Techniques & Seasons

Summer fishing in Arizona requires targeting early morning hours when cooler temperatures make fish active and approachable.

Best bait for bass in Arizona’s desert lakes, where largemouth feed on shad, sunfish, crayfish and frogs and natural colors work well in clear water.

A catfish bottom rig setup allows anglers to present bait directly on the lakebed where Arizona channel and flathead catfish forage.

A slip bobber rig setup for trout allows anglers to fish twenty feet deep at lakes like Big Lake without tangling lines.

Fishing a Texas rig around brush in Arizona, using an extra wide gap or straight shank hook so soft plastic baits slide weedless through submerged branches.

A Carolina rig features a sliding weight, beads, a swivel, and a fluorocarbon leader to catch largemouth bass.

The Ned Rig technique for smallmouth bass helps anglers catch wary fish in Arizona desert lakes using light gear and spinning setups.

Topwater retrieve speed determines bass and striper hookups by matching Arizona bait movement to fish mood and water clarity.

Crankbait retrieve speed in cold water controls bass strikes by matching their slowed metabolism with a slow roll technique.

Arizona lunar cycles and light levels change channel and flathead catfish feeding behavior and movement during new and full moon phases.