When is apache trout season in Arizona?

Arizona keeps apache trout open to fishing year-round for the 2026 regulation year — there is no closed season, though the daily bag and size limits below still apply every day.

What is the Arizona bag limit for apache trout?

The Arizona daily bag limit for apache trout is 2 / day where harvest is permitted (within the statewide 4 / day combined trout limit); native White Mountains recovery streams catch-and-release-only. The possession limit is 4 in possession where harvest is permitted (2× daily). Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.

What size apache trout can you keep in Arizona?

The Arizona size rule for apache trout is No statewide minimum where harvest is permitted. Slot limit: Catch-and-release-only on native recovery streams (West Fork Black + East Fork Little Colorado + Bear Wallow Creek + listed reaches); 2 / day harvest only on designated stocked / put-and-take waters. Trophy rule: AZ + world-record Apache trout 5 lb 15.5 oz Hurricane Lake 1993 (Lyle Hemphill, 24 in, on a 1/4-oz yellow Z-Ray — the IGFA all-tackle world record; Hurricane Lake sits on the White Mountain Apache Tribe Reservation and requires a separate WMAT tribal permit); the White Mountain Apache Tribe Reservation lakes (Hurricane + Sunrise + Christmas Tree + Earl Park) carry the country's only trophy Apache trout fishery; Apache trout downlisted from ESA Threatened to Recovered in 2025 after a 50-year AZGFD + USFWS + White Mountain Apache Tribe restoration program — the only US state with a viable Apache trout angling fishery.

Do you need a license to fish for apache trout in Arizona?

Yes. Arizona requires a valid fishing license to fish for apache trout, with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a Arizona license — compare resident and non-resident Arizona fees on the state regulations page below.

Are there gear restrictions for apache trout in Arizona?

Yes. In Arizona, apache trout fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; artificial-fly-and-lure only + single-pointed barbless hooks on native recovery streams; Catch-and-release only on listed Native Trout Recovery reaches — trout must be released unharmed; Native recovery streams closed January 1 – April 30 to protect spawning; Arizona Fishing License required ages 10+ on AZGFD waters ($37 res annual / $55 NR annual); Separate White Mountain Apache Tribe fishing permit required on Reservation waters (Hurricane + Sunrise + Christmas Tree Lakes — the AZGFD state license does NOT cover Reservation waters); Confirm current-year AZGFD + WMAT regulations for water-specific harvest status.

Do specific Arizona waters have different apache trout rules?

Yes. 5 named Arizona waters carry rules that override the statewide apache trout regulation, including Hurricane Lake, WMAT trophy lakes, Big Lake, and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

2026 regulation year

Arizona Apache trout 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules

Oncorhynchus apache

Last updated June 8, 2026

Apache trout (Oncorhynchus apache) is the state fish of Arizona and the centerpiece of the country's only viable native Apache trout angling fishery — a golden-yellow salmonid endemic to the headwater drainages of the White Mountains (Black + White + Little Colorado River systems on the Fort Apache / White Mountain Apache Tribe Reservation + adjacent AZGFD waters above 8,000 ft elevation). Apache trout was one of the first fishes listed under the original Endangered Species Act framework, and in 2025 it was downlisted from federally Threatened to Recovered after a 50-year AZGFD + USFWS + White Mountain Apache Tribe restoration program (broodstock at the USFWS Williams Creek + Alchesay-Williams Creek National Fish Hatcheries) — one of the country's first native salmonid ESA recoveries. Angling for Apache trout falls into two regimes: (1) native White Mountains recovery streams (West Fork Black River + East Fork Little Colorado River + Bear Wallow Creek + listed reaches) are catch-and-release-only with artificial-fly-and-lure + single barbless hooks and are seasonally closed January 1 – April 30 to protect spawning; (2) designated stocked / put-and-take Apache trout waters (Big Lake + listed White Mountains lakes) allow a 2 / day harvest within the statewide 4 / day combined trout limit. The trophy fishery is on the White Mountain Apache Tribe Reservation (Hurricane Lake + Sunrise Lake + Christmas Tree Lake + the Reservation's premier Apache trout lakes), which requires a separate WMAT tribal fishing permit (the AZGFD state license does not cover Reservation waters) — the AZ + world-record Apache trout 5 lb 15.5 oz came from Hurricane Lake on June 10, 1993 (Lyle Hemphill, 24 in, on a 1/4-oz yellow Z-Ray). Open year-round on listed harvest waters; native recovery streams closed January 1 – April 30, catch-and-release-only May 1 – December 31.

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Season

Open year-round Open year-round on listed harvest waters (Big Lake + designated White Mountains lakes); native recovery streams (West Fork Black + East Fork Little Colorado + Bear Wallow Creek + listed reaches) closed January 1 – April 30, catch-and-release-only May 1 – December 31; White Mountain Apache Tribe Reservation lakes (Hurricane + Sunrise + Christmas Tree) require a separate WMAT tribal permit.

