Arizona Has Several Trout Species

Most of the trout in Arizona are stocked fish, which means that trout fishing is mostly a "put and take" game. The Arizona Game and Fish Department puts the trout in, and we take them out. Most of the fish that are stocked are small, what the Game and Fish calls "catchable" trout, but some of our lakes and streams have genuine trophy fish, and the Game and Fish Department usually throws in a couple of bigger fish in each stocking just to give you an incentive to fish.

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Rainbows are probably our most abundant trout, but we also have brook trout, brown trout, cutthroat, Apache trout, and some native trout. The native trout include Apache, Brown, Brook, Gila and Rainbow trout. Each kind of trout has different characteristics and preferences. Knowing something about these preferences can help you find and catch these fish on a regular basis.

Brook Trout

This fish got its name because of its preference for small streams, but it can also be found in cold-water ponds and lakes. Bright red spots with blue outlines mark the brook trout's sides, and they have dark lines on their backs and dorsal fins. Their tails are somewhat square. Brook trout need colder water than rainbows or browns. Brook trout usually stay near the bottom of pools and streams, especially when the surface water is warm, but when they go on a feeding frenzy they will rise to a fly.

Brook trout will also take all kinds of insects, nightcrawlers, and minnows. To catch brook trout, your best bet is to use something small and keep it near the bottom unless you see fish breaking the surface. You can find brook trout in the colder lakes in the north country, like some of the rim lakes and the White Mountain lakes, and also in the Black River.

Brown Trout

Brown trout can tolerate water a little warmer than brook trout like, so they can be found in a few places that can't support brook trout. Brown trout are golden brown with some orange and red spots on their sides. Fly-fishermen can catch browns on dry flies when fish are rising, or on streamers and bucktails fished close to the bottom in pools or lakes. Brown trout will also take nightcrawlers and other baits.

Apache Trout

Apache trout are gold-colored trout that inhabit clear, cool streams in the White Mountains. They are native to the upper Salt River watershed (Black and White rivers) and the upper Little Colorado River watershed. Some of the White Mountain Apache lakes have Apache Trout, and you can visit the White Mountain Game and Fish department at http://www.wmatoutdoor.org, or call the office at (928)338-4385.

Apache trout are like yellow rainbow trout, says the Arizona Game and Fish Department, so fish for them like you would rainbows.

From The Game And Fish Department

"For those anglers targeting Apache Trout or Gila Trout in Arizona, the Arizona Game and Fish Department asks that they please take the time to fill out the survey form on the Game and Fish website after each fishing trip targeting Apache Trout or Gila Trout. You can find it easily by going to http://www.azgfd.com, then putting Apache Trout in the search bar. The form collects information on when and where anglers fished for Apache Trout or Gila Trout, the type of fishing gear they used, and how many fish they caught. Filling out this survey is completely voluntary and responses are completely anonymous. This information will be used by the Arizona Game and Fish Department to better manage Apache Trout and Gila Trout in Arizona."

Cutthroat Trout

Cutthroat trout are easily identifiable by the red mark on their chins that makes it look as though their throat had been cut. The cutthroat is a distant relation of the rainbow trout, but is less active. They rarely jump, and they are very shy, so to catch one you need to keep your line light and your hooks and lures small.

Cutthroats are cold-water fish that don't take to extremes of temperature, and when they are in the same streams as rainbows, they will be in the pools and eddies. Try bucktails and streamers, or small baits like pieces of nightcrawlers or Berkley Power Bait.

Rainbow Trout

This is our most abundant trout, and just about any water that is cold enough has rainbows. The Game and Fish Department even stocks rainbows in the Urban Lakes of Phoenix and Tucson during the winter months, and the Salt River just below Saguaro Lake has rainbows all year long. Some other southeastern and central waters that have trout include Parker Canyon Lake, Rose Canyon, Riggs Flat, and Apache Lake.

When trout are rising, dry flies will take rainbows, but since they don't like water much over 60 degrees, they'll stay down when the surface temperatures start getting warm. Streamers fished on the bottom can be productive in summer, and so can small, deep-diving crankbaits and spoons. In-line spinners are always popular trout lures, but remember to fish them near the bottom in warm weather. There won't usually be many fish in the middle waters.

Still Fishing

Trout also take well to still fishing. Try putting a small hook on 4- to 6-pound-test line with a tiny split shot about a foot to a foot and a half up the line. For bait, you can hardly beat the old standbys like Berkley Power Bait, marshmallows, corn, and salmon eggs. Cast your bait out to a likely spot, then set the pole down. Propping your pole up on a rock so the line is up in the air a little will help you keep a better eye on the line.

Once your bait sinks to the bottom, reel up the slack in your line and just leave your pole alone. Trout can bite so lightly that the movements of your hand holding the rod will make you miss a bite. I just leave the pole propped up on a rock or something and watch the line constantly. If the line starts to get slack in it, or it jumps a little or moves off to the side, set the hook! I hate to admit it, but about 50% of the time those trout manage to pick me clean without getting hooked. It's a good idea to take plenty of bait along on any trout fishing expedition.

