Fool Hollow Lake Fishing Report 2024 [Tips, Spots, Pictures, and Everything You Need to Know]

It can be a challenge to break down Fool Hollow Lake and decide to get started. 

Getting started, Fool Hollow Lake is a clear-to-slightly stained water lake and fishing can be tough. 

There are two primary types of fishing structures in Fool Hollow Lake; hard structure and vegetation. The hard structure consists of boulders, rock piles, ledges, hardwood timber (either in the form of laydowns or vertical timber), man-made chunk rock banks, docks, and water retention dams.  Despite being a high altitude mountain lake there is an abundant amount of vegetation that grows in this lake such as submerged grass beds, reed patches, and sometimes even floating vegetation mats. 

Fool Hollow Lake also offers long points that can drop into deeper water, as well as creek channel swings. 

Most of the fish such as bass, walleye, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, and catfish will spawn in the spring.  Bass will spawn in 1’-15’-feet of water notably on rocky structures, gravel flats, humps, and small creek inlets and cuts.  

Trout can be found up shallow in the winter and spring. However, trout will often suspend over deep water and more importantly in water temperatures that range from 55.5-56.5-degrees (which is typically around 40-50-feet deep).

Trout can be caught from shore, or by boat, kayak, or float tube.

Your best chances of catching deep suspending rainbow trout is by trolling a lure behind your boat or kayak. 

>> Learn More – If you want to learn more about how to troll for trout – click HERE

You can troll without a downrigger if the trout are holding higher in the water column, or you can troll your lure with a quality downrigger if you observe the trout holding in deep water.   

When the summer heat sets in, the bass, bluegill, and crappie will move to deeper water to approximately 15’-30’-feet of water. Focus on drops offs, channels, points, submerged humps. 

A deeper area with chunk rock ranging from baseball to basketball size will attract predatory fish like bass, crappie and catfish because it provides a safe area the prey (crayfish, bream, and minnows) can hide.

If you’re interested in learning how to fish for bass there is an article that dives into that exact topic. 

>> Learn More – How To Catch Bass – 57 Fool-Proof Methods To Start Bass Fishing [The Easy Way] – Click HERE

Fishing for Northern Pike at Fool Hollow can be spectacular! Depending on how one views the circumstance, this is either beneficial or negative. 

Pike have a strong appetite. Their carnivorous habit, along with their massive size, might spell doom for other fish in a body of water. As a result, both Arizona State Parks and Trails and the Arizona Game and Fish Department request that fishermen keep all pike caught in Fool Hollow and do not return them to the lake. Fortunately, plenty of other fish in the lake right now, and the food chain hasn’t been disrupted.

Fast-moving lures that replicate other fish species are usually effective for pike. Baits that simulate rainbow trout are becoming increasingly popular at Fool Hollow, and they work well on larger fish. 

For pike, don’t be afraid to toss lures that are 8″ to 10″ long. Their enormous toothy mouths regularly snag even larger fish, and an 8″ lure may appear to bigger pike as a simple mid-morning feast. 

Big flutter spoons simulate wounded baitfish, spinnerbaits, large swimbaits, crankbaits, and big inline spinner lures all have a proven track record for catching pike. 

The secret is to experiment with a variety of baits until you find one that works, and then stay with it until you no longer get strikes.

Walleyes have huge eyes which are sensitive to light, so they are usually located near the lake’s bottom. 

These are tasty predators and during the spring spawn they can be found in shallow water, warmer water.

For walleye deep diving crankbaits and inline spinners that imitate baitfish species are a tried and true method. 

If you find deep, rocky sections and baitfish nearby, jigging a large spoon will occasionally catch fish as well. 

Night fishing for walleyes gives you the best chance to catch one due to their general sensitivity to light. 

Make sure to add glass beads above your spinner to make a sound, as well as to tip the tip with a juicy nightcrawler with some bait scent for added attraction. 

Finally, switch it up to a rattling crankbait if you’re not getting any bites.