Arizona Forest Lake Bass Fly Fishing Trip
Private Trip
Lakes/Reservoirs/Ponds Fishing
Escape Phoenix heat with cooler mountain lake fishingBoat-based bass fly fishing on scenic Mogollon Rim lakesPrivate guided experience near Payson and Show Low
Beat the Phoenix heat and chase bass in Arizona's high country with this top-rated fly fishing adventure on the Mogollon Rim. When temps hit triple digits down in the valley, you'll be casting flies in comfortable 70-degree weather surrounded by pine forests and crystal-clear mountain lakes. This isn't your typical desert fishing trip – we're talking about boat fishing some of Arizona's best bass water while enjoying lunch and taking in views that'll make you forget you're in the desert state.
This is a personalized, one-on-one guided experience that puts you right in the sweet spot of Arizona's mountain bass fishing. We launch from pristine forest lakes near Payson and the Show Low area, where the elevation keeps things cool and the bass active even when the rest of Arizona is baking. You'll spend the day working productive structure from a comfortable boat, with plenty of opportunities to sight fish cruising bass in the clear water. The scenery alone is worth the drive – towering ponderosa pines, red rock formations, and wildlife that includes everything from osprey to elk coming down to drink. This is world-class bass fishing in a setting most people don't even know exists in Arizona. Lunch is included, so you can focus on fishing while I handle the details. Whether you're new to fly fishing or you've been swinging flies for years, I'll adjust the approach to match your skill level and help you connect with some memorable bass.
We fish these mountain lakes with a mix of techniques depending on conditions and what the bass are telling us. Early morning often means topwater action with poppers and sliders worked over shallow flats and around fallen timber. As the day progresses, we switch to streamers and weighted flies to work deeper structure – submerged logs, rock piles, and drop-offs where bass stack up during the heat of the day. The clear water means you'll often see your target before you cast, which adds a whole different element to the fishing. I provide all the fly gear you'll need, including a selection of proven patterns that these Arizona bass can't resist. We use 6 and 7-weight rods mostly, with floating lines for surface work and intermediate lines when we need to get down. The boat gives us access to structure that bank anglers can't reach, and we cover water efficiently while staying comfortable. These lakes fish differently than the desert impoundments most Arizona anglers know – the bass are more aggressive, the water's cleaner, and the cooler temps keep fish active all day long.
Smallmouth bass are the stars of these mountain lakes, and they fight like fish twice their size in the thin air and cold water. You'll find them staged along rocky points, cruising shallow bays, and ambushing baitfish near structure. These aren't your typical sluggish reservoir smallies – the cool water and high elevation make them incredibly aggressive. Largemouth bass also call these lakes home, typically holding in slightly different water than their bronze cousins. They love the deeper timber and weed edges, and when you hook one on a fly rod in open water, you'll understand why bass fishing guides love these trips. Both species are active throughout our fishing season, but the bite really turns on during late spring and early summer when water temps hit that sweet spot. The size might surprise you too – while we're not talking about 10-pound giants, the 2-4 pound fish we target are perfect on fly gear and put up battles that'll test your backing. What makes these bass special is their attitude – they hit flies hard and fight clean in the open water.
Smallmouth bass in these Arizona mountain lakes are something special. They average 12-16 inches with plenty of fish pushing 18 inches and beyond. The cold, clear water keeps them in perfect condition year-round, and they're known for their aerial displays when hooked on light tackle. Best time to target them is late spring through early fall, though they'll feed aggressively any time conditions are right. They love rocky structure, and you'll often find them in 5-15 feet of water around points and fallen trees. What makes smallmouth so exciting here is their willingness to chase flies – they'll follow a well-presented streamer for 20 feet before committing, and when they do hit, it's usually explosive. The clear water means you can watch the whole show unfold, which adds another level of excitement to each hookup.
Largemouth bass in these forest lakes behave differently than their lowland cousins, staying active in cooler water and feeding more aggressively throughout the day. They typically run slightly larger than the smallmouth, with fish in the 2-5 pound range being common. You'll find them around timber, in shallow bays during spawning season, and along weed lines where available. They're particularly fond of big streamers and surface flies, especially during low-light periods. The cool water temperatures mean they don't go dormant during summer like desert bass, so they'll hit flies with authority even during midday. What anglers love about these largemouth is their predictability – once you locate a productive area, you can usually count on finding fish there consistently throughout the trip.
This Arizona forest lake bass fly fishing trip offers something you can't find anywhere else in the state – comfortable fishing conditions, aggressive bass, and scenery that rivals anywhere in the country. While everyone else is dealing with triple-digit temperatures and sluggish fish, you'll be casting flies in perfect weather to bass that actually want to eat. The personalized approach means you get my full attention for the day, whether you need help with your casting or you're ready to chase trophy bass on technical presentations. Lunch is included, the boat is comfortable, and the fishing is as good as it gets in Arizona. These mountain lakes don't get the pressure that popular desert waters see, which means better fishing and a more peaceful experience overall. Don't spend another summer suffering through the heat when you
Get ready to chase Arizona bass from the deck of a custom 16-foot Stealthcraft Flatscraft designed specifically for fly fishing mountain lakes. This smooth-riding, high-powered boat cuts through the cool waters of the Mogollon Rim with ease, giving you the perfect platform to work those productive shorelines and drop-offs where big bass hang out. The boat comes rigged with 8 rod holders and a full selection of flies for whatever the fish are hitting – streamers, poppers, woolly buggers, you name it. There's an onboard cooler packed with ice to keep your drinks cold during those warm Arizona afternoons, plus plenty of storage for snacks and gear. You'll fish flatsboat style from the spacious foredeck, with a casting platform available when we're sight fishing cruising bass in the shallows. The GPS and fish finder help us locate structure and schools, but nothing beats watching a bass explode on your fly in these crystal-clear mountain waters. Just bring soft-soled shoes and eye protection – we keep the deck clean for better footing when you're fighting that fish of a lifetime.
Micropterus SalmoidesLargemouth bass are the classic gamefish most folks think of when they picture bass fishing. These green fighters typically run 12-24 inches and love our weedy coves and shallow bays. They're ambush predators that hang around structure - fallen trees, weed lines, rocky shores. Spring through fall they're active in the shallows, especially early morning and evening. What guests love is their aggressive strikes and strong runs once hooked. They'll also take big topwater flies, which makes for exciting visual action. The fillets are good eating when they come from clean water like ours. Local trick: throw bright streamers or poppers right into the thick stuff where it looks unfishable - that's where the big ones hide.
Micropterus DolomieuSmallmouth bass are scrappy fighters that average 12-18 inches in our mountain lakes. They love rocky bottoms and clear water, which we've got plenty of up here on the rim. During summer they'll move deeper to escape the heat, but spring and fall you'll find them prowling shallow rocky areas. What makes them special is their attitude - pound for pound they fight harder than almost any freshwater fish. They'll jump, run, and test your drag. The meat's firm and tasty too. My tip: when the water's warm, work your flies slow along drop-offs near rocky points. They ambush from cover, so be patient and let your streamer hang there a second longer than feels natural.
Phoenix, AZ