Gila Trout

Gila trout is one of those rare trout species - so rare in fact, that it's listed on the Federal Endangered List. It is native to both Arizona and New Mexico. As you'd expect, this trout species gets it's name from the river drainage's it occupied (the Gila River).

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 were known to exist back in the late 1800's were found all through the upper headwaters of the Gila River, Agua Fria, San Francisco, and Verde River drainage's in Arizona and New Mexico.

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

However, despite this knowledge, Gila trout were never officially described as a trout species until the 1950's - and that point, populations had decreased. And it 1967, Gila trout were placed on the Federal Eng angered List.

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.

Today, Gila trout are still listed on the Federal Endangered List, but their status has been downgraded to "threatened".

Despite improvements in Gila trout populations, fishing for them is still prohibited by law in most waters. However, as of July 1st, 2007 limited angling opportunites are now available in southwestern New Mexico.

To learn more about catching gila trout in New Mexico, click here.