Like rainbow trout they are native to other parts of the West and have similar appearance and habits to rainbows, but cutthroats can be identified by the telltale red or orange slash on their throats. Cutthroat TroutĬutthroat trout can be found in a handful of lakes in the White Mountains, where they have been stocked, but are rare elsewhere in Arizona. and Canada, brook trout in Arizona are most common in lakes and streams in the White Mountains and on the Apache Reservation where they have been stocked.īrookies typically reach about 12 inches in length and have a dark olive-green color with yellowish vermiculation (worm-like markings) on the back and dorsal fin. Wild populations have taken hold in many lakes and rivers in Arizona, particularly in the White Mountains and around the Mogollon Rim. since the 1880s and Arizona since 1931.īrowns can withstand higher temperatures than most trout, and are the largest trout species in Arizona, occasionally surpassing 20 pounds.īrown trout typically have a golden-brown coloration, with many dark spots and a few reddish spots, usually with a light halo around each one. Brown Troutīrown trout are not native to Arizona-or to the United States, for that matter-but have been stocked in the U.S. Additional populations for sport fishing are also stocked in select lakes and reservoirs. In Arizona, native Gila trout can be found in a handful of streams in the Agua Fria, Blue, Lower Gila and Verde River drainages. They have a yellowish gold or copper color, with a profusion of small dark spots mostly on the upper body, and can reach up to 18 inches. They’re one of the rarest trout species in both states, and are federally listed as threatened. Gila TroutĪrizona’s second native trout species, Gila trout are found only in Arizona and New Mexico. Identified by their olive-yellow body color with a yellow-gold belly, they seldom grow longer than 10 inches in the small streams they call home, but are capable of reaching 20 inches. It’s also the official state fish, and is found nowhere else on earth outside the Arizona state lines.Īpache trout were considered endangered for many years, but have been largely restored to their native range. Native to the high-altitude headwaters of the White, Black and Little Colorado rivers, the Apache trout is one of two trout species native to Arizona. Arizona’s 15-pound, 9.12-ounce state record was caught at Willow Springs Lake. Rainbow trout have an olive or grey back, pink or reddish lateral stripe, and an abundance of irregular dark spots. Today, more than 1 million of these fish are stocked in Arizona every year, and wild populations also flourish in many rivers. The most abundant trout species in Arizona, rainbow trout were first introduced to the state in 1898. Only two species-Apache trout and Gila trout-are actually native to Arizona, but wild, reproducing populations of rainbow, brook and brown trout have taken hold here.Īdditional populations of cutthroat and tiger trout, as well as arctic grayling, are supported by stocking. Arizona Trout SpeciesĪrizona lakes and rivers are home to eight types of trout. Whether you’re a fly fisherman or a bait-and-bobber enthusiast, trout fishing in Arizona offers an experience that will keep you coming back again and again. The headwaters of many of the state’s waterways are located in mountain forests well above 6,000 feet, keeping their waters crisp and cool all year. Many of Arizona’s best trout fishing opportunities lie within the White Mountains and along the rugged Mogollon Rim. One species can be found nowhere else on earth, and others have been introduced with amazing success. And in those rivers and streams, trout flourish. Through it all, rivers and streams flow like arteries. Arizona has six national forests totaling more than 11 million acres. Here in Arizona you’ll find rugged canyons and the largest contiguous Ponderosa pine forest in the United States. If you think this state strictly as cactus-studded deserts, it’s time to start rethinking it. But Arizona anglers know better.Īrizona offers a unique wealth of fishing opportunities, from crystal clear mountain streams to pristine high country lakes teeming with trout. If you’ve never been to Arizona, you might have a hard time imagining it as a trout fisherman’s paradise.
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