Roosevelt Lake - Lake temperatures are in the low 70s and expected to reach the low 80s by August. Bass anglers should find good-to-excellent fishing on Roosevelt Lake, including an excellent top-water bite as schools bass will chase shad during early mornings onto shallow flats and the backs of coves. Try walking frogs baits or other shad-pattern top-water lures. Be sure to not set the hook too quickly when getting a top-water bite: this can rip the hook away from the fish.

We recently installed the final artificial habitat structures into Roosevelt Lake.

Catfish action can be excellent this summer as well, especially during full moon nights. Most catfish anglers fish from the shorelines on the Salt River end of the lake or near the dam. The best baits include cut baits (meat, fish or chicken) or prepared dough baits.

Crappie fishing should be good. During the spring we stocked around 13,000, 6-inch crappie into the lake while there was ideal, submerged habitat. This should make for great late-summer and fall crappie action. Look for crappie to be gathered in large schools. Try fishing near cover using trolling or vertical techniques. Trolling typically proves to be the best method during the summer. Try fishing the early mornings until around 10 a.m.

Small baits such as a 2″ curly-tail grub tail or a small crank-bait are the most popular bait choices for summer crappie fishing.

Roosevelt Lake exhibits thermal stratification during summer months. Depth of the thermocline varies between years, but typically occurs around 25 to 30 feet. Winter precipitation and snow pack increased the lake level and it is currently 77% full. See the current lake elevation at https://streamflow.watershedconnection.com/Dwr.

Fish tend to be most active during the 90-minute windows surrounding the sun and moon rise and fall. When the moon is at full or new moon stage, the effect is stronger. There are many apps that you can use that display this information for you. As fishermen know, severe weather changes have an impact on the way fish feed. If a cold front is approaching the fish tend to move deeper into the water and lay low. Barometric pressure is a good indicator. If it changes quickly the fish tend to be less likely to show interest in your bait. If the change is gradual the fish will respond favorably.

Largemouth bass are present in all sizes and fishing for them is expected to be good throughout the summer. As the weather warms, shift to working plastics in deeper water using Texas rigs, Carolina rigs and dropshot. When in doubt throw a live worm on the bottom and see what bites!   back...