If you want lots of action, especially for younger anglers with a shorter attention span, bluegill and other sunfish are made to order. They can be found, often in large numbers, in all the desert lakes and most urban lakes as well. Bluegill and other sunfish like the backs of coves, especially those with lots of submerged boulders, brush and other good hiding cover. If you find a good spot, you can often catch bluegill and other sunfish all day long. Get some mealworms or night crawlers.
Corn can be effective.
Try using a small bobber with three or four feet of line below it. Then sit back, and wait for the fun. Many lakes, such as Canyon and Saguaro, have fishing piers that provide great spots for catching sunfish. Or take the lawn chairs and a picnic basket, and find your own spot. Largemouth Bass Roosevelt, Alamo and Bartlett have been providing some of the most consistent good bass fishing in the central part of the state.