“The one stream in Arizona with Gila trout is closed to fishing, due to fires,” he said. We fell on the slippery rocks and bushwhacked through the dense undergrowth to cast our lines for this rare Southwestern trout. Gila trout, one of two trout species native to Arizona, are being restored to the Mt. Body color is iridescent gold on the sides that blend to a darker shade of copper on the gill plates. Currently, all Gila trout recovery streams in Arizona are closed to angling. In Arizona, Gila trout are found in six recovery streams spread across the Agua Fria River, Blue River, lower Gila River, and Verde River drainages. Take care. I found the fish to not be that picky though. Written by: Tyler Coleman Wild Gila trout are among the rarest trout in the U.S., found only in Arizona and New Mexico. Sorry man, no trekking pole was found. Looks like you and DJ knocked it out of the park! One of the first North American fish to be actively conserved, there is no doubt that the Gila trout is immensely important to the world of fishing. Starting in 1999, Gila trout were reintroduced into Dude Creek in the Verde River drainag… Like the Apache trout, some Gila trout may display “bandit” like horizontal bars across their irises. Those look like a great option for getting down in those plunge pools. Body color is iridescent gold on the sides that blend to a darker shade of copper on the gill plates. Thanks for the kind words. Their iridescent gold sides blend to a darker shade of copper on the gill covers. Native trout, because they've been pushed into the recesses of their former ranges, are special creatures in a world where better is often measured by bigger. I used a small simi seal bugger variation that I tied up specifically for the trip. The Gila trout is found historically in the Verde and Agua Fria drainages in Arizona. It’s so easy to feel like your the only one who goes there. Here are some of the common fish found in the Gila River, Largemouth bass, Sunfishes, Channel catfish, Flathead catfish, Gila trout. Biologists have spent decades trying to bring them back. The Verde River population may have represented an intermediate between the Gila and Apache trout, however this population went extinct by the 1950’s (Miller 1950) and little is known about the original native trout (Behnke 2002). The Gila Trout is one of Arizona’s two native trout species. Gila trout are being restored to Frye Creek in southeast Arizona. WELCOME TO THE HOME PAGE OF GILA TROUT CHAPTER # 530 OF TROUT UNLIMITED, LOCATED IN PAYSON, ARIZONA. It’s crazy to see it on the internet like that. Arizona Gila Trout The yellow Gila trout tucked away from humanity in a tiny trickle of water greedily ate our flies and made us forget about the thorns and brush that tore at our clothing. Great looking blog by the way. Wish I had time to order some of your Frye Creek Special streamers. The same techniques used to catch rainbow trout work very well for Gila trout. The Gila Trout requirement for the Wild Trout Challenge is currently suspended. Love that species of trout. Gila trout are capable of hybridizing with rainbow trout which has greatly reduced the range of pure populations of Gila trout and continues to be one of the largest threats to Gila trout. Gila trout have been described as “taking their colors from the New Mexican sunset”, an apt description. The best part about fishing for Gila trout is that they aren't too difficult to catch. Gila trout have persisted in five streams within the Gila National Forest, New Mexico, including: Iron, McKenna, and Spruce creeks in the Gila Wilderness Area, along with Main and South Diamond creeks in the Aldo Leopold Wilderness Area. . Awesome fish and pictures. A real treasure and so much to be thankful for. There are also opportunities in New Mexico to catch Gila trout during a limited angling season with catch-and-release only regulations. They are opportunistic feeders, mainly feeding on aquatic and terrestrial insects and invertebrates. As I researched Gila trout, online sources seemed contradictory and discouraging. I am pretty sure I will never see one of those in the wild. Fish and Wildlife Service: July 18, 2006 : 125 Kb (U.S. "Some great strides have been made in Gila trout recovery so far," says Eric Gardner, head of the Arizona … Gila trout are found in moderate to high gradient perennial mountain streams above 5,400 ft elevation with stream temperatures below 77°F. Wow, Ben, thanks for the great pictures of those beautiful trout. The native trout of Arizona have had a rough history with both the Gila and Apache originally listed as endangered, but since have been downlisted due to successful culturing in captivity, greater knowledge of existing populations, and active management and conservation. Baldy, the Little Colorado River is characterized by very cold, fast moving waters with interspersed deep … Angling is currently closed in all recovery streams occupied by Gila trout. Simi’s? Thanks for the comment. . As Gila trout recovery streams are established and meet necessary population criteria to withstand limited angling use, they may be opened to angling for the public in the future. Gilas are one of two Arizona native trout species. It was fun to cross them off the list but a pretty tight stream to fish. They are easily caught fishing nymphs, wet or dry flies, and they will also take small spoons and spinners. After many setbacks--one being a major car accident that had shutdown the freeway, causing. 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