Tuscon or Phoenix Area Fly Fishing

[Jeffrey Silvan]

Hi all - I'll be doing a work trip out to Tucson at the beginning of May and figured I'd stay out there for an extra day to do some fishing if anything is worth it. I've been rather limited in the fishing opportunities I've found in/near Tucson - at least from a guided trip perspective. I found Hook Up Outfitters out of Phoenix that offers stripers/largemouth trips on Lake Pleasant or Trout trips in Oak Creek Canyon. Is anyone aware of anything else that they'd consider "must do" in the general area? Lee's Ferry is a bit too long of a trip from Tucson for one day of fishing.

[Brad]

I live in Tucson and grew up here. Leave your flyrods at home. Seriously.

You've got great saltwater fishing 4-6 hours south and into Mexico from here. Or you've got decent trout fishing 3-4 hours north and/or east of here. There are a string of warmwater lakes east of Phoenix, but those are at least 2-3 hours away from Tucson and you definitely need a boat. There are 3 urban ponds in Tucson that offer stocker trout in the winter and stocker bass and catfish year round. Some of these are reclaimed water and have a funny color. There are three warmwater ponds south of Tucson, all about an hours drive. You could fish these from shore. Arivaca Lake, Pena Blanca Lake and Patagonia Lake. Don't eat the fish as we have really high levels of naturally occurring heavy metals. The drive from Tucson to Patagonia via highway 83 is spectacular. Truly the best face of the Sonoran desert. And oddly really good wine country.

For trout, Oak Creek is probably the closest at about 3 hours north of Tucson. There is some other water in that vicinity that gets little to no pressure. I won't be putting that info on the list.

For a mixed bag that could include smallmouth, largemouth, carp, trout, and panfish of all varieties in moving water, the stretch of the Salt River east of Phoenix and upstream of the tubing place to the Lake Pleasant damn I hear is good with little flyfishing pressure and great wading access. It is about 2.5 hours north of Tucson.

There is a lake on the top of Mt. Lemmon, about 45 minutes straight up out of Tucson that is stocked with trout. But I wouldn't fish it without powerbait.

That said, hiking here is unparalleled. Tons of great trails right around town. There are endless miles of scenic drives. There are two cavern systems if you are into caves Colossal Cave and Kartchner Caverns. We have two National Monuments dedicated to the saguaro cactus. There is stellar birding here.

If you want more local intel, hit me up via email. I can fill you in on local bars and food. If I'm around, we should grab a drink.

Brad

[Brian]

I went to Phoenix a few years back and spent the day with the fishing manager of the Orvis store, Cinda Howard.  She and i went out to some retention ponds and caught carp and koi, and it was a good time.  I still have her mobile if you want to give her a call; I didn't see her on the Orvis web site, but you could call the store.  They also have some other information on fishing the area.

 

[tperkins]

Field and Stream put together this video last year (?) http://www.fieldandstream.com/videos/fieldandstream/hook-shots/2014/03/hook-shots-arizona-desert-madness

[John Bilotta]

There are also several terrific casting instructors in the area. You can find them at fedflyfishers.org

John

Sent from my iPad

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[Terry C]

Lived there for 6 yrs. if you have the time. Lee's Ferry. If I remember correctly about 6 hrs from Phoenix. The White mountains east of Phx 2-3 hrs. have some good trout fishing also some good lakes with trout. I used a float tube back then up in the lakes. Also Indian reservations in white mts have pay to fish lakes that are ver good. It's been awhile left there in 1989.

[tperkins]

Jeff, watch out for Llamas when you are there http://theconcourse.deadspin.com/llamas-on-llam-llose-llawmen-1688271989?utm_campaign=socialflow_deadspin_twitter&utm_source=deadspin_twitter&utm_medium=socialflow

[Jeffrey Silvan]

Ha! That's pretty funny!

I think I'm going to end up hitting the Phoenix area. It looks like the Lake Pleasant fishing is supposed to be pretty spectacular between constant topwater striper action and massive largemouths and smallmouths, so I'll probably end up doing a guided trip for that. I also discovered there's a large population of carp in the urban canals around Phoenix, so that's right in my wheelhouse. Great time killer for the few hours of light I'll have when I get in town.

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