Fishing at Wheatfields Lake, Apache County, Arizona

• Overview

  You will find Wheatfields Lake in Apache County, Arizona. This is mixed forest ground. It measures about 226 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. Bank access stretches around 2.2 miles in total. Few waters listed in Apache County are bigger. The closest town, Tsaile, is 9.4 miles distant. Albuquerque is the closest city, 158 miles away. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Wheatfields Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Public occurrence data for Apache County names bluehead sucker, flannelmouth sucker, black bullhead and green sunfish. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. The near bank of Wheatfields Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 67°F, the coldest about 24°F. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. After late March the shallows warm and the fish move up. Expect the water usable from around late March until roughly mid December. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Wheatfields Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Mapping records no facilities at all near this water. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Fish Pond Lake sits 6 miles off and takes the overflow. What applies at Wheatfields Lake may have changed since it was mapped.