Arizona Fly Fishing – Mogollon Rim

Trees
Trees

It still is difficult for friends, and especially my wife, to fully grasp the reasons that I get up so early on Saturday mornings to hike my way back into some creek on the off chance I will have a shot at a nice fish. Luckily, I have fishing friends who have the same compulsions that I do. So my buddy Zach and I found ourselves on the brink of a canyon at daybreak, rigging up our fly rods for just such a chance at a couple of good fish.

Rainbow Trout
Rainbow Trout

The water was a bit on the cloudy side, but we found a few wild rainbows who were willing to play. I was more than happy to find the healthy rainbow above on the end of my line, and had resigned myself to the thought that it would be my good fish of the day. We continued to work to the top of the creek  and each pulled several 6-8 inch spunky rainbows out of the creek.

Flies and Reel
Box of beadheads

While working our way back down the creek to the hike out, I worked a streamer through a deep pool. On my second retrieve through the pool, the line went taut and the surface of the water exploded with a red streak. After a short fight, Zach was able to put a net under him, and I gazed down at the beautiful fish.

Rainbow Trout
Arizona Rainbow Trout

The healthy rainbow had taken the big gray streamer that I had tied up the previous weekend. It looks like I’ll be needing a name for this ugly fly. Fly fishing in Arizona never ceases to amaze me.

Streamer
Streamer-eating rainbows
Arizona Rainbow Trout
Arizona Rainbow Trout

13 Responses to “Arizona Fly Fishing – Mogollon Rim”

  1. Kirk

    Beautiful trout. I love the full fins and the lack of spots through the red stripe. Very cool. I too have grown accustomed to questions regarding my sanity by friends and family. All I can answer is that there’s a lot more to it than trout.

    Reply
    • azwanderings

      Thanks Kirk. That rainbow was something special and I was happy to be holding it. I agree, there is much more to fly fishing than the fish. Thanks for the comment.

      Ben

      Reply
  2. shoreman

    Everything about the Rainbow in the center picture says “perfect Rainbow”. The size, shape, colors, everything.

    Mark

    Reply
    • azwanderings

      Thanks Mark. I feel very fortunate to have caught him. He was a fine specimen of a small stream trout.

      Ben

      Reply
    • Zach

      Antonio!! We haven’t met, man…but I want you to know that Ben gave you some credit by pushing him to fish streamers more!

      Reply
    • azwanderings

      Thanks Iain. That’s high praise coming from you. Hope you’re finding some time on the water.

      Ben

      Reply
  3. cofisher

    All I can say is those are the most beautiful rainbows I’ve seen in a while. I love browns, but brightly colored wild bows certainly get my blood racing. Good job Ben!

    Reply
  4. Colton

    A trout like that would be more at place on the San Juan or Lee’s Ferry than in an AZ small stream. And by that I mean what a catch! Small water, big fish. Tis’ the Arizona Way.

    Reply
  5. Michael T

    Solid fish Ben. It is rare to find a wild rainbow in Arizona that is worth bragging about. That fish is perfect. Most rainbows you find in many if the creeks are beat up stockers! Great fish!

    Reply
  6. Michael

    Great fish Ben! It is really nice seeing beautiful wild rainbows in the states rim creeks. Great fish and keep on posting your fascinating fish tales!

    Reply

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