5 of the Best Fishing Spots Near Flagstaff, AZ

Finding good places to fish can be tough, especially in the dry, arid country surrounding Flagstaff, AZ, but with a little bit of perseverance, you will find that there’s plenty of fishing spots to be found. However, all anglers aged ten or older will need to have an Arizona fishing license, available online from the Arizona Game and Fish Department website.

1. Oak Creek

This wonderfully scenic location Is full of trout, both the native wild brown trout and regularly stocked rainbow trout. If you’re up for a hike, the more remote areas of the creek are usually more productive, so follow the creek north past Slide Rock, as far away from the swimming areas as possible.

During the cooler winter months, try targeting trout between Grasshopper Point and Sedona, towards the southern part of the creek. This is also a great place to fly fish, and some of the largest trophy brown trout are regularly caught this way.
 

2. Lake Ashurst

Home to a variety of species of interest to anglers, Lake Ashurst holds great populations of Bluegill, northern pie, and catfish, not to mention the excellent trout fishery here, which includes both brown and rainbow trout.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department has asked anglers to target the northern pike where possible, as they have been known to eat the trout population. The access road to the lake is unfortunately often closed in winter due to the snows but is usually open by early spring when the lake is stocked. 
 

3. Upper Lake Mary

Home to northern pike, channel catfish, and crappie. While there are some trout here as well, their number isn’t as numerous as in some of the other locations on this list and can be hard to find in the 600-acre lake.

Pike spawn in the shallows during the spring, before moving into the deeper waters for the hotter months. It’s best to start on the southern end and work upwards, fishing along the banks from The Narrows campground. 

4. Dogtown Lake

This scenic reservoir located in the Kaibab National Forest is another great place to target trout, where, aside from the more common brown and rainbow trout, there is also the opportunity to fish for the more unusual cutthroat trout, identified by the reddish-brown markings around the head and neck.

Rainbow trout are stocked weekly beginning in April, making spring the best time of year to hit this lake.

5. Frances-Short Pond

A favorite among Flagstaff residents, this small neighborhood pond is stocked with trout every year beginning in the spring. Holdover trout can be caught with bait year-round, but for the best chance at a bite try fishing in the spring, avoiding the crowds by arriving in the early morning or late evening.

These are just a few of the best fishing holes around Flagstaff, so head outside and find your favorite. Need a bigger vehicle to carry all that fishing gear? Visit Oxendale Chrysler Dodge Jeep today, where our excellent range of used and new vehicles, including the all-new Ram 1500. Our friendly staff will be more than happy to help you find your dream car. 

Image courtesy of Pixabay.com

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