Trout Fishing Tips

Most people know about rainbow trout, brown and brook trout. But have you ever heard of gila trout? Don't feel alone if you haven't. I never did until I moved to Arizona (and I grew up trout fishing).

As you'd expect, this trout species gets it's name from the river drainage's it once occupied (the Gila River). Gila trout were once found all through the upper headwaters of the Gila River, Agua Fria, San Francisco, and Verde River drainage's in Arizona and New Mexico.

Gila trout are rare - so rare in fact, that they can only be found in two U.S. States (New Mexico and Arizona) and they're currently listed as "threatened" on the Federal Endangered List in 1967.

In 1975, the known distribution of the species consisted of only five relict populations restricted to headwater stream habitats in the upper Gila River drainage in New Mexico (Main Diamond Creek, South Diamond Creek, McKenna Creek, Spruce Creek and Iron Creek).

But in 1996, it was discovered that the Gila trout in McKenna and Iron Creek were actually hybridized trout (i.e., Gila trout had mated with Rainbow trout creating a hybrid). Hybridization is common threat to weaker trout species.

In 1998, Gila trout in the wild numbered about 37,000. Although these numbers are divided up into 14 distinct populations, there is only one place you can find Gila trout in Arizona today - Raspberry Creek near the New Mexico border.

Gila trout were once known to exist in Dude Creek on the Mogollon Rim near Payson, but post-fire flooding contaminated the water thereby destroying the Gila trout population.

Gila trout are easily recognized by the gold/copper coloring on their sides. The dark spots on the sides are irregular in shape and size. Gila trout are closely related to Apache trout.

Gila trout are small, often 7 to 8 inches in length. They are easily recognized by their golden and copper colored sides, and whitish to yellowish tipped fins. Like Cutthroat trout, they too have a "cut throat" mark under their jaws. They spawn between April and late May to early June (depending on water temperatures). Their eggs have an incubation period of 8 - 10 weeks.

They typically require cool, clean mountain streams with gravel beds above 4,500 feet.

Despite improvements in Gila trout populations, fishing for them is still prohibited by law. Most waters in New Mexico containing pure strains of Gila trout have been closed to anglers. And in New Mexico, it's unlawful to posses Gila trout. Same is true for Arizona.

With ongoing recovery efforts, this will hopefully change one day.

For more information about gila trout, click here.

Labels: arizona trout fishing, Gila Trout, new mexico trout fishing

Most people are familiar with rainbow trout, brook trout, brown trout and even some other trout species. But have you ever heard of apache trout? If you haven't, you're probably in the majority!

Apache trout is native to Arizona and they are only found in a small part of the state - the White Mountains, to be exact. They are one of the unique trout fishing experiences in Arizona.

These trout have a yellowish-gold color with black spots all on their body and fins. They average 6 - 24 inches in length. And like all trout, they feed on terrestrial and aquatic insects found in there cool streams.

Populations of apache trout have been reduced by over-fishing and competitive trout species. As such, apache trout have been on the Federal Endangered Species list since 1969. But thanks to the efforts of Apache Trout Recovery team, these trout are starting to make a comeback.

Last summer, the AZ Fish and Game department sterilized a portion of Sheeps Crossing (a popular fishing spot) to rid the stream of rainbow and brook trout - which were threatening the survival of apache trout. Once the unwanted fish were removed, apache trout were reintroduced into the stream.

Although protected, you can fish for apache trout. There are several places in Arizona where you can fish for apache trout - some on state land (requiring an Arizona State fishing license) and some on reservation land (requiring a special tribal permit).

When fishing for apache trout, artificial flies work best. However, you can also use natural baits (worms, grasshoppers, beetles, salmon eggs, etc.) small lures and spinners. Smaller hooks (size 14 - 18) are usually recommended for Apache trout.

Fishing for apache trout is a unique and rare experience that most trout anglers don't get to share in. So if you're ever in Arizona, it's an opportunity you won't want to pass up!

Labels: Apache Trout, arizona trout fishing, Trout Fishing Arizona

Most Arizona trout anglers dream about catching trophy size trout, but few do.

Once a year, the Arizona Fish and Game Department stocks each of it's 20 Urban Fishing lakes with trophy size trout - and that stocking happened this week!
Some of these "incentive" trout are as much as 2 feet long and weigh up to 4 pounds.

Last year an angler caught a 4-1/2 pound trout out of Surprise Lake during the first hour after stocking. And an 8-pounder trout was caught out of Payson's Green Valley Lakes.

The department's Urban Fishing Program includes lakes in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, Chandler, Mesa, Gilbert, Surprise, Peoria, Tucson, Sahuarita and the Payson area. Many of these lakes are located in popular community parks. For more information on the Urban Lakes, click here.

Don't forget to buy an urban fishing license ($18.50). If you do a lot of fishing, you might want to check out the new super-conservation fishing license. This is the first year this new license has been offered and it includes the regular Arizona fishing license, trout stamp and Urban license into one package for $53 ($63 for non-residents).

Good luck! And remember, if you do catch one of these trophy size trout, I'd love to hear about it!

Labels: arizona fishing, arizona trout fishing, arizona urban lakes