What special fishing regulations apply at Bartlett Lake?

Bartlett Lake carries 2 special-regulation overlays that override Arizona's statewide 2026 rules, covering Flathead catfish. One of them reads: "Channel + flathead catfish 10 / day combined; crappie 15 / day; AZ state-record flathead catfish 76 lb 8 oz Bartlett Lake 2013 (Eddie 'Flathead Ed' Wilcoxson — the heaviest fish of any kind ever recorded in Arizona, 53.5 in); largemouth bass 6 / day no min multi-species Tonto National Forest reservoir on the Verde River." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.

Do I need a fishing license to fish Bartlett Lake?

Yes. Bartlett Lake is in Arizona, so a valid Arizona fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD). The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Bartlett Lake; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Arizona rules.

Do Bartlett Lake's special rules replace Arizona's statewide limits?

Only where they conflict. Arizona's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Bartlett Lake by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rules for the species or gear they name, while everything not specifically overridden still follows the statewide rule. When a water-body rule and the statewide rule disagree, the water-body rule wins.

Which species have special rules on Bartlett Lake?

Flathead catfish has a water-body-specific rule on Bartlett Lake, each linking to its full Arizona regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Arizona limits.

2026 regulation year

Bartlett Lake 2026 — Arizona Fishing Regulations

Arizona statewide rules apply unless overridden below.

Last updated June 8, 2026

Bartlett Lake carries 2 special-regulation overlays on top of Arizona's 2026 fishing rules — covering Flathead catfish. Verify the agency booklet before launching: in-season changes are not yet wired to this page.

Get change alerts

Watch Bartlett Lake (AZ) and we'll email you when a season, bag limit, slot, or closure changes. Free while in beta.

State-level special regulation

Channel + flathead catfish 10 / day combined; crappie 15 / day; AZ state-record flathead catfish 76 lb 8 oz Bartlett Lake 2013 (Eddie 'Flathead Ed' Wilcoxson — the heaviest fish of any kind ever recorded in Arizona, 53.5 in); largemouth bass 6 / day no min multi-species Tonto National Forest reservoir on the Verde River
Source: Arizona special-water list

Per-species rules on Bartlett Lake

Flathead catfish regulations →
10 / day combined channel + flathead catfish; AZ state-record flathead 76 lb 8 oz Bartlett Lake 2013 — heaviest fish of any kind ever recorded in Arizona

Official source

Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) publishes the authoritative 2026 Arizona fishing regulations. Special-regulation lakes and rivers are listed in the agency booklet — always verify before fishing.

Visit official Arizona fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

In-season closures, slot-limit changes, and run-count-driven harvest pauses are posted to Arizona Game and Fish Department's emergency-order feed — check it before any Arizona trip during the active season.

Other special-regulation waters in Arizona

Browse all water bodies →

Frequently asked questions

What special fishing regulations apply at Bartlett Lake?: Bartlett Lake carries 2 special-regulation overlays that override Arizona's statewide 2026 rules, covering Flathead catfish. One of them reads: "Channel + flathead catfish 10 / day combined; crappie 15 / day; AZ state-record flathead catfish 76 lb 8 oz Bartlett Lake 2013 (Eddie 'Flathead Ed' Wilcoxson — the heaviest fish of any kind ever recorded in Arizona, 53.5 in); largemouth bass 6 / day no min multi-species Tonto National Forest reservoir on the Verde River." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
Do I need a fishing license to fish Bartlett Lake?: Yes. Bartlett Lake is in Arizona, so a valid Arizona fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD). The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Bartlett Lake; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Arizona rules.
Do Bartlett Lake's special rules replace Arizona's statewide limits?: Only where they conflict. Arizona's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Bartlett Lake by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rules for the species or gear they name, while everything not specifically overridden still follows the statewide rule. When a water-body rule and the statewide rule disagree, the water-body rule wins.
Which species have special rules on Bartlett Lake?: Flathead catfish has a water-body-specific rule on Bartlett Lake, each linking to its full Arizona regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Arizona limits.

← Back to Arizona regulations overview