San Carlos Lake in Gila, Arizona For Fishing & Camping

Fish Species

• Bluegill
• Bullhead
• Carp
• Catfish (Channel)
• Green Sunfish
• Largemouth Bass

San Carlos Lake is one of eight lakes with desert surroundings created by damming rivers in the hills around Phoenix, AZ. Like the others, it has quite a dramatic setting with the deep blue waters framed by gaunt, rocky, cactus-speckled mountains − in this case, the foothills of the Gila, Mescal and Santa Teresa ranges. It was formed by the construction of the Coolidge Damn and is rimmed by 158 miles of shoreline. It is located within the 3,000-square mile San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation and thus subject to tribal regulations.

A permit is required for all activities along the lake, including camping, fishing, and off-highway driving. Much of the land bordering the north and east shores is dusty, featureless and rather flat gently undulating mounds with palo verde trees, assorted bushes and scattered, often somewhat unhealthy-looking saguaro, among which run numerous dry sandy washes. Many dirt tracks criss-cross the arid landscape, leading eventually to beaches and promontories right next to the shoreline.

This lake is famous for its trophy-size largemouth bass, but you can also catch black crappie, catfish (both channel and flathead) and carp. The state record flathead catfish was caught in San Carlos Lake in January of 2003. It weighed just over 71 pounds and measured 53 inches in length! San Carlos Lake also holds the state record for the largest black crappie caught since 1959. The fish weighed 4 pounds and 10 ounces.