It’s a fishing day

Saguaro Lake fishing conditions · Arizona

Now until 6 pmSmallmouth bass

The bite peaks at 76.

Log a trip here
Right now: 76 for smallmouth bass, worth the trip · 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. 762 pm
  2. 76
  3. 76
  4. 765 pm
  5. 62
  6. 62
  7. 628 pm
  8. 72
  9. 72
  10. 7211 pm
  11. 72Sun
  12. 72
  13. 722 am
  14. 72
  15. 72
  16. 725 am
  17. 72
  18. 72
  19. 728 am
  20. 72
  21. 72
  22. 7211 am
  23. 62
  24. 62
  25. 622 pm
  26. 62
  27. 62
  28. 625 pm
  29. 62
  30. 62
  31. 728 pm
  32. 72
  33. 72
  34. 7211 pm
  35. 72Mon
  36. 72
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now · best window

Water
No reading

Smallmouth bass range 55–78°

Wind
0 mph

From the

Flow
10.8 cfs

falling · -25% in 24 h

Light
Daylight

Sunset 5:29 pm

Sky
Sunny

1% chance of rain

Air
78°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

76Worth the tripNow 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. 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

72Worth 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. 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

Channel Catfish

Channel catfish

Ictalurus punctatus

72Worth 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. 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

Crappie

Crappie

Pomoxis spp.

72Worth 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. 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

Common Carp

Common carp

Cyprinus carpio

72Worth 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. 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
  • River10.8 cfs · falling · -25% in 24 h
  • Barometer29.99 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today5:29 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow6:51 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

A scenic Salt River reservoir in the Phoenix metro, walled by desert cliffs — largemouth and smallmouth bass, yellow bass, catfish, and crappie within easy reach of the city.

Nearby

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

Roosevelt Lake21 mi · ArizonaBest now until 6 pm
88Go

Questions people ask

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

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

What fish are commonly targeted at Saguaro Lake?

Saguaro Lake is listed on this site for 5 commonly-targeted species: Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Crappie, 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 Saguaro 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 Saguaro 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 Saguaro Lake have?

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

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Saguaro Lake?

state agency regulations apply at Saguaro 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 Saguaro Lake tidal water?

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