Bag & possession

Daily bag: 2 / day where harvest is permitted (within the statewide 4 / day combined trout limit); native White Mountains recovery streams catch-and-release-only
Possession: 4 in possession where harvest is permitted (2× daily)

Size, slot, trophy rules

Size: No statewide minimum where harvest is permitted
Slot: Catch-and-release-only on native recovery streams (West Fork Black + East Fork Little Colorado + Bear Wallow Creek + listed reaches); 2 / day harvest only on designated stocked / put-and-take waters
Trophy rule: AZ + world-record Apache trout 5 lb 15.5 oz Hurricane Lake 1993 (Lyle Hemphill, 24 in, on a 1/4-oz yellow Z-Ray — the IGFA all-tackle world record; Hurricane Lake sits on the White Mountain Apache Tribe Reservation and requires a separate WMAT tribal permit); the White Mountain Apache Tribe Reservation lakes (Hurricane + Sunrise + Christmas Tree + Earl Park) carry the country's only trophy Apache trout fishery; Apache trout downlisted from ESA Threatened to Recovered in 2025 after a 50-year AZGFD + USFWS + White Mountain Apache Tribe restoration program — the only US state with a viable Apache trout angling fishery

Gear restrictions

Hook-and-line; artificial-fly-and-lure only + single-pointed barbless hooks on native recovery streams
Catch-and-release only on listed Native Trout Recovery reaches — trout must be released unharmed
Native recovery streams closed January 1 – April 30 to protect spawning
Arizona Fishing License required ages 10+ on AZGFD waters ($37 res annual / $55 NR annual)
Separate White Mountain Apache Tribe fishing permit required on Reservation waters (Hurricane + Sunrise + Christmas Tree Lakes — the AZGFD state license does NOT cover Reservation waters)
Confirm current-year AZGFD + WMAT regulations for water-specific harvest status

Named water-body overrides

Where statewide rules differ on specific Arizona waters:

Hurricane Lake
White Mountain Apache Tribe permit required (AZGFD license does not apply); AZ + IGFA world-record Apache trout 5 lb 15.5 oz Hurricane Lake 1993 (Lyle Hemphill, 24 in)
Sunrise Lake + Christmas Tree Lake + Earl Park Lake
White Mountain Apache Tribe permit required; the country's only trophy Apache trout fishery
Big Lake
2 / day where harvest permitted (within the 4 / day combined trout limit); AZGFD-stocked Apache trout fishery
West Fork Black River
Catch-and-release-only (Native Trout Recovery water); artificial fly + lure, single barbless hooks; closed January 1 – April 30
East Fork Little Colorado River + Bear Wallow Creek
Catch-and-release-only; artificial fly + lure, single barbless hooks; closed January 1 – April 30, open C&R May 1 – December 31

Official source

Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) publishes the authoritative 2026 Arizonafishing regulations. Always verify the current rule before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override what's published here.

The apache trout rules on this page are sourced from Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD)'s official apache trout regulation page.

Visit official Arizona fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

Apache trout closures, slot-limit changes, and harvest pauses are posted to Arizona Game and Fish Department's emergency-order feed — check it before any Arizona trip during the active season.

Frequently asked questions

When is apache trout season in Arizona?: Arizona keeps apache trout open to fishing year-round for the 2026 regulation year — there is no closed season, though the daily bag and size limits below still apply every day.
What is the Arizona bag limit for apache trout?: The Arizona daily bag limit for apache trout is 2 / day where harvest is permitted (within the statewide 4 / day combined trout limit); native White Mountains recovery streams catch-and-release-only. The possession limit is 4 in possession where harvest is permitted (2× daily). Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
What size apache trout can you keep in Arizona?: The Arizona size rule for apache trout is No statewide minimum where harvest is permitted. Slot limit: Catch-and-release-only on native recovery streams (West Fork Black + East Fork Little Colorado + Bear Wallow Creek + listed reaches); 2 / day harvest only on designated stocked / put-and-take waters. Trophy rule: AZ + world-record Apache trout 5 lb 15.5 oz Hurricane Lake 1993 (Lyle Hemphill, 24 in, on a 1/4-oz yellow Z-Ray — the IGFA all-tackle world record; Hurricane Lake sits on the White Mountain Apache Tribe Reservation and requires a separate WMAT tribal permit); the White Mountain Apache Tribe Reservation lakes (Hurricane + Sunrise + Christmas Tree + Earl Park) carry the country's only trophy Apache trout fishery; Apache trout downlisted from ESA Threatened to Recovered in 2025 after a 50-year AZGFD + USFWS + White Mountain Apache Tribe restoration program — the only US state with a viable Apache trout angling fishery.
Do you need a license to fish for apache trout in Arizona?: Yes. Arizona requires a valid fishing license to fish for apache trout, with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a Arizona license — compare resident and non-resident Arizona fees on the state regulations page below.
Are there gear restrictions for apache trout in Arizona?: Yes. In Arizona, apache trout fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; artificial-fly-and-lure only + single-pointed barbless hooks on native recovery streams; Catch-and-release only on listed Native Trout Recovery reaches — trout must be released unharmed; Native recovery streams closed January 1 – April 30 to protect spawning; Arizona Fishing License required ages 10+ on AZGFD waters ($37 res annual / $55 NR annual); Separate White Mountain Apache Tribe fishing permit required on Reservation waters (Hurricane + Sunrise + Christmas Tree Lakes — the AZGFD state license does NOT cover Reservation waters); Confirm current-year AZGFD + WMAT regulations for water-specific harvest status.
Do specific Arizona waters have different apache trout rules?: Yes. 5 named Arizona waters carry rules that override the statewide apache trout regulation, including Hurricane Lake, WMAT trophy lakes, Big Lake, and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

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