It’s a fishing day

Roosevelt Lake fishing conditions · Arizona

Today, 4 am–5 pmSmallmouth bass

The bite peaks at 74.

Log a trip here
Right now: 64 for smallmouth bass, marginalTap 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. 64Mon
  2. 64
  3. 64
  4. 643 am
  5. 74
  6. 74
  7. 746 am
  8. 74
  9. 74
  10. 749 am
  11. 74
  12. 74
  13. 7412 pm
  14. 74
  15. 74
  16. 743 pm
  17. 74
  18. 64
  19. 646 pm
  20. 64
  21. 64
  22. 649 pm
  23. 64
  24. 64
  25. 64Tue
  26. 64
  27. 64
  28. 643 am
  29. 64
  30. 64
  31. 746 am
  32. 74
  33. 74
  34. 749 am
  35. 74
  36. 74
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now

Water
No reading

Smallmouth bass range 55–78°

Wind
5 mph

From the north-northwest

Flow
5.3 ft gauge height

steady

Light
Dark

Sunrise 6:38 am

Sky
Clear

No rain expected

Air
58°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Rising

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
100% lit

Full

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

74Worth the tripToday, 4 am–5 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Smallmouth bass bite in 55–78° water, best near 68°.

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. 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

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

68MarginalToday, 4 am–5 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Largemouth bass bite in 55–85° water, best near 72°.

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. 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

Season here: Year-round, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on largemouth bass

Crappie

Crappie

Pomoxis spp.

68MarginalToday, 4 am–5 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Crappie bite in 50–80° water, best near 65°.

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 3–20 ft down.

Keep

no daily limit

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Arizona sets no statewide crappie limit. Lake Pleasant, Roosevelt, Saguaro, Apache, Canyon and Bartlett are 15 a day; the lower Colorado River including Lake Havasu is 25 crappie and sunfish combined.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Arizona

Season here: Nov–Apr, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on crappie

Channel Catfish

Channel catfish

Ictalurus punctatus

68MarginalToday, 4 am–5 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Channel catfish bite in 60–85° water, best near 75°.

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. 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

Season here: Year-round, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on channel catfish

Common Carp

Common carp

Cyprinus carpio

68MarginalToday, 4 am–5 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Common carp bite in 52–86° water, best near 72°.

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. 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 8 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
  • River5.3 ft gauge height · steady
  • Barometer30.04 inHg, rising

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunrise today6:38 am
  • Sunset today5:38 pm
  • MoonFull, 100% lit
  • Major solunarSunday 11:00 pm–1:00 am
  • Minor solunarToday 6:40 am–7:40 am
  • Major solunarToday 11:30 am–1:30 pm

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

The largest of the Salt River chain lakes east of Phoenix and one of Arizona's top bass lakes — largemouth and smallmouth around flooded brush, with crappie and catfish.

Nearby

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

Saguaro Lake21 mi · ArizonaBest today 4 am–10 am
68Marginal

Questions people ask

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

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

What fish are commonly targeted at Roosevelt Lake?

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

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

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Roosevelt Lake?

state agency regulations apply at Roosevelt 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 Roosevelt Lake tidal water?

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