Theodore Roosevelt Lake is created by the Theodore Roosevelt Dam, the first major structure constructed by the Bureau of Reclamationon the Salt River Project. It spans the Salt River to form a huge reservoir. The dam is 280 feet high and 723 feet long.

Once the largest man-made lake in the world, Roosevelt Lake is still the biggest of the six SRP lakes and offers the most recreation opportunities. When full, the lake covers more than 17,000 acres near the confluence of Tonto Creek and the Salt River.

Game fish in Roosevelt include largemouth and small mouth bass, bluegill, channel catfish and crappie. The Lake contains a wildlife area and as a wildlife refuge, is posted to permit hunting at certain times of the year. Roosevelt fish grow fast because it stays warm year-round and is relatively shallow with brush-filled bays that provide excellent spawning sites. The water is extremely rich because of all the nutrients brought in from the two river inflows.

The lake has over a million visitors a year. Many make the trip especially to see the Tonto National Monument, cliff dwelling ruins of 25 individual rooms in natural caves overlooking the lake. The well-preserved ruins were inhabited by the Salado Indians in the 1300s.

Visitors can reach the lake via the Apache Trail, 80 miles from Phoenix or by a 20-mile drive over the paved Highway 88 from Globe. The Lake also may be reached from the Beeline Highway (State Route 87) via State Route 188.

For more information, call (520) 981-9400 for reservations and information.

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Recent Reports

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Name: George	Date: 2009-04-16
Location: DHS	E-Mail: basavedo58@yahoo.com
Water Teamp: 55-58	Water Clarity: 2
Report: I spoke to several of the guys who fished the Stren, one of which is my team partner and since I am not planning on fishing this lake any time soon I am going to share some information. Limits are being caught on Senkos pitched against the stick ups and any visible wood; GP/Blkflk, watermelon red wacky as well as flipping brush hogs on the wood. Reaction bite is hit and miss but the bigger fish seem to be eating blade and crank baits in 8-15 feet at the mouths of creek channels. My partner said that he caught betwen forty and fifty fish on day one but all but three were in the slot and they could only keep one slot fish each day.
Tips: reaction early, flip and pitch the wood with senkos and brush hogs then move out and parellel bank at 10-15 with DD22 or heavy blade in shad or blue gill colors.