What special fishing regulations apply at Lake Pleasant?

Lake Pleasant carries 3 special-regulation overlays that override Arizona's statewide 2026 rules, covering Walleye and Flathead catfish. One of them reads: "10,000-acre Agua Fria reservoir NW of Phoenix — the metro's premier striped + white bass fishery; striped bass 10 / day + largemouth/smallmouth bass 6 / day combined no min + walleye 6 / day + channel + flathead catfish 10 / day combined; crappie 15 / day; AZ inland-record striped bass 29 lb 13.76 oz Lake Pleasant 2010 + AZ-record white bass + white crappie + hybrid striped bass all from Lake Pleasant." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.

Do I need a fishing license to fish Lake Pleasant?

Yes. Lake Pleasant 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 Lake Pleasant; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Arizona rules.

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

Only where they conflict. Arizona's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Lake Pleasant 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 Lake Pleasant?

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

2026 regulation year

Lake Pleasant 2026 — Arizona Fishing Regulations

Arizona statewide rules apply unless overridden below.

Last updated June 8, 2026

Lake Pleasant carries 3 special-regulation overlays on top of Arizona's 2026 fishing rules — covering Walleye, Flathead catfish. Verify the agency booklet before launching: in-season changes are not yet wired to this page.

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State-level special regulation

10,000-acre Agua Fria reservoir NW of Phoenix — the metro's premier striped + white bass fishery; striped bass 10 / day + largemouth/smallmouth bass 6 / day combined no min + walleye 6 / day + channel + flathead catfish 10 / day combined; crappie 15 / day; AZ inland-record striped bass 29 lb 13.76 oz Lake Pleasant 2010 + AZ-record white bass + white crappie + hybrid striped bass all from Lake Pleasant
Source: Arizona special-water list

Per-species rules on Lake Pleasant

Walleye regulations →
6 / day no min; 10,000-acre Agua Fria reservoir NW of Phoenix — summer night-fishing walleye pattern
Flathead catfish regulations →
10 / day combined channel + flathead catfish; 10,000-acre Agua Fria reservoir NW of Phoenix — trophy flathead night fishery

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 Lake Pleasant?: Lake Pleasant carries 3 special-regulation overlays that override Arizona's statewide 2026 rules, covering Walleye and Flathead catfish. One of them reads: "10,000-acre Agua Fria reservoir NW of Phoenix — the metro's premier striped + white bass fishery; striped bass 10 / day + largemouth/smallmouth bass 6 / day combined no min + walleye 6 / day + channel + flathead catfish 10 / day combined; crappie 15 / day; AZ inland-record striped bass 29 lb 13.76 oz Lake Pleasant 2010 + AZ-record white bass + white crappie + hybrid striped bass all from Lake Pleasant." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
Do I need a fishing license to fish Lake Pleasant?: Yes. Lake Pleasant 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 Lake Pleasant; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Arizona rules.
Do Lake Pleasant's special rules replace Arizona's statewide limits?: Only where they conflict. Arizona's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Lake Pleasant 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 Lake Pleasant?: Walleye and Flathead catfish have a water-body-specific rule on Lake Pleasant, each linking to its full Arizona regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Arizona limits.

← Back to Arizona regulations overview