5 oz. Located on the Verde River in central Arizona, Bartlett Lake is an easy 45-minute drive northeast of Carefree AZ. Head northeast from Carefree on the Cave Creek road to the Bartlett Dam Road turnoff.
The upper reaches of the river end of the lake offer brush and vegetation for bass and other species. This desert lake offers a variety of structure and cover. A fair portion of the west side of the reservoir is devoted to camping and picnicking. When the bass are shallow, crankbaits and spinnerbaits catch a lot of bass.Crappie, bluegills and other panfish populate these waters and make fun fishing for kids and other anglers new to the sport. The carp state record still stands at 37 lbs. The main food source for bass in Bartlett Lake are threadfin shad. Much of the lake is comprised of flooded areas of de-composed granite. We’ve now built 140 Georgia cubes that are being installed into Bartlett Lake during the next few weeks. Other sections are strewn with giant boulders. “Fish City” near Bartlett Flat is a fish-habitat improvement project.
Other primitive places to camp are located in areas accessible via boat.Bartlett offers great bass fishing, a marina and boat rentals. The Bartlett Reservoir area is noted for the spectacular vistas of the Desert Mountains and the Sonoran plant life. See the latest version of the Bartlett Lake habitat map. A fair portion of the west side of the reservoir is devoted to camping and picnicking. Several state-record fish have been caught there. Several state-record fish have been caught there. Access other maps for various points of interests and businesses. Constructed in 1936–39 by the Salt River Project. From Carefree, take the Cave Creek Road/Forest Road (FR) 24 to the Bartlett Road/FR 19 junction. Bartlett Lake is a reservoir that was formed by the damming of the Verde River in the U.S. state of Arizona. Amenities at this 2,800-acre lake include a marina and store, boat slips and boat rentals, paved boat launch and a sheriff station. The reservoir is 20 miles east of Carefree. AKA: Lake Bartlett, Bartlett ReservoirLocated on the Verde River in central Arizona, Click images for fishing tips and details about each species.Bass are the primary target of anglers heading to Bartlett Lake. The lake also contains channel catfish throughout the lake, and monster flathead catfish are prevalent in the river end of the lake especially in the river entering the lake from Horseshoe Lake.Primitive campsites located along the west side of the lake. The Bartlett Reservoir area is noted for the spectacular vistas of the Desert Mountains and the Sonoran plant life. It is downstream and to the south of Horseshoe Reservoir. Flathead Catfish lurk in the depths. The lake and its surroundings offer opportunities for swimming and waterskiing, camping and picnicking.
Bartlett has been a favorite with anglers since Bartlett Dam was constructed in 1939. Their secondary food source is crawfish (or crawdads). Bartlett Lake tucks among the mountains of Tonto National Forest, and the shore is almost entirely undeveloped. Fish Species: Large and Smallmouth Bass; Crappie; Sunfish; Channel and Flathead CatfishBoat Launching Sites: Jojoba, Bartlett Flat, Bartlett Marina, Yellow CliffsBoat Launching Sites: Jojoba, Bartlett Flat, Bartlett Marina, Yellow Cliffs
The water in the lake remains fairly clear unless water levels drop significantly, at which time the water gets murky from mud and silt on the lake bottom.Once the water temperature rises around 60 degrees, the bass can be coaxed into taking topwater lures. Interactive map of Bartlett Lake that includes Marina Locations, Boat Ramps.