Any fishing in S/E Arizona ? (Phoenix, Tucson: low crime, living, agriculture)

[Jim Mac]

Arizona is one state we're thinking of retiring to, but are there any lakes or rivers to fish? The atlas I have only shows one lake in southern Arizona(San Carlos Lake). We want to be at a higher elevation so the summers aren't so hot, and mild winters, with not much snow. We also want a small town, low crime, affordable housing. Any recommendations?

[Ponderosa]

Riggs Flat (9000' trout), Patagonia Lake and Parker Canyon Lake (bass and trout), Pena Blanca (bass trout, others). Patagonia is the biggest and its not that big, but it does allow skiiing. The other ones are electric motor or 10 hp max (Parker Canyon) Patagonia has a state park, the others are in national forest. It's not too bad going to Apache or Roosevelt for long weekends or 2-3 day trips either. There's more choices closer to Phoenix, but I was OK with SE AZ when I lived in Tucson. Check out the game and fish site )

[Jim Mac]

Thanks Ponderosa. Where are these lakes? I don't see them on my atlas.

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by Jim Mac

Thanks Ponderosa. Where are these lakes? I don't see them on my atlas.

Patagonia is SE of Tucson just north of Nogales. Parker Canyon is east of there in the Huachuca Mountains. You go to Sonoita and take the road in from there. Riggs Flat on Mt Graham near Safford. and Pena Blanca is right near Nogales and the border. G&F site is azgfd.gov, I think. They probably have info on them.

[Jim Mac]

OK, I see Nogales and Sonoita on the atlas. I need to get a more detailed Arizona map. But we don't want to live so close to the Mexico border. Based on my first post, does anybody have any town recommendations? Thanks.

[JCatano]

Apparently, I have to be a member for 24 hours before I can post clicky links, so here are some cut and paste ones...

Towns to research:

Sonoita: sonoitaaz.com/

Patagonia: patagoniaaz.com/

Tubac: tubacaz.com/

Pinetop-Lakeside: ci.pinetop-lakeside.az.us/

Show Low: ci.show-low.az.us/

(Pinetop-Lakeside and Show Low probably have more snow than you'd like, though.)


Fishing lakes, rivers, streams, and creeks:

(In the middle of the page is a new map that shows 171 spots in Arizona. Click names on the left or the fish map icons to see detailed info, pictures, and videos.

Arizona Game and Fish: azgfd.gov/h_f/fishing.shtml


P.S. - Nothing wrong with living close to the border. If you want higher elevations in Southeastern Arizona, you have to live somewhat near Mexico.

Pinetop-Lakeside and Show Low are on the eastern border of Arizona in the White Mountains.

[LordBalfor]

Originally Posted by Jim Mac

We want to be at a higher elevation so the summers aren't so hot, and mild winters, with not much snow. We also want a small town, low crime, affordable housing. Any recommendations?

Sierra Vista is a fairly small city (not a small town) that otherwise fits your requirements in regards to low crime and mild climate.

Ken

[MichaelinWA]

Southeastern Arizona

This is a pretty good list (the site was mentioned above). When I think of extreme SE Arizona, Patagonia, Arivaca, Pena Blanca and Parker Canyon are the four I usually think of.

San Carlos, on an Apache reservation, is an amazingly fertile bass lake that I fished often as a youngster, but it's always been plagued by low water levels (drawn down for agriculture and impacted by drought). I don't know what the situation is like there now.

If you're the adventurous type, the northern Mexican state of Sonora supposedly has excellent bass fishing, although I've never tried it. And there are saltwater opportunities in the Sea of Cortez at Rocky Point (Puerto Penasco).

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by MichaelinWA

Southeastern Arizona

This is a pretty good list (the site was mentioned above). When I think of extreme SE Arizona, Patagonia, Arivaca, Pena Blanca and Parker Canyon are the four I usually think of.

San Carlos, on an Apache reservation, is an amazingly fertile bass lake that I fished often as a youngster, but it's always been plagued by low water levels (drawn down for agriculture and impacted by drought). I don't know what the situation is like there now.

If you're the adventurous type, the northern Mexican state of Sonora supposedly has excellent bass fishing, although I've never tried it. And there are saltwater opportunities in the Sea of Cortez at Rocky Point (Puerto Penasco).

Don't know what happened to San Carlos. It used to be one of my favorites, but it just is not what it used to be. On the other hand, Roosevelt is super since it filled up on the new dam a couple years ago. It is just so big now that you need more HP than my little beater has to cover it.

[lacal]

Jim Mac - I'm curious why southern Arizona if you don't want the heat. I'm a future full-time resident, but have traveled a lot through the state. Everything in Arizona is elevation not so much north and south. If you are a big fishing guy I would suggest places like Cottonwood or Sedona.