Copyright 2010 James Marsh
Fly Fishing Big Bonito Creek Arizona
Big Bonito Creek is a relatively high elevation trout stream
located in Apache Country Arizona. It flows through the
Big Bonito Prairie. The eleven-mile long stream has cold,
clear water with plenty of streambred trout. A special
permit from the Apache Tribe is required to fish this
stream.
The stream can be accessed from reservation roads Y40,
Y55 and Y70. These are dirt roads and rough in many
areas depending on the weather. Beware traveling there
during periods of heavy rainfall. You will need to do some
hiking when you get near the Big Bonito Creek. Fly fishing
Big Bonito Creek isn't an easy undertaking. The stream
isn 't easy to access. This is also a popular hunting area
with plenty of wildlife including cougar, elk and bear.
The stream is approximately twenty feet wide or less and
full of large boulders. Some of the water is pocket water
but it has plenty of long sections of riffles and some deep
pools. The lower sections of the creek hold slower moving
water with larger, longer pools and less pocket water. The
stream flows off the south side of Mt. Baldy through the
White Mountain Apache Reservation. Its upper sections
fall at a steeper decline and has plenty of fast water. Its
entire length is on Apache land. When it flows into the Big
Black River it is a large stream for the Arizona Mountains.
It has several tributary streams that are worth fishing
including Little Bonito, Flash Creek and Squaw Creeks.
The Little Bonita Creek is catch and release only. Little
Bonita has two nice size tributaries - Lofer Cienega Creek
and Crooked Creek.
This stream has lots of 14 to 16 inch streamborn brown
trout. Some are much larger and catching ten or fifteen
browns of the average size is very possible many days of
the season. There are also plenty of smallmouth bass in
its lower sections.
Seasons:
The best fishing is from May through October but the hot
summer fishing can be slow. .
Spring:
Spring fishing is good after the runoff. The best fishing
usually starts in May.
Summer:
The mid summer during hot weather should be fished
early and late in the day.
Fall:
The brown trout spawn in the Fall and fishing picks up
when the weather cools off.
Click Here For Fishing Gear, Tackle and Flies
Big Bonito Creek is a relatively high elevation trout stream
located in Apache Country Arizona. It flows through the
Big Bonito Prairie. The eleven-mile long stream has cold,
clear water with plenty of streambred trout. A special
permit from the Apache Tribe is required to fish this
stream.
The stream can be accessed from reservation roads Y40,
Y55 and Y70. These are dirt roads and rough in many
areas depending on the weather. Beware traveling there
during periods of heavy rainfall. You will need to do some
hiking when you get near the Big Bonito Creek. Fly fishing
Big Bonito Creek isn't an easy undertaking. The stream
isn 't easy to access. This is also a popular hunting area
with plenty of wildlife including cougar, elk and bear.
The stream is approximately twenty feet wide or less and
full of large boulders. Some of the water is pocket water
but it has plenty of long sections of riffles and some deep
pools. The lower sections of the creek hold slower moving
water with larger, longer pools and less pocket water. The
stream flows off the south side of Mt. Baldy through the
White Mountain Apache Reservation. Its upper sections
fall at a steeper decline and has plenty of fast water. Its
entire length is on Apache land. When it flows into the Big
Black River it is a large stream for the Arizona Mountains.
It has several tributary streams that are worth fishing
including Little Bonito, Flash Creek and Squaw Creeks.
The Little Bonita Creek is catch and release only. Little
Bonita has two nice size tributaries - Lofer Cienega Creek
and Crooked Creek.
This stream has lots of 14 to 16 inch streamborn brown
trout. Some are much larger and catching ten or fifteen
browns of the average size is very possible many days of
the season. There are also plenty of smallmouth bass in
its lower sections.
Seasons:
The best fishing is from May through October but the hot
summer fishing can be slow. .
Spring:
Spring fishing is good after the runoff. The best fishing
usually starts in May.
Summer:
The mid summer during hot weather should be fished
early and late in the day.
Fall:
The brown trout spawn in the Fall and fishing picks up
when the weather cools off.
Click Here For Fishing Gear, Tackle and Flies
| Type of Stream Freestone Stream Species Rainbow Trout (wild and stocked) Brown Trout (wild and stocked) Apache Trout (headwaters) Smallmouth Bass Size Medium to Large, about 30 miles of water Location Northern Arizona White Mountains Nearest Towns Greer Access: Fair Non-Resident License State of Arizona Weather National Weather Service Link Fly Fishing Gear, Tackle and Flies |
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| Options For Selecting Flies: 1. Email us with the dates you will be fishing this stream and we will send you a list of our fly suggestions. Please allow up to 24 hours for a response. 2. Call us 800-594-4720 and we will help you decide which flies you need. 3. Call or email us with a budget for flies and we will select them and get them to you in time for your trip. Shipping is free in the U. S. Orders over $50 are shipped Priority Mail. |