Expert-Guided Bass & Catfish Trip on Lake Pleasant

Lake Pleasant Bass Fishing with No Limit Fishing

If you're looking for a solid day on the water targeting Arizona's best bass fishing, Lake Pleasant delivers every single time. This shared guided trip puts you and a buddy on one of the state's most productive lakes with a captain who knows exactly where the fish are holding. You'll spend five hours working the prime spots for striped bass, largemouth bass, white bass, and catfish, with all your gear and bait handled so you can focus on landing fish. Whether you're just getting started or you've been chasing bass for years, this trip gives you the local knowledge and equipment to make it count.

What to Expect on the Water

Your morning starts at Lake Pleasant, about 45 minutes northwest of Phoenix near Morristown. This massive desert lake sits at 1,650 feet elevation and stretches over 10,000 acres when full, giving you plenty of water to work with. Your guide knows the seasonal patterns, current hot spots, and daily conditions that make the difference between a decent day and a fantastic one. The boat is set up specifically for bass fishing, with comfortable seating that works for anglers of all ages - they've even accommodated 93-year-old fishermen who wanted to get back on the water. You'll have access to quality rods, reels, and tackle selected for Lake Pleasant's specific conditions and fish behavior. The shared format keeps costs reasonable while still giving you personalized attention and instruction throughout the trip.

Techniques and Tackle

Lake Pleasant fishing changes with the seasons, water temperature, and structure, so your guide adjusts techniques accordingly. During warmer months, you'll often work deeper water for stripers and largemouth bass using downriggers, live bait, and heavy jigs around submerged points and creek channels. Winter fishing shifts to slower presentations in shallower areas where fish concentrate. The guides here excel at reading electronics and understanding how different species use the lake's varied structure - from rocky points and submerged trees to creek arms and main lake flats. They'll teach you to recognize productive water and adjust your approach based on what the fish are telling you. All bait, lures, and terminal tackle are provided, though you're welcome to bring your own gear if you prefer. The key is staying mobile and adapting to conditions, which is exactly what separates guided trips from fishing blind on unfamiliar water.

Why Anglers Keep Coming Back

"Glen was phenomenal. Great with kids and great with all!! We caught fish nearly non stop. Super conversationalist, Super fun guy. Don't hesitate, book him." - dave. "We had an incredible fishing trip with Captain Glenn! He was extremely knowledgeable and patient, especially with the first-timers in our group. Thanks to his guidance, everyone managed to catch plenty of fish. The boat was fantastic, and Captain Glenn provided all the equipment needed for a successful and enjoyable outing. We highly recommend this experience!" - Mohamad. "1st time using a fishing guide (Normally I'm a do it yourself when it comes to fishing) Glenn with No Limits Fishing knows what he is doing. We had a great experience and will be booking another trip in the near future. I would definitely recommend No Limits Fishing for your next adventure!" - Scott.

Species You'll Want to Hook

Largemouth bass are Lake Pleasant's signature fish, and for good reason. These chunky desert bass fight harder than their counterparts in other regions, using the lake's rocky structure and deep water to their advantage. Spring and fall offer the best topwater action, while summer bass move deep but remain aggressive when you find them. Most fish run 2-4 pounds, with occasional giants pushing 6-8 pounds that'll test your drag and technique. They're visual feeders that respond well to both live bait and artificials, making them perfect for learning different approaches.

Striped bass are the lake's premier game fish, originally stocked to control shad populations but now providing some of Arizona's best fishing. These hard-fighting fish travel in schools and feed aggressively on shad, anchovies, and whatever baitfish are available. During spring and fall, you'll find them chasing bait on the surface in spectacular feeding frenzies. Summer fishing requires deeper presentations, but the payoff is worth it when you hook into a 10-15 pound striper that screams drag and makes multiple runs. Their strength and stamina make every hookup memorable.

White bass might be smaller than their striped cousins, but they make up for size with sheer numbers and enthusiasm. These schooling fish attack lures with reckless abandon, often hitting anything that moves when you locate an active school. They're perfect for action-packed fishing when you want steady hookups, and kids especially love their aggressive strikes and steady fight. Spring spawning runs bring massive schools into shallow areas, while summer finds them following shad schools in open water.

Smallmouth bass have established themselves as Lake Pleasant's sleeper species. These bronze fighters prefer the lake's rockier areas and deeper structure, where they ambush crawfish and small fish. Pound for pound, they're the strongest fighters in the lake, making acrobatic jumps and using every bit of available cover to their advantage. They're less common than largemouth but more aggressive, often hitting baits that largemouth ignore.

Channel catfish provide consistent action when bass fishing slows down, especially during midday heat or cold winter periods. Lake Pleasant's cats grow fat on the abundant baitfish population, with many fish reaching 5-10 pounds. They're perfect for beginners learning to feel bites and set hooks, but big cats will surprise experienced anglers with their strength. Night fishing produces the biggest specimens, but daytime fishing still yields plenty of action.

Flathead catfish represent Lake Pleasant's true trophies. These apex predators can exceed 40 pounds and provide the fight of a lifetime when hooked. They're less common than channel cats but worth targeting for the chance at a fish you'll remember