WHITE MOUNTAIN FISHING

A favorite area for residents and visitors alike is Fool Hollow Lake Recreation Area which is operated by the Arizona State Parks, located on the city's northern border. This recreation area was created by a private and public partnership in 1988 between the City of Show Low, US Forest Service, Arizona Game and Fish and Arizona State Parks, and private entities. Construction started in the fall of 1991.

It is an 850-acre recreation area surrounding a 149-acre lake and includes:

• 92 recreational vehicle and camper hookups
• 31 developed tent sites
• 5 shower buildings with restroom facilities
• 2 handicapped fishing piers
• Contact station
  

In addition, a fully functional sanitary dump station, a fish cleaning station, and several tot lots are available to visitors. Annual use permits are available through the Arizona State Parks by calling 520-537-3680.

Future Plans in progress include:

• Group campgrounds
• Nature center
• Amphitheater
• 2 large grassy playing fields
• Picnic Ramadas
• Hiking trails
• Playgrounds

Show Low, Arizona, is a beautiful spot for fishing, relaxing, and enjoying the outdoors. This creek is stocked with fish like rainbow trout, making it a favorite for anglers, especially during cooler months. The creek is easy to access, and you can fish right from the shore or wade into the shallow areas. 

The natural surroundings, with trees and open sky, create a peaceful vibe that’s perfect for a quiet day out. There are also nearby trails, so you can take a scenic walk along the water. Families, friends, and solo visitors come here to enjoy the beauty of the area and spend time by the water. Whether you’re here to reel in a fish or simply relax, Show Low Creek is a welcoming and laid-back spot that locals and visitors love.

FISH SPECIES & LIMITS

Show Low Creek Fishing Tips: Best Bait & Tackle Guide is stocked with several fish species as part of the Community Fishing Program. The daily bag limits for each species are:

• 2 catfish
• 2 trout
• 1 bass (13 inch minimum)
• 5 sunfish
• 1 white amur (30 inch minimum)
• Statewide limits apply to all other species
• AZ Fishing Regulations & Limits can change anytime. Visit AZGFD for any updates or changes.

Also located on the southern boundary of the City is Show Low Lake, operated by Recreation Resource Management under contract with the City of Show Low. Show Low Lake is located adjacent to Show Low Lake Road about 1 mile from Highway 260. It is a 100-acre lake that sits at an elevation of 6,500 feet. For more information, call the park at 928-537-4126 

or for reservations, 

please call 1-888-537-7762.

The lake area offers campgrounds and picnic areas, as well as a 75-site group campground area. The campgrounds include some electric sites, a dump station, a shower facility, and a small convenient store. The store rents boats, sells fishing licenses, bait, tackle, drinks and snacks. The campground also offers a playground, day-use ramadas, 

and group camping.

Opposite of Fool Hollow is Show Low Lake, located on the city’s southern end. Like many Arizona lakes, Show Low Lake is regularly stocked with trout. Thanks to the active monsoon season, the lake has a lot of water this year, so the fishing is good, according to locals who visit this lake often. To increase your chances of success, use worms, power bait or lures. Show Low Lake offers several streams as well, which are great for fly fishing. Fishing tends to be best in the Springtime when the trout are more likely to be near the surface, but anglers have success all summer long catching largemouth and smallmouth bass, catfish, black crappie and bluegill.

Rainbow Lake is a small community lake in the White Mountains for northeast Arizona and sits between the towns of Show Low and Pinetop, making it 186 miles from Phoenix, Arizona. 

Overall it’s a popular lake especially on the weekends and during the summer.  In this post, you’re going to be given the blueprint to fish this lake.

So what are the best tips for fishing Rainbow Lake?  There are three important factors you must know if you want to know how to fish Rainbow Lake successfully. First, you need to know what kind of fish is in Rainbow Lake. Second, it’s important for you to know which part of the lake each species can be found in. Lastly, knowing what are the best baits that work on Rainbow Lake is vital.  However, tactics, baits, and locations will be different for each type of fish that you target. So let’s talk about the steps you need to take in order to give you the best chance of catching a fish on Rainbow Lake.

Known as the trout fisherman’s paradise, Big Lake is a gorgeous reservoir tucked away in the White Mountains of Arizona. Fishing is most successful in spring, specifically late April and May after the winter ice thaws. However, fishing gets even better later in the summer and early fall months. One of the highest elevation lakes in the state, Big Lake sits at 9,000 feet elevation at the base of Mount Baldy.

Big Lake is located about 25 miles south of Springerville, Arizona in the Arizona White Mountains. It sits at an elevation of about 9,000 feet. The temperatures are cool and refreshing during late spring, summer and early fall. The lake will freeze over beginning late November. Access is restricted in the winter (December - April) when roads are closed due to heavy snow. Big Lake is considered by many as the best fishing lake in the White Mountains area. Facilities are open mid-April to mid-November. See Springerville Weather Chart.

There were some positives, however. The jewel of the area is Seneca Falls, where water drops several hundred feet into a natural stone pool. The display is especially impressive when it rains, although rainfall in the area is generally sparse.

But Seneca Lake is still an attraction to some extent. There’s cold- and warm-water fishing for bass, sunfish, catfish and trout, along with fishing piers and a boat launch.

You’ll need a permit from the tribe to access them – the area is still patrolled by tribal police – but it’s a great trip that’s well worth the drive.

The elevation of the site is approximately 5,300 feet, so it’s a good spot to escape from the Arizona heat and experience cooler weather if you’re feeling the need to do that. There are still great views nearby in and around the lake, and the locals access them all the time.