Hurricane Lake

Update: Hurricane Lake is now a rented lake. It is part of a rent a lake program by he white mountain apache tribe. The cost starts at 400.00 to rent the lake plus 3.00 per person.

On June 10, 1993, something miraculous happened at Hurricane Lake, high atop the White Mountain Apache Indian Reservation. A young Lakeside resident, fishing with his father, landed a 5-pound, 15.5-ounce Apache trout.

It was not only subsequently certified as the state's largest Apache trout caught that year but was the new state record. It eclipsed the old record caught in May 1992 at Christmas Tree Lake (Also on the White Mountain Indian Reservation). At the time, it stood as the largest Apache trout ever caught in the world. Arizona is, after all, the only place this subspecies calls home.

The angler was using a 1/4-ounce yellow Z-Ray with red spots as bait. Like most new records, this one has an interesting story behind it.

Fishing with his father from a small boat, the young man caught the fish at 5 A.M. "it was in the cooler for 27 hours before I had it weighed," he said later. By the time he got the new record on a grocery store's scale, the bottom of the cooler was literally covered with eggs, effectively reducing the weight of the fish. -G.J Sagi, from the essential travel handbook Fishing Arizona

Phone Numbers for more information::

Game and Fish (928)338-4385 or (928) 338-4385 for the wgaf department

Restrictions/Season of Use:

Open all year Stocked first in May

Road Conditions:

Paved to dirt Four Wheel Drive required in Rain or Snow

Land Ownership:

Hurricane Lake is owned by the White Mountain Apache Tribe

Ranger Station/District:

Pinetop Game and Fish (928)3674281

Entrance Fees/Permits:

White Mountains Permit

Elevation:

The elevation at Hurricane Lake is close to 9,000 feet

Max Surface Acres:

20

River Lake Impounds:

Black River, White River

Bag Limit:

Check with the wgaf when you get the permits since this lake is rented now

Boat/Engine Restrictions:

Electric only

Boats to Rent:

No

Swimming:

No

Camping:

Yes

Launching Area:

Primitive

Water Skiing:

No

Marinas:

No marinas at Hurricane Lake

The most direct route to Hurricane Lake is to take Y55 east from Whiteriver (along the East Fork of the White River). It's a dirt road and rough toward the end, so take your time. After nearly 20 miles, you'll come to Y20. Take it north toward Reservation Lake. Hurricane Lake is off to the left (west) of the road. You can also drive State Route 273 south from Route 260 (between Pinetop-Lakeside and Springerville.) Then Follow the signs. It's three miles west of Reservation Lake. -G.J Sagi, from the essential travel handbook Fishing Arizona