Lower Salt River

On Wednesday morning the river was flowing 8 7 cfs out of Stewart Mountain. Has been stocked with trout. No new reports of success.

On Wednesday morning the river was flowing at 11 cfs out of Stewart Mountain. Has been stocked with trout. No new reports of success.

On Tuesday morning the river was flowing at 8 cfs out of Stewart Mountain. Scheduled to be stocked with trout this week.

Angler Justin M. has been fishing the Salt River the past six weeks or so on every Friday. He reported: “Most of the time I’m fishing at Water Users and have had success every outing. All I do is fly fish anymore and have caught quite a few bass and lots of bluegill.

For the bass, my most productive flies have been AZ simi seal leeches in canadian black, halloween, blood red and olive. Another productive fly pattern has been cheechs low fat minnow. Its a bluegill imitation.

For the bluegill, on warmer days I’ve done fairly well getting them on the surface with a beetle imitation. Other productive flies i’ve had great success with is a hares ear soft hackle pattern I tied up. The only time I tried for trout was a couple of weeks ago when it was raining and cooler.

Fished below the bridge using the hares ear soft hackle and caught and released 14 trout in a matter of a couple of hours. I have talked to other anglers on my outings and have been told that they were having luck with nightcrawlers, small spinners, and one fella was doing well for bass on dropshot with a green Roboworm.”

On Thursday morning the river was flowing at 8 cfs out of Stewart Mountain.

Trout are scheduled to be stocked this week and were stocked the week of Jan. 10 into the lower portion of the Salt (above where the Verde River meets the Salt).

Angler Justin M. has been fishing the Salt River the past six weeks or so on every Friday. He reported: “Most of the time I’m fishing at Water Users and have had success every outing. All I do is fly fish anymore and have caught quite a few bass and lots of bluegill.

For the bass, my most productive flies have been AZ simi seal leeches in canadian black, halloween, blood red and olive. Another productive fly pattern has been cheechs low fat minnow. Its a bluegill imitation.

For the bluegill, on warmer days I’ve done fairly well getting them on the surface with a beetle imitation. Other productive flies i’ve had great success with is a hares ear soft hackle pattern I tied up. The only time I tried for trout was a couple of weeks ago when it was raining and cooler.

Fished below the bridge using the hares ear soft hackle and caught and released 14 trout in a matter of a couple of hours. I have talked to other anglers on my outings and have been told that they were having luck with nightcrawlers, small spinners, and one fella was doing well for bass on dropshot with a green Roboworm.”

On Friday morning the river was flowing at 8 cfs out of Stewart Mountain.

Trout were stocked the week of Jan. 10 into the lower portion of the Salt (above where the Verde River meets the Salt).

Cooler air temperatures should help trout fishing to continue to pick up. Try using wet and dry flies. Many fly anglers typically have success with leech patterns.

Remember that the walk to the shoreline is steep, and don’t wade into the river because of quick-sand spots. Try nightcrawlers, small spinners, Kastmasters and flies in this unique desert river trout fishery. You might be able to catch some bass or sunfish in the deeper holes. Good time for tubing the Salt -- take along a fishing rod.