Big Lake (Arizona)


Big Lake is considered one of the White Mountains' best fishing lakes, because of its size, productivity and visitor amenities. As with most trout waters in Arizona, catch rates are best in spring, during late April and May after the winter ice thaws, and get better later in the summer and into fall until the lake freezes over again in late November. Big Lake is in Apache County and is managed by the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests.

Location

Situated at in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests, Big Lake is about south of Springerville and Eagar, accessed by paved road via Highways 260 and 261, and is approximately one hour’s drive from Pinetop using Highways 260 and 273 and Forest Road 113. Access is restricted in the winter when roads are closed due to snow, generally December to early April. In January, the normal high temperature is with a normal low temperature of. In July, the normal high temperature is with a normal low temperature of.

Description

Big Lake has, with an average depth of. Primary fish species here include rainbow, brook and
cutthroat trout, with an occasional Brown trout. Each year, the Department stocks an average of 480,000 fingerling and 50,000 subcatchable trout. Most of these are rainbows.

Fish species