It's a GREAT time to get out fishing in Arizona. Read this month's Arizona Fishing Report to see what's working.
Lee’s Ferry - Excellent
Fish are getting more and more active as summer arrives. Expect river flows to increase slightly in June compared to May.
BWOs and midges should be active throughout the day and can offer fun dry-fly fishing. The best way to catch fish in this bug buffet is to throw what the fish are feeding on: annelids and midges. Fish double nymph rigs or try prospecting with a dry dropper setup.
Towards the end of the month, keep an eye out for one of the best hatches of the year on the Ferry: the cicadas!
In low-light hours, try swinging streamers on a sinking line through the deeper pools for larger fish.
Best Bets:
#18 Bead Head Biot Midge Emerger
Rim Creeks - Excellent
Fishing has been great and should remain fun through June. Expect the flows to remain strong and the water temperature to stay low through the early part of the summer.
Now that we've hit Memorial Day weekend, fishing pressure is increasing across the Rim. Add clear water to the equation and it's especially important that anglers remain stealthy when fishing these creeks. Use the heavy vegetation to your advantage and move slowly to get into casting position.
Lots of bugs are working right now - you'll see plenty of caddis out and a few BWOs mixed in. For general prospecting, try dry dropper rigs using hares ears, pheasant tails, and scuds. Observe the water carefully; this time of year, you can spot feeding fish and sight fish to rising trout with dry flies.
Best Bets:
#16 Bead Head Flashback Pheasant Tail
Oak Creek - Excellent
Expect similar conditions to the Rim creeks. When the sun is out, be on the lookout for plenty of mayflies and caddis.
When fish are being finicky, leech patterns are always a safe bet!
As the summer crowds increase near Sedona, try fishing up the canyon for a bit of refuge. Oak Creek has plenty of stocked rainbow trout and a healthy population of wild browns.
Best Bets:
#16 Tungsten Jig Czech Princess
Silver Creek - Poor
The winter catch-and-release season on Silver Creek has closed as of March 31. The creek is now open to barbed hooks and bait fishing.
The action is probably better at nearby White Mountains lakes.
Best Bets:
Verde River - Average
In the summer, the Verde is much more of a warm water fishery. While the water can be muddy, you can still find plenty of bass in this system.
Try stripping and swinging small streamers across the edges of seams and around structure. In low light hours, work poppers near shore.
Trout stocking does not take place over the summer. Bookmark this page to stay up to date on the AZGFD fish stocking schedule.
Best Bets:
San Juan - HOT
The bug factory up north is fishing great right now. Bug activity is abundant and tons of baetis are present.
The fish in this system are large and will take an articulated streamer. Swing streamers through riffles and tailouts during low-lights hours to switch things up from the nymph fishing during the day.
Best Bets:
Salt River - Excellent
Elevated flows are back on the Salt and the river should continue to stay high into the summer months. Trout are still being stocked in June and will be moving throughout the system with the high water.
Now is an excellent time to launch a float tube or kayak and spend a day drifting the closest river to the city of Phoenix - especially if you get out early or late. Expect plenty of crowds on the weekends, but the weekdays can still bring solitude.
Catch trout by drifting nymphs through riffles and swinging nymphs and soft hackles through runs. Target bass with poppers against the banks and along overhanging brush, especially during the early mornings and evenings. A Clouser minnow stripped near structure can be productive as well.
Best Bets:
Dead Horse Ranch- Good
This state park has great access and is an awesome spot to learn how to fly fish or hone your casting skills. Catch a variety of species, from rainbow trout to channel catfish and largemouth bass.
Like May, fish will continue actively feeding as the water temperature increases. Target bass with topwater flies in the morning and evening and stripping small streamers during the day.
Best Bets:
White Mountains Lakes - Good
Most lakes are fishing well, and continuing to get better as the water keeps warming. Expect fishing to get better and better throughout June.
Try fishing midges and leeches under an indicator in shallow bays where the water is warmer. Strip leeches and buggers where shallow water gives way to drop-off points. Olive-colored patterns are producing a lot of fish lately. Damselflies are starting to appear as well.
Best Bets:
Black River - Excellent
Peak runoff has passed and water flows will be much lower in June. As the dry weather and heat increase in the Valley, now is a great time to head up north and start focusing on these alpine waters.
When targeting trout, streamers (especially crayfish patterns) have been productive. Terrestrials and dry flies are starting to be more productive.
As the month progresses, try some of the dry dropper rigs that are working well on lower-elevation Rim creeks.
If you're going after smallmouth, bring a box filled with poppers. These fish fight hard for their size and are aggressively eating surface flies.
Best Bets:
Canals - Excellent
Fishing is still great around the city, and carp continue to be plenty active.
As always, be stealthy when stalking fish. It helps to keep a handful of line pre-stripped off the reel so you can quickly cast without having to strip a bunch of line and spook the fish.
Pro tip: As the weather and water heat up, expect the fish to be more active in the mornings and evenings. When the angle of the sun is low, try to find canals oriented so that your long shadow is cast over the pavement and not the water.
Best Bets:
That's a wrap on the June Arizona Fishing Report. Stop by the shop to get set up for your next outing!