Fishing Prime Lake in Coconino County, Arizona

• Overview

  Look for Prime Lake in the Coconino County part of Arizona. It sits in farm and woodlot country. Mountainaire is the closest place, 7.7 miles off. The big place round here is Deer Valley, 104 miles distant. Within easy reach: Little Dry Lake sits 1 mile out, Vail Lake within 1.2 miles, Marshall Lake sits 1.4 miles out, Fisher and Fry Lake within 1.7 miles and Lower Lake Mary sits 2.5 miles out. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Prime Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Species logged across Coconino County include brown trout, common carp and flannelmouth sucker. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. The shape of Prime Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 66°F for July and 28°F for January. Neither winter nor summer shuts things down for long. It should never be assumed safe, whatever the month says. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Prime Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. Mapping shows parking within half a mile. Mapping shows a campsite some half a mile from the water. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. If the gate is shut, Little Dry Lake at 1 mile is the nearest alternative. For Prime Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.