High water at Silver Creek early this week after last week's winter storm.

Fishing may be slow due to high, turbid water

PINETOP, Ariz. — Silver Creek will once again open its “catch-and-keep” season on April 1, 2023. Anglers are advised that there has been some flooding over the past week and water flows are still above normal.

Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) staff expect fishing to be slower than in past years at this time. Brown Creek has been flowing into Silver Creek for several weeks now, making the water turbid due to mountain rain and snowmelt runoff. Recent reports from the “catch-and-release” season have indicated fishing has been slow. Some anglers have had success on black or white lures that contrast with the brownish water.

Please also note that due to flooding, the terrain around the creek is still fairly water saturated and has created very muddy conditions for anglers. Anyone visiting the creek in the near future should prepare for slippery and muddy conditions on the trails and creek banks.

Total vehicles allowed will still be restricted to parking lot capacities for visitor safety. Even with the removal of all Covid-19 restrictions, the AZGFD continues to recommend all visitors to Silver Creek follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Arizona Department of Health Services (AZDHS) to ensure social distancing and limit large gatherings.

Silver Creek may still be crowded on opening day this year. To provide an alternative location for anglers that want to avoid the crowds, AZGFD recommends anglers try Woodland Lake in Pinetop. Woodland Lake was stocked with extra rainbow trout in both fall 2022 and spring 2023.

Anglers should take note that statewide fishing regulations were amended in 2021 and the statewide trout bag limit is four trout per person. The four trout bag limit applies to catch-and-keep at Silver Creek. The catch-and-keep trout season at Silver Creek will continue until Sept. 30.

Silver Creek is located about 10 miles northeast of Show Low.