Woods Canyon Lake

Woods Canyon Lake sits at 7,510 feet on the Mogollon Rim in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest — a small (55 acres) but remarkably productive fly fishing lake that represents the best high-elevation stillwater fly fishing in Arizona. The rim's ponderosa pine forests and cool temperatures create conditions far removed from the desert below, providing a genuine mountain lake experience accessible to Phoenix and Tucson visitors willing to make the 3-hour drive to the rim country. Rainbow Trout average 12–16 inches throughout the lake, supplemented by Arizona Game and Fish stocking programs that maintain excellent fish density in the clear, cold water. The lake's small size means that a careful float tube angler can cover all the productive weed edges and inlet areas in a single morning session — making it an ideal day trip destination for Arizona stillwater anglers. The Mogollon Rim setting is spectacular — the rim's 2,000-foot escarpment separating the cool pine country above from the hot desert below is one of Arizona's most dramatic geological features. The nearby Rim Lakes Vista provides one of Arizona's finest viewpoints, and combining fishing with a rim drive or hike is standard practice for visitors. The nearby Rim Lakes (Bear Canyon Lake, Canyon Creek) provide additional fishing options that allow a multi-day rim country fishing itinerary covering multiple high-elevation stillwater and stream options.