No question: Dogtown Reservoir south of Williams is one of Arizona’s trout fishing hot spots. A shred of evidence: Joshua Rose on Saturday caught this gorgeous 23 ¾-inch, 4.3-pound brown trout out of Dogtown.
Rose caught the fish on corn PowerBait.
This 50-acre lake in the Kaibab National Forest is being stocked consistently and is one of the best bets for a high country Arizona trout fishing adventure. Some experienced anglers are catching plump winter holdovers.
Effective baits have been PowerBait, small spinners, and wet flies such as bead-headed prince nymphs and zug bugs. Make sure the spinners are small — no heavier than 1/8 of an ounce. Some anglers are having success slow-trolling spinners.
A couple weeks ago, 10-year-old Matthew R. duped this 3 pound-pound that measured 19.5 inches.
Where to trout fish in Flagstaff/Williams area
Stocking trucks from Page Springs Hatchery have been loading up trout into Flagstaff/Williams regional waters the past few weeks .
Here is AZGFD Region 2 Aquatic Wildlife Program Manager Scott Rogers’ top 5 spots to fish near Flagstaff and Williams (all are being stocked with trout).
- Dogtown Lake
- Ashurst Lake
- Cataract Lake
- Frances Short Pond
- City Reservoir (Santa Fe Dam)
A high chance of rain is predicted for Flagstaff and Williams Friday and Sunday (trout sometimes bite great just before a storm), and these waters should be great options throughout April.
Grab your gear and your fishing license and get ready for a pine-scented weekend! Temporary fishing permits available at some Williams merchants.
The road to Dogtown has some beautiful trees including Aspens and Oaks. It is a great drive in fall.