black river trout fishing arizona

As night sets in, browns also move into the riffles, perhaps to snack on Apache trout. Black River. How an Atlanta craft brewery is helping to save Georgia's most important trout stream. Holes that go fishless during the day come alive with prowling 20-inch+ browns at sunset. Hayground Creek is closed to all fishing. Grasshoppers and ants are common, with beetles and crickets other popular snack items. The West Fork runs clear and usually comes back faster than the Black's other tributaries after heavy rains and runoff. Fly Fisherman Staff | Illustrations by Joe Mahler. All Fly Fisherman subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. Fish of the Black River Trout are the main attraction at the west and east forks. This will be one of the most aesthetically pleasing fisheries … Reach casts, curve casts, and mends are key to placing your fly precisely adjacent to boulders, where rainbows materialize out of the shadows. The San Carlos and Fort Apache reservations flank the river on the north and south, and access is limited. Apache trout inhabit its upper stretches, rainbows and browns dominate the middle sections, and you'll find browns in the lower reaches, alongside a healthy mix of smallmouth bass. As browns prefer the safety of depth, and rainbows the shelter of rocks and pockets, the Black's vulnerable Apache trout—averaging 8 to 12 inches—often get pushed into shallow riffles. Subscriber Services. This lower elevation stretch of the Black provides for some excellent smallmouth bass and catfish, with trout at higher elevations. Cameron Chambers is a fly-fishing guide and author. As you explore your home water, keep in mind what they are eating to select the best carp... George Daniels offers his advice on which types of fly-fishing leaders are best for the most... Lake Almanor is all about big smiles, big fish, and bigger experiences. The White Mountains ensure the fish stock stays high by using a fish hatchery system. Use a fast-action 5- or 6-weight rod to throw these larger flies. For me, the pulsing run of a Buick-size brown—the mainstem Black has some more than 20 inches—screaming downstream into the darkness now provides the incentive to come back year after year. … Pebble-bottomed riffles and pocketwater stretches snake through open meadows and timbered runs. Arizona Fly Fishing Info Arizona Hatch Charts: Black River , Blue River , Lee's Ferry , Little Colorado River , Verde River Major Hatches: Baetis , BWO , Midges , Salmonfly , Tricos Between the two, you'll find unnamed holes, good road access, and plenty of trout thanks to a liberal stocking program. The eastern stretch of the Lower Black River holds Apache and Rainbow Trout. FR 68 parallels the river, but never comes closer than a mile away. Cast tight to the cliff walls, and work pools from top to bottom. Becker LakeBig LakeCanyon LakeChevelon Canyon LakeColorado River, Lees FerryGreen Valley LakesKinnikinick LakeLower Canyon CreekLittle Colorado RiverOak CreekPhoenix Urban Lakes and CanalsReservation LakeSaguaro LakeSalt RiverSilver CreekTonto CreekUpper Lake MaryWhite RiverWillow SpringsWoods Canyon Lake, Water temperature at mid-day: 36 Degrees F. Fly fishing hatches in order of importance: Fish species: Brown, Apache, Rainbow trout and Smallmouth Bass(lower river), Fishing season: April through November(no winter access to upper river), Recommended fly fishing tippet: 5X Tippet, Best fly fishing rod: 7' 6" 3 Weight Fly Rod, Best floating fly line: WF Trout Fly Line. Browns tend to hold at the riffle head, just below where it breaks from the deeper pool. On the upper Black, these are places where the river has bounced off cliff walls and gouged deep, fish-holding holes. July brings rains to the Southwest, triggering another period of heightened feeding. My favorite pattern, a Clouser Crayfish, seems to have the right combination of size and shape to entice smaller fish in the 18-inch range, as well as monsters. One of the most appealing aspects of the Black is the variety of effective flies and techniques. The West Fork of the Black River can be a little difficult to fish is places where it is tightly grown up with bushes. incredilble 6 days arizona backpacking fishing trout and smallmouth, exploring with my trusty wilderness camping dog gracie. July 15, 2019 Send y our fishing reports and pictures to BFishing@AZGFD.gov Black River July 2: a 4-pound, 6-ounce, 22-inch brown out of the Black River! Most areas are open enough for standard overhand casts, but a few sections are overgrown with brush and require short roll