Here's the latest Arizona fishing report as fish settle into their winter patterns.
Lee’s Ferry - Average
Now is a chilly time of year up at the Ferry, but it can still be productive. Towards the end of the month, be on the lookout for the spawning season to begin. Pre-spawn rainbows will start moving into the shallows, offering fun sight fishing opportunities.
Focus on fishing double nymph rigs, making sure they're deep enough to tick along the bottom. In the colder weather, make sure you're getting good drag-free drifts and thoroughly fishing a run before moving on.
Best Bets:
Rim Creeks - Average
Right now, water is low and clear across the Rim. Be wary of your shadow and move very slowly to work yourself into a good casting position. That being said, anglers can often stumble into their largest Rim fish of the year in January. Recovered from the spawn and enjoying cooler water temps, large brown trout can be found under cut banks and boulders. If a precipitation event raises water levels, be ready to go fish and try throwing smaller streamers.
On warmer afternoons, don't be afraid to tie on a dry dropper, especially if the water clarity is decent. When the water is higher and stained, target soft pockets and edges.
Best Bets:
#16 Tungsten Rubber Leg Prince Nymph
Oak Creek - Good
Expect cold conditions and potentially some ice as you get closer to the top of the canyon. This time of year, smaller bead head nymphs will produce fish on Oak Creek. If fish are being picky, try adding a leech or an egg to your rig.
When winter storms raise the water levels, target larger fish with streamers. Stripping and swinging through the deeper pools are productive techniques.
Best Bets:
#16 Tungsten Jig Czech Princess
Silver Creek - Good
The catch and release season is still in full swing, but these fish have seen quite a few flies at this point. Use smaller dry flies and focus on moving nymph rigs very slowly. If you're not having any luck, try downsizing flies.
Best Bets:
Verde River - Good
Rainbow trout stocking continues on the Verde. Bookmark this page to stay up to date on the AZGFD fish stocking schedule. Target trout by drifting bead head nymphs through riffles and or swinging nymphs and soft hackles through runs.
Bass fishing has slowed a bit in the cooler weather but fish can still be found when stripping leeches and buggers.
Best Bets:
San Juan - Excellent
Angling pressure is lower over the winter, making this an ideal time to get up to New Mexico. Water clarity is a bit down, making this an excellent time to move bigger fish.
While the water temperature remains the same year-round, fish move a bit slower this time of year. Look for fish in slower moving water and target them with double nymph rigs fished under an indicator. These flies are very small so make sure you've added enough weight to get them into the strike zone!
Best Bets:
Salt River - Good
Trout stocking continues. Freshly stocked fish will likely eat any fly as they try to determine what constitutes “food” in their new system. By the time they've been in there for a few weeks, they can be picky and difficult to catch. Target trout by drifting bead head nymphs through riffles and swinging nymphs and soft hackles through runs.
Sucker and carp seasons are in full swing on the Salt! If you're looking to challenge yourself, find a good vantage point and practice sight fishing to the Sonora and Desert suckers you'll see cruising the river.
Best Bets:
Dead Horse Ranch- Average
This state park has great access and is an awesome spot to learn how to fly fish or hone your casting skills. Anglers can enjoy catching multiple species, including rainbow trout, channel catfish, largemouth bass, and bluegill. Slowly stripping wooly buggers and leeches is a great technique to hook up with multiple types of fish. Colorful egg patterns and mop flies will catch fish as well.
Best Bets:
White Mountains Lakes - Poor
It's cold! Fish still eat throughout the winter, just be prepared for a slower bite. Expect ice to start moving in on many of the White Mountains reservoirs.
Best Bets:
Black River - Poor
Roads to the Upper Black River are not maintained over the winter, making access difficult. Expect cold water and slower-moving fish. In the depths of winter, fish often won't eat unless something is directly in front of their face. Nymph seams thoroughly before moving to the next spot.
Best Bets:
#18 Tungsten Jig Pheasant Tail Red Tie
#16 Tungsten Jig Flashback Pheasant Tail
Urban Waters - Hot
What to do when the mountains are covered in snow? Focus your efforts around Phoenix! Bass fishing at Lake Pleasant is particularly hot right now. Strip clousers and deceivers on a sink tip line or throw poppers on floating line - both are working well.
On canals and ponds around the city, try slowly stripping leeches under an indicator. This is a great time to catch warmwater species - like crappie and catfish - on the fly.
Best Bets:
That's a wrap on the January 2025 Arizona Fishing Report. Get out and fish!