Tiger Trout is a sterile hybrid that is the result of crossing a female brown trout with a male brook trout. Hybridization can occur naturally, however it is very rare. Stocked tiger trout are produced in a hatchery. Coloring, markings, and tail shape can vary but generally is a dark maze-like pattern all over a brownish, gray, or silver body. The belly is varies from white to yellowish orange as does the pectoral, pelvic and anal fins. These fins also have white leading edges. The tail fin is square to slightly forked.

Tiger Trout are sterile hybrids between Brook Trout and Brown Trout and cannot reproduce.

More About Tiger Trout

Food
Much like Brown, Brook and Rainbow trout, Tiger Trout feed on aquatic insects and other invertebrates. At a larger size, they will feed more on crayfish and other fishes.
Angling
Nymph patterns seem to work very well when fly fishing for Tiger Trout. They also readily take streamers and minnow patterns. Spinners and small lures will work well. Tiger Trout are aggressive feeders, so really most light spinning or fly tackle fished on or near the surface will work.
Table Quality
Similar to Brook Trout and Brown Trout, the Tiger Trout’s flesh is firm, flaky but it is not highly regarded by most as great table fare.

Fishing Regulations

Rules and regulations for fishing in Arizona.

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Introduced to Arizona in 1898. Olive to bluish on the back, sides dusky green to blue to silver usually with an iridescent, pink to reddish lateral stripe. Many small black spots irregularly scattered on back, sides, adipose and dorsal fin. Distinct radiating rows of black spots on tail fin. Generally, no spots on pectoral, pelvic and anal fins.

Spawn in early spring, most always in streams. “Redds” are dug by the females in the gravel. After fertilization the female fans the gravel and buries the eggs. This process is repeated for several days until the female is spent. Hatching time depends upon water temperature. Fish reach maturity between 2-3 years.

More About Rainbow Trout

Food
They feed on plankton, aquatic and terrestrial insects and aquatic invertebrates. Trout vary their feeding based on the availability of food such as hatching insects on the surface, emerging midges rising through the water column, or worms and bugs along the bottom.
Angling
Effective baits are worms, salmon eggs, powerbait, corn, cheese, marshmallows, artificial lures and flies. The number one key to successful trout fishing is to use light line (2 to 6 pound) and small hooks (10-14 sizes), and small sinkers.
Table Quality
Depending on the fishes diet, the meat can be white to orange-red in color. The meat is firm, flaky and is considered excellent eating.

Fishing Regulations

Rules and regulations for fishing in Arizona.

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Northern pike’s dorsal, anal and tail fin have round to oblong darkened spots. Dorsal fin located far back on an elongated body. Large canine-like teeth. Cheeks completely scaled, only upper half of the gill cover is scaled. Maximum age is 30 years.

Spawn in early spring just after ice thaws. Spawning occurs during the day. Adhesive eggs simply scattered over the bottom or onto vegetation. Eggs hatch rapidly in 12-14 days. Young remain in shallows for several weeks.

More About Northern Pike

Food
Fish make up the bulk of their diet but they will also take frogs, crayfish, waterdogs, ducklings, birds and mice. Unfortunately, pike enjoy eating rainbow trout and can greatly disrupt trout populations (and fishing success) in waters intended for trout only.
Angling
Effective lures and bait for pike are spoons, spinners, plugs or waterdogs. Fishing with minnows is unlawful in nearly all pike waters; make sure to check the fishing regulations. Northern pike have sharp teeth; so many anglers use a wire leader to prevent the line from being cut.

Fishing Regulations

Rules and regulations for fishing in Arizona.

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Largemouth bass have a very large mouth with upper jaw bone of adults extending beyond rear margin of eye. Dark olive-green on the back with green sides shading to white belly. Dark horizontal band on each side. Coloration is darker and more distinct in clearer water and can pale greatly in highly turbid conditions. Deep notch in dorsal fin. Soft dorsal fin usually has 12 to 13 rays. Largemouth bass are actually members of the sunfish family, not the true bass family (stripers and white bass).

