Fishing Guides

See the chart below for information on the best bait, lures and times to fish for fish species in Lake Havasu.

Species	Real Bait	Lures	Technique
Catfish (Yellow Bullhead, Flathead & Channel)	Anchovies Nightcrawlers Chicken livers Mackerel Stink bait Live bluegill	N/A	Night is the best time Plentiful March-October Fish shallow spots with structure and vegetation during early morning and springtime Try drop off points in the bed of the lake later in the day and season
Largemouth Bass	N/A	Early Morning Topwater Lures Buzzbaits Spinner baits Late Morning Jigs Crankbaits Swimbaits Midday Plastic worms Craws Creature baits	Early morning is the best time Plentiful March-May Fish near structures and near submerged vegetation They like to hide in areas with cooler water
Panfish (Bluegill, Redear & Green Sunfish)	Mealworms Nightcrawlers	Crappie jigs Small trout Spinning lures	Any time is good Plentiful November-March and May-June Panfish can be caught all over the lake
Smallmouth Bass	N/A	Morning Topwater Lures Lipless crankbaits White crappie jigs Midday Crankbaits Plastics Creature baits Late Afternoon Topwater lures Lipless crankbaits White crappie jigs	Early morning hours and late afternoon are the best times Plentiful February-April Look for rocky points, shorelines, and canyon areas
Striped Bass	Anchovies Mackerel Squid Shad Bluegill	Morning Topwater lures Late afternoon Shad imitations Swimbaits	Early morning and late afternoon are the best times Plentiful August-October In the summer, look for small gatherings of birds on the surface In the colder months, use the "bait and wait" technique

Arizona State Records

• Redear sunfish have grown to trophy size in Lake Havasu. On February 16, 2014, Hector Brito caught a world-record 5.8-pound redear sunfish in Lake Havasu, surpassing a previous record-setting redear catch on the lake by Robert Lawler in 2011.
• In November 2013, a whopping 37-lb striper was also hauled out of the lake.
• Also abundant in Lake Havasu are large carp; 20-25 pound carp are not uncommon.
• The state record of a 42-pound carp was caught in Lake Havasu in 1979.
• Smallmouth bass fishing has greatly improved in Lake Havasu in the last few years. Sue Nowak set a new Arizona state record when she caught a 6.28-pound smallmouth bass in February 2017.

For more fishing in Arizona records, check the AZ Game & Fish website.

All Arizona fishing lakes, Lake Havasu included, require an Arizona fishing license for any resident or non-resident angler 10 years of age or older (available at bait and tackle shops and online at the Arizona Game & Fish Department website). Licenses are valid for one year and are not transferable or refundable.

Licenses must be in the possession of the angler while fishing. Also, a license is required to take frogs, waterdogs, crayfish or softshell turtles. For a full listing of fishing regulations including daily bag limits, see the AZGFD's Fishing Regulations here. Be aware of posted signs on the water, however, as some coves are closed to fishing.