Fishing

Whether It’s Boat, River, Fly, or Ice, Fishing is a Favorite Activity in the White Mountains

Mountain lakes surrounded by Ponderosa pine forests provide the best days fishing, whether you prefer standing on a bank, wading the water, or camping out on ice.

White Mountain Lakes

Please check out our Listing of Area Lakes to learn more about the lakes and how you can enjoy them. You can also view our Map of Lakes in the Area (JPG).

Fly Fishing

Does fly fishing get your motor revving? If so, put a weekend trip on the calendar to the White Mountains. Year-round, this is the destination for putting your casting techniques to the test-but come with your best game. The White Mountains boasts several state fishing records set in our pristine freshwater lakes and streams.

Anglers of every skill level will surely find a stream perfectly suited for a day in the water. With a little luck, you can snag a brown, rainbow, or book trout-or go all out and set your sights on a large- or small-mouth bass, catfish, or sunfish.

No matter what you hook, you’ll be hard pressed to surpass the beauty of a day in our pines with just you and your line. At an average of 25 to 30 degrees cooler than the desert floor, your White Mountains vacation will leave you feeling cool and refreshed-with bragging rights whether or not you caught a fish.

Permits

Don’t forget the permit! To fish in the White Mountains, you must have a valid Arizona fishing license. These are issued by the Arizona Game and Fish Department and can be purchased online or from an approved dealer.

If you plan to fish on the White Mountain Apache reservation, they have licenses available online or at area merchants.

More Information

For more information, visit the Arizona Game and Fish website or the White Mountain Apache Tribe Game Fish Permitting website.