Rafin Bass Fishing
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Lakes
Here you will find a list of the lakes I commonly fish and enjoy taking clients on. We are not limited to only these lakes when you book a guide trip. I have experience on many lakes across the state of Arizona. I hope you will find this information useful when deciding where you would like to go on your guide trip with Rafin Bass Fishing.
Lake Pleasant
An oasis in the desert, Lake Pleasant is a 10,000-acre lake offering a variety of fishing and boating choices. Located 45 minutes northwest of Phoenix
Bass fishing at Lake Pleasant has been the primary attraction for decades, to angler at Lake Pleasant. This deep, clear, desert lake has produced monster strings of bass, and at times been a favorite of tournament anglers. It can also be very tough fishing at times and test the skills and patience of even the most experienced anglers. This is excellent topwater lake when the water is clear. Texas-style worms, jigs, spinnerbaits and crankbaits also catch their share of Lake Pleasant bass.
Species: Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish, and Flathead Catfish.
Arizona
Bartlett Lake
Located on the Verde River in central Arizona, Bartlett Lake, a 2,800 acre lake, is an easy 45-minute drive northeast of Carefree AZ. Head northeast from Carefree on the Cave Creek road to the Bartlett Dam Road turnoff.
Bass are the primary target of anglers heading to Bartlett Lake. This desert lake offers a variety of structure and cover. Much of the lake is comprised of flooded areas of de-composed granite. Other sections are strewn with giant boulders. The upper reaches of the river end of the lake offer brush and vegetation for bass and other species. The main food source for bass in Bartlett Lake are threadfin shad. Their secondary food source is crawfish (or crawdads). The water in the lake remains fairly clear unless water levels drop significantly, at which time the water gets murky from mud and silt on the lake bottom.
Once the water temperature rises around 60 degrees, the bass can be coaxed into taking topwater lures. Jigs, spoons and worms work year round - shallow in mild weather and deeper when the water gets very warm or very cold. When the bass are shallow, crankbaits and spinnerbaits catch a lot of bass.
Species: Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish, and Flathead Catfish.
Saguaro Lake
A picturesque, 1,200-acre reservoir, Saguaro Lake is the last of four lakes on the Salt River chain of lakes, in central Arizona. It is an easy 45 minute drive northwest of Mesa AZ on State Highway 87 to the Bush Highway turnoff.
Bass fishing here can vary from real tough to really good. It is a deep canyon lake with relatively cleat water. Very little brush or vegetation resides in the lake, so bass tend to use rock structures as holding and feeding areas. Light line and small, finesse baits catch the bulk of the fish here. However, at times you can have luck with crankbaits, spinnerbaits, top water, jerk baits and a host of soft plastic lures.
Species: Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Yellow Bass, Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish, Rainbow Trout and Walleye.
Canyon Lake
Located on the Salt River in central Arizona, Canyon Lake is an easy 45 minute drive northwest of Apache Junction AZ on State Highway 88. This lake covers 950 surface acres and is set in deep canyons which offer spectacular views.
This deep-canyon waterway is home to big bass, The state record bass, over 16 pounds was caught here. Light line and small offerings seem to fool the majority of the monster bass caught here. 4-inch plastic worms, small grubs and live night crawlers are the top, year-round baits. Topwater is generally good early and late in the day, any time the water temperature rises above 60 degrees.
Species: Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Yellow Bass, Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish, Trout and Walleye.
Alamo Lake
Located on the Bill Williams River in northwest Arizona, Alamo Lake located approximately 2 ½ hours from Phoenix.
The quantity and quality of the bass population varies from year to year, based on water levels in prior years. An advantage of the fluctuating water level is the abundance of brush and vegetation in rising lake levels. This plant matter enriches the water with nutrients and promotes growth of all levels of the food chain. Topwater, spinnerbaits and crankbaits are excellent choices when the bass are shallow. As the bass move to deeper water, as they do particularly in the heat of summer, jigs, spoons and drop shots are consistent producers.
Species: Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Redear Sunfish, Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish,
Tilapia
Mexico
EL Oviachic Lake, Sonora, Mexico
Perhaps the best kept secret in Mexico!!
Lake Oviachic is located approximately 17 miles from Ciudad Obregon.
The Man-Made structure of Lake Oviachic was constructed between 1947 and 1952 making one of the oldest Bass fishing lakes in Mexico. It serves as a flood control, power generator, and reservoir providing irrigation to local agriculture, as well as drinking water.
The lake is 20,000 surface acre feet and approximately 25 miles long. Making it one of the largest bass fishing lakes in Mexico.it has a tremendous population of Florida Strain Bass that grows very fast due to abundance of Tilapia and Catfish. Lake Oviachic offers the opportunity to catch quantity and quality Bass, commonly catching fish is the 4-7 pound range with fish going as large as 10 pounds.
Contact me for further information on Mexico Adventures!!!
Rafin Bass Fishing
(602) 363-5456
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