Fortuna Pond

Fortuna Pond, a 10-acre BLM-managed desert fishery northeast of Yuma, AZ, provides dependable year-round angling for rainbow trout, channel catfish, largemouth bass, and bluegill. Stocked with trout in the winter and catfish in the summer, the pond supports a balanced cold and warmwater fishery.

Rainbow trout are stocked from late fall through early spring and respond well to bait (PowerBait, worms), small spinners, and salmon eggs. Trout fishing is most effective in the mornings following recent stockings.

As temperatures climb, warmwater species take over. Largemouth bass are common and readily caught on plastics, spinnerbaits, and frogs near vegetation. Channel catfish are targeted in warmer months with cut bait, liver, and stink bait, especially in evening hours.

Bluegill provide excellent opportunities for youth anglers, biting consistently on worms under a float. The pond is also known for its ease of access—no boat is needed, and the entire shoreline is fishable on foot.

While amenities are minimal, primitive camping is permitted, and it’s often visited by winter anglers and RV travelers.

With consistent stocking, year-round action, and accessibility, Fortuna Pond remains one of southwest Arizona’s most popular small desert fisheries.