Salt River, Arizona
Below Stewart Mountain Dam — Wild trout in metro Phoenix's own backyard
The Salt River below Stewart Mountain Dam east of Phoenix is one of the most improbable fly fishing destinations in the American West — a genuine wild trout tailwater flowing through the Sonoran Desert just 40 miles from downtown Phoenix. Cold releases from Saguaro Lake maintain water temperatures in the trout zone in a climate where summer temperatures routinely exceed 110°F, creating a fishery that serves Arizona's largest metropolitan area with quality cold-water fishing.
The tailwater section from Stewart Mountain Dam downstream through the Goldfield Mountains provides approximately 14 miles of accessible wild trout water. Rainbow and brown trout averaging 12–16 inches populate the section, with the coldest water immediately below the dam holding the densest fish populations. This section is designated as Wild Trout Water by Arizona Game and Fish — catch and release, artificial lures and flies only.
The river here flows through classic Sonoran Desert scenery: saguaro cactus, palo verde, and brittlebush on the canyon walls above cold, clear tailwater where wild trout rise to midge and Caddis hatches. The contrast is genuinely surreal — it is objectively strange to be doing tailwater fly fishing while surrounded by desert cactus landscape that looks more appropriate for pursuing bass or catfish.
Access requires either a short hike from the Upper and Lower Saguaro Lake areas or a kayak or float tube to reach prime water in the canyon sections. The river is narrow enough in places to be manageable from a float tube, and many local anglers use this approach to systematically cover the most productive sections.
Stewart Mountain Dam — Upper Tailwater
Access from the dam via the Usery Pass Road area. Short walk to the river from the upper parking area. Coldest water and most dense fish populations.
Lower Saguaro Lake — Float Access
Float tube or kayak access from the Lower Saguaro Lake launch. Cover mid-river sections efficiently with minimal hiking.
Coon Bluff — Lower Section
Access from the Coon Bluff Recreation Area. Walk upstream into the Wild Trout section. Good lower tailwater access with camping available.
Rainbow Trout
Dominant species in the Wild Trout section. Wild fish averaging 12–16 inches. Most active during cooler months (October through April). Midge feeders year-round.
Brown Trout
Present in limited numbers. Larger than rainbows on average. Most active during winter and spring when temperatures are coolest.
Visit October through April — summer water temperatures at the Salt can exceed trout tolerance even with the dam releases.
AZGFD sometimes closes the Salt River temporarily when water temperatures become dangerously high — check current conditions before making the drive.
A float tube dramatically increases your fishing options and allows you to cover the canyon sections not accessible by walking.
The Salt River Wild Horses are a famous resident population that frequents the river corridor — an extraordinary sight alongside the fly fishing.
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