Wallace Lake Fishing near Mountainaire, Arizona

• Overview

  Wallace Lake is set in Coconino County, Arizona. It lies 7,352 feet above sea level. At roughly 15 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. Mountainaire at 18 miles is the nearest place to stop. Sedona lies 19 miles off, Kachina Village another 20 miles. Others within reach: Mormon Lake just 2.5 miles, Pine Lake about 3.2 miles, Mud Lake just 4.1 miles, Corner Lake about 5 miles and Ducksnest Lake just 5.2 miles. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Wallace Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Across Coconino County, recorded fish include brown trout, common carp, flannelmouth sucker, bluehead sucker and green sunfish. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Fish Wallace Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 64°F, the coldest about 27°F. Spring and autumn are the strongest, but nothing is truly closed. Cover comes and goes, so treat it with suspicion rather than trust. Spring and autumn carry the year; summer squeezes it into the ends of the day. Wallace Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. Records show it does not hold water year-round. The nearest car park is half a mile from the water. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. The nearest alternative is Mormon Lake, 2.5 miles out. Where Wallace Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.