Which boat ramps are at Roosevelt Lake?

Main ramps include Schoolhouse, Cholla, Windy Hill, and Bachelor Cove. Usable ramps depend on the water level — the b4u.fish dashboard shows current status.

How do I get to Roosevelt Lake from Phoenix?

Take SR-87 (Beeline Highway) to SR-188 south, or US-60 east to Globe and SR-188 north. The lake is roughly two hours northeast of Phoenix.

Gila County, Arizona

Roosevelt Lake Fishing Report & Water Level

Q: What is the water level at Roosevelt Lake?

Roosevelt's full pool is about 2,151 feet. Live elevation, percent-full, and storage are tracked on the b4u.fish dashboard from the SRP/DWR daily reservoir report.

Q: What fish are in Roosevelt Lake?

Largemouth and smallmouth bass, black and white crappie, channel and flathead catfish, and sunfish. Roosevelt is one of Arizona's premier bass and crappie lakes.

Theodore Roosevelt Lake is the largest reservoir on the Salt River and one of Arizona's best bass and crappie fisheries. Here's what to know before you launch — plus live conditions updated every day.

Today's live conditions

Current water level, percent-full, storage, weather, solunar bite windows, and a daily fishing score for Roosevelt are tracked on the b4u.fish dashboard.

View live Roosevelt conditions →

About Roosevelt Lake

Roosevelt sits at the top of the Salt River chain northeast of Phoenix, behind the historic Theodore Roosevelt Dam. As the biggest lake in the system it holds the most water and the most fishable shoreline — flats, creek arms, and standing structure that make it a destination for tournament and weekend anglers alike. Levels are managed by SRP and swing with runoff and irrigation demand.

Full pool~2,151 ft
DamTheodore Roosevelt Dam
River systemSalt River (SRP)
Main rampsSchoolhouse · Cholla · Windy Hill
Top speciesLargemouth, smallmouth, crappie

Fish species

Largemouth & smallmouth bass — the marquee fishery; smallmouth hold on rock while largemouth use brush and flats.
Crappie — strong populations around brush and the backs of creek arms, especially in spring.
Catfish — channel and flathead through the warm months.
Sunfish — abundant and a key forage base.

Best times & seasonal patterns

Spring (Feb–Apr)

Peak season. Bass push shallow to spawn and crappie stack in the brush — target creek arms and protected flats.

Summer (May–Sep)

Fish low light and go deeper midday. Main-lake points and humps hold bass off the heat; the daily score on b4u.fish flags the workable windows.

Fall & winter (Oct–Jan)

Cooling water pulls bait shallow and fires up a reaction bite; winter smallmouth stay catchable on rock with slower presentations.

Time your trip

The b4u.fish dashboard combines moon phase, solunar major/minor windows, wind, cloud cover, water temperature, and barometric stability into a single daily score — so you can see at a glance whether today is worth the drive.

Getting there

From Phoenix, the fastest route is SR-87 (Beeline Highway) to SR-188 south to the lake. You can also take US-60 east through Globe and SR-188 north. Plan on roughly two hours. The lake is in Tonto National Forest, so a Tonto Pass or day-use fee is required.

Frequently asked questions

What is the water level at Roosevelt Lake today?

Full pool is about 2,151 ft. Live elevation, percent-full, and storage are on the b4u.fish dashboard, from the SRP/DWR daily report.

What fish are in Roosevelt Lake?

Largemouth and smallmouth bass, crappie, channel and flathead catfish, and sunfish.

Which boat ramps are open?

Schoolhouse, Cholla, Windy Hill, and Bachelor Cove are the main ramps; availability depends on the water level — see the dashboard.

How do I get there from Phoenix?

SR-87 to SR-188 south, or US-60 to Globe and SR-188 north — about two hours northeast.

Other Phoenix-area lakes

Lake Pleasant Apache Canyon Saguaro Bartlett