Fishing In Streams

Fishing in streams is a little different. Since staying put in fast water takes a lot of energy, most fish will be in slower areas like in front of and behind rocks and other obstacles, and in the slower currents in deep water holes and undercut banks. In really deep pools, the fish will mostly be on the bottom. If the weather is cool and the surface temperature is low, you can sometimes get trout to rise to a dry fly, but if it is warm you will be better off fishing the bottom.

When you are fishing a stream, it pays to be stealthy. Creep up softly because stomping along the creek bank will alert everything in the water to your presence. Cast your lure or bait along the banks and upstream from any good-looking spot. Let the current carry your offering to the trout--it looks more natural that way.

A Tip From Fly Fishermen

If you are using a very light bait like a salmon egg with no weight, take a tip from fly fishermen and put a strike indicator on your line. This is a brightly-colored floating piece of foam that sticks on your line. When a fish takes your lure, the indicator dips under the surface. It's like a bobber for stream fishermen, and you can get them at tackle shops.

Current in streams is a little slower on the bottom and along the banks because of the friction from the earth and stones. Current usually digs a hole in front of and behind obstacles like rocks and trees, and the bigger these holes are, the more fish they may hold. The eddy downstream from the obstacle will usually be better. Actually, most of a stream is water that probably won't hold fish, so you need to keep moving and casting to good spots to catch trout.

Tough In Traffic Areas

Any place that gets a lot of traffic is probably a tough place to catch good fish.In lakes and pools, your best bet is to fish the bottom all the time, unless there is a hatch going on. And when this happens, the fly-fishermen will beat out the spinning gear team every time. If you prefer to use spinning gear, stick to light line and deep-running lures or baits that you can put on the bottom.

In warmer weather, early in the morning or late in the evening are the best times for trout fishing. Remember that trout are cold-water fish, and they really don't like it when the water is up in the sixties. They will stay near the bottom most of the time, and only come up shallow to eat when the surface temperature goes down.

Not Just A Top-Water Thing

If you are not a fly-fisherman, you may think that fly-fishing is strictly a top-water thing. This is far from true. Streamers, nymphs, and bucktails are some of the flies that are fished deep, and sinking fly lines get them down there. Fly-fishing looks very complicated and difficult at first, but it really isn't. When you are starting out, you can get a fly-fishing outfit that includes the rod, reel, line, leaders, instructions, and even a fly. Loomis makes a good kit, and so do several other manufacturers. For our little stocked trout, a size 4 to 6 outfit will do nicely.

The basic fly cast is actually pretty easy to do--you just have to practice a little. The biggest difficulty for a person who is used to fishing spinning or baitcasting gear is to get used to the notion that you are actually casting the line, not the lure. If you snap your wrist like you do with your bass gear, you'll snap the fly right off the line. The best way to learn to fly fish is to take some instructions from someone who really knows his stuff. There are a lot of good fly-fishing shops in Arizona, and there are also fly-fishing clubs. Arizona Fly Casters (https://azflycasters.org/) is one, and they have monthly meetings with speakers and instructions, as well as fly-fishing outings.

Good Trout Waters Near You

No matter what part of Arizona you live in or visit, chances are there are good trout waters somewhere near you. So whether you like fly-fishing, spinning a stream, or just relaxing on the bank soaking corn, you can have a great time catching Arizona trout. The Arizona Game and Fish Department always knows where the trout are biting, so if you want to know the hottest spots, give your local office a call.

Arizona's Trout Challenge

The Game and Fish website has this to say about Arizona's native trout: Arizona's Trout Challenge Program was developed to encourage anglers to learn more about fishing opportunities in the state. Arizona Game and Fish Department manages many waters statewide to provide anglers the opportunity to catch several different species of trout, including two found only in the Southwest, Gila Trout and Apache Trout. There are two ways to complete the challenge -

• Catch all five species of wild trout in Arizona. These species include Apache, Brown, Brook, Gila and Rainbow trout.

*Anglers who completed the wild trout challenge without a Gila Trout while the Gila Trout requirement was suspended may submit a photo of a wild Gila Trout they catch for verification along with the stream it was caught at, date caught, and gear type used (fly or lure) to the email or mailing address listed below. You do not need to resubmit the full application. After the Gila Trout is verified it will be added to your certificate and a new wild trout challenge certificate will be issued.

• Catch at least six of the eight total species in Arizona (including hatchery-raised trout): Gila, Apache, Brown, Brook, Rainbow, Grayling, Cutthroat, and Tiger trout.

You can get all the details about the Trout Challenge, plus the application form on the Arizona Game and Fish website at https://www.azgfd.com/fishing-2/fishing-challenges/azgfd-trout-challenge/