UTERBlue catfish fishing in Arizona freshwater
In Arizona freshwater, blue catfish peak October–March and are around year-round, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. January: Stocked rainbows in the urban ponds; stripers on the bait balls.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Blue catfish in Arizona freshwater, month by month
- JanuaryPeakWinter stripers and trout in the city lakes. Stocked rainbows in the urban ponds; stripers on the bait balls.
- FebruaryPeak
- MarchPeak
- AprilAround
- MayAround
- JuneAround
- JulyAround
- AugustAround
- SeptemberAround
- OctoberPeak
- NovemberPeak
- DecemberPeak
Where to fish blue catfish near Lake Pleasant, Roosevelt Lake, Lake Havasu
Desert reservoirs on the Salt, the Verde and the Colorado, the Colorado River itself, the trout tailwater at Lees Ferry, and the cold White Mountain and Mogollon Rim lakes.
What to use for blue catfish
- NightcrawlersWhole on a #6 to #2 hook under a bobber or on a bottom rig; threaded on a spinner harness drifted for walleye. The bait that catches everything in fresh water.
- Minnows (fatheads, shiners)Hooked lightly through the lips or behind the dorsal on a #6 to #2 hook under a slip bobber for crappie, perch and walleye; a big golden shiner on a 2/0 to 4/0 for largemouth, pike and stripers.
- Leader10–20 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook#2–3/0
- Jig head1/8–1/2 oz
- Braid10–30 lb
Feeds in 40–90°F water, best at 55–80°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch blue catfish in Arizona freshwater?
Peak season is October–March. Blue catfish are here year-round.
Where do blue catfish hold in Arizona freshwater?
Look on river, reservoir, lake, bridge — around Lake Pleasant, Roosevelt Lake, Lake Havasu, Lake Mead, Lake Powell, Lees Ferry.
What is the best bait for blue catfish in Arizona freshwater?
Live bait: nightcrawlers, minnows (fatheads, shiners). Nightcrawlers: Whole on a #6 to #2 hook under a bobber or on a bottom rig; threaded on a spinner harness drifted for walleye. The bait that catches everything in fresh water. Tackle: leader 10–20 lb fluorocarbon, hook #2–3/0, jig head 1/8–1/2 oz, braid 10–30 lb.
What are the rules for blue catfish in Arizona freshwater?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) and change — read the current rule at https://www.azgfd.com/fishing-2/licenses-and-regulations/ before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://www.azgfd.com/fishing-2/licenses-and-regulations/.
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