It’s a fishing day

Roosevelt Lake fishing conditions · Arizona

Now until 6 pmSmallmouth bass

The bite peaks at 88.

Log a trip here
Right now: 88 for smallmouth bass, go · inside the best windowTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Smallmouth bass, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

  1. 882 pm
  2. 88
  3. 88
  4. 885 pm
  5. 74
  6. 74
  7. 748 pm
  8. 74
  9. 74
  10. 7411 pm
  11. 74Sun
  12. 74
  13. 742 am
  14. 74
  15. 74
  16. 745 am
  17. 74
  18. 74
  19. 748 am
  20. 74
  21. 74
  22. 7411 am
  23. 74
  24. 74
  25. 742 pm
  26. 74
  27. 74
  28. 745 pm
  29. 74
  30. 74
  31. 748 pm
  32. 74
  33. 74
  34. 7411 pm
  35. 74Mon
  36. 74
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now · best window

Water
No reading

Smallmouth bass range 55–78°

Wind
5 mph

From the northeast

Flow
5.67 ft gauge height

steady

Light
Daylight

Sunset 5:27 pm

Sky
Sunny

1% chance of rain

Air
71°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Falling

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
5% lit

Waning crescent

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are Arizona regulations for these waters.

Smallmouth Bass

Smallmouth bass

Micropterus dolomieu

88GoNow until 6 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Smallmouth bass bite in 55–78° water, best near 68°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. Holds 3–30 ft down.

Keep

6 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Arizona statewide: 6 bass a day (largemouth and smallmouth combined), no minimum length. The Colorado River from Davis Dam to Mexico, including Lake Havasu, is 6 a day with a 13" minimum.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Arizona

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Year-round, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on smallmouth bass

Largemouth Bass

Largemouth bass

Micropterus salmoides

82Worth the tripNow until 6 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Largemouth bass bite in 55–85° water, best near 72°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 3–25 ft down.

Keep

6 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Arizona statewide: 6 bass a day (largemouth and smallmouth combined), no minimum length. The Colorado River from Davis Dam to Mexico, including Lake Havasu, is 6 a day with a 13" minimum.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Arizona

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Year-round, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on largemouth bass

Crappie

Crappie

Pomoxis spp.

82Worth the tripNow until 6 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Crappie bite in 50–80° water, best near 65°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 3–20 ft down.

Keep

15 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. 15 crappie a day.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Lake Pleasant, Roosevelt and Saguaro

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Nov–Apr, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on crappie

Channel Catfish

Channel catfish

Ictalurus punctatus

82Worth the tripNow until 6 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Channel catfish bite in 60–85° water, best near 75°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 5–30 ft down.

Keep

10 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Arizona statewide: 10 catfish a day, channel and flathead combined, no size limit. Some community and small waters are lower or unlimited; at Saguaro, Apache and Canyon lakes the limit is 5 when taken by bow and arrow.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Arizona

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Year-round, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on channel catfish

Common Carp

Common carp

Cyprinus carpio

82Worth the tripNow until 6 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Common carp bite in 52–86° water, best near 72°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 1–15 ft down.

Keep

no daily limit

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Arizona: common carp fall under "All Other Species", which are unlimited. Grass carp (white amur) have a 30" minimum and a limit of 1 a day.

Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Arizona

Last checked 20 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Feb–Dec, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on common carp

The water

  • Water temperatureNo reading
  • River5.67 ft gauge height · steady
  • Barometer29.99 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today5:27 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow6:50 am
  • MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 4:00 pm–5:00 pm
  • Major solunarTonight 10:20 pm–12:20 am
  • Minor solunarTomorrow 6:00 am–7:00 am

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

No current report covers these waters.

We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. Arizona Game & Fish has the state’s fishing pages.

Licenses and rules: state fishery agencies · fish-consumption advisories

About this spot

The largest of the Salt River chain lakes east of Phoenix and one of Arizona's top bass lakes — largemouth and smallmouth around flooded brush, with crappie and catfish.

Nearby

Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Saguaro Lake21 mi · ArizonaBest now until 6 pm
76Worth the trip

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Roosevelt Lake?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Roosevelt Lake you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Roosevelt Lake?

Roosevelt Lake is listed on this site for 5 commonly-targeted species: Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Channel Catfish, and 1 more. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Roosevelt Lake?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Roosevelt Lake against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Roosevelt Lake have?

Roosevelt Lake has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Roosevelt Lake?

state agency regulations apply at Roosevelt Lake. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Roosevelt Lake tidal water?

No. Roosevelt Lake is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.