Arizona Trout

Trout fishing is one of the more popular angling act ivies in Arizona. Regular stockings by the AZFGD help provide plenty of year-round activity for anglers.

There six different species of trout you can enjoy catching in Arizona.

• Rainbow trout
• Brown trout
• Brook trout
• Apache trout
• Gila trout
• Cutthroat trout

Out of all the trout species found in Arizona, only Apache and Gila trout are native to the state. The rest of the trout species have been brought into Arizona.

It should also be noted that the Apache and Gila trout are currently listed as "threatened" on the Federal Endangered List - so some restrictions apply when fishing for these trout. Although thanks to recovery effort by state organizations, Apache trout are staring to make a comeback!

You can read more about each of the different trout species in Arizona by clicking on the links above.

Trout Facts

All Arizona trout are very sensitive to water temperature. They prefer water temps in the 50 - 68 degree Fahrenheit range. When water temps are less than 45 degrees, trout become very lethargic. When water temps rise above 70 degrees, trout begin to suffocate.

This is because water temperature affects the oxygenation levels in the water and therefore a trout's metabolism. Trout need cool oxygenated water to survive - and when that water temp is in their comfort zone, they'll actively feed. When water temps are outside that comfort zone, trout become more concerned with survival than feeding.

Our warm summer months present the biggest challenge to trout fishing in Arizona (especially in the lower elevations). In order to keep catching trout, a boat is often needed to get out to deeper water. Fish finders also become a great resource in the summer months. These electronic gadgets not only tell you where the fish are, but at what depth also.

Common Trout Terms

There are different terms commonly used to characterize the growth stage of trout. I've listed them below so you'll be able to understand what people are talking about if you should hear them.

 

Fry

These are trout that have recently hatched. In hatcheries, they are kept in incubators at this stage of development.

 

Fingerling

This term is used to describe a very young trout which is only 1-3 inches in size.

Redd

This terms refers to a trout's spawning nest in the stream. When they're ready to spawn, they use their tail to dig a small nest in the gravel bed and deposit their eggs in it.

Arizona Trout Fishing Tips

All trout in Arizona will bite natural bait sources including:

• earthworms (commonly called nightcrawlers)
• mealworms
• salmon eggs
• grasshoppers
• beetles

They'll also strike artificial flies, and so fly fishing is very popular in Arizona. Rainbow trout that have been raised in hatcheries will also bite on a lot of un-natural bait sources.

Light tackle is highly recommended. This means you want stick to 4-6 pound test line and size 10-14 hooks.

The best fishing hours are usually early morning and evening. Trout can often be observed feeding on insects during this hours.

Although there is no minimum size requirement on trout in Arizona, trout less than 6 inches is really too small to keep since there is very little meat on it for eating purposes.

Don't know how to trout fish? For more information about learning how to trout fish, click here.