Best catfish lakes in the West: 12 lakes to fish

The lakes

1. Lake Mead, Nevada

Lake Mead covers 158,000 acres of water. The fish here are catfish, striped bass, largemouth bass and crappie. The deepest water is around 532 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and a wind-blown bank to work.

Lake Mead today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

2. Elephant Butte Lake, New Mexico

Elephant Butte Lake covers about 27,300 acres. It holds catfish, largemouth bass, striped bass and crappie. At about 197 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and a wind-blown bank: good places to start.

Elephant Butte Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

3. Lake Oroville, California

Lake Oroville spreads over 15,800 acres of water. It holds catfish, spotted bass and trout. The deepest water is around 690 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and an upper arm: good places to start.

Lake Oroville today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

4. Clear Lake, California

At 43,500 acres of water, Clear Lake is a big lake. The fish here are catfish, largemouth bass, crappie and bluegill. It goes down to about 60 ft. Its bed shows three steep ledges and an upper arm worth a first look.

Clear Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

5. New Melones Lake, California

At 12,500 acres of water, New Melones Lake is a big lake. Catfish, kokanee salmon, trout and largemouth bass are the draw. It goes down to about 568 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and a sheltered cove: good places to start.

New Melones Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

6. Roosevelt Lake, Arizona

Roosevelt Lake covers some 21,500 acres. The fish here are catfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and crappie. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and a steep ledge to work.

Roosevelt Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

7. San Carlos Lake, Arizona

San Carlos Lake covers 19,500 acres of water. The lake is about 7.1 miles north of Peridot. Expect catfish, largemouth bass, crappie and bluegill.

San Carlos Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

8. Navajo Reservoir, Colorado

At 15,600 acres of water, Navajo Reservoir is a big lake. The lake is near Bayfield. Navajo Dam holds it on the San Juan. Expect catfish, northern pike, bluegill and crappie. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start. Navajo Reservoir straddles the Colorado-New Mexico border and was formed by a dam on the San Juan River.

Navajo Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

9. Lake Owyhee, Oregon

Lake Owyhee spreads over some 13,900 acres. It lies about 27 miles east of Caldwell. Owyhee Dam holds it on the Owyhee River. It holds catfish, crappie, trout and largemouth bass. At about 117 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look.

Lake Owyhee today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

10. Lahontan Reservoir, Nevada

Lahontan Reservoir is a reservoir of some 10,000 acres. It lies within an easy drive of Sparks (about 31 miles). Catfish, white bass, walleye and largemouth bass are the draw. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start. Lahontan Reservoir was formed by Lahontan Dam, completed in 1915 as one of the first U.S. Bureau of Reclamation dams, and is a popular warm-water fishery.

Lahontan Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

11. Bighorn Lake, Wyoming

Bighorn Lake spreads over 17,300 acres. It lies about 9.4 miles west of Lovell. Yellowtail Dam holds it on the Bighorn River. The fish here are catfish, walleye, trout and yellow perch. It goes down to about 450 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and a sheltered cove: good places to start. Bighorn Lake straddles the Wyoming-Montana border within Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, impounded by Yellowtail Dam.

Bighorn Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

12. Conchas Lake, New Mexico

Conchas Lake spreads over 9,600 acres of water. It lies about 23 miles northeast of Mosquero. Conchas Dam holds it on the Canadian. Catfish, walleye, largemouth bass and white bass are the draw. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look. Conchas Dam, completed in 1939 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, impounds the Canadian River.

Conchas Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

Catfish through the year in the West

The water temperature on the day matters more than the calendar: each lake page on LakeScope shows today's surface temperature and how the fish should react to it.

• Spring: Waking up. Channels and creek mouths, especially after rain.
• Summer: Active. Evenings and nights are best.
• Fall: Waking up. Channels and creek mouths, especially after rain.
• Winter: Cold. Slow, in the deepest holes. Cut bait works best.