Fishing Roosevelt Lake

AKA: Lake Roosevelt

By Rick Seaman

Popular Fish Species Roosevelt Lake, AZ

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Largemouth Bass Fishing

Roosevelt Lake continues to deliver great catches of largemouth bass, as it has for several years now. Excellent fisheries management by the Arizona Game & Fish Department, which includes the introduction of Florida strain largemouths, has maintained a thriving bass fishery, providing both quantity and quality for anglers. Smallmouth bass also reside here in pretty good numbers. Recent results by locals, and bass fishing tournament participants, attest to the fact that fishing for largemouth bass has been very rewarding lately. 4 to 7 pound bass are not uncommon, and an occasional 10 pounder or larger shows up. Bass fishing at Roosevelt Lake in Arizona is a thrilling and rewarding experience for anglers of all skill levels. Known for its excellent bass population, the lake provides ample opportunities to reel in trophy-sized largemouth and smallmouth bass. With its diverse underwater structure, including rocky points, submerged trees, and weed beds, Roosevelt Lake offers the perfect habitat for bass to thrive. Anglers can employ a variety of techniques, such as casting topwater lures in the early morning or using soft plastics to mimic baitfish. The challenge of outsmarting these powerful and elusive bass, combined with the breathtaking scenery of the lake and surrounding landscape, makes bass fishing at Roosevelt Lake an unforgettable adventure.

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Black Crappie Fishing

Roosevelt Lake holds a plentiful population of black crappie, and they are running in good sizes this year. Coves on the northeast side of the lake tend to be annual spawning areas for crappie, especially on the Tonto Creek end of the lake. Salome Cove is another good spawning area for crappie. From the Salt River to Tonto creek, there are potentially schools of crappie to be caught. Night fishing with crappie lights is effective year round. Crappie fishing is easy and requires simple, basic gear. Any fishing pole, reasonably small line and crappie jigs or small hooks baited with live bait, creates the ideal setup. Add a bobber and you can set the depth you prefer the bait to maintain. The best time to catch crappie tends to be at dawn and dusk. Live bait and small jigs are the most common method for crappie here. Because crappie always like cover and structure, so locate brush and vegetation. Using a fish finder can help locate schools of crappie, which tend to stack vertically around cover. In spring and fall focus on the 8 to 12 foot range. As the crappie move deep in summer and winter, follow points out deep, as well as find ledges near channels in deeper water.

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Channel Catfish Fishing

Tasty channel catfish can be caught all around the lake. For weekend anglers, most any rod and reel will work for catching channel catfish at Roosevelt Lake, as long as the line is strong enough. For serious catfish enthusiasts, using the right equipment enhances success, especially when you hook one of the big boys. A medium action, to medium-heavy action rod is ideal, in the 6' to 7' range. Use a slip sinker or Carolina rig with popular catfish baits on at least 10-pound line. Use sharp hooks with bait holders on the shank, or circle hooks for live bait. The state record channel catfish is over 35 pounds, and Roosevelt Lake holds some pretty big ones. Flathead catfish also reside in the lake and fishing for these bigger cousins is often very good as well. Night fishing for catfish often delivers better results than daytime fishing. Fishing for channel catfish is often most productive around any kind of structure in the area. In Spring channel catfish migrate toward incoming water, so stay up river away from the main lake. In early summer look for rocky banks, the bigger the rocks the better. In summer and winter deeper structure is where to look. The river end of the lake is often the area where the bigger catfish are caught. Road beds, creek channels and rocky points are all good places to begin.

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Fish species to fish for...

Guide to fishing for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, channel catfish, flathead catfish, black crappie, bluegill and yellow bass at Roosevelt Lake in Arizona.

Roosevelt Lake Fishing Video

Roosevelt Lake, AZ Fishing

Having fished this lake for over five decades, I can assure you there are bass to be caught somewhere on the lake virtually any time of the day, year round. The challenge is figuring out where they are located and making a presentation with a bait that appeals to their mood. When they are shallow and active, Roosevelt Lake bass can be caught on a wide variety of reaction baits including, topwater, buzzbaits, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, swimbaits, spinners and other fast-moving baits. If they are inactive but holding in the shallows, slower presentation are in order, including plastic worms, senkos and jigs. Once they move deep, the key is locating the baitfish which will give you a good idea of the depth where the bass are holding. Spoons, jigs, drop-shot lures and plastic worms are favorite lures to catch bass in these deep-water conditions.

Roosevelt Lake is the head lake in a chain of 4 lakes and collects fresh water from the Salt River and Tonto Creek. This influx of fresh water promotes high spawn rates and provides nutrients for a healthy food chain. Depending on the season, and time of day, one can catch largemouth's from the surface down to 40 or 50 feet deep. Bass fishing at Roosevelt Lake is the primary target goal of anglers here, followed closely by crappie fishing. The Roosevelt Lake Marina offers fishing boat rentals and fishing supplies.

