2026 regulation year
West Fork Black River 2026 — Arizona Fishing Regulations
Arizona statewide rules apply unless overridden below.
Last updated
West Fork Black River carries 2 special-regulation overlays on top of Arizona's 2026 fishing rules — covering Apache trout. Verify the agency booklet before launching: in-season changes are not yet wired to this page.
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State-level special regulation
Native Trout Recovery water — Apache trout catch-and-release-only; trout must be released unharmed; artificial fly + lure only, single-pointed barbless hooks; listed reaches closed January 1 – April 30 (one of country's only native Apache trout angling streams)
Source: Arizona special-water list
Per-species rules on West Fork Black River
Catch-and-release-only (Native Trout Recovery water); artificial fly + lure, single barbless hooks; closed January 1 – April 30
Official source
Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) publishes the authoritative 2026 Arizona fishing regulations. Special-regulation lakes and rivers are listed in the agency booklet — always verify before fishing.
Visit official Arizona fishing regulations →
Emergency-order channel
In-season closures, slot-limit changes, and run-count-driven harvest pauses are posted to Arizona Game and Fish Department's emergency-order feed — check it before any Arizona trip during the active season.
Other special-regulation waters in Arizona
- Apache Lake
- Apache Lake + Canyon Lake + Saguaro Lake
- AZGFD Community Fishing Program
- Bartlett Lake
- Becker Lake
- Big Lake
- Big Lake + Crescent Lake + Sunrise Lake + Lyman Lake + Hawley Lake
- Canyon Lake
- Colorado River main stem
- East Fork Little Colorado River + Bear Wallow Creek
- Fool Hollow Lake + Upper/Lower Lake Mary
- Hurricane Lake
Frequently asked questions
- What special fishing regulations apply at West Fork Black River?
- West Fork Black River carries 2 special-regulation overlays that override Arizona's statewide 2026 rules, covering Apache trout. One of them reads: "Native Trout Recovery water — Apache trout catch-and-release-only; trout must be released unharmed; artificial fly + lure only, single-pointed barbless hooks; listed reaches closed January 1 – April 30 (one of country's only native Apache trout angling streams)." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
- Do I need a fishing license to fish West Fork Black River?
- Yes. West Fork Black River is in Arizona, so a valid Arizona fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD). The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for West Fork Black River; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Arizona rules.
- Do West Fork Black River's special rules replace Arizona's statewide limits?
- Only where they conflict. Arizona's statewide 2026 regulations apply on West Fork Black River by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rules for the species or gear they name, while everything not specifically overridden still follows the statewide rule. When a water-body rule and the statewide rule disagree, the water-body rule wins.
- Which species have special rules on West Fork Black River?
- Apache trout has a water-body-specific rule on West Fork Black River, each linking to its full Arizona regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Arizona limits.