As we turn the corner from late fall into early winter, here’s the latest fishing report for our Arizona waters.
Lee’s Ferry - Good
Arizona's premier tailwater should continue fishing well in December. Keep targeting fish with small midges, scuds, and worms. If you're wading, spend time fishing the faster-moving riffles and shallower water.
As the air temperature continues to drop and the daylight gets shorter, consider downsizing your typical Ferry nymph selection. Double nymphs fished under an indicator with weight will catch plenty of fish. Often, the takes will be subtle, so make sure to set the hook after any indicator movement.
Best Bets:
Rim Creeks - Good
Expect cold mornings and milder afternoons this time of year. After any precipitation runoff has died down, the water can be crystal clear on Rim creeks, making stealth and presentation more important than anything. Make a plan before casting and move slowly into position.
On warmer days when the sun hits the water, be ready to throw dry flies, even in December. When fishing the deeper pools, try stripping or swinging woolly buggers, leeches, and small streamers.
Best Bets:
#16 Bead Head Flashback Pheasant Tail
Oak Creek - Good
Use this late fall season to target the deeper water with streamers. Try swinging and stripping darker patterns through pools using a sink-tip line to make sure your flies are staying in the strike zone. We like the Scientific Anglers Sonar Line.
Like the Rim creeks, Oak Creek can have a decent dry fly bite if the weather stays warmer, even in the winter. Keep your dry dropper rigs in the rotation, especially if the sun is out.
Best Bets:
#16 Tungsten Rubber Leg Prince Nymph
Silver Creek - Good
Looking to catch a rainbow trout capable of pushing the scales to double digits? Silver Creek is your best bet in Arizona. During the winter, brood stock from the nearby hatchery are released into the creek for a special catch-and-release season. The fish are usually a bit more aggressive earlier in the season (which lasts until March 31), so now is the time to hit Silver Creek. Use indicator rigs with small flies that have a bit of color. San Juan worms, squirmy worms, eggs, and leeches are all a good choice.
Best Bets:
Verde River - Good
Winter stocking on the Verde began last month and will continue through the winter. Check the Arizona Game and Fish stocking schedule for updates on stocking throughout the state and to see specific stocking locations.
One of only two Wild and Scenic Rivers in Arizona, the Verde can be an excellent fishery. Try fishing wooly buggers in different colors and drifting nymphs under an indicator. This overlooked stretch of river is only a short drive from Phoenix and offers quality trout and bass fishing opportunities.
Best Bets:
San Juan - Excellent
Flows recently lowered down to around 600 cfs, making wading more feasible in the upcoming month. The river has been fishing great, with lots of fish on small nymphs. Try fishing a double nymph rig with a larger, weighted attractor fly up top.
Keep an eye out for afternoon hatches as well. Expect to see both mayflies and midges coming off the water. Water clarity is great, and you should have the opportunity to catch fish up on the surface.
If you grow tired of drifting tiny flies, now is a great time to commit to the streamer game on the San Juan. Swing your way down through runs and tailouts. Bigger fish are looking for a late-season meal!
Best Bets:
Salt River - Excellent
Low winter flows have returned to the Salt and water levels have receded from their summer high. Rainbow trout stocking is up and running on the Salt. Check here for the stocking schedule. Try stripping woolly buggers through the larger pools and drifting scuds and hare’s ears through runs. Keep an eye out for a BWO hatch in the early mornings. Besides trout, the lower Salt has a good largemouth bass population. Bass will hit woolly buggers as well and will often rise for small poppers in the mornings and evenings.
Now that water levels have dropped, anglers can sight fish for carp and suckers. Looks for these fish in the deeper pools by cliff faces and larger boulders. The Salt is a great place to practice your fly casting.
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 - Excellent
Now is a great time to catch a ton of rainbows and perhaps a late season trophy brown. Focus on fishing shallow bays and transition areas around drop-offs. Indicator rigs with leeches and eggs are producing fish. Try stripping streamers with a sink tip line during low light hours.
Best Bets:
Black River - Good
It might be getting cold, but the Black River is still an excellent spot to chase wild trout. In December, keep throwing larger streamers in dark colors (olive, tan, gray). Fishing weighted stonefly nymphs is a productive technique, especially when water levels are high. Target smallmouth bass with crayfish patterns and darker streamers.
Best Bets:
#6 MFC Conehead Sparkle Minnow
Canals - Hot
Clear water is here on our urban canals. When targeting carp, bright-colored egg patterns work well. If actively feeding on the surface, fish will often take a dry fly like a hopper or stimulator. Leech patterns are excellent as well and can be swung in the current when the water clarity drops or under an indicator. As the cold sets in across much of the trout country in Arizona, now is a great time to walk the pavement in Phoenix and explore our urban fishery!
Best Bets:
That's a wrap on the December Arizona Fishing Report!