizona Game and Fish online. Children 9 and under fish free.
Can you fish in Scottsdale itself?
Yes. Chaparral Lake in Chaparral Park is a Community Fishing water stocked with trout in the cooler months and catfish in spring and fall.
Where can I catch trout near Phoenix in winter?
The Lower Salt River below Saguaro Lake and Chaparral Lake in Scottsdale are both stocked with rainbow trout in the cooler months. Check the Game and Fish stocking schedule.
Is summer a bad time to fish in Arizona?
Not if you go at dawn. Fish the first two or three hours of light and be done before the heat. Some stocked waters pause in summer.
Should I hire a fishing guide?
If you have a day or two and do not know the lakes, yes. Guides pick the water, supply the gear and run the boat.
