Carr Lake, Arizona: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  In Arizona, Carr Lake falls inside Gila County. Land around it is mixed woodland. Small enough that any disturbance crosses the whole surface. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Gila County. Star Valley is the closest town at 17 miles. For a city, Scottsdale is 79 miles off. Rules can differ a short way off, since the county line is near.

• Where to Fish on Carr Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Records collected within a few miles name Arctic grayling, brook trout and Apache trout. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Read Carr Lake before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 65°F, with January the cold end at about 28°F. Spring and autumn are the strongest, but nothing is truly closed. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. Plan around that when you fish Carr Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. Public mapping marks it as seasonal water rather than permanent. There is no mapped parking or launch nearby, which keeps numbers down. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Bear Canyon Lake sits 2.2 miles off and takes the overflow. Where Carr Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.