Surprise Lake
Fishing and stocking
Catfish and trout water; 6 stockings on the 2026 record, monthly September through December.
Arizona · see it on the national map
The year here
stocked last 7 days announced ahead · tap a tick for details
What swims here
Catfish
Trout
Stocking record 2026
Agency feed checked yesterday.
| Date | Species | Size | Fish | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 21wk | Catfish | catchable | stocked | |
| Oct 5wk | Catfish | catchable | completed | |
| Oct 19wk | Catfish | catchable | completed | |
| Nov 2wk | Catfish | catchable | scheduled | |
| Nov 30wk | Trout | catchable | scheduled | |
| Dec 14wk | Trout | catchable | scheduled |
When to fish Surprise Lake
| Major periods (~2 h) | Minor periods (~1 h) | |
|---|---|---|
| Today | 9:11-11:11 am and 9:33-11:33 pm | 3:29-4:29 am and 3:44-4:44 pm |
| Tomorrow | 9:57-11:57 am and 10:21 pm-12:21 am | 4:33-5:33 am and 4:13-5:13 pm |
Moon: waxing gibbous, 93% lit. These are solunar periods, the traditional feeding-time theory: majors around the moon's transit overhead and underfoot, minors around moonrise and moonset. Theory, not a measurement. Times are Mountain Time (MST).
What the record actually says
- Stocked 4 days ago (Oct 19)
- Next announced stocking Nov 2
Computed this evening, Oct 23 · Arizona fishing forecast
Gear for this water
A plant is on the schedule. Fresh stockers hold near the access points for the first week or two and eat what the hatchery taught them to eat.
For the catfish (catfish stocked 4 times here in 2026, stillwater)
| Circle hooks on a slip-sinker rig | 2/0 to 5/0 circles on a Carolina rig; let them load up |
| Cut bait and prepared baits | fresh cut shad or chicken liver; scent is everything |
| Rod holders | catfishing is a waiting game; fish two rods where legal |
For the trout (trout stocked 2 times here in 2026, stillwater)
| Small crankbaits | trout-pattern cranks trolled or slow-retrieved off points |
| Slip bobber and jig | 1/32 oz marabou jig or waxworm suspended at cruising depth |
| Ultralight spinning rod | 6 to 7 ft ultralight, 4 lb line; long casts from the bank |
Suggestions follow from what the state actually stocks here and what kind of water it is, nothing else. No sponsored placements.
Nearby stocked waters
The closest waters with stocking pages of their own, straight-line miles from this one.
| Water | Distance | Most recent |
|---|---|---|
| Rio Vista Pond | 7.5 mi | Oct 19 |
| Pioneer Lake | 9.2 mi | Oct 19 |
| Heroes Regional Park Pond | 11 mi | Sep 28 |
| Bonsall Pond | 13 mi | Sep 28 |
| Cortez Lake | 15 mi | Oct 19 |
Follow Arizona stocking: RSS / Calendar (iCal) / Print the schedule