Cook Reservoir

Cook Reservoir is a reservoir in Graham County, Arizona and covers about 17 acres, reaches about 21.4 feet at its deepest point and holds roughly 59 acre-feet.

The small size of Cook Reservoir makes quiet casts and short moves more useful than carrying a pile of tackle.

Fish and Baits

Fish listed for Cook Reservoir include Black Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish, Common Carp, Green Sunfish, and Largemouth Bass.

For black crappie, fish a small jig or minnow around wood, weeds, and sharp little drops; check both sides of the point.

For bluegill, use a small jig, worm, or tiny plastic around green weeds and protected pockets; fish the windy and calm sides differently.

At Cook Reservoir, try this for largemouth bass: work a soft plastic, jig, or spinnerbait around weeds and protected cover.

At Cook Reservoir, try this for channel catfish: fish cut bait or a nightcrawler on the bottom along a channel edge or warm flat.

Before changing spots on Cook Reservoir, other targets listed here include Common Carp; give each one its own bait and depth instead of trying to catch everything with the same rig.

How to Read the Water

To begin fishing this water, start where two things meet: weeds and open water, rock and mud, a point and a drop, or clear water and dirty water; fish that edge at more than one depth before leaving it.

Season by Season

A focused trip to this water begins this way: spring runoff can add color and pull fish toward fresh water; green weeds and the first drop become stronger summer targets; in fall, follow bait toward points and shallow flats, while winter rewards a slower search.

A Simple Tackle Plan

For a first pass on Cook Reservoir, a medium spinning rod, 8-pound line, a small box of jigs, a few crankbaits, and a simple bottom rig cover most situations; change depth or speed before changing every piece of tackle.

When working Cook Reservoir, record the wind, water color, productive depth, and cover after a bite; those four notes are more useful on the next trip than a long list of spots that did not produce.

Cook Reservoir FAQs

What is a simple way to start fishing for black crappie at Cook Reservoir?

Keep the first pass close to structure, then fish a small jig or minnow around wood, weeds, and sharp little drops; follow bait before changing areas.

What does the 21.4 feet deepest point mean when fishing Cook Reservoir?

Treat 21.4 feet as the deepest point, not the automatic fishing depth; start beside cover and move lower only when bites or bait give a reason.

What is the best reason to change spots at Cook Reservoir?

Check the downwind corner for food, then move after checking the same useful feature at several depths without finding bait, a clean edge, or a bite; follow bait before changing areas.