Located in Central Arizona at the convergence of the Salt River and Tonto Creek, Roosevelt Lake is the head lake in a chain of 4 lakes. These lakes provide water to the Phoenix metropolitan area. The lake is accessed via State Highway 188 northeast from Globe and Miami at the town of Roosevelt, AZ. Lake Roosevelt is over 22,000 surface acres when full and is 23 miles long. Numerous campgrounds with boat launch facilities are located along the southwestern shore of the lake. Windy Hill, Schoolhouse Point, Grapevine, Roosevelt Lake Marina, Cholla, Porter Springs and Horse Pasture are the primary areas with boat launching facilities.

Fishing is one of the main attractions at Roosevelt Lake, as it is home to numerous species of fish, making it a paradise for anglers. Whether you are fishing the Schoolhouse Point area on the Salt River end of the lake, fishing around Grapevine or Windy Hill, fishing around Rabbit Island near the Roosevelt Dam, or fishing the Tonto Creek arm of the lake near the Cholla Boat Ramp, there are plenty of fish to be found.

Primary fish species residing in Roosevelt Lake

Click images for fishing tips and details about each species.

Roosevelt Lake Amenities

Marina: YES
Boat Rental: YES
Boat Launch Ramp: YES
Campgrounds: YES
RV Hookups: YES
Lodging: NEARBY
Convenience Store: YES
Bait & Tackle: YES
Restaurant: YES

Today's Weather & Forecast

Aside from fishing, Roosevelt Lake also offers opportunities for boating enthusiasts. The lake is perfect for boating, with its calm waters and ample space to navigate. Whether you prefer sailing, power boating, or kayaking, the lake provides a fantastic setting for a day out on the water. Boaters can enjoy the scenic beauty of the surrounding Tonto National Forest while indulging in their favorite water-based activities.

Fishing Boat Rentals

Roosevelt Lake Marina
Rentals: power boats and pontoons.
602 977-7170

Marinas

Roosevelt Lake Marina
28085 AZ-188
Roosevelt, AZ 85545
602 977-7170

Boat Launch Ramps & Landings

Cholla Boat Ramp
Tonto National Forest
Located along the northwest shoreline, this launch area includes a multi-lane concrete boat ramp, a dock and both paved and unpaved parking.
928 467-3200

Grapevine Boat Launch Ramp
Located on the south side of the lake, half way between Windy Hill and School House Point, this is a concrete, four-lane ramp with a dock and paved parking.
602 225-8395

Indian Point Campground Boat Launch
This is a nice two-lane launch ramp, with a dock and primitive parking.
928 467-3200

Porter Spring Recreation Site
Located just west of Windy Hill, this launch area serves the campground by providing a two-lane concrete boat launch ramp with limited parking.

Roosevelt Lake Marina
28085 AZ-188
Roosevelt, AZ 85545
Offers a two-lane, concrete launch ramp, with a dock. Parking area is unpaved.
602 977-7170

Schoolhouse Point Launch Ramp
This is a nice four-lane, concrete boat launch ramp, with a dock and plenty of paved parking.
602 225-5395

Windy Hill Recreation Site (East)
Located in the bay on the south side of windy hill, there are two boat ramps. One is four lane with docks and primitive parking (used primarily when lake levels are low. The other is an eight-lane ramp with paved parking (used when lake levels are high).

Windy Hill Recreation Site (West)
Located on the west side of windy hill, this boat ramp is six lane with a dock and primitive parking.

Fishing Guides On Roosevelt Lake

Fishin 48 Guide Trips - bass, crappie

If you offer fishing guide services on this lake, please contact us for a free listing, to be posted here.

Fishing License

Click here for a Arizona Fishing License.

For those who prefer to spend a night or two immersed in nature, Roosevelt Lake offers excellent camping facilities. There are several campgrounds located around the lake, providing both tent and RV camping options. With picturesque views and convenient amenities, camping at Roosevelt Lake allows visitors to experience the serenity of the outdoors while being close to the water. Campers can enjoy activities like hiking, bird watching, or simply relaxing by the campfire, creating unforgettable memories in the heart of nature.

Campgrounds & RV Parks Nearby

Cholla Campground - 928 467-3200

Spring Creek Inn & RV Resort - 928 467-2888

Roosevelt Lakeview RV Park - 928 961-6822

Roosevelt Lake AZ Map - Fishing & Camping Areas

Contact Information

Roosevelt Lake
Roosevelt Lake Marina
28085 AZ-188
Roosevelt, AZ 85545
602 977-7170

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Rick Seaman is a bass fishing enthusiast with over five decades of bass fishing experience, a retired bass tournament fisherman and co-author of the book "Bass Fishing. It's not WHAT you throw, It's WHERE you throw it" .

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