Flyfisher's Guide to Arizona (Flyfisher's Guides)
This new Flyfisher's Guide to Arizona joins the long list of highly acclaimed Flyfisher's Guides published by Wilderness Adventures Press in Belgrade, Montana. Now a Montana resident himself, author Will Jordan spent more than two decades exploring the backcountry streams and rivers in Arizona. He attended college in Flagstaff and worked at Grand Canyon National Park for four years. He is currently involved with a new publishing endeavor, Montana Sporting Journal, in Billings. Jordan's vast experience and expertise are evident in this book. After a thorough introduction to Arizona and its geography, he divides the state's fisheries into five main watersheds: the Colorado, Verde, Salt, Little Colorado, and Gila rivers. He also includes information pertaining to a number of the state's warmwater fisheries as well as miscellaneous trout waters, including Navajo Nation fisheries, Flagstaff-area fisheries, and Williams-area fisheries. While the majority of the book focuses on where-to and when-to advice, Jordan also includes helpful how-to information on tactics he has found successful on the small trout streams and rivers that characterize Arizona. Each major watershed is covered in great detail, beginning with specific rivers, lakes, and streams, as well as many of the tributaries to major rivers. Information deals with seasons, special regulations, maps, specific characteristics, flows, and river mile data. Special species (trout and bass) are noted for certain bodies of water. Especially valuable are the listings and drawings of Arizona game fish, material on etiquette and catch-and-release requirements, trip planning, the top 10 trout flies for Arizona with photographs and tying instructions and a glossary of acronyms and jargon. The book concludes with up-to-date data for Arizona fly shops and sporting goods stores, a listing of guides and outfitters, contact information for each of the six regions of the six regions of the Arizona Game and Fish Department, useful Web sites, and a detailed index. --Jack W. Berryman, Southwest Fly Fishing magazineI wish I had read Will Jordan's "Flyfisher's Guide to Arizona" when I arrived in Arizona in 1961. I would have taken up fly-fishing and it would have changed my life. As it was, I had to discover Arizona's streams on my own.  Possessing a sturdy binding and slick cover, this 6-by-9-inch softcover from Wilderness Adventures Press is a "where-to" rather than a "how-to" guidebook. The assumption is that the reader knows how to fly-fish and tie flies, and wants to know where to find the best streams and lakes. The author, a graduate of Northern Arizona University, has spent more than 20 years fishing, photographing and writing about Arizona's fly-fishing waters. After an introductory overview, Jordan organizes his book by watershed, beginning with the Colorado River and Arizona's fly-fishing mecca, Lee's Ferry. What follows are accurate descriptions of each region's fly-fishing waters and the fishes therein. Comprehensive rather than exhaustive, the book encapsulates each water's history and management status, directions on getting there, conditions likely encountered, best times to fish there, dates of peak flows, aquatic insect emergences and other fly-fishing essentials.  As is to be expected, some regions are favored over others, with the White Mountains and Apache Indian Reservations predominately featured. Poorly producing streams are discussed, along with blue-ribbon sites. Flagstaff's lakes are in a separate section, as are warmwater fisheries and other select sites. In addition to recommending tactics and tackle, the author includes pertinent information on each location's trails and access peculiarities, while giving advice on potential float trips and backpacking possibilities. Information about campsites and other accommodations also is provided. Maps and photos are distributed generously throughout the book. As the book progresses, the reader is treated to accurate natural-history descriptions of the six principal game fishes taken on fly rods - each accompanied by a black-and-white drawing. Up-to-date information is given for the two native trout. There also are suggestions regarding stream etiquette, catch-and-release methods and trip planning. Toward the end, the reader is provided clear presentations and descriptions of the author's top 10 flies, both dry and wet, complete with suggestions as to when and where to use them.  Last but not least, the book contains a succinct index and glossary, phone numbers and websites for Arizona fly shops and fly-fishing organizations and contact information for land management agencies. Not every stream is included, as the author considers some places too fragile for general use. I was therefore please to find my best trout water included and my pet stream omitted. Some things are best learned by oneself, and reading this book will get you off to a great start! --David E. Brown, Arizona Wildlife Views magazine