Fossil Creek
Fossil Creek is unique for two reasons, it's stunning beauty and it is the only blue ribbon roundtail chub fishery in Arizona, probably in the United States.
But the fishing is pretty good too. I have caught and released easily over 50 roundtail chubs in just a couple of hours of fishing every time I have visited Fossil Creek. Fishing is open from the first Saturday in October until April 30, which is also generally the season in which you DO NOT need a permit to access Fossil Creek. A permit is required from April 1 through April 30. Fishing for roundtail chubs is catch and release only. Only flies and lures with single barbless hooks are allowed. We catch a ton of roundtail chubs on Trout Magnet jigs. Anglers may fish from the waterfall about a mile above the Flume Trail parking lot along FR708 and the downstream-most power line crossing (immediately below Sally May Wash).
The easiest way to access Fossil Creek is via Forest Road 708 off of State Route 260 about 10 miles east of east of Camp Verde. It is 14 miles down a bouncy dirt road. High clearance vehicles are highly recommended, but I did have a buddy make it in a Prius.
Lake Mary
Lake Mary is located on Lake Mary Road southeast of Flagstaff. Lake Mary is unique because it is the best place to hook into a Northern Pike in Arizona.
Fishing for pike at Lake Mary is best from ice out (usually some time in February) until maybe early June. Lake Mary is on a windy plateau so the water is always muddy. The lake is also weedy. For those reasons you want to throw a lure that is weedless and moves a lot of water or produces a lot of vibration. My personal favorite is a chartreuse, 1/2 or 3/4 ounce Chatterbait. Johnson weedless spoons in the 1/2 ounce to 1 ounce size also produce. As far as location, walk across the dam on the lower end and fish the shoreline. Or, hike around to the far side of the lake on the shallow, upper end and fish that shoreline. One more tip, pike hang out near structure closer to shore. Don't cast your lure straight out, perpendicular to shore. Try to cast your lure and retrieve it as close to parallel to shore as possible. You'll catch more fish doing that.
Click here for our Lake Mary Pike Fishing YouTube video.
Lake Pleasant
Lake Pleasant is close to the Phoenix metro area in the northwest valley, just a few miles northwest of Peoria. What makes Lake Pleasant unique? It is the only lake entirely in Arizona where you can catch striped bass and the ONLY lake in Arizona where you can catch White Bass.
Lake Pleasant is best fished from a boat, but you can be successful from shore during certain times of the year. During the spring white bass can be caught from shore in the northern creek arms, Castle Creek and the Agua Fria Arm. 1/4 ounce Kastmaster spoons and white curly tail grubs on an 1/8 ounce jig head are solid lure options.
Click here to watch our Lake Pleasant White Bass Fishing video.
Night fishing for striped bass in the summer can be spectacular. I've had plenty of 50+ fish nights. But, you really need a boat with a fish finder. Popular areas are the Castle Creek arm, the Agua Fria River arm, and the tires surrounding the Pleasant Harbor Marina. Find a school of fish on your fish finder, drop your floating lights overboard and wait for this fish to show up! Anchovies cut into thirds or night crawlers are an excellent bait choice.
Lower Salt River
The Lower Salt River below Saguaro Lake is one of my favorite places to fish! Trout are stocked throughout most of the year. There is a solid population of bass, some going 4 - 5 pounds. But what is most unique about the Lower Salt is the healthy population of big Sonora suckers. Some people consider suckers trash fish. Those people are ignorant. These beautiful fish put up a great fight on a 5-weight fly rod. Sonora suckers will take a variety of flies including brightly colored nymphs, San Juan worms, egg patterns, and anything that resembles moss like an olive Wooly Bigger or Simi Seal Leach. Fishing for suckers is best during the winter when tubers don't infest the river and the flows are generally lower. Any of the popular access points hold fish, Water Users, Blue Point Bridge, Granite Reef.
Click here for our Salt River Fishing YouTube video.
Gila River near Phoenix International Raceway
The Gila River is unique because of the variety of fish that can be caught there. I routinely catch largemouth bass, channel catfish, Flathead Catfish, Rio Grande Cichlids, Redbelly Tilapia, Nile Tilapia, Blue Tilapia, and bluegill. Occasionally we even catch Armored Catfish aka Plecostomus that have been dumped from people's aquariums.
Fishing here is simple. I tie on a number 6 or 8 hook about 3 feet below a weighted bobber. For bait I use half a nightcrawler. Just hike, find fishy looking areas, and cast your bait.
Crystal Gardens
Crystal Gardens in a series of man-made lakes in Avondale. They are HOA lakes but they are managed by Arizona Game and Fish Department and anyone can fish there with a valid Arizona fishing license. Crystal Gardens holds largemouth bass, channel catfish, Nile tilapia, yellow bass, crappie, Rio Grande cichlids, Bluegill, Redear Sunfish, and common carp. But what makes Crystal Gardens stand out is the colorful Koi that can be caught fly fishing. The water in Crystal Gardens is typically clear and mostly shallow. You can see the Koi cruising and eating. It is fun and challenging to sneak close to them and cast a fly in their feeding path. They put up a solid fight too. You can walk the shoreline of and fish over 20 individual ponds. Good fly choices are egg patterns and brightly colored nymphs. Remember, Koi must be released unharmed.
Silver Creek
Silver Creek is the place in Arizona to catch monster trout. Silver Creek is a small, spring-fed creek just east of Show Low in the White Mountains. From October 1st to March 30th the creek is stocked with HUGE trout. Fishing is catch and release and limited to artificial lures and flies. From April 1st to September 30th, bait is allowed and the fish can be kept. Silver Creek can get crowded because of the big fish and easy access. I would avoid weekends if possible.
East Verde River
The East Verde River just north of Payson is your best bet to catch Gila Trout, one of two trout species native to Arizona. AZGFD regularly stocks the East Verde River with Gila Trout when water levels permit. Spring and early summer are usually the best months. Bait is allowed and fish can be kept, but check the limits!
Standard trout baits all work. I like fly fishing for them using prince nymphs or throwing Trout Magnet jigs on an ultralight spinning rod. There are a number of day use areas at road crossings including First Crossing Day Use Area, Water Wheel Falls Hiking Trailhead, Second Crossing Day Use Area, and Third Crossing Day Use Area. Any of these are solid place to fish. If you want to escape the crowds, hike a bit away from the day use areas.
Click here for our East Verde River Gila Trout YouTube video.
As always, fire away with any questions and we will help as best as we can!
