Fool Hollow Lake

Don’t Let The Name Fool You
By Don McDowell

Located three hours north of Phoenix, just outside Show Low, off highway 260 on Old Linden Road, Fool Hollow Lake offers a host of recreational, camping, and fishing opportunities.

The lake has more than five miles of shoreline and covers 140 surfaces acres with a maximum depth of approximately 65 feet. The lake has a limit of 8 hp motors.

The 6,600-foot elevation extends Arizona’s finest climate conditions during the hot Valley summer months, and with the RV and tent camping facilities, hook ups, bike and hiking trail, even a sand volley ball court, Fool Hollow Lake is a premier spot to fish, hike or just kick back and relax.

Fishing Fool Hollow Lake is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you’re going get: largemouth and smallmouth bass, walleye, rainbow and brown trout, crappie, sunfish and catfish.  Tackle is a matter of personal choice for the species you’re after. 

Soft plastics and hard lures work well for the bass family, in-line spinners for the trout.  The bait of choice for the most fun for the family fishing off the shoreline is the ‘ole worm and a bobber for the pan fish (and have you ever tried canned corn?). 

Check www.azgfd.gov for up-to-date fishing reports.

Expect to see other wildlife species during your stay at Fool Hollow Lake: deer, elk, turkey, and even raccoon and skunks.  Don’t let the name fool you; it’s a cool lake in a cool place. What could be better?