Largemouth Bass

Mesa, Arizona, is a surprisingly good location for largemouth bass, thanks to its proximity to the Salt River chain of lakes. These reservoirs, including Saguaro, Canyon, and Apache, offer diverse fishing environments, from submerged vegetation to rocky shorelines. Spring is prime time for targeting spawning bass, while fall offers excellent topwater action as the fish feed up for winter. During the summer, focus on deeper water and fish early or late in the day to avoid the heat. Saguaro Lake is particularly known for its healthy largemouth population. A local tip is to use reaction baits like crankbaits and spinnerbaits along the rocky points and submerged structure. Also, be aware that boat traffic can be heavy on weekends, so consider fishing during the week if possible. The bass in these lakes are generally healthy and can reach impressive sizes, with fish over 5 pounds not uncommon.