McLellan Reservoir in Coconino County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Out in Coconino County, Arizona, sits McLellan Reservoir. The bank is 6,522 feet above sea level. It covers about 6 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. It is a small entry by Coconino County standards. The closest town, Williams, is 5.7 miles distant. The big place round here is Deer Valley, 106 miles distant. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on McLellan Reservoir

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Fish documented in Coconino County include brown trout, common carp, flannelmouth sucker and bluehead sucker. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. On McLellan Reservoir a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 69°F in July and bottom out at 33°F in January. Conditions shift steadily rather than sharply. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. The hot months push the fishing to dawn and dusk. That is the shape of the year on McLellan Reservoir.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Holden Lake sits 3.7 miles off and takes the overflow. Signs at McLellan Reservoir carry more weight than any list.