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Water levels are generally up due to good precipitation and the trout outlook is good in the White Mountains, especially for brookies and browns, advised Arizona Game and Fish Department officials.

Biologists pointed out that fall is typically one of the best times of year to catch trout because they are trying to put on as much fat as possible before winter sets in, which makes them aggressive feeders. Both brook and brown trout spawn in the fall, making them even more accessible to anglers.

The White Mountains is also one of the best areas in Arizona to experience autumn tree colors as aspen turn golden on the mountainsides.

Precipitation levels this last winter and during this summer's monsoons were slightly above average, bringing us into normal fall fishing conditions in the White Mountains and Mogollon Rim area.

Water levels in most lakes are average or only slightly low, allowing boat-launching access into most waters. The exception is Scott Reservoir. "Streams and rivers have been running normal throughout the summer, but the larger rivers have come up considerably with recent heavy monsoon rains. These high flows should recede back to normal with the end of the summer monsoons, well ahead of the fall fishing season," said Bruce Sitko, Pinetop regional information and education program manager.

Pinetop Regional Fisheries Program Manager Jim Novy explained that generally, water temperatures begin to decrease as autumn conditions set in, bringing daytime water temperatures more into the optimum range of conditions for trout.

"Overall water quality will also improve in lakes as water temperatures decrease. This triggers trout to become more active, and feed heavily before winter sets in. All types of trout angling techniques, whether with bait, lures, or flies, tend to become more productive in October and November. The use of lures and flies results in the greatest increase in success because trout are no longer seeking shelter in deeper waters to avoid high water temperatures near the surface," Novy said.

In addition, fall is the spawning season for brown trout and brook trout. Most fish become particularly aggressive and easier to catch during their spawning season, making this the optimal time to catch bigger brown trout and a mess of brook trout.

Large brown trout feed heavily on smaller fish, making the use of minnow-like lures, such as Rapalas and other similar patterned crankbaits, very effective. Brown trout may also swim up into a stream from a lake to spawn, making them easier to catch if you are familiar with stream fishing techniques. Rapalas work well in large pools where the big fish would be located, but drifting a night crawler or large fly through a pool would also be successful.

Try fishing Chevelon Creek upstream of Chevelon Lake and the Little Colorado River upstream of River Reservoir for these large browns. The reservoirs themselves are also very productive at this time.

When conditions are right, brook trout tend to congregate along shallow, gravelly shorelines in lakes when spawning. Rarely do any juvenile brook trout hatch from this spawning activity, but it makes for excellent fishing. The natural roe (fish eggs) from a female brook trout make excellent bait during this time, but other baits and lures (especially an egg pattern fly) will also catch brook trout. This activity usually takes place in mid to late October. Big Lake and Crescent Lake would be the prime lakes for brook trout on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest this year.

Regular stockings of catchable-sized trout will end this September, but plenty of fish persist in most lakes into the fall season. Most of the high elevation lakes, including Big Lake, Crescent Lake, Lee Valley Lake, Luna Lake, River Reservoir, Chevelon Lake, Bear Canyon Lake, Woods Canyon Lake, and Willow Springs Lake, should be doing well this fall.

Mid-elevation lakes, such as Show Low Lake, Rainbow Lake, Woodland Lake, Becker Lake, Concho Lake, and Fool Hollow Lake, will also do well, but may look particularly attractive if an early snow cuts off access to the higher country.

Several of these mid-elevation lakes, along with Lyman Lake, Cholla Lake, and Clear Creek Reservoir, have warm water species such as largemouth bass and green sunfish. Most of these lakes, with the exception of Becker Lake and Concho Lake, also contain channel catfish. These warm-water species become less active with cooler weather, but a knowledgeable angler can still do very well.

Stream fishing should be productive for hold-over stocked trout, as well for resident wild trout, at the Little Colorado River at Greer and Sheep's Crossing, and at the East and West Forks of the Black River.

Anglers need to be aware of gear restrictions and daily bag and possession limits that change seasonally for the winter. At Becker Lake and Silver Creek, gear restrictions change to artificial lure and fly only beginning on Oct. 1. The daily bag and possession limits on rainbow and brown trout change to unlimited for the winter at Nelson Reservoir starting September 1, and change to catch and release only for the winter at Silver Creek starting October 1.

A map of the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, available at most map stores, sporting goods stores, and any Apache-Sitgreaves District Ranger Office, will be of significant help in finding campgrounds and access points to lakes and streams in the White Mountains and Mogollon Rim area.

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