Arizona’s Wild Trout
Eighty miles north of my home exists what feels like another world. The land goes from arid, parched Sonoran Desert to thick, tall Ponderosa Pine. A large escarpment of rock known as the Mogollon Rim creates elevation change and cool creeks fall south from its slopes. Here, in creeks with names like Tonto, Haigler, and Canyon, live the closest wild trout to me.
Yesterday, a friend of mine joined me and we headed up to one of the lower elevation creeks in search of small wild Rainbows and Browns. We arrived at our destination high above the creek and scrambled down to our target.
The slot canyon style creek was beautiful but we were not having any luck…
We continued on and eventually found some more level water and some small, full finned wild trout.
It was a fun morning and I felt fortunate to be trout fishing in 60 degrees in February while most of the country still sits in wait under winters cold grasp.
Nice !!! I’m a little familiar with that area.. I was born about 100 miles north west of there .. yup AZ native
Beautiful pics. That is a dynamite little creek and those canyons are absolutely unbelievable. Glad you finally made it up there.
Ben
Bill, I think you told me that once but I had totally forgotten. Thats really cool.
Ben, its been a long time coming. We had a good time. I’m excited for warmer months and mini hoppers. We gotta go up there sometime!
I love the Rim country — thanks for showing it off to your audience. In fact I was staying in Strawberry hunting javelina this weekend. I’m at PHX right now flying home to the Bay Area… but need to get back there soon. Maybe for some trout fishing.
Thanks Pete, hope the Javelina hunt went well. Let me know if youre ever back here and we’ll go fish.