Knoll Lake in Coconino County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Look for Knoll Lake in the Coconino County part of Arizona. It lies 7,320 feet above sea level. It measures about 64 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. Shoreline comes to about 1.5 miles, small enough to learn in a day. For supplies, Star Valley is 15 miles out. Scottsdale sits 78 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. The county line runs close by, so rules can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Knoll Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Species logged nearby in open biodiversity records include rainbow trout, brook trout and brown trout. Treat it as evidence of what swims in the area. Treat Knoll Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 65°F, the coldest about 28°F. Whether it freezes depends on the year. It is not guaranteed from one year to the next. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. Time your trip to Knoll Lake by conditions rather than dates. Cloud cover is worth more than temperature on a bright week.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. You can camp about half a mile away, going by the mapping. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. For a change of water, Lost Lake is 4.2 miles distant. Signs at Knoll Lake carry more weight than any list.