Alamo Lake in La Paz County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  La Paz County in Arizona is where Alamo Lake sits. This is dry open country country. This is big water, about 4.8 sq miles, and in a wind it behaves like a small sea. Shoreline length is close to 14 miles, and each section fishes a little differently. Across our Arizona listings, few waters are bigger. Bagdad sits 30 miles from here and is the nearest stop. Salome lies 34 miles off, Cienega Springs another 38 miles. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Alamo Lake

  80 ft is what our records show. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Species logged nearby in open biodiversity records include blue tilapia, flathead catfish and northern pike. It is a record of sightings and surveys, so use it as a guide. Fish Alamo Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 93°F in July and bottom out at 52°F in January. The whole calendar is open, with dawn and dusk the productive hours in summer. Late winter and spring fish steadiest here. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. Plan around that when you fish Alamo Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Being publicly held, the water is generally open for fishing. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. Pike mean a wire trace, no exceptions; big spoons and jerkbaits do the searching. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Red Lake at 34 miles is the sensible second choice. Check the current arrangement for Alamo Lake.