1800 W White Mountain Blvd, Lakeside, AZ 85929
Lakeside Bait & Tackle serves the Pinetop-Lakeside corridor of Arizona's White Mountains, a popular outdoor recreation destination anchored by a string of alpine lakes and cold-water streams that sit in striking contrast to the desert landscape below the Mogollon Rim. The shop has operated as a neighborhood fishing institution for the lake and stream anglers who make up the core of the White Mountains' recreation community, from weekend trout chasers heading to Woodland Lake or Show Low Lake to more serious fly fishers working the freestone streams threading through the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest.
The shop carries a practical mix of bait, tackle, and fly fishing gear calibrated to the specific opportunities of the Pinetop-Lakeside area. Fly fishers will find a solid selection of attractor patterns, elk hair caddis, hoppers, and the small nymphs and midges that fish well in the area's spring-fed creeks. The staff provides fishing reports drawn from direct, current experience on local waters and can advise on optimal access points for both the forest service streams and the urban lakes within walking distance of the shop. Fishing licenses, including both Arizona state and White Mountain Apache tribal permits, are available over the counter. For anglers visiting the White Mountains who need to resupply or pick up a license before heading to the water, Lakeside Bait & Tackle is a practical and conveniently located resource.
“Opens early, which matters when you want to be on Woodland Lake at first light. Picked up my Arizona license, some live bait, and a few nymphs for the creek — the staff knew exactly what was producing and where. Small shop but very well-run with people who genuinely fish these waters. The kind of neighborhood tackle shop that's disappearing everywhere.”
“Convenient, friendly, and well-stocked for the local fishery. We stopped in for licenses and bait before heading to Show Low Lake and the staff gave us current reports and pointed us toward the best shoreline access. Nothing fancy but everything you need for a successful day on the water.”
“Good local tackle shop. The fly fishing selection is basic but covers the essential patterns for the local streams and lakes. Staff are helpful and current on conditions. If you need a quick resupply or a fishing license before heading into the forest, this is the place.”
