Lake Pleasant in Maricopa, Arizona For Fishing & Camping

Fish Species

• Carp
• Catfish (Channel)
• Crappie
• Largemouth Bass
• Smallmouth Bass
• Striped Bass
• Sunfish
• Tilapia
• White Sea Bass

Lake Pleasant Regional Park is a large outdoor recreation area straddling the Maricopa and Yavapai county border, northwest of Phoenix, AZ. The cornerstone of the park is the 10,000 acre Lake Pleasant, created by the Waddell Dam which was finished in 1928. The lake is mostly used as a major water sports recreation center serving as an important storage reservoir for the rapidly growing region. At about 70 feet high and over 2,160 feet long, the original Waddell Dam was, at its completion, the largest agricultural dam project in the world.

A number of boat docks make the lake a popular destination for water skiing, jet skiing, sailing and other water sports. And the lake is stocked with a number of fish for angling purposes such as largemouth bass, white bass, striped bass, crappie, sunfish, channel catfish, tilapia, carp and buffalo fish. The park covers a total of over 23,000 acres of mountainous desert landscape, including the lake, and boasts a number of other recreational activities, such as mountain biking, camping, and hiking.

The park also has an educational visitors' center that provides information regarding the history of the lake, the construction of the Waddell Dam and the surrounding areas. The presence of the lake has also attracted other recreational activities in the area, such as a dirt racetrack and large glider school/airport.

Average Depth: 70ft.
Elevation: 1,700ft.