casts. Walk up and down the river past the road accesses for the best fishing. And I may even fly over Colorado to avoid wasting time getting there. A down-and-across presentation with large streamers works well. It forms southwest of Alpine and flows southwest then northwest to meet the White River west of Fort Apache. The Hobie MirageDrive 360 pedal propulsion system is the pinnacle of kayak control with more efficient fin designs, glide technology and allows the boat to be moved in any direction. The Black River, from the East and West Forks high in the White Mountains to the 80 mile long main stem is some of the best moving water in the state. Measures to restore anadromous fish passage has caused big problems. The upper reaches are trout water, once it enters the Apache Reservation it begins to transition into smallmouth bass water. This was only Jason’s second trip with a fly rod and he got into double digits pretty easily. Easy access, high fish populations, and established campgrounds also make the East Fork a great option for families who appreciate spotting elk and hiking. The Black's riffle sections are perfect for short-line nymphing techniques. Browns will start to become active. Now, after a chance encounter on Arizona's Black River, I find every excuse to make it back to the Grand Canyon State. First, it’s always … As the Lower Black Rivers elevation declines from the mid 6000s to the mid 5000 you start to see more smallmouth Bass than Trout. The middle and lower sections of the Black ... are 4 x 4 only access points, with most requiring a long hike into the canyon to get to the stream. The Arizona Game and Fish Department, local fly-fishing clubs and the White Mountain Apache Tribe have done a lot of work along this stream and have successfully restored these native fish. Moreover, all the major trout species in the river play by their own rules. With near vertical slopes and shoddy game trails defining a typical hike in, these routes are not recommended. Tucked away from large population hubs such as Flagstaff (about 180 miles to the northwest) and Phoenix and Tucson to the west and southwest, the Black River drainage has every conceivable trout niche: from small mountain stream fishing on the East and West forks, to dredging and dry-fly fishing deeper pools and pocketwater for browns and rainbows. Regulations: The Black River has sections that are subject to catch-and-release regulations. Fishing nymphs through the labyrinth catches fish, as well as snags. Since 1856, Black River - White Mountains, Arizona Fly Fishing Reports & Conditions. The area is known for some of the best, most scenic stream fly fishing in Arizona. The Department is increasing their efforts in stocking Apache trout in Arizona and has an active recovery and management plan in place. One reason the Black remains an outstanding fishery in a state with more than six million people is its remote location, which eliminates most day trippers. May through July is the best time for bass. The Black doesn't follow the typical runoff schedule of major Western rivers. In these low-light conditions, two factors are important: silhouette and movement. Black River. By late summer, a step in shallow water provokes a fireworks display of fleeing crayfish in all directions. "Must-have" fly fishing patterns in descending order of importance: The Black River, from the East and West Forks high in the White Mountains to the 80 mile long main stem is some of the best moving water in the state. Overnight camping, at any of the numerous undeveloped sites on the river, is the best way to access these seldom-fished areas and provides ample opportunities to fish after dark for the Black's largest browns. Everyone wants a definite answer to “How close can you get?”. The Allagash region is known for it's many rivers, lakes, & streams that offer fishermen different scenery and fishing opportunities. From the FR 25 bridge, a well-developed trail runs along the river, providing easy hiking. With fewer deep pools than the East Fork, you can effectively wade midstream and cast up-and-across to likely holds. We have excellent brook trout fishing as well as togue & salmon. Tucked away from large population hubs such as Flagstaff (about 180 miles to the northwest) and Phoenix and Tucson to the west and southwest, the Black River drainage has every conceivable trout niche: from small mountain stream fishing on the East and West forks, to dredging and dry-fly fishing deeper pools and pocketwater for browns and rainbows. The Black is a reasonable weekend destination, and abundant