Texas Rig Fishing on Roosevelt Lake
Roosevelt Lake · Arizona · West
Roosevelt Lake sits at the confluence of the Salt and Tonto rivers in the Tonto National Forest, impounded by Theodore Roosevelt Dam and covering up to 17,000 acres at full pool. The lake is defined by dramatic canyon walls, submerged brush and timber in the back-coves, long rocky points, and a major flat-to-channel transition that produces multi-species action year-round. Water clarity swings from stained in the upper arms after monsoon rains to gin-clear in the main lake during winter and early spring.
A bullet sinker slides freely on the line ahead of a wide-gap hook with a weedless-rigged soft plastic. The rig is completely snag-resistant, making it the go-to choice for grass, timber, and heavy cover. Works with virtually any soft plastic — worms, craws, creatures, lizards.
Texas Rig Setup for Roosevelt Lake
| Rod | 7'–7'3" medium-heavy casting rod, fast action |
| Reel | 7.1:1 or faster baitcaster |
| Line | 15–20 lb fluorocarbon or 30–50 lb braid in heavy cover |
| Weight | 3/16–1/2 oz tungsten bullet weight (peg it in heavy cover) |
| Hook | 3/0–5/0 EWG wide gap hook sized to plastic |
Seasonal Tactics on Roosevelt Lake
Lake: Pre-spawn largemouth push into the brushy upper arms of the Salt and Tonto arms from late February through April as water temps climb through the 58–68°F range; shallow rocky flats in 3–8 ft hold the biggest fish, and a swim jig or Zoom Speed Craw on a 3/8 oz Texas rig both produce. Smallmouth stage on the steeper rocky points in 10–18 ft before migrating shallower.
Texas Rig: Slow drag through spawning flats and around beds. Lizards and creature baits in crawfish colors.
Lake: Intense desert heat pushes bass deep by late June; main-lake points and channel ledges in 20–35 ft hold suspended fish near the thermocline, and a drop shot or deep-diving crankbait like the Strike King 6XD accounts for most catches during midday. Early-morning topwater around shaded canyon walls remains productive through late July before surface temps exceed 90°F.
Texas Rig: Pitch into shade — docks, mats, and laydowns. Pegged weight for matted grass punching.
Lake: Cooling water in October and November triggers a strong shad-driven feed, with largemouth and stripers blowing up on threadfin shad schools along the main lake points and creek channel swings; a Heddon Super Spook Jr. or a 3/4 oz white umbrella rig at 12–20 ft covers both species. The Tonto arm backs down first and often produces the best fall largemouth action.
Texas Rig: Cover water quickly on points and along weed lines. Faster retrieve with a reaction element.
Lake: Winter is Roosevelt's most underrated season — cold clear water (55–62°F in December and January) concentrates smallmouth on main-lake rocky points and the dam face in 15–25 ft, where a Megabass Vision 110+1 on a 15-second pause or a 1/4 oz football jig with a Keitech Swing Impact Fat 3.3" trailer outfishes nearly everything else. Largemouth school up on submerged brush in the cove transitions and respond well to a slow-rolled swimbait.
Texas Rig: Slow drag on deep structure, 15–30 feet. Finesse Texas rig with 1/4 oz and 6" worm.
Best Conditions
Heavy cover — grass, timber, laydowns, docks; murky to stained water; any season; pre-spawn and post-spawn periods
Peg the weight with a rubber toothpick when fishing grass. A sliding weight catches weeds; a pegged weight punches through clean.
More Techniques for Roosevelt Lake
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