RIM LAKES Most roads are now open and accessible.  Contact the US Forest Service’s Black Mesa Ranger District office at (928) 535-7300 for up to date information about forest and road conditions.

CHEVELON LAKE — Fishing is fair. The lake is full.  All access roads are open.
Try lures such as spinners (Mepps, Panther Martin, and Rooster Tail), and spoons such as Super Dupers, KastMasters, and Z-rays, and flies such as peacock ladies, wooly worms and wooly buggers, and semi-seal leeches.

This is a steep-sided canyon lake that is not shore angler friendly and is best fished from a float tube, canoe or kayak. There is hike-in lake with a steep, challenging trail.
The lake is open to artificial lure and fly only. Trout between 10 to 14 may not be possessed The lake is open to electric trolling motors and /or up to 10 hp. gas motors.

BEAR CANYON LAKE —  Fishing is fair to good.  The lake was stocked two weeks ago with catchable sized rainbow trout and there are also larger holdver trout in this deep canyon lake. Try worms, Power Bait, corn, and salmon eggs, lures such as spinners (Mepps, Rooster Tail, and Panther Martin), Super Dupers, Z-Rays and Rapalas, and flies such as peacock ladies, wooly worms, wooly buggers, and small nymphs in black, brown or green. The lake is open to electric trolling motors only.  .

Angler report:

Rory:
Enjoyed the rainbow bite Saturday morning at Bear Canyon from my float tube using
semi-seal leach with a glo-bug dropper. One was plump but only about 12-13 inches. Maybe a holdover, maybe just
a plump stocker. The rest were stockers.
Thanks, Brian

BLACK CANYON LAKE — Fishing is fair. The lake was stocked in May with catchable size rainbow trout. The Arizona Game and Fish Department can’t stock this lake during the summer months because of high water temperatures and pH’s.   Try worms, Power Bait, lures such as Z-Rays, Super Dupers, and spinners (Mepps, Rooster Tail, and Panther Martin), and flies such as wooly worms, wooly buggers, Peacock ladies, and small nymphs.

The lake is open to electric trolling motors only and/or up to 10 hp. gas motors.

BLUE RIDGE – There is a heavy algal bloom. Has been stocked. Fishing is fair. It may be possible to catch some nice holdovers here at times, but the lake is not very shore-angler friendly. This lake is best fished from a small boat, kayak, canoe or float tube.
KNOLL LAKE – This lake is full. Scheduled for stocking this week. Fishing was terrific following the last stocking. This spring-fed lake may be a little more difficult to get to (20-plus dirt road miles), but a dusty excursion along the FS 300 Road (Rim Road) can be a treat in itself for those who like spectacular vistas along steep escarpments.
Try worms, salmon eggs, Power Bait, lures such as Z-Rays, Super Dupers, and spinners  (Mepps, Rooster Tail, and Panther Martin), and flies such as wooly worms, wooly buggers, peacock ladies, and small nymphs.
Hey Rory – Knoll Lake Friday and Saturday, June 12 & 13. Windy and cold, the wind was blowing into the dam and the trout were stacked there feeding. After figuring out they were at or near the surface, I used a worm and bobber and limited out in a short time. My buddy used powerbait on the bottom and eventually limited out also. Good Fishing – Bob Dickinson
Hey Rory went up to Knoll last weekend and did alright with worms (caught mostly little stockers) however, the highlight of the trip was seeing an osprey pluck a rainbow out of the lake.  I’ve seen this on TV before, but never in real life (feel pretty lucky to have seen it).  Lucky for us one of my fishing buddies has a photography fetish and captured the bird in the act. My friend’s name who took the osprey picture is Kevin Knuth and he’s from Maricopa. Thought you and the good ol’ boys and gals over at the G&FD might like to see this. Thanks for your work on the fishing report you are doing a great job and the content seems to get better and better.
Justin Wiekhorst, Mesa

WILLOW SPRINGS LAKE — Will be stocked again this week with catchable size trout. Fishing has been good for boat anglers, and fair to good for shore anglers. The best bite has been at first and last light, or when the storm clouds start pilling up. Fishing is good, with many anglers catching limits, especially those fishing from boats.  The lake is full. Willow Springs also has plenty of larger holdover trout, plus smallmouth and largemouth bass. There are even some crappies here. Fish the stickups using 4-inch worms or lizards. Drop-shotted Robo worms can sometimes produce a bonanza of bass, trout and crappie. The limits have been removed on bass, crappie and the other warmwater fish.

Anglers are catching trout on worms. Try worms, Power Bait, lures such as Z-Rays, spinners (Mepps, Rooster Tail, and Panther Martin), and flies such as wooly worms, wooly buggers, and peacock ladies. The lake is open to electric trolling motors and/or up to 10 hp gas motors.
Bob Dickinson: Saturday, June 27, threw Panther Martins and topwater plugs. Caught  20 smallmouth and largemouth, nothing real big, a couple that went 1 pound. Caught 12 trout on worms and bobber. Took a break and got out of the boat and caught over 30 bluegill from shore with worms and bobbers. Good fishing – Bob Dickinson
Hi Rory,

I took my Dad to Willow Springs Lake on June 26th for his Birthday. We boated 40 rainbow trout,(mostly catch & release) and a few small smallies, slow trolling small Rebel crankbaits (dark colors). It was a really nice time with my Dad. It is really cool to be able to share trout fishing in the cool pines with my Dad now that he is 73 years old; he’s the one who taught me how to fish when I was kid. Kids, take your Dad, Or Dads take your kids trout fishing on the Mogollon Rim, you will have a great time. GO CATCH SOME FISH!!

Thanks again AZ.Game & Fish !!

Kevin Thompson

Rory;
Went out to Willow Springs Lake yesterday with the canoe, looking for some of those nice holdovers!
Got my limit of nice, long, fat rainbows in about 2 1/2 hours, using half of a dilly worm behind baby cowbells. All were between 8″ – 14″. Trolled them very, very slowly with the canoe. Also caught a small guy on a small gold KastMaster tipped with a couple red glittered salmon eggs.
Beautiful day out! Didn’t get to see any Bald Eagles yet though.
Thanks!
-Tony Lopez
WOODS CANYON LAKE — Fishing is fair to good, with lots of anglers catching limits. This popular trout fishery is stocked weekly with rainbow trout. Fishing is good for the stockers, with some larger hold-over trout still be caught at times.

There are nesting bald eagles here, so please do not discard fishing line. In fact, please pick up any line discarded by sloppy anglers.

There is a small area (well signed) on the eastern end of the lake is that closed due to nesting bald eagles. Please respect the closure – it should not interfere with your fishing. This also means that the nesting eagles are aggressively foraging for fish at Woods Canyon and at nearby Willow Springs, so take along your binoculars, it’s a treat. You might even see an exciting wildlife drama unfold when a bald eagle tries to take a fish away from an osprey.

Try worms, Power Bait, salmon eggs, lures such as spinners (Mepps, Panther Martin, and Rooster Tail), small spoons such as Super Dupers, Z-Rays, and KastMasters, and flies such as peacock ladies, wooly worms, small nymphs in black, brown or green. The lake is open to electric trolling motors only.

Angler reports:

Hi Rory, I tried my luck fishing on the Verde River at the first crossing off of Houston Mesa Road but couldn’t get a bite. Went up to Woods Canyon hoping for better luck and caught 3 nice 10″ to 12″ Rainbows in a few hours. Lots of fishermen at the lake braving chilly temps — Tim C