Fishing Season: April through November(no winter access)

Chevelon Canyon Lake - AZ

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

48

Orvis Phoenix 's Tip of the Week

Fishing has slowed down here. Lake is low and fish are scattered. Hatches have been consistent, with lots of small size 20 Olive/ Red Chironomids. Expect a spinner fall in the morning after a cloudy day. This allows us to find those pockets of fish, no one wants to throw a size 20 dry. So throw an ant pattern in the area of rishing fish and hold on. Caddis Hatch seems to be a light hatch more then likely. Expecting it first week of June.

Directions open in app

Map of Chevelon Canyon Lake

Water Flow Data

Tidal Conditions

5-Day Outlook as of 5/22/25

Fishing from shore is tough right now. Move around stripping leeches or catch the moving fish with a balanced leech under an indicator. Cloudy days are best when looking for forecast.

Techniques & Tips as of 5/22/25

midges and leeches under indicators or stripped. Large Streamers on a depth charge line can produce the larger browns and rainbows. Can fish from the shore, float tube reccomended.

Local Species Available April through November(no winter access)

  • Fish Icon

    Brown Trout

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    Rainbow Trout

Orvis Phoenix 's Recommended Fly Patterns

"Must-have" fly fishing patterns in descending order of importance:

Name: Colors: Size(s):
Freshwater Clouser White,black 2
Schultzy's S3 Sculpin Brown 2
Krystal Bugger black, olive 2-10
Mike's Meal Ticket Olive 2
Balanced Minnow Fathead 10
Bumper Craw Olive 6
Hopper tan,olive 10-14
Conehead Rubber Bugger Black, Brown, Olive 2-12
Chaborous Pupa Chans 16

Freshwater Clouser

Panfish love Clouser flies like this one.

2.99

Item #97GE

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Orvis Phoenix 's Recommended Gear

Description: About Chevelon Canyon Lake

Chevelon Canyon Lake is a hike in lake on the Mogollon Rim. Chevy is known for producing big brown trout and some solitude only 2.5-3 hours from Phoenix. There are 2 main access points, the dam side which we prefer in the spring and early summer and the inlet side which we like in the fall. There is little weed growth on this lake meaning we do not see many hatches, so the 2 main food sources are fathead minnows and crawfish. The exception to that is during the Cicada hatch. The timing of this hatch vary from year to year, but generally we sling big foam bugs from May through June. This lake can be tricky to fish July through September and access is difficult in the winter months. The hike in and out is strenuous and we also recommend using a float tube to access the best water as shore fishing is limited.

Nearest Airport:

Payson

Hatches:

Leeches Fathead Minnows Crawfish Cicadas

Best Time to Fish:

All Day; cloudy days are excellent

Best Stretch:

The whole lake!

Best Access:

(North) Dam Side or (South) Inlet side