Spawning takes place from February to June. The spawn is triggered when water temperatures reach 60-62 F. Largemouths typically build nests, although they will spawn without a nest. Both the nest and the fry are defended by the male. The young move inshore to feed.

More About Largemouth Bass

Food
Bass are carnivorous, eating anything that moves. Their main diet is fish, such as, sunfish and shad.
Angling
Largemouth bass are the second most popular fish in Arizona. They are caught on a variety of baits, both natural and artificial. Depending on the time of the year, bass can be caught in shallow water with a surface lure or deep with jigs or plastic worms. Bass concentrate around submerged trees, aquatic vegetation and underwater drop-offs.
Table Quality
The meat is mild tasting, white, flaky, firm and good tasting.

Fishing Regulations

Rules and regulations for fishing in Arizona.

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The Gila trout is one of Arizona’s two threatened native trout species and is also found in New Mexico. Dorsal, anal, and pelvic fins have a white to yellowish tip that may extend along the leading edge of the pelvic fins. A faint, salmon-pink band is present on adults, particularly during spawning season when the normally white belly may be streaked with yellow or reddish orange. Parr marks are commonly retained by adults, although they may be faint or absent. Like the Apache trout, some Gila trout may display “bandit” like horizontal bars across their irises.

For those anglers targeting Apache and Gila Trout in Arizona, the Arizona Game and Fish Department asks that they please take the time to fill out this survey form after each fishing trip targeting either species. The form collects information on when and where anglers fished for Apache and Gila Trout, the type of fishing gear they used, and how many fish they caught.

Gila trout typically spawn in early spring, when water temperature is rising and runoff flows are declining. Gila trout are generally sexually mature by age 3 and their life expectancy may range between 4-6 years. Gila trout are capable of hybridizing with rainbow trout which has greatly reduced the range of pure populations of Gila trout and continues to be one of the largest threats to Gila trout.

More About Gila Trout

Food
They are opportunistic feeders, mainly feeding on aquatic and terrestrial insects and invertebrates.
Angling
As Gila trout recovery streams are established and meet necessary population criteria to withstand limited angling use, they may be opened to angling for the public in the future. Currently, two Gila trout recovery streams in Arizona (Dude and Grapevine Creeks) are open to seasonal catch-and-release only angling regulations. Gila trout in the East Verde River, Frye Mesa Reservoir, Watson Lake, Lynx Lake, and Goldwater Lake can be angled year round.

Fishing Regulations

Rules and regulations for fishing in Arizona.

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Channel catfish have few spots on the large adults. Smooth, scaleless skin. Four pair of barbels or ‘whiskers.’ Short base on small adipose fin. Deeply forked tail. Anal fin has 24 to 30 rays and is slightly rounded. These fish are often mistaken by fishermen as another species such as a blue catfish.

Spawns from April through early June. Gelatinous egg mass is laid in a hole or a cavity, generally in rocky areas. These eggs are guarded by the male alone. The male also guards their young for a time. During the reproductive season, the male assumes a darker body color, often bluish or blue-black and develops thickened lips and bulging forehead.

More About Channel Catfish

Food
As scavengers, channel catfish will eat almost anything, dead or alive. They prefer minnows, crayfish, and aquatic insects or invertebrates.
Angling
Effective baits are waterdogs, liver, blood bait, shad, hot dogs, minnows and worms. Contrary to myth, the “whiskers” are harmless to touch and used only to smell, taste and feel as it forages for food. However, the dorsal fin and pectoral fins have a sharp spine which can inflict a painful wound. In rivers, fish swift riffles at night with light tackle.
Table Quality
The meat is white, firm, tender and sweet and is considered very good eating.

Fishing Regulations

Rules and regulations for fishing in Arizona.

The post Channel Catfish appeared first on Arizona Game & Fish Department.

Introduced in Arizona in 1931. Tail fin usually unspotted or vaguely spotted and squared off. Adipose fin usually orange or reddish. They reproduce naturally in streams and are often associated with deep under cut banks and pools choked with woody debris. Capable of withstanding slightly higher temperature than other trout.

