Fishing The Lake in Pima County, Arizona

• Overview

  The Lake lies within the bounds of Pima County, Arizona. Height above sea level is 4,206 feet. The far bank is a conversation away, so keep low and quiet. It is a small entry by Pima County standards. Corona de Tucson sits 6.2 miles from the bank. Vail is 9.5 miles away, with East Sahuarita at 14 miles. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on The Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Open occurrence data for the surrounding area lists bluegill and green sunfish. It is a record of sightings and surveys, so use it as a guide. On The Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 79°F; by January the average is down near 47°F. Fish stay active all year, but they move with the heat. The first and last hours carry the summer; the middle is slow. Autumn steadies things again once the heat lets go. Time your trip to The Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. Parking sits half a mile out, which makes for a walk with tackle. For the panfish, a small hook, a float and a piece of worm outfish everything fancy. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Gambusi Lake, 23 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Where The Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.