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Guide To Great Trout Fishing Locations In Arizona

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All about fishing for rainbow, cutthroat, brook and brown trout in AZ lakes and streams.

Trout Waters

Arizona offers a variety of trout fishing opportunities from stocked rainbow trout to native brookies and wary brown trout. With a diverse terrain and elevations there are trout fishing options for all types of anglers.

Serious trout anglers can try their skills on Bear Canyon Lake, Black Canyon Lake, Blue Ridge Reservoir, Goldwater Lake, Lynx Lake, Rainbow Lake, Reservation Lake, Show Low Lake, Watson Lake, the White Mountains streams or go for native Apache trout in the West Fork of the Black River. The best stream fishing options in the Mogollon Rim area is at Canyon Creek, Chevelon Creek and East Clear Creek.

Trout Species In The State

Rainbow Trout

Rainbow trout

World record: 42 lbs 2 oz

State Record: 15 lbs 9.12 oz

Cutthroat Trout

Cutthroat trout

World record: 41 lbs 0 oz

State Record: 6 lbs 5 oz

Brook Trout

Brook trout

World record: 14 lbs 8 oz

State Record: 4 lbs 15.2 oz

Brown Trout

Brown trout

World record: 40 lbs 4 oz

State Record: 22 lbs 14.5 oz

Click the images and links above for species details.

Select the best trout lures and baits

Trout spinners, crankbaits and jerkbaits work well for shallow, reasonably active fish. Salmon eggs, worms and prepared baits will work at virtually all depths.

Fishing Boats For Rent In Arizona

Arizona Record Trout

Willow Springs Lake served up the state record rainbow trout.

The state record cutthroat trout was taken out of Luna Lake.

The state record brook trout came from Sunrise Lake.

Reservation Lake was home to the state record brown trout.

Hurricane Lake produced the state record apache trout.

The 5 primary trouts are the rainbow, brook, brown, cutthroat and lake trout. Browns are considered the most difficult to catch and brookies are the easiest. Pure cold water is key to survival of the trouts.

Arizona German Brown Trout

Dan Westfall shows off a real nice german brown trout caught in October, 2012 at Horseshoe Cienaga.


Arizona 3-pound Rainbow Trout

Joe Loges with a nice three-pound rainbow trout from Apache Lake.


Big trout from Big Lake in AZ

Jane Harris says this is my biggest fish--so far. A nice trout, caught it from shore at Big Lake on a night crawler. Was using a long-light rod & small spinning reel, and boy what a fight. I was afraid it was gonna get away but my husband waded scooped it up with our long handled net.


Watch trout fishing videos to see trout anglers in action.

Visit the Arizona Game & Fish Department website for details on trout stocking programs in Arizona.

Additional trout information

Trout Conservation
Trout Unlimited

 

Trout locations and info, by state.

AK Trout Fishing AL Trout Fishing AR Trout Fishing AZ Trout Fishing CA Trout Fishing CO Trout Fishing CT Trout Fishing DE Trout Fishing GA Trout Fishing HI Trout Fishing IA Trout Fishing ID Trout Fishing
IL Trout Fishing IN Trout Fishing KS Trout Fishing KY Trout Fishing MA Trout Fishing MD Trout Fishing ME Trout Fishing MI Trout Fishing MN Trout Fishing MO Trout Fishing MS Trout Fishing MT Trout Fishing
NC Trout Fishing ND Trout Fishing NE Trout Fishing NH Trout Fishing NJ Trout Fishing NM Trout Fishing NV Trout Fishing NY Trout Fishing OH Trout Fishing OK Trout Fishing OR Trout Fishing PA Trout Fishing
RI Trout Fishing SC Trout Fishing SD Trout Fishing TN Trout Fishing TX Trout Fishing UT Trout Fishing VA Trout Fishing VT Trout Fishing WA Trout Fishing WI Trout Fishing WV Trout Fishing WY Trout Fishing
 

The habits of trout.

Trout are considered some of the most difficult fish to fool. Once you locate Arizona waters with a population of trout, the challenge becomes identifying trout flies and lures that will trigger strikes. Visit the trout fishing page to learn more about the habitat each of the trouts prefer.