The AZGFD Fishing Report: July 19, 2019

Summer nights made chill by spats of rain showers — this can be the time to fish in the high country of Arizona. Increased rainfall predicted for high country regions early next week can also eventually favor anglers, bringing inflows and nutrients, and in turn baitfish and predatory fish. Target areas with recent inflows.

Our Mogollon Rim-area creeks are prime options. Every week, we’ve been stocking Canyon Creek, Christopher Creek, the East Verde River, Haigler Creek, and Tonto Creek.

 

 

Other great spots for family camping and fishing include Kaibab Lake near Williams, Woods Canyon Lake and Bear Canyon Lake on the Mogollon Rim, and, of course, Big Lake near Pinetop. At the West Fork-Little Colorado in Greer, many anglers this week were having great luck catching stocked Apache trout using -- of course -- worms. Fly anglers can try dry flies such as Parachute Adams or various terrestrials (hoppers, ants, beetles, spiders) for stocked or wild Apaches.

Nighttime striper fishing is one of the best options going statewide, especially at Lake Mead and Lake Pleasant. For nighttime bassin' in general, fish dark colors (which show up as a silhouette under a bright moon -- and we're on a waning full moon). See a Central region report.

 

 

 

This angler on July 2 caught a 4-pound, 6-ounce, 22-inch brown out of the Black River.

Rainbow trout: East  Verde River, Tonto Creek, Christopher Creek, Haigler Creek, Fool Hollow Lake, Show Low Lake, Show Low Creek, Rose Canyon Lake, Silver Creek, West Fork Little Colorado River-Greer, Channel catfish: Yavapai Lakes, Stone Dam Lake, Fain Lake, Patterson Ponds. Apache trout: West Fork Little Colorado River-Sheep Crossing.

 

 

 

See how we're improving fishing by adding artificial habitat into Bartlett Lake -- Cronkite News was in the middle of the action last Friday. See the video.

 

Also, see the latest Bartlett Lake habitat map