Theodore Roosevelt Lake
Roosevelt Lake is the largest lake in central Arizona, formed where Tonto Creek meets the Salt River northeast of Phoenix. It is known for largemouth and smallmouth bass, crappie, and flathead catfish.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Largemouth Bass
Early morning schools chase shad onto flats like Connor's Ledge and Goose Flats.
Crappie
Look for crappie near cover in 20 to 25 feet of water.
Smallmouth Bass
Rock, gravel and points. Tubes, jerkbaits and drop-shots.
Flathead Catfish
Live bait around wood and rock at night.
Channel Catfish
Shore anglers do well on the Salt River end and near the dam.
When they bite
Month-by-month activity for each target species.
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | ||||||||||||
| Crappie | ||||||||||||
| Smallmouth Bass | ||||||||||||
| Flathead Catfish |
Boat launches
5 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- Windy Hill Boating SitePublicTonto National Forest ramp and campground on the lake's south sideDirections ↗
- Schoolhouse Boat RampPublicTonto National Forest ramp on the Salt River end of the lakeDirections ↗
- Grapevine Boat RampPublicTonto National Forest ramp off AZ 188Directions ↗
- Roosevelt Lake MarinaMarinaConcessionaire marina at 28085 AZ-188, Roosevelt; launch and recovery serviceDirections ↗
- More public accessPublicSee Arizona Game & Fish or the lake manager's website for all ramps and feesDirections ↗
Size & creel limits
Special rules for this lake, confirmed from official state regulations. Minimum size and daily limit.
| Species | Min size | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|
| Crappie Roosevelt Lake; other species follow statewide | See Arizona rules book ↗ | 15 / day |
Other species in this lake: look up the limits at Arizona Game and Fish Department ↗
Bait & tackle nearby
Closest shops to the lake and its boat launches. Call ahead for live bait and hours.
- 28085 AZ-188, Roosevelt, AZ(602) 977-7170Directions ↗
- Butcher Hook StoreNearbyTonto Basin, AZ(928) 479-2226Directions ↗
Local tips
- A Zara Spook or other topwater works when bass push shad to the surface at first light.
- Try the backs of Methodist and Salome coves for schooling bass.
- For crappie, fish small curly-tail grubs early in the morning, before about 10 a.m.
Angler reports
Water temp, what's biting, and anything else other anglers should know about Theodore Roosevelt Lake.
View on interactive map
Zoom and pan on a street, satellite or terrain map. Red pins are boat launches.