Arizona Trout Fishing

The art of angling is pursued by man only as far as it suits his need. One man is content to lie under a tree, lunch by side and unbaited hook dangling in the water. Another must catch all the fish he can carry to be satisfied. Between these extremes are others whose pursuit in arts of angling sends them off on ever different tangents from the composite circle of the "Compleat Angler." One thing is common to all, they seek refreshening of weary mind or body, and "jus' fishin'" the cleanest of all sports, gives this.

To satisfy these fishermen, their whims, their seeking fulfillment of a desire, there must be streams and lakes of character. Arizona has these. Consider Oak Creek; it has that quality which is satisfying to many, for it is the most heavily fished stream in the state. It is in a deep canyon slashed out of a high plateau. The rim and the country beyond are covered with the largest stand of Ponderosa (western yellow pine) in the world. Even in the canyon itself, the roots of the majestic pine secure the steep slope. Strata of red and In the beautifully forested White Mountain region, over 7000 feet above sea level, the scenic grandeur is indescribable. (Josef Muench).

Yellow sandstone and white limestone furnish added color as the cut deepens. Rampant woodland fern grows in every swale and side canyon. Rich, green locust, which blushes crimson when exposed to the leering stare of Old Man Winter, gives quality to the forest carpet. White, clean-barked aspen, marked only with slashings of the claws of prowling bear, give relief to color-wearied eyes. And, in the bottom of this canyon, heading in Coconino County of Flagstaff, flows a crystal stream. Here any fisherman can be satisfied. Deep, blue pools under overhanging, shading cliffs afford a cool place for a sleepy, weary man employing a subterfuge of hook and line to get away from it all. There is even a warm spot in the sun beside the pool to satisfy his capriciousness. The only disturbing factor is a biting Rainbow trout. This greedy trout is what the next angler is after.

Oak Creek is to his liking, too! There are fast riffles hold. ing feeding trout, ready and eager to take cast fly, salmon egg or worm. At the foot of long glides are boiling pools and in the bottom of these, under shelving rock lurks a big 'un which requires coaxing and offers a problem for some angler before it can be hooked. Whether it is to rest or fish, Oak Creek will satisfy the average angler. Nature has been generous with the furnishings of this haven and the stream is kept well stocked with catchable trout reared in Page Springs Rearing Ponds, operated by the Arizona Game and Fish Commission. But, as stated before, the whims of the angler are many. The most fickle of all trout fishermen is the purist. He scorns the man who employs a worm, which is referred to as "barnyard hackle". He disdains the use of salmon eggs, a commercial bait used for catching trout. He is

Annoyed by the fisherman who boasts of taking the full limit of trout allowed him by the law. To this purist of trout fishing the highest of angling art is to employ an artificial fly and present it so skillfully and delicately the wisest of game fish is fooled into taking it.

Then this purist has a return for his practical skill. He allows the trout every opportunity, every trick, every use of strength to gain freedom. The angler matches this with equal dexterity. His four ounce split bamboo rod quivers under the lunges of the darting, leaping trout. The leader, tapering down to .006 of an inch and only able to withstand a half pound pull, slices the gin-clear water. After each run the trout leaps and shakes savagely, trying to free himself of that Royal Coachman, Brown or Gray Hackle, Blue Dun, Silver Doctor, Bright Angel pricking his lip, holding him to the gentle, insistent pull toward bank or landing net. Every leap, every adroit twist, every slashing run across the pool is reward for the purist. It matters not (too much) if he loses the fish the fight is the thing!

Arizona's tumbling mountain streams and lakes on high plateaus furnish the medium for the fly fisherman's enjoyment.

West Clear Creek and East Clear Creek, heading not far from each other on the Mogollon but flowing in opposite directions, are two. Tom's Creek and Willow Creek come close together just below Clover Point near Long Valley and Clear Creek is formed. In a deep canyon, flowing under towering, sheer cliffs, it is an isolated stream and visited by fishermen eager and willing to endure certain hardships for the pure quill. West Clear Creek is an unspoiled trout stream for the fly purist, and others as well. East Clear Creek, too, is a reasonable facsimile of an angler's dream. This canyon is not as deep as the one holding West Clear Creek. Wider and more open, it has plenty of fly casting room. Browns and flashing Rainbows may be taken there. Flat, glass clear pools give opportunity to the dry fly fisherman. He can "let out" there.

The Mogollon Rim, high plateau country, swings south and east from Long Valley. There are more streams heading in the canyons breaking off the Rim. Some are visited infrequently by anglers perhaps because other places are more accessible, perhaps because they are in remote country and unknown to the average trout fisherman. There is Dane's Creek, with Brook Trout. Flowing into Dane is Barbershop and both join East Clear Creek to go into the Little Colorado near Winslow.On the other side of the Rim are Tonto, Horton, Webber, Christopher, Haigler and Gordon. Trout streams all. These furnish good fishing because they are stocked with creel-sized fish reared in ponds at Tonto State Fish Hatchery.

From there it is only a long cast into the Apache Indian Reservation and other trout streams, Cibecue, Canyon and Eagle Creeks. There is White River, Black River, Diamond Creek. The reservation has a permit system and by writing W. S. Donner, Superintendent of the Apache Indian Reservation at Whiteriver, you may obtain a permit for any number of days up to ten to fish reservation streams. These, too, are well-stocked and supplied with fish. They come from the Federal Hatchery on Williams Creek, operated by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.Then into Apache National Forest and the White Mountains. Any angler, worm fisherman, salmon egg user or the caster of dry or wet flies can have his day here.

Streams and lakes are stocked with trout, catchable size, reared at Pinetop State Fish Hatchery near McNary. The Three Forks of Black River, the Little Colorado, the Campbell Blue, meander down through meadows, drop into deeper canyons and here the trout fisherman finds sport at the best. More anglers visit this area of Arizona in pursuit of trout than any other section. Those who like lake fishing find it in Apache County just below Springerville. Big Lake, Luna and Crescent offer, not only the Arizona angler, but any fisherman in the Southwest, some of the best lake fishing to be found. Cutthroat or Yellowstone Natives, Graylings, Rainbow, Brook and Brown trout can be taken here. They come in all sizes for fly, spinner, plug, salmon egg or clusters, worm and grub offered by the fisherman. Regardless of his skill or status in Societas Piscis he will have luck. So, trout are here. Whatever your need: a spot in the sun, a creelful, or only one fighting fish that sends his indomitable spirit coursing through the slicing leader, singing line, quivering rod into your soul, that fishing is yours.

Trout season opens May 30, and closes September 30, with the exception of two streams: Clear Creek in the Grand Canyon National Park and the Colorado River below Boulder Dam, which are open all year. Additional in-formation may be had by writing the Arizona Game and Fish Commission, State Capitol Building, Phoenix.