Fishing in St. Johns, Arizona

St. Johns sits on the Colorado Plateau at around 5,700 feet, and the fishing here is almost entirely still-water — lakes, reservoirs, ponds, and stock tanks spread across the high desert. Lyman Lake is the largest and most accessible option, a state park reservoir on the Little Colorado River that holds catfish and bass alongside the usual warm-water mix. Smaller waters like Wiregrass Lake, Kearn Lake, and The Cienega offer a quieter experience and are worth checking if Lyman is crowded on summer weekends. Patterson Pond and Little Reservoir are compact enough that a simple spinning setup covers the whole water column without much effort. The tank fisheries — Alejandro Tank and Triangle Tank — are classic Arizona stock tanks, which means they can be productive after a wet monsoon season and slower in drought years when water levels drop. Elevation keeps summer temperatures reasonable compared to lower desert fisheries, so early mornings in June through August are genuinely comfortable. Spring and fall are the most consistent seasons overall. This is not a destination for trophy hunting or technical fly fishing — it's accessible, low-pressure still-water angling that rewards anyone willing to show up early and move around if one spot isn't producing.