My cousin is a fantastic runner and currently runs on the Navy Cross Country team. Their team has been doing some altitude training in Flagstaff, and we started talking about getting out and doing some fishing here in AZ. On Saturday, he and I, along with 5 other members of the team ran up to the walk in portion of Lees Ferry to see if we could tempt the rainbow trout that reside there.

Long story short, the fishing was pretty slow, but I had a good time showing the guys the water and trying to teach them what little I know about fishing big water like the Colorado River. Lees Ferry is a very striking location and I never get sick of spending time up in that part of the state.

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With the temperatures rising all over the state, we made a quick trip to a high elevation stream in the White Mountains. The cicadas are singing in the trees and the fish were looking up, eager to take big bugs. Anything that splats on the water seemed to illicit a response.

Have I told you how much I like this new bamboo rod?

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On a recent trip home from Pyramid Lake, the conversation in the truck turned to fishing in Arizona. We started scheming and pretty soon we had made a makeshift plan to fish Christmas Tree Lake. Christmas Tree Lake on the White Mountain Apache Reservation is arguably the prettiest lake in Arizona, and the Apache Trout that live in it’s waters are always fun to catch.

We rolled into our camp spot at Hawley Lake in the afternoon and made short work of setting up camp and prepping our pontoons for the next day. Aside from the resident Hawley Lake cows making several appearances in the middle of the night, we had an uneventful evening and woke early to break camp. We were the first ones on Christmas Tree Lake and aside from a flock of turkeys, we had the whole place to ourselves for several hours before the first truck showed up.

Fishing was sporadic and the heavy gusty winds made spotting fish a bit tough, but we managed to all take multiple fish throughout the day.  Ants and hoppers did well as did chironomids and leeches underneath the water’s surface. We left the lake satisfied, happy, and scheming about the next trip.

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On a midnight run to the White Mountains after work on Friday, we crashed in the dirt next to the truck and woke to the sound of turkeys gobbling on the ridge nearby. After a hearty breakfast of eggs and bacon, we dropped off a ridge and spent the day casting dry flies to rising fish. No fish of any great size were taken, but I was able to bloody my new bamboo rod and lunch was worth the hike in. It was a long drive back to town that night, but so worth it.

The pictures tell the story.

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In celebration of the school year ending, I woke up around the same time as usual and headed out to meet my buddy Mike for a little urban fly fishing. I found Mike in the kitchen doing what he loves to do.

After a breakfast burrito and a couple cups of coffee we started a leisurely stroll around the neighborhood ponds targeting the tailing carp and hungry bass. The carp were there and although both of us pricked a couple, no roughfish were brought to the net. Apparently my big fish fighting skills could use a little bit of work. I won’t bore you with details of lost fish (nor do want to relive it).

Even though the carp were not cooperating, the bass that occupy the area were ready and willing. With a full belly, no work (or students) for two months, and a bent fly rod, I was a happy camper. We fished until 10am and even though I could have flogged the water for another couple hours, I figured it was not worth the sunburn. Great day on the water testing out one of the new TFOs I recently received.

With school all finished up, I should be getting to some great looking water this summer. Arizona have some great backcountry waters that I am looking forward to bushwacking back into. Trips to Oregon, Alaska, and back to the Adirondacks will give me a great opportunity to test out some new gear. Stay tuned…

The post Arizona Urban Fly Fishing: School’s out for Summer… appeared first on Arizona Wanderings.

My wife thinks I am insane, but does not even budge when my alarm rings at 2:15 in the morning. Coffee, gear, and a granola bar keep me company for the hour drive across town to meet up with Antonio where after a refill of coffee from the thermos, the cruise get’s set on 75 for the rest of the drive to washboard road that leads to the creek. This is a typical Saturday in Arizona, and even though it is 90 degrees in the Valley, the brisk mountain air helps make the decision to wear a longsleeve t-shirt.

We rigged up and were on the water shortly after the sun started to warm the surrounding hills. The first couple of pools started to produce and the small, wild rainbows who call this creek home were hungry and looking up.

These rainbows are so unique in their spots and colors. For such little guys they fight and pull all the way to your hand. I never get tired of catching beautiful wild fish.

I stuck with my standard mini-hopper with a rotating variety of droppers and I imagine 90% of the fish that I brought it in were from the surface. There is something about seeing a splashy surface attack or a nose come out of the water in a riffle for a dry that makes my soul smile. Antonio stuck with a streamer which he is extremely productive with. “The fly which shall not be photographed” (Harry Potter reference for my wife) is an Antonio original that pulls fish from every part of the stream. Luckily, I think Antonio and I are good enough friends now, where if I tied a few up I think he would be ok with it.

With Antonio on the streamer and myself on the dry/dropper, we each fished appropriate water and picked up fish all throughout the morning. The stream was teaming with life and the trees and foliage were green and alive. It was a picturesque morning on the water and one that shall not be soon forgotten. Part way through the creek we opted to check out a different section of the stream and see if we could get into some bigger fish. I never miss the chance to check out some new water…

The post Fly Fishing Arizona: Rainbow Trout on the Mogollon Rim (Part 1) appeared first on Arizona Wanderings.

Received the final product of the local hopper swap and I am very excited to go and put some of these on some moving water. Thanks to all the guys who tied.

The post Hopper Swap: Completion appeared first on Arizona Wanderings.

I did not need much of an excuse to go over and visit with Mike Johnson of Agua Fria Alchemy, but he was kind enough to give me a reason when he picked up one of my shirts (thanks Mike). Truth be told, I have had my eye on his bamboo fly rods that he crafts in “ye old rod shop” for some time now. So after work, I headed over a little early to hit the ponds out back of his house with a new 5 weight TFO rod with the hopes of harassing a few carp and killing some time.

This small carp came out to play after I spotted him right off in the shallows. First cast, he could not resist the green simi-seal bugger and he started to take a little line. I had a hand on him when I realized I did not have my net (it’s on the bottom of some remote Rim creek) and at the last second before I had a firm grasp on his tail, he gave a quick kick and stole my fly as a souvenir.

I met up with Mike shortly after that and he let me take the 3 weight for a stroll. Casting a 6 foot bamboo rod was unlike anything I have picked up before. After a few minutes at the helm and getting the stroke right, the line started to straighten out and move a little farther.

Several of these spunky little fish came out of the dark stuff to feast on the mini-hopper and as the sun started to set we headed back to Mike’s house. We sat in the backyard looking at the water and talked about Arizona small streams. We talked bamboo for a good while too, but ultimately it didn’t make much difference. I was already sold on bamboo when we were back on the pond. The trick is going to be to sell the wife on the fact that I need another fly rod. I have my work cut out for me…

The post In search of Bamboo: Agua Fria Alchemy appeared first on Arizona Wanderings.

I do not usually do this, but please check out this post by Will Jordan at his blog 111*West. A very good read and update on the current budget crisis/debate regarding Arizona stocking program. Thanks Will for a great article.

The post Arizona Stocking Program… appeared first on Arizona Wanderings.

Arizona Wanderings T-Shirts

They are here. This is a big day at Arizona Wanderings with the incorporation of the new logo design by Jason Jones. These t-shirts are now available for $20 and will ensure more small stream fishing trips, hunting adventures, gear reviews, and random mutterings to come. If you like what you read and want to see more, please support Arizona Wanderings by picking up a shirt and wearing it with pride. Other colors may soon be available based on how fast these go.

Fish, hunt, or lounge in style. Support Arizona Wanderings.

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