When most people picture summer in Arizona, they think of triple-digit temperatures, red-rock country and afternoons spent looking for air conditioning.
What many visitors do not realize is that a completely different Arizona exists at higher elevations.
Above the desert, the Mogollon Rim and White Mountains offer pine forests, cooler temperatures, mountain streams and some of the state's best trout country. For anglers visiting Phoenix, Sedona, Flagstaff or northern Arizona, these high-country destinations make it possible to experience fly fishing even when lower-elevation temperatures are climbing.
The key is choosing the right location and the right kind of trip for the season. During the summer, our focus is on moving water in the Mogollon Rim and White Mountains. Beginning this fall, Frenchie Fly Fishing will also offer guided stillwater trips on Arizona's high-country lakes.
Mogollon Rim creek fishing usually involves working your way along moving water while searching for trout in pools, pockets, shaded runs and current seams. The casting is often short and precise. These are natural mountain creeks — depending on the location, anglers may encounter uneven ground, loose rocks, fallen trees and brush. A Rim creek trip rewards patience, observation and a willingness to keep moving.
The White Mountains provide another side of Arizona fly fishing. Located farther east, this region offers expansive pine forests, cooler temperatures and a greater sense of being away from the desert. A White Mountains trip is generally a larger commitment — best suited to anglers who want a full day devoted to fishing and exploring Arizona's high country. The landscape feels more like the Rocky Mountain West than the desert Southwest.
The Mogollon Rim is generally the more convenient option for anglers staying around Sedona, Cottonwood, Phoenix or Payson. The White Mountains are farther away and better suited to a full-day adventure. Choose the Mogollon Rim when you want a more accessible small-stream experience. Choose the White Mountains when you want to devote the day to traveling deeper into Arizona's high country.
Beginning this fall, Frenchie Fly Fishing will begin offering guided stillwater fly-fishing trips on Arizona's high-country lakes. Stillwater fishing is very different from fishing a creek — we look at water depth, structure, wind, temperature and where trout may be feeding. Lake fishing also opens the experience to anglers who may not want to climb over rocks or spend several hours navigating a creek bank.
No responsible guide should promise that one specific creek, stream or lake will fish perfectly on a particular day. Water temperatures, weather, runoff, wind, recent stocking and fishing pressure can all affect the experience. At Frenchie Fly Fishing, we consider current conditions, the abilities of the anglers and the experience they want before making a final plan.