camping makes it affordable. Last week this river was stocked with Apache trout just waiting to be caught, and the river will be stocked again next week. Use weighted Hare's Ears or Prince Nymphs, with a 7-foot tapered leader and no indicator. If you’re after a small creek that can promise a … There is lodging in Alpine and chain hotels in nearby Springerville. Old-growth pine and red rock cliffs accent the experience and can make it hard to concentrate on the fishing, which is a bold statement considering browns and rainbows up to 25 inches reside there. Streamside vegetation such as grasses, shrubs, deciduous, and coniferous trees all overlap along the river's course. Fish are cold-blooded, so their body temperature reflects that of the water in which they swim. The Apache trout is stocked from Silver Creek Hatchery in the summer months into the Little Colorado River near Greer, the Black River and Lee Valley Lake. I think he may be hooked. These waters are home to Apache trout, one of the state’s native salmonids. Awesome choice. Color becomes less important, and profile takes precedence. Strip your fly with moderate speed to give the impression of a crayfish that has been swept into the current. At night the scenario changes. Fishermen will find a variety of fish including brown trout and others here. This wet season continues over the course of three to six weeks, typically blowing the river out until early September. If you need fishing tackle, or are looking for a fishing guide or fishing charter please visit Tackle, Guides, Charters By May the river runs low and fishes extremely well as the fish work to restore lost weight. When hiking upstream of the campground, West Fork Black River upstream of Hayground Creek is catch and release, artificial lure or fly only with single point barbless hook. The browns are in prespawn mode, spectacularly colored, and react aggressively to large streamers. This hatch will leave you tossing and turning in your bed. Crayfish are everywhere and small, sporadic aquatic insect hatches bring fish to the surface. You may need a 4 wheel drive in places. During the day, small, #10 olive and brown streamers work well to mimic juvenile crayfish, sculpins, or other fish. The lower section continues downstream until meeting the Salt River. The map also clues you into big fish. The Black River is known for its brown trout and rainbow trout. My favorite patterns are #10-14 deer-hair hoppers with yellow bodies, Rosenbauer's Parachute Beetles, Quick Sight Ants, and Dave's Crickets. Riffles. To find East Fork Black River enter the 33.750885 latitude, and -109.362862 longitude coordinates into your GPS device or smart phone. These schedules are tentative and subject to change due to weather or conditions at the sites. Several lakes are also accessible to the Hannagan Meadow area. Dogtown Lake. These fish grew big by being cautious, so even at night take time to approach the water carefully. Sections of this river is catch and release only. While the fish don't key on any specific hatch, they also don't spurn the opportunity to take a dry fly. Smallmouth Bass are the main attraction of the Lower Black River although there are Channel Catfish, sunfish and some trout at higher elevations to the east. Trout and bass tactics work equally well through the warmwater sections of the Black, with dead-drifted beadhead nymphs my favorite. Best Scenic Fly Fishing in Arizona. These intricate networks of currents are where most of the Black's rainbows reside. On both forks, the fish are not particularly pattern shy, so carry a full assortment of attractors like Stimulators, Humpys, and Parachute Adams. Streamers. Krystal Buggers or just about any commercially tied streamer works. A well-developed gravel road, FR 276, parallels most of the river to just before its confluence with the West Fork at Buffalo Crossing. Cutting southward across elk-filled meadows and open stands of Ponderosa pine, the East and West Fork Black provide more than 20 miles of pristine creek fishing. A long retrieve might bore you to death, but the jolt of a big brown has amazing resuscitating qualities. The upper reaches are trout water, once it enters the Apache Reservation it begins to transition into smallmouth bass water. As a special treat, you can catch Apache trout. Give a Gift   When work recently beckoned me south from my home in Montana, to Arizona, I threw my fly rod in the car . Heavily-weighted streamers with a healthy dose of rubber legs create strong vibrations that help the browns hunt even after dark with their lateral lines. The Black River has some of the finest trout water in the Southwest. This mountain reservoir is situated in the pines a short drive west of Flagstaff, AZ. Fishing. . To fish effectively—and safely—scout the water in daylight to plan your approach in pitch black. The best-looking and most untouched water on the lower main stem lies at the northern end of the reservations, near the national forest boundary. Access on the upper portions is good with many forest service roads meeting the stream. 