Lake Pleasant
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Lake Pleasant Fishing Reports
Stay up to date with the latest fishing reports from Lake Pleasant. Reports are submitted by local anglers, fishing guides, and our team of fishing experts.
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Fish WranglerBronze AmbassadorSpecies
Largemouth BassTechniqueSoft Body Swimbaits (Large)SeasonSummerStructureFlooded BrushNew favorite swimbait! The slow sink version is the most realistic looking swimbait that I’ve seen in the water. Just a slow steady retrieve with an occasional pause or twitch. Bass hit this thing like a freight train. There are no subtle takes. I really like the way the hook is setup in this bait. The hook “sets” into the top of this swimbait via the line through design, so when the fish hits the lure the hook disengages from the soft swimbait. The fish has no leverage against the lure to throw the hook. Well thought out design! So far the soft body of the lure seems like it will hold up well after several fish. Caught a 10 lb monster to start the day. I’m a believer in this new bait!
AndrewsFishingAZBronze Ambassador
SpeciesLargemouth BassTechniqueNed RigsSeasonSpring (Post-Spawn)StructureBouldersCaught them on jigs, Ned rigs, and dropshot. Will bite Ned rig when sight fishing. Bigger fish caught on deep football jigs super slow in 10-15 feet.
- Fish WranglerBronze AmbassadorSpeciesLargemouth BassTechniqueBladed JigsSeasonSpring (Pre-Spawn)StructurePoints
Chatter bait paired with a crush city shad fished around submerged trees and points. Picked up largemouth and stripers on it.
- SpeciesLargemouth BassTechniqueSoft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium)SeasonSummerStructurePoints
Fishing was great in esrly AM. Managed to snag a couple striper right on outer areas on drop offs of reefs at about daybreak using Stunna 112+ jerkbait. A slight breeze found me chucking a 3.8 Divine Swimbait Pro Shad color by 6th sense and a fishhead underspin on some wind blown points and shallow reefs, and it was the ticket. For about 3 to 3 1/2 hours I was throwing it and the largemouth were constantly gulping it. The bite slowed about 8:30-9am. Plenty of followers throughout the day just never committed as morning bite. Range of depth for the fish were just sub-surface ~1-2 foot and marked several bites at about 8-10foot just slow rolling the underspin.
- JTBronze AmbassadorSpecies
CatfishTechniqueLive Bait RigsSeasonSummerStructureBaitfishFlathead catfish are present throughout the lake but are more common in the Aqua Fria River arm or by the dam. Look for spots where the water is murkier with vegetation or rocky covering nearby. Fishing for catfish should be great this spring. Try using catfish baits like chicken livers for smaller catfish. To catch a trophy size, try using live gizzard shad, sunfish or carp.
- JTBronze AmbassadorSpecies
Spotted BassTechniqueCarolina RigsSeasonSummerStructureDamFor white bass, during the day anglers fishing Carolina rigged lizards in 20-35 feet will usually have some success. Also in the spring, trolled spinners can also produce some whites in the lower lake and off the dam. When fish go deep, move on.
- JTBronze AmbassadorSpeciesLargemouth BassTechniqueSpinnerbaitsSeasonSummerStructureShad
The best tactic is often to cruise the lake looking for top water eruptions and casting into them. Try using white or clear spinners and crankbaits. The natural worm colors are working well for anglers especially when the water is clear.
- JTBronze AmbassadorSpecies
Striped BassTechniqueTrolling Deep (20'+)SeasonSummerStructureBaitfishLake temperatures are warming up from mid 50s in March to low 70s in May. Typically largemouth bass spawning is cued when temperatures reach 60 to 70 degrees. Water levels will be pretty consistent from March through April throughout the spawn. Water levels should be at their highest during May through June and then slowly decline as water is drawn through the Central Arizona Project (CAP) canal. To catch striped bass, try using live shad, anchovies, silver Kastmasters, plastic swimbaits, and top-water lures.