Unlike most trout species, these fish are late fall spawners. Their spawning behavior, however, is similar to other trout species. Redds are dug by the females in stream gravels and eggs are buried once fertilized.

More About Brown Trout

Food
They feed on aquatic and terrestrial insects and invertebrates. Adult brown trout are voracious and will also eat larger food items such as crayfish and small fish.
Angling
This highly esteemed trout may be caught on the same tackle and baits as rainbow trout, but are often more difficult to catch. They are territorial and secretive. The best time to catch large adult brown trout is in fall during spawning and during dawn and dusk periods.
Table quality
The meat has a pink or yellow color and tastes good.

Fishing Regulations

Rules and regulations for fishing in Arizona.

The post Brown Trout appeared first on Arizona Game & Fish Department.

Introduced to Arizona in 1903. Brook trout are actually chars, related more closely to fishes that live in colder areas of the Northern Hemisphere than to true trout. They are smaller than true trout. Gray to olive-green on the back. Vermiculations or worm-like markings on the back and dorsal fin. Sides lighter in color with blue halos around pink or red spots. White edge on lower fins and lower tail.

Unlike most trout, spawning occurs in late October through December. Spawning behavior in stream gravels with guarded redds is similar to other trout species.

More About Brook Trout

Food
They feed on aquatic and terrestrial insects and invertebrates. Larger adults prefer big food items that may include smaller fish.
Angling
They are easy to catch, especially in the early spring or late fall when cold water temperatures keep the fish very active. They are also easily caught near rocky and gravel shorelines during fall spawning runs.
Table quality
The brook trout has a delicious flavor, with flaky meat ranging in color from white to pinkish-orange.

Fishing Regulations

Rules and regulations for fishing in Arizona.

The post Brook Trout appeared first on Arizona Game & Fish Department.

Introduced to Arizona in 1905. Head and back heavily and irregularly spotted with black blotches on a silver-olive background; tail, dorsal and anal fins are spotted. Seven or eight spines on dorsal fin. Body is compressed or flat. Can live up to 15 years but rarely live more than six or seven years.

Spawning is often in open water, typically over mud, sand or gravel bottoms. Prefer sites near vertical cover such as trees or rocks. Males guard the nest and young after the eggs hatch. Generally mature in second or third year of life. Live up to 7 years.

More About Black Crappie

Food
Insect and plankton eaters until they reach six or seven inches switching to a fish diet. In Arizona, threadfin shad are their main diet.
Angling
Very aggressive and fun to catch.  Often found in schools.  They bite most readily in the spring. They also tend to feed at night more than the other centrarchids.  Effective bait and lures are minnows, small jigs and flies fished along shorelines around submerged brush and trees and rock reefs. Delicate bones around the mouth make it vital to use a net or extreme care in landing these fish.

Fishing Regulations

Rules and regulations for fishing in Arizona.

The post Black Crappie appeared first on Arizona Game & Fish Department.

The Grayling dorsal fin has 17 to 25 rays. The tail fin is forked. The body has scattered black spots on silver-gray sides that sometimes have a pinkish hue. The scales on the grayling are much larger than the scales on trout.

Grayling are found in Lee Valley Reservoir and only a few small high mountain lakes in the White Mountains. This fish is not being cultured by the Department at this time, but it is occasionally brought in from out of state hatcheries. They spend most of the year in the lake then “run” upstream to spawn in the spring.

Spawning by grayling is similar to that of other salmonids. It is preceded by upstream runs from lakes with males establishing territories in small streams from February to March. Spawning success in Arizona is poor; consequently supplemental stockings of grayling are necessary.

About Arctic Grayling

Food
Their main diet is the adult and larvae of aquatic insects and other invertebrates.
Angling
Grayling are caught on both wet and dry flies. A Royal Coachman, small midge or a black or brown Woolly worm often works very well.
Table Quality
The meat is white, flaky and good tasting, although slightly oily.

Fishing Regulations

Rules and regulations for fishing in Arizona.

The post Arctic Grayling appeared first on Arizona Game & Fish Department.