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Fishing Spots
When to Fish >> More
There really are better times to fish, and they’re affected by sunlight, warming trends, water depth, storm and weather patterns, wind and tidal flows, topography, geography and season differences.
Green Valley Lake
Green Valley Lake is located in Payson, Arizona. Green Valley Lake is a reservoir connected to two smaller lakes in Green Valley Park. These lakes were constructed from 1993 to 1996 for ground water recharge.
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Mogollon Rim
Arizona's Mogollon Rim area north and east of Payson is paydirt for people looking for a lake getaway. A string of five lakes, easily reachable by car, stretches from Blue Ridge Reservoir near Clint's Well to Black Canyon Lake a few miles west of Heber. For those willing to work a little harder for their recreation, Chevelon Lake requires a high-clearance vehicle and a 3/4-mile hike just to get to the water.
Camping is popular near these lakes because of the cool summer temps and scenic pine-forest locations. There are lodgings and restaurants in Heber/Overgaard to the east and plenty more in
Payson to the southwest.
Lakes, Dams, and Recreational Facilities Near Knoll Woods Canyon Lake
Why go
Woods Canyon Lake
covers 158 acres atop the Mogollon Rim east of Payson. Because of its proximity to the Valley, it is extremely popular during summer. Woods Canyon has a store and boat rentals, and is regularly stocked with trout. To avoid crowds, try going in the fall, or as the snow clears in early spring. The Woods Canyon Lake Trail is an easy, 5.5-mile walk around the lake. The trail is mostly flat, with a few hills.
Getting there: From central Phoenix, take Loop 202 east to Arizona 87 (Beeline Highway) and go north to Payson. From there, Arizona 260 about 29 miles east to Forest Road 300. Turn left (north) and go 4 miles to Forest Road 105. Turn north and continue for 1 mile to the lake. Bear Canyon Lake
Why go
You can't just drive right up to 60-acre Bear Canyon Lake. Getting to it requires a short, fairly steep hike, making it ideal for those who want to avoid the crowds at the easier-to-reach Mogollon Rim lakes. Because of the walk, the lake is well-suited to float tubes and small kayaks. Boats are permitted, but must be carried in.
Getting there: From central Phoenix, take Loop 202 east to Arizona 87 (Beeline Highway) and go north to Payson. There, take Arizona 260 east about 29 miles to Forest Road 300. Turn left (north) and go about 12 miles to FR 89. Turn right (north) and go about 2 miles to FR89A. Turn right (east) and go about a mile to the lake.Knoll Lake
Why go
This gorgeous, 75-acre lake is surrounded by pines and stocked with rainbow trout. On the way there, you'll catch fantastic views of the Mogollon Rim. The campground is within walking distance of the lake. Between Sept. 1 and May 1, there is no limit on trout.
Getting there: From central Phoenix, take Loop 202 east to Arizona 87 (Beeline Highway and go north to Payson. From there, take Arizona 260 east about 29 miles to Forest Road 300. Turn north (left) and go about 17 miles to FR 295E. Turn north (right) and drive about 3 miles to the signed turnoff for the lake. Black Canyon Lake
Why go
Black Canyon Lake lost all of its fish and many of the trees surrounding it in the Rodeo-Chediski fire in 2002. Since then, the fishery rebounded and rainbow trout grew large in the 78-acre lake. But, illegally stocked bass have become part of the mix, so the trout don't grow quite as large. It's still a scenic place to fish, however.
Getting there: From central Phoenix, take Loop 202 east to Arizona 87 (Beeline Highway) and go north to Payson. From there, take Arizona 260 east about 37 miles to Forest Road 300 and turn right (south). Drive 2.4 miles, turn east (left) on FR 86, then drive 3 miles to the lake. Willow Springs Lake
Why go
Willow Springs is the second most visited lake on the Mogollon Rim, after Woods Canyon. There is a boat ramp but no store or boat rentals. Largemouth and smallmouth bass were illegally introduced to the lake years ago and remain there for the catching. From May to September, the lake is stocked weekly with rainbow trout. The lake is 150 acres with an average depth of 60 feet.
Getting there: From central Phoenix, take Loop 202 east to Arizona 87 (Beeline Highway) and go north to Payson. There, take Arizona 260 east about 33 miles to Forest Road 149. Turn left (north) and go about 1 mile to the lake.Chevelon Canyon Lake
Why go
Chevelon Canyon Lake is for die-hard, physically fit anglers. The drive is long and rough, there are no facilities aside from outhouses and there is no place to launch a boat. The lake lies at the bottom of a deep canyon, and you must hike three-quarters of a mile down a steep slope to reach it. Special fishing regulations are in effect here: Artificial lures and flies only, no bait fishing. Trout between 10 and 14 inches must be released.
Getting there: A high-clearance vehicle is advisable, as is a good map of forest roads. From central Phoenix, take Loop 202 east to Arizona 87 (Beeline Highway) and go north to Payson. From there, take Arizona 260 east about 29 miles to Forest Road 300. Turn left (north) and go about 8.5 miles to FR169. Turn right (north) and drive about 12 miles to FR169B. Turn right (east) and go about 2 miles to the trailhead.
Why go
Blue Ridge Reservoir is a beautiful high-country lake and a favorite of those who like to kayak and canoe. The lake is narrow and deep — about 100 feet when full. It is stocked with rainbow trout and also contains illegally stocked green sunfish and bullhead. The lake gets an algae bloom in June and July, which can make the fishing tough. Your best bet is to hit it in May, before the bloom, in August after the monsoons, or in the fall. If the monsoon is weak, be prepared for some tough fishing.
Getting there: From central Phoenix, take Loop 202 east to Arizona 87 (Beeline Highway) and go north to Payson. From there, continue another 47 miles north, past Clint's Well. Turn right (east) on Forest Road 751 and continue southeast about 6 miles to the reservoir.