On the upper Black, these are places where the river has bounced off cliff walls and gouged deep, fish-holding holes. By using our website, you agree to our use of cookies. Rainbow, brown and Apache trout and smallmouth bass are among the 13 species of fish found in the Black River. All Rights Reserved. Use Of This Web Site Is Covered By OurUsage Covered By Terms Of ServiceTERMS. Learn More. The river has two forks, the West and East Forks, and the main stem. I have a hatch chart on the way for the Black River. This is truly worth fishing … Tucked away from large population hubs such as Flagstaff (about 180 miles to the northwest) and Phoenix and Tucson to the west and southwest, the Black River drainage has every conceivable trout niche: from small mountain stream fishing on the East and West forks… I think he may be hooked. Major fishes in this river system also include channel catfish, desert suckers, and fathead minnows, among others. It was some of the best fishing I have seen on the river this year. The Black River is popular for fly fishing. The same tactics that work for rainbow trout work for Apache trout. Fly fishing is one of the most successful ways to catch trout on the river along with small spinner and spoons. It is said by many expert fisherman that the Black River maybe Arizona's … The Black River, from the East and West Forks high in the White Mountains to the 80 mile long main stem is some of the best moving water in the state. Starting at 7,500 feet in deep pine forest, the river then flows through deep canyons filling nice pools ideal for wading. Cookies help us deliver our services. Most of the best fishing is in the White Mountains. The fish were keyed on topwater, hoppers and cicadas. The information listed below is provided by Ted Standage, author of The Lower Black River: An Outdoor Guide Crawfish are the most sought after food in the river … This was only Jason’s second trip with a fly rod and he got into double digits pretty easily. Headed out with Brandon and Jason on Friday to the Black. Current fly fishing conditions are not so … Both forks are approximately eight miles long. When you are fly fishing the Black River you will be surrounded with a beautiful alpine forest of spruce and fir trees. Region: Southwest/Southern Rockies Activity: Fishing Species: Apache, rainbow and brown trout Where: The Black River courses through the two million-acre Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests and the San Carlos and Fort Apache reservations in the White Mountains of east-central Arizona.This is not the desert country that Arizona conjures up, but forested terrain criss-crossed with … The upper reaches are trout water, once it enters the Apache Reservation it begins to transition into smallmouth bass water. daily permit for fishing and camping. Access on the upper portions … Black River, Arizona fishing report, rainbow trout fly fishing forecast, fishing season updates, fly shop and fishing guides, and fly-fishing weather. FEATURED: Upper Black River Arizona July 27, 2016 East of Show Low and southwest of Alpine, the Black River is the longest fly fishing river in Arizona.