Find out what flies are working in our monthly Arizona Fishing Report
Lee’s Ferry - Average
Keep an eye out for spawning fish in the shallow gravel areas. Rainbows have begun their winter spawn and will continue through February.
The usual suspects are still your best bet: eggs, San Juan worms, and woolly buggers. Focus your fishing in areas getting plenty of sun. In the winter, the bug activity will be the highest here. If you aren't catching anything, try changing the depth of your flies before tying on a new pattern.
Best Bets:
#20 Bead Head Biot Midge Emerger
Rim Creeks - Average
Fish are still in winter mode across the Rim, which means presentation is especially important. Nymph seams thoroughly and consider downsizing your usual selection of nymphs and streamers. Although the days are short and the water is cool, some of the largest fish of the year are caught up on the Rim during the winter months.
Warmer, overcast afternoons can lead to some fun winter dry-fly fishing. Hatches are sporadic this time of year, but make sure to bring a box with both mayfly and caddis patterns.
Best Bets:
Oak Creek - Average
Like the Rim, Oak Creek is generally slower this time of year, but can still produce some big fish. Be on the lookout for elevated water levels from storms up around Flagstaff. Expect lots of ice towards the top of the canyon and be prepared for some stealthy sight fishing if there hasn't been any weather in recent days. Oak Creek Canyon might be cold this time of year, but winter provides an excellent opportunity to fish this stretch without crowds of Sedona tourists.
Smaller bead head nymphs are the best technique for catching these winter fish. Expect fish to be holding in deeper water this time of year. During the peak of warmer afternoons, fish might move up into riffles to feed.
Best Bets:
Silver Creek - Good
The catch and release season will continue through March 31 up on Silver Creek. The fish have seen quite a few flies at this point in the season, so be stealthy when approaching the water. Throw smaller dry flies and slowly strip small streamers to get these picky fish to eat.
Best Bets:
Verde River - Good
Trout stocking continues this month, with two planned stocking events (the week of 2/9 and 2/23). Check the stocking schedule here to stay up to date on the AZGFD stocking program. Stocking primarily occurs between Cottonwood and Camp Verde.
Fishing tactics remain similar to January; target trout with attractor patterns like worms above a more natural fly fished on an indicator rig. Swinging woolly buggers and wet flies down and across riffles is a productive technique as well. As spring weather moves in, prepare for the fish to get a bit more active.
Best Bets:
San Juan - Good
Fishing continues to be solid up on New Mexico's San Juan River. On days when the water is crystal clear, stick to tailwater staples: larva and baetis nymphs. If water clarity drops, add in eggs, worms, or leeches to your nymph rig. Target fish in the lower third of the water column.
Layer up and prepare for some cold stretches on the water this time of year. If you can keep your hands nimble (hint: try wearing nitrile gloves), you stand a great chance at catching a trophy fish this time of year.
Best Bets:
Salt River - HOT
Fishing for suckers, carp, and trout is currently red hot on our local Salt River. Lower flows are prime for spotting both suckers and carp; get on rocks above deep pools to spot these fish. Drift weighted nymph rigs through these holes and use bright colored patterns so that you can see the take. Red and purple flies have been the hot ticket. These fish will eat a wide variety of flies - worms, leeches, eggs, mops, and small nymphs are all effective.
Stocked trout that have been in the system for a few weeks or months are keying in on the natural food in the river. Small midges and BWO nymphs are common around Blue Point and throughout the riffle stretches on the river. In the deeper pools, eggs and woolly buggers have been effective.
Best Bets:
Dead Horse Ranch- Good
Trout stocking will continue every other week in February (the week of 2/2 and 2/16). Slowly stripping woolly buggers is an effective way to target both trout and bass in the lagoons. An indicator rig with a balanced leech and a natural nymph below it is also a great rig for trout.
Expect the bass to get more active as the water warms and the fish begin their pre-spawn activities. Larger streamers (both baitfish and crayfish patterns) will become more effective as the month wears on.
Best Bets:
White Mountains Lakes - Poor
Although it's been unseasonably warm across much of Arizona, the high elevation lakes in the Whites are still in winter mode.
If there's a warm stretch and you can catch some open water, try stripping leeches and chironomids under an indicator.
Best Bets:
Black River - Poor
Most access roads to the Black aren't maintained in the winter, making travel potentially difficult depending on the weather. If you do get on the river, expect the water to be cold and the fishing to be slow. Thoroughly cover soft spots with clean drifts and make sure to cover all feeding lanes because the trout won't move far for a meal this time of year.
Best Bets:
Phoenix Urban Waters - Average
SRP canal dry-ups on the north side of town should begin wrapping up early this month. You can expect most canals to be full again by the end of February. Canals that are holding water have been fishing well - chartreuse flies have been the hot ticket lately.
When fishing urban waters in the winter, focus on slower presentations and smaller patterns. Small streamers fished along the bottom of the ponds in town will keep producing bass. Make sure to add a long pause between strips.
Best Bets:
#8 MFC Chan's Las Vegas Booby Leech
That's a wrap on the February Arizona Fishing Report.