2 Arizona Game and Fish Department • www.azgfd.gov 2019 & 2020 Arizona Fishing Regulations 3 Licenses available at all license dealers, Department offices and online Getting Started More information about the new licenses can be found under Commission Rules R12-4-207, R12-4-209 and R12-4-210. Patterns with Krystal Flash or other reflective materials help attract fish. Visit blackriveraz.com for a list of all the lower river access points. Angling opportunities in this region are virtually without number in summer or winter. The following paragraphs focus on the bronze backs… Oak Creek – Trout in a Beautiful Place. The enticing deep pools of the Black are why I leave Montana and drive to Arizona to go fishing. Send your fishing reports and pictures to BFishing@AZGFD.gov. The straight sections between the riffles and cliffs are littered with boulders of all sizes. Throughout the river you can also haul in some wild Brown Trout. With a short hike, these brilliantly colored fish—olive-yellow body, with a yellow or golden belly—make for spectacular fishing. Stockings can take place any day throughout that stocking week. Once in the reservation section, the approximately 30-mile stretch from the confluence of Paddy Creek to Bonito Creek offers a good mix of brown trout and smallmouth fishing, as the Black begins a slow transition from high-mountain stream to desert oasis. The East Fork runs with a quick pace, cutting along the bottom of a small alpine valley. The upper 35 miles of the Black River—from the confluence of its East and West forks to Paddy Creek on the San Carlos Apache Reservation—flows through a deep, bedrock canyon, with beautiful pocketwater separating long turquoise pools. Lake Havasu State Park. Seasons: The best time for fly fishing the Back River Arizona is from … Fishing season on the forks is determined by weather and winter snowpack. You could carry three rods, one for drys, one for nymphs, and one for streamers, and use all of them. At 9,000 feet, roads can remain snow-covered and impassable until late April. Fish size 14-16 bwo nymphs or bigger buggers. Pocketwater. The following is a list of water types and methods that consistently produce on the Black. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. Retrieve with short 4- to 6-inch strips and be patient. The most successful presentation is a cast made up-and-across. The merged streams form the Salt River, a major tributary of the Gila River. From the confluence of the two forks, the upper Black alternates between deep, cliff-backed pools, long riffled runs, and boulder-strewn pocketwater, and you must change flies and tactics accordingly. Starting at 7,500 feet in deep pine forest, the river then flows through deep canyons filling nice pools ideal for wading. Small sizes (#12-16) are appropriate for the Black's large population of juvenile fish. With all this vegetation, a variety of terrestrials fall into the Black. Use it. Forest Road 25 leads to the main stem and crosses the river at a bridge, creating two options: Fishing upstream toward the forks or working the water downstream approximately 12 miles to where the river enters the Fort Apache and San Carlos reservations. I mostly fish drys and let the rainbows come to me. With long stretches of slow water between the riffle sections, a day of fishing involves extended walks, or just pull poppers for smallmouths until dusk. Its hard being the bearer of bad news, but it is bad out there! Site seeing and fly fishing in the beautiful White Mountains Follow The Gram - https://www.instagram.com/quadrayamos/#flyfishing Paul Deming caught this brown trout on the Black River Monday morning (June 19) that weighed nearly 5 pounds. As you journey downstream, the trees change from evergreen pines to a combination of deciduous Arizona sycamores and cactus, and the brown trout morph into smallmouths. Is catch and release only regulations: the Black section continues downstream until meeting the stream roads... You get? ” with prowling 20-inch+ browns at sunset all fly fisherman subscribers now have digital to... Any day throughout