Some lakes and streams are fishable year-round, and you can fish in the spring before other states' trout fishing turns on. The big draws are the mountain lakes. They hold large fish in spectacular mountain settings. The streams are not grand by western standards but are worthy in their own right. The White Mountains offer perhaps the best trout fishing in the state, containing more than 600 miles of fishable streams and over 24 major trout lakes.
Anglers can fish for rainbows, browns, brookies and cutthroats.
For those anglers who have a goal of fishing for every species of trout, this area is also home to the unique native Apache Trout. The trout waters of Arizona are underfished, underpublicized, and remote, making them the sleepers of the West. The White Mountain Area lies a little more than three hours east of Phoenix, and much of the best fishing is on private Indian lands, fishable to the public for a daily fee. And on reservation lands, you'll need to purchase a tribal permit. Move on to North Fork White River Return to Top Article Mark D. Willliams, 2000.