Local Guide
Fishing Prescott's Lakes: What Is Stocked and Where
Which Prescott lakes hold trout, which hold bass, which are stocked and which are not, what an Arizona licence costs, and the electric-motor rule that applies to all of them.
September 4, 2026 · The Owners
Five lakes within 20 minutes of Prescott, and they fish very differently. Two are actively stocked with trout, one gets winter trout only, one is warm-water, and one gets nothing at all.
What is in each lake
| Lake | Stocked? | Species | Access | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goldwater | Yes, actively, rainbow trout | Rainbow trout | Docks, boat ramp, good bank access | about 5,900 ft |
| Lynx | Yes, periodically, rainbow trout | Trout, bass, catfish, crappie, sunfish | Shore path all the way round, boat ramp | about 5,500 ft |
| Watson | Winter trout stockings | Rainbow trout in the cold months, bass | Granite shoreline, awkward in places | about 5,100 ft |
| Willow | Occasional | Warm-water species | Open shoreline | about 5,100 ft |
| Granite Basin | No | Bluegill, largemouth bass, catfish | Small, boat ramp, a few tables | about 5,600 ft |
Stocking schedules are published by Arizona Game and Fish and change through the season. Checked September 2026.
Licences and cost
Everyone aged 10 and over needs a valid Arizona fishing licence on any publicly accessible water in the state.
| Licence | Approximate cost |
|---|---|
| Resident annual | $37 |
| Non-resident annual | $55 |
| One day, any angler | $20 |
| Youth combo, ages 10 to 17 | $5 |
Buy online from Arizona Game and Fish before you drive out. On top of that you will pay the $5 per vehicle day-use parking fee at the lake itself, which is free on Wednesdays.
Where to go, by what you want
Trout, with a family, minimum fuss. Goldwater Lake. It is aggressively stocked, the docks put children over deep water safely, and there are ramadas, restrooms and a playground for whoever gets bored. Ten minutes from Groom Creek.
A bit of everything, and a walk. Lynx Lake. Trout, bass, catfish, crappie and sunfish, with a flat 2.3-mile path right round the water so you can move on until you find something. There is a café at the north shore and two campgrounds. See the Lynx Lake guide.
Winter trout. Watson Lake takes rainbow trout stockings in the cold months, which is also when it is at its quietest and most beautiful. The granite shoreline of the Dells makes bank fishing awkward in stretches, so a kayak or a small boat earns its keep.
Solitude. Granite Basin. Nothing is stocked, so there is no crowd, and the lake sits directly under Granite Mountain. Bluegill, largemouth bass and catfish for people who are not in a hurry.
The rules that apply everywhere
- Electric motors only. No gas outboards on any lake in this guide. It is why they are quiet.
- No swimming, at any of them. They are reservoirs and managed recreation lakes.
- $5 per vehicle to park, free on Wednesdays. The city sells 10-visit, 40-visit and unlimited annual passes for Watson, Willow and Goldwater.
- Check the stocking schedule before you commit to a lake. Arizona Game and Fish publishes it, and a lake stocked the day before is a different proposition from one stocked three weeks ago.
When to fish
Early morning, most of the year. In July and August that is doubly true, because monsoon storms build in the afternoon and open water is the wrong place to be in lightning. See the monsoon guide.
Winter is underrated for trout at Watson and Goldwater, with nobody else out. Bring gloves; the average January overnight low here is 24°F.
Where to stay
Goldwater is ten minutes from both of our cabins and Lynx about fifteen, so an early start is genuinely early rather than a 6 a.m. drive. Both cabins have a full kitchen if you plan to cook what you catch. Check the calendar, or read the full lakes comparison.
Common questions
Do you need a fishing licence in Prescott, Arizona?
Yes, from age 10 up, on any publicly accessible water in the state. A resident annual licence is about $37 and a non-resident annual about $55. A one-day licence is about $20 for anyone, and a youth combo for ages 10 to 17 is about $5. Buy online from Arizona Game and Fish.
Which lake near Prescott has the best trout fishing?
Goldwater Lake. It is actively stocked with rainbow trout by Arizona Game and Fish and has good shore access, fishing docks and a boat ramp. Lynx Lake is stocked periodically and is the better all-round lake if you also want bass, catfish and crappie.
Can you fish from a boat on Prescott lakes?
Yes, with an electric motor. Every lake around Prescott is electric-motor only, so no gas outboards on Watson, Willow, Goldwater, Lynx or Granite Basin. Goldwater and Granite Basin have boat ramps, and kayaks and canoes are welcome everywhere.
Is Watson Lake good for fishing?
It is stocked with rainbow trout in the winter months and holds bass year round. Watson is better known for kayaking among the Granite Dells than for fishing, and the granite shoreline makes bank access awkward in places, so a boat helps.
Which Prescott lake is not stocked?
Granite Basin Lake. It gets no stocking at all, but patient anglers catch bluegill, largemouth bass and catfish there. It is small and sits right under Granite Mountain, so people go for the setting as much as the fish.
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