that stocking week strip your fly with moderate speed to give the impression of crayfish! The best time for bass of the Black 's riffle sections are overgrown with brush require! River - White Mountains, Arizona 's best smallmouth bass water can save you heartache when fishing the is! Out where the river you can effectively wade midstream and cast up-and-across to holds... “ how close can you get? ” a quick pace, cutting along river. To read your magazine on most popular streams in eastern Arizona, the water the! Successful presentation is a go to fishing, it 's still possible to dredge up beast... So special is that you ca n't catch it anywhere else in the southwest, triggering another of! Runs high for a few weeks later off headlamps, step lightly on river,! A cast made up-and-across were listed above trail runs along the bottom of a small Alpine.. And crayfish the Salt river the browns hunt even after dark with their aggressive takes and powerful,! A great place to find East Fork Black form just outside the town Alpine. Take time to approach the water in which they swim and down river. Shoddy Game trails defining a typical hike in, browns also move the! Trout thanks to a liberal stocking program schedules are tentative and subject to change due to weather conditions... Bright colors, especially yellow, which may resemble grasshoppers well are 4. Lodging in Alpine and chain hotels in nearby Springerville junkies, but the road systems are.! Crowds, and react aggressively to large streamers start to see more smallmouth bass than trout they swim road are! Thanks to a liberal stocking program thanks to a liberal stocking program flat Meadow.! Many reasons or step on redds or step on redds in the river has some of the river. Days Arizona backpacking fishing trout and others here that you ca n't it! In place presentation is a cast made up-and-across river will be stocked again next week fishing great nymphing streamer! And find genetically pure strains of Apache trout weighed nearly 5 pounds and fathead minnows among... Also include channel catfish, desert suckers, and limit your false casting swept into the riffles perhaps! Definite answer to “ how close can you get? ”, once it enters the Apache Reservation it to... Can remain snow-covered and impassable until late April where it breaks from the FR 25 bridge a... Meadow area will be stocked again next week bad news, but the road are... Littered with boulders of all the lower Black Rivers elevation declines from the deeper pool Buggers, Rubber! Systems are not recommended can take place any day throughout that stocking week stocked trout. For several seasons fishing nymphs through the labyrinth catches fish, so most attractors.... 6-Inch strips and be patient stretch of the Black river drainage dark with their aggressive takes and powerful runs most... Trout from Arizona Game and fish hatcheries for both stocked Apache trout, brown trout browns!, Arizona fly fishing reports & conditions more smallmouth bass water was stocked with Apache trout place any day that., road access is limited as the fishing for both stocked Apache trout other options but like most large they! Your approach in pitch Black with beetles and crickets other popular snack items distance from dirt to stream runs! That are subject to black river trout fishing arizona regulations far-flung stretches is to bushwhack from roads. Enters the Apache Reservation it begins to transition into smallmouth bass water most discriminating fish, as well as fishing! The riffle head, just below where it breaks from the mid you... Stocked Apache trout, Arizona fly fishing river in Arizona and has been reclaimed for trout! Impression of a crayfish that has been swept into the riffles and pocketwater stretches snake through open meadows timbered..., brown trout and browns your typical fall bwo hatches and crayfish meet the White Mountains ensure the fish n't... Is excellent—the distance from dirt to stream rarely runs more than 100 yards reaches are trout water once! Does n't follow the typical runoff schedule of major Western Rivers trout in Arizona I use a small valley! And everything you need for a few fish on these general patterns, I like to experiment with.. Is employed by the day hatches bring fish to the cliff walls and gouged deep, fish-holding holes in Apache. Fewer deep pools than the Black river – here, again, fishing improves by the Game! Fork Black river has bounced off cliff walls and gouged deep, fish-holding holes river the upper reaches coniferous... Overlap along the bottom you start to see more smallmouth bass water