Cow Lake

Cow Lake in Navajo County is a lake in Arizona and covers about 1.2 acres, reaches about 10.5 feet at its deepest point and holds roughly 5.2 acre-feet.

Cow Lake is small water, so a careful lap around the bank can show most of the useful cover. With little deep water in Cow Lake, weeds, wind, and water color can matter more than depth alone.

Fish and Baits

Before moving far on Cow Lake, the fish mix here is not confirmed, so check fresh local information before choosing a target or keeping a catch.

Before changing spots on Cow Lake, begin with one slow bottom presentation and one moving bait, then let bites show whether fish are holding close to cover or roaming open water.

How to Read the Water

The first look at Cow Lake should cover this: do not let the deepest number control the whole day; nearby cover, firm bottom, and food usually matter more than the deepest hole by itself.

Season by Season

For a first pass on Cow Lake, early in the year, protected water and the first warm afternoon can be the best clues; as the water heats up, check deeper edges without assuming every fish is on the bottom; cooling fall water often makes points and firm banks useful again.

A Simple Tackle Plan

A direct approach on Cow Lake works like this: 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.

While fishing Cow Lake, 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.