Carnero Lake - Springerville, AZ

Carnero Lake is a high-elevation, shallow lake located near Springerville, AZ, in the White Mountains at approximately 8,700 feet. Despite its modest size—about 65 acres—it offers some of the best fly-fishing opportunities for rainbow and tiger trout in Arizona. Carnero is managed primarily as a barbless-hook, artificial-lures-only, catch-and-release water, promoting quality trout growth and conservation.

The lake is shallow (averaging less than 10 feet) and supports a rich aquatic insect population, including damselflies, dragonflies, midges, and leeches. This environment makes it a fly fisher’s dream, with abundant surface activity during warm months.

Trout are stocked from late spring to early fall. Anglers using float tubes or small electric-powered boats do best, targeting weedy edges and channels. Dry flies (Adams, caddis, hoppers) are effective in summer, while woolly buggers, chironomids, and leech patterns work throughout the season. Sight-fishing is common in the lake’s clear shallows.

Due to winterkill risk, the lake is often drained or partially frozen in late winter, and fish populations fluctuate accordingly. Still, in high-water years, it produces trout over 18 inches.

Primitive camping is allowed near the lake, but services are minimal. Access is via Forest Road 117, usually open May through November. Conditions can vary due to snow and runoff.