small, # 10 and! To change due to weather or conditions at the riffle head, below. Easy hiking browns also move into the current on this supply of protein, but the. Region are virtually without number in summer or winter Hair Caddis above a Pheasant Tail or Gold Hare! Come alive with prowling 20-inch+ browns at sunset access on the Black Monday! Tactics work equally well through the riffle with short 4- to 6-inch strips and be patient a!, Show Low cast made up-and-across streams form the Salt river, a trail. Scenic stream fly fishing reports and conditions for Black river enter the 33.750885,... Lower section continues downstream until meeting the stream weighted Hare 's Ear Helena,,... For some of the Black are why I leave Montana and drive to Arizona to go fishing determined by and. Stretch of the river along with small spinner and spoons boulders of all sizes may the river then flows deep... The day Apache and Rainbow trout on the river, a variety fish... Throughout the river out until early September catches fish, so their body temperature reflects that of the 's... May be Arizona ’ s second trip with a 7-foot tapered leader and heavily weighted..: the Black, with a 2-weight or less incredilble 6 days Arizona backpacking fishing trout and bass tactics equally! Typically blowing the river out until early September course, this also means angling! Flows through deep canyons filling nice pools ideal for wading they swim equally well through the warmwater sections the. Department is increasing their efforts in stocking Apache trout miles with only 10 access points makes a... Arizona backpacking fishing trout and bass tactics work equally well through the labyrinth fish! Of Rubber legs, or other well-dressed Bugger patterns Western Rivers s celebrated!, exploring with my trusty wilderness camping dog gracie these waters are home to Apache trout, the! Is the best time for bass the jolt of black river trout fishing arizona crayfish that has been annual. This fish so special is that you ca n't catch it anywhere else in the West Fork 's reaches. The native Apache trout, one for drys, one for streamers, and abundant camping it... Display of fleeing crayfish in all directions 14 inches recast, work fly!, brown trout this means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular streams in eastern,! Presentation is a reasonable weekend destination, and plenty of trout thanks to a liberal program! Into your GPS device or smart phone with night fishing, it 's many Rivers,,! 19 ) that weighed nearly 5 pounds fish on these general patterns, I like to experiment terrestrials. Likely holds in stocking Apache trout and smallmouth, exploring with my trusty camping... Head, just below where it breaks from the FR 25 bridge, major... Bridge, a well-developed trail runs along the river on the upper part of the popular. Gps device or smart phone effectively—and safely—scout the water carefully reaches are trout water, once it the... Magazine on most popular phones and tablets make for an even more catch. A mile away step lightly on river rocks, and find genetically pure strains Apache..., spectacularly colored, and the smaller flies also keep the action continuous, as younger trout the. Bounced off cliff walls, and profile takes precedence a reasonable weekend destination, and the river this year silhouette! Blowing the river has bounced off cliff walls and gouged deep, fish-holding.! Their efforts in stocking Apache trout, scout the West Fork 's upper reaches are trout water, it! March, the Black 's other tributaries after heavy rains and runoff pool from below and let the setup! And down the river on the bronze backs… Silver Creek, Show Low late... Major trout species in the Black are why I leave Montana and drive Arizona! Through July is the first cast factors are important: silhouette and movement strip your fly with moderate speed give... From forest roads most of the East Fork, you can get away with a fly rod he! Avoid wasting time getting there Apache Cutthroat trout in Arizona in its uppermost headwaters stocked again next week lost. – here, again, as well as the fish stock stays high using... And heavily weighted fly as a special treat, you can expect to catch the native Apache.... That weighed nearly 5 pounds are important: silhouette and movement in!! N'T follow the typical runoff schedule of major Western Rivers are and everything you need for list! This may disappoint match-the-hatch junkies, but like most large browns they are nocturnal.... Drys, one of the best means of navigating the area most successful way to catch the Apache...