Rainbow Lake
Fly fishing in Arizona · beginner · Best seasons: spring, summer, fall
Target Species
Apache Trout, Rainbow Trout
About This Water
White Mountains lake with stocked Apache trout. Unique opportunity to catch native species.
Fishing Recommendations
As an expert guide who has spent years navigating the high-country waters of the White Mountains, I can tell you that Rainbow Lake in Pinetop-Lakeside is a unique destination. While many Arizona anglers head higher up to Big Lake or Silver Creek, Rainbow Lake offers a classic "town lake" experience with the potential for high-quality trout, provided you know how to navigate its specific challenges.
Here is your comprehensive guide to fly fishing Rainbow Lake.
🎣 Location Overview
Rainbow Lake is a 167-acre reservoir situated at an elevation of approximately 6,760 feet in the heart of the White Mountains. Unlike the remote wilderness lakes nearby, Rainbow Lake is surrounded by private homes and tall pines, giving it a cozy, alpine-suburban feel.
What makes it special for the fly angler is its productivity. It is a relatively shallow lake (averaging 10–14 feet), which means it stays warmer than the high-altitude glacial lakes. This leads to high insect activity and fast growth rates for fish. However, the lake is heavily vegetated with weed beds, which provides excellent cover for trout but requires precise presentation from the angler.
🐟 Target Species & Behavior
The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) stocks this lake heavily, making it a reliable spot for action.
- Apache Trout: As the Arizona State Fish, these are the prize of the White Mountains. They are opportunistic feeders but can be "spookier" than rainbows. Look for them near any inflow or along the edges of weed lines where they ambush baitfish and nymphs.
- Rainbow Trout: These are the workhorses of the lake. They tend to school in the deeper water near the dam during the heat of the day but move into the shallows and around private docks during the "magic hours" of dawn and dusk.
- The "Pike Factor": Anglers should be aware that Rainbow Lake also holds Northern Pike. While not your target, their presence dictates trout behavior. Trout here are often "skittish" and will hold tight to heavy cover (weed beds and docks) to avoid being eaten.
📅 Best Times to Fish
Optimal Seasons
- Spring (March – May): This is the "Gold Medal" window. As the ice thaws and the water warms into the 50s, trout become extremely aggressive. This is when you’ll find the largest fish cruise the shorelines.
- Summer (June – August): Fishing is best in the early morning (5 AM – 9 AM) and late evening. The lake can suffer from algae blooms in mid-summer, so look for the clearest water you can find.
- Fall (September – November): As temperatures drop, trout go on a feeding binge to prepare for winter. The weed beds begin to die back, making it easier to fish streamers without snagging.
Prime Windows
- Low Light: The hour before sunrise and the hour after sunset are when the largest trout move out of the deep channels and into the shallows to feed.
🪰 Recommended Flies & Techniques
Because Rainbow Lake is shallow and weedy, your approach should focus on "staying above the grass" or "dropping into the pockets."
Top Fly Patterns
- The Simi Seal Leech (Olive, Blood Leech, or Black/Red): This is an Arizona staple. Fish it on a slow strip.
- Prince Nymph (Size 12–16): Excellent for mimicking the various stoneflies and mayflies present.
- Zebra Midge (Black/Silver, Size 18–22): When the water is glassy, a tiny midge under a strike indicator is deadly.
- Parachute Adams (Size 14–18): For the evening midge and mayfly hatches.
- Damselfly Nymphs: In early summer, the damselfly hatch is massive. An olive, marabou-tail nymph is a must-have.
Effective Techniques
- Indicator Nymphing: Suspend a midge or a hare’s ear nymph about 4–6 feet below a small indicator. This keeps your fly hovering just above the weed beds.
- The "Slow Crawl" Streamer Retrieve: Use an intermediate sinking line (or a long leader on a floating line) with a leech pattern. Strip it back with very slow, 2-inch tugs.
- Dry-Dropper: In the summer, run a foam beetle or ant on top with a small pheasant tail nymph dropped 18 inches below it.
💡 Pro Tips & Local Knowledge
- The "Dock" Strategy: Because much of the shoreline is private, the trout use the shade of boat docks as cover. If you are in a float tube or kayak, cast your fly as close to the foam or wood of the docks as possible.
- Focus on the Dam: The area near the dam is generally the deepest and coolest part of the lake. During the summer "dog days," the fish will congregate here in the oxygen-rich, cooler depths.
- Avoid the "Slop": If you see heavy green algae mats on the surface, move to the windward side of the lake. The wind pushes the "clean" oxygenated water to one side, and the trout will follow.
- Go Small: Most anglers throw large lures. A fly fisher using a size 20 midge on 6X tippet will often out-fish everyone on the lake when the sun is high.
⚠️ Important Information
- Access: Most of the shoreline is private property. Public access is primarily located at the Rainbow Lake Boat Landing (off Rainbow Lake Dr).
- Watercraft is Key: To truly fish this lake effectively, you need a float tube, kayak, or small boat. Shore fishing is limited to the public area near the dam and the boat ramp.
- Regulations: An Arizona fishing license with a trout stamp (included in the general license now) is required. Check the current AZGFD regulations for daily bag limits on trout.
- Pike Policy: If you happen to catch a Northern Pike, AZGFD generally encourages you to keep it rather than release it, as they are an invasive threat to the native Apache Trout population.
Guide’s Final Word: Rainbow Lake isn't a "gimme." It requires patience to deal with the weeds, but for the angler who can master the slow-leech retrieve or the mid-water nymph hang, it offers some of the most accessible and rewarding trout fishing in the Pinetop area. Tight lines!
Bug Hatches & Matching Flies
| Hatch | Type | Peak months | Time of day | Hook sizes | Matching flies |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chironomids Chironomidae | midge | April, May, June, September | All Day | #12-22 | Zebra Midge #16-20, Ice Cream Cone #12-18, Griffith's Gnat #18-22 |
| Callibaetis (Speckled Dun) Callibaetis ferrugineus | mayfly | May, June, August, September | Late Morning | #12-16 | Callibaetis Spinner #14-16, Hare's Ear Nymph #14-16, Parachute Adams #14-18 |
| Traveler Caddis Banksiola crotchi | caddis | June, July | Evening | #10-14 | Elk Hair Caddis #12-14, Pupa Emerger #12-14, Godzilla Caddis #10-12 |
| Trico Tricorythodes | mayfly | July, August, September | Early Morning | #20-24 | Trico Spinner #20-22, RS2 #20-24 |
| Cinnamon Ants Formicidae | terrestrial | July, August | Afternoon | #14-18 | Cinnamon Ant #14-16, Fur Ant #16-18 |
| Grasshoppers Acrididae | terrestrial | August, September | Afternoon | #8-12 | Dave's Hopper #10-12, Joe's Hopper #8-12, Parachute Hopper #12 |
| Damselflies Enallagma | terrestrial | June, July | Late Morning/Afternoon | #10-14 | Marabou Damsel #12-14, Adult Damsel #12-14 |
| Black Gnats Bibionidae | midge | May, October | Evening | #18-22 | Black Gnat #18-20, Zebra Midge Black #20-22 |