Bear Canyon Lake, Arizona: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Bear Canyon Lake is set in Coconino County, Arizona. The bank is 7,612 feet above sea level. It runs to roughly 55 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. 17 miles away sits Star Valley, the nearest town. It is 80 miles to Scottsdale, the nearest city. It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply.

• Where to Fish on Bear Canyon Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Fish reported in the area, according to open records, include Arctic grayling, brook trout and Apache trout. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Bear Canyon Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 66°F, the coldest about 30°F. A long season, with weather mattering more than the month. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. Time your trip to Bear Canyon Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. Mapping shows a campsite some 0.9 miles from the water. Facilities include toilets around half a mile from here. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. Carr Lake sits 2.2 miles off and takes the overflow. Nothing here settles the position at Bear Canyon Lake for certain.