Bartlett Lake Fish Report

Bartlett Lake - Carefree, AZ (Maricopa County)


by Arizona Game & Fish Department
1-22-2015
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Lake elevation is 1,767 feet, 60 % full.

The lake elevation has dropped two feet during the past week. The surface water temperature last week was around 52 degrees.

The winter fishing tactics remain: fish slowly. Gary Senft, a Bass Pro at the Mesa Bass Pro Shops, said that for winter fishing, fishing is decent.

Bass are following shad, and so the bass have not been in the same location from one day to another. In the morning, fish dropshots, Texas rigs, jigs, spinnerbaits or crankbaits. Once the sun comes up, fish in 20-30 feet of water over points, humps, reefs, etc.

Be ready for a subtle bite - winter bass are lethargic and more likely than in the fall or spring to hit a bait as its falling. It's also a particularly good time to try jigs or worms in watermelon or green pumpkin.

There is some decent crappie fishing. With the lake levels having dropped drastically the past few months, crappie have since moved. Try different some areas in around 20 feet of water, targeting underwater structure with 1/8- or 1/16-ounce crappie jigs (John Deere green and black, and white, are good colors) or minnows under a strike indicator cork.





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