Fly fishing the Salt River in Arizona offers a unique experience, combining stunning desert scenery with a diverse fishery just a short drive from Phoenix. While the Lower Salt River is the primary destination for anglers due to its colder, regulated water, the entire river provides opportunities to catch rainbow trout, bass, and native Sonoran suckers. 

Whether you’re chasing stocked trout in the cooler months, fishing for elusive suckers, or targeting bass, the Salt River offers something for every fly angler. 

In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about fishing this desert oasis, from fish species and fly selection to access points and resources.

Overview of the Salt River

The Salt River, located in central Arizona, offers a unique fly fishing experience in the heart of the desert. Flowing from the White Mountains through the Tonto National Forest, the river provides anglers with stunning scenery, diverse fish species, and year-round fishing opportunities. 

The Upper Salt River features rugged canyons and fast-moving water, while the Lower Salt River, near Phoenix, is a tailwater fishery benefiting from consistent flows controlled by the Stewart Mountain Dam.

With the Salt River broken into upper and lower sections, most of the prime fishing takes place in the lower portion. Since the Lower Salt is provided with colder, predictable water, it stands up to the desert heat much better than the upper portion. When people talk about fly fishing the Salt River, they’re more than likely referring to the Lower Salt.

Another key aspect of the Salt River is its proximity to Phoenix. Roughly a half-hour to an hour’s drive away, it offers solid fishing considering how close it is to the city. If you’re ever in Phoenix and want to feel like you’re transplanted into the wilderness, the Salt River is a great place to escape.

The only downside (for fishing purposes) is the influx of tubers that inhabit the river during the summer. The “plastic hatch” can be aggressive on summer weekends with hundreds of people floating down the river at a time. But, go during the week or during the cooler months and it’s no issue.

Adding to the unique experience of the Salt River, while you’re fishing there’s a good chance you’ll see wild horses around. Admire them when you have a break and enjoy the wilderness while you’re hooking into fish!

What Fish are In the Salt River?

The Salt River is home to a variety of fish species, making it an exciting destination for fly anglers of all skill levels. Whether you’re chasing trout in the cooler waters or targeting native species, the river has something to offer.

There are many types of fish in the Salt River, though the most often targeted are Rainbow Trout, Bass, and Sonoran Suckers.

Rainbow Trout

Bass

The Salt River does have its share of bass that can be found in the deeper, slower moving parts of the river. 

There are many shallows of the Salt River that move quickly, but there are certainly plenty of deeper holes and backwater areas where the bass will hang out. There’s also a ton of vegetation lining the river that provide structure for the bass to hold towards. 

Both largemouth and smallmouth bass inhabit the river, though most of the fish in the Lower Salt tend to be largemouth. The Verde River confluence is also easily accessible from the Lower Salt, where bass tend to thrive a little better. 

Sonoran Suckers

The Sonoran sucker (Catostomus insignis) is one of the most underrated fish in the Salt River. Native to Arizona, these fish are often overlooked by fly anglers but provide an exciting challenge due to their size, strength, and unique feeding behavior. Sonoran suckers can grow over 20 inches long and weigh several pounds, making them a worthy target, especially if you want to fish for a native species.

Sonoran Suckers are bottom-feeding, shallow water cruising fish that often travel in schools. It’s not uncommon to see a dozen suckers roaming the skinny stuff, feeding on algae or small aquatic insects. Similar to carp, they may look eager to eat your fly but in reality are a tough challenge on the fly rod. 

Their spookiness, selectivity, and hard-fighting abilities make them a tremendous target for the Salt River.

What Flies Are Best for the Salt River?

Your targeted species will determine which flies are best for the Salt River. Let’s go through some of the best flies for each species that roam the Salt:

Flies for Rainbow Trout

For the rainbow trout that live in the Salt River, your typical western-style trout patterns will be effective. 

Nymphing

Dry Fly Fishing

Hatches go off pretty regularly at the Salt River and fish can key in on adult flies, especially during the early morning or late afternoon. If you find a slower moving pool in the low-light hours, you may see them feeding aggressively on top. Keep things small and you’ll have a solid chance at hooking up.

• Adams Dry Fly (size 16-20)
• Elk Hair Caddis (size 14-18)
• Griffith’s Gnat (size 18-20)

Streamer Fishing

Fishing streamers can be very effective during the low-light hours. I’ve had days where the second clouds cover the sun, the feed is on. While not my primary technique, having a handful of small streamers for cloudy days (which can be few and far between in Arizona) can lead to a very productive day on the water.

Also consider using a sink-tip or full-sinking line to get your flies down deep where larger holdover trout may be lurking.

• Wooly Buggers (black, olive, or white, size 8-12)
• Simi Seal Leeches (black or olive, size 8-12)
• Mini Dungeons or small articulated streamers

Flies for Bass

Bass fishing on the Salt revolves around your favorite baitfish and crayfish flies. I haven’t found the bass to be all that picky, other than size. Keep your streamers on the smaller side.

Streamers for Bass

• Wooly Buggers (sizes 6-10)
• Kreelex (sizes 4-8)
• Clawdads (sizes 6-10)

Don’t feel like you have to have exact imitations with these flies, go with what you have the most confidence in!

Flies for Sonoran Suckers

Because Sonoran Suckers are bottom feeders, they’re gonna want to munch on nymphs. The style of fishing is very similar to trout fishing- setting up a single or double indicator rig and drifting it through holes. 

For sight fishing Sonoran Suckers, cast your flies well ahead of where they are headed and leave them there. If they like it, they’ll vacuum it up and the fight is on.

Nymphs

• Pat’s Rubber Legs (Brown or Black, Size 8-12) 
• Hare’s Ear Nymph (Natural or Olive, Size 12-16)
• Prince Nymph (Size 12-16)
• San Juan Worm (Red or Pink, Size 10-14)
• Small Crayfish Patterns (Size 8-12)

Salt River Access Points

One of the best things about the Salt River is its proximity to Phoenix and the many easily accessible access points.

Basically, you can get on Bush Highway and pull off at any of the stop-offs that has a parking lot. They’re labeled very well and are hard to miss. Some of my favorites are:

• Phon D. Sutton
  • This is where the Verde River and Salt converge. An easily wadeable backwater area is the first water when you get there, followed by faster, deeper water a few yards ahead. 
• Blue Point
  • This is probability the most heavily fished area and can get very crowded. But hiking up or down the river away from the crowds offers solid fishing and seclusion.
• Water Users
  • The closest to Saguaro Lake, Water users is a dynamic spot with a bunch of different types of water- riffles, pools, and deep runs.

Helpful Resources for Fly Fishing the Salt River

• AZ Fly Shop
  • A relatively new shop that is a fantastic resource for anything related to fly fishing in Arizona. They’re great people and will help you out with anything you need.
• AZ Game and Fish Stocking Schedule
  • Check this out if you are fishing in the fall to early spring to hone in on the trout stockings in the Salt River. Fish typically need a day or two to get acclimated to their new surroundings, so plan accordingly.
• More Salt River Fly Fishing Tips from Wooly Buggin’.

Conclusion

Fly fishing the Salt River is a unique, blending the rugged beauty of the Arizona desert with a surprisingly productive fishery. Whether you’re nymphing for stocked rainbow trout, stripping streamers for bass, or targeting powerful Sonoran suckers, the Salt River offers year-round opportunities for anglers of all skill levels. 

With easy access points and reliable resources like AZ Fly Shop and AZ Game and Fish, planning a successful trip is simple. Just be mindful of the summer tuber crowds, explore during the quieter seasons, and take in the stunning surroundings while casting your fly in one of Arizona’s sneaky underrated fisheries.