Here's how things are fishing across the state of Arizona. This is our monthly Arizona Fishing Report for September.
Lee’s Ferry - Average
Heading into September, the water in the Lee's Ferry tailwater stretch of the Colorado remains warm. If you are fishing up here, focus on short fights and healthy release practices.
Shallow-water wading has been productive recently. Focus on using dry-dropper rigs in the riffles. Some sight-fishing opportunities have also been present, so keep an eye out for feeding/holding fish. Attractor patterns with small midges below them are your best bet. Fishing sink-tip lines with wooly buggers and small streamers remains a solid tactic in the deeper runs and pools.
Best Bets:
#20 Bead Head Biot Midge Emerger
Rim Creeks - Good
Water temperatures have been better on the streams across the Rim. Flows are fluctuating with the recent rains, so expect high, tinted water if fishing after a storm cycle. When the water is high, try nymphing with tungsten beads or heavier nymphs fished under larger attractor patterns.
There are still plenty of terrestrials around as we move into the fall months; ants, beetles, and hoppers are working well during the day. Towards the evening, caddis and mayfly spinners are making an appearance.
Best Bets:
Oak Creek - Good
Like the Rim, Oak Creek has seen varying flows. When the plateau around Flagstaff sees heavy rain, expect the canyon to be running high. Bead head nymphs and small streamers are the best ticket in these conditions. When the water is lower and clear, dry dropper rigs are working well. Fish terrestrials and attractor patterns up top with pheasant tails and prince nymphs below.
Keep an eye out for redds forming as we get towards the end of the month and steer clear of these areas when wading to help our brown trout spawn succesfully.
Best Bets:
Silver Creek - Poor
The catch-and-release season has CLOSED on Silver Creek, and this water is now open to bait fishing. With other lakes and streams now open across the Whites, it's probably better to fish elsewhere.
Best Bets:
Verde River - Average
The bass bite should remain decent in September, and bite windows should lengthen as the days start getting cooler. Continue to focus on stripping small streamers and twitching terrestrials around structure. As we get further into the month, expect to start finding fish holding in shallower parts of the river.
We're still a few months away from the winter trout stocking season on the Verde. Bookmark this page to stay up to date on the AZGFD trout stocking schedule.
Best Bets:
#10 MFC Rowley Balanced Baitfish
#12 Bead Head Flashabou Bugger
San Juan - Excellent
Flows remain high on the San Juan (~875 cfs) and the water is slightly tinted. Streamer fishing has been hot throughout the day, on a variety of patterns and sizes (both smaller and articulated flies).
Historically, September and October are excellent dry fly months. Look for action throughout the afternoon and into the evening. Midges and midge rafts are working great and terrestrial patterns and still producing fish as well (especially later in the day). If you're wading, keep an eye out for spawning browns. Redds will start forming before the end of the month.
If nymphing, keep changing your depth until you find fish. Trout are moving around in the water column right now, and may be closer to the surface as the day progresses.
Best Bets:
#20 Tungsten Jig Quill Body Baetis
White Mountains Lakes - Average
Warmer conditions are still present on many smaller lakes, but the larger bodies of water are starting to cool and we should see better conditions across the Whites as we get further into the latter half of September.
Leech and chironomid rigs fished under an indicator are a solid choice. If you have sinking line, slowly stripping booby flies along the bottom is productive as well. Smaller streamers should start producing more fish as we get further into the fall season.
Best Bets:
Black River - Good
Fall is a great time of year to get up to the Black River. Cooler water has the fish moving around a bit more, and pre-spawn browns will soon start feeding heavy.
If nymphing, leggy stonefly imitations work well on this freestone river. Expect to see both mayfly and caddis hatches as well. As we get later into September, larger streamer patterns will be in play. Focus on cut banks and the heads and tails of pools.If targeting smallmouth, fish small poppers tight to structure. Rock piles, downed trees, and cut banks will all hold smallies.
Best Bets:
Salt River - Good
With school back in session, you can expect to find some solitude during the weekdays on the Lower Salt. Trout stocking won't begin again until October, but for now you can target bass. Poppers, small streamers, and baitfish patterns work well. Fish tight to structure in slower moving water and target the heads of pools right where riffles feed into a deep dropoff.
Water flows are still at their elevated summer levels coming out of the dam, making carp and sucker fishing more difficult. When the low winter flows kick in, there will be more opportunity to target these fish in the pools and slow runs.
Best Bets:
Dead Horse Ranch - Good
With water temperatures starting to cool, the bass bite should pick up in September. Leggy nymphs and small streamers are your best bets. Focus your efforts during the morning and evening and target holding areas near the banks.
If you're just getting into fly fishing, the lagoons at Dead Horse Ranch are a great place to practice casting and get comfortable.
Best Bets:
Phoenix Urban Waters - Excellent
We've had a great year on the canals, and fishing is as good as it's been. Look for cruising carp in slower water, or carp stacked up in places with a stronger current. Any kind of structure is a good place to find holding fish.
Right now, the bass fishing on the chain lakes on the Salt River (Apache, Canyon, Saguaro) is great. Throw baitfish patterns on main lake points to target these fish.
Best Bets:
That's a wrap on the September Arizona Fishing Report.