Black River Help

[Avid Hunter]

Hey guys was hoping you guys could help me out with some general info about the Black River.

 

So the brother in law is graduating from UofA next month and we want to go on a fishing trip to celebrate. Thinking about backpacking into the Black river for a couple nights in early June and trying to catch some smallies. I've heard theyre still in there even after the fire, although not as many big ones, numbers are still decent if you can find the right pools? I am not looking for anyones honey hole per say, but does anyone on here have any experience on the river? I have never been and looking for any help I can get. We have no problem hiking miles to get away from people or to a spot with a better chance at getting on some fish. Anyone have at least a general direction on the river for me to head to? Any reports this year? Feel free to PM me if you would like. Thanks!

[CouesPursuit]

pm sent on locations

 

for baits, they used to inhale anything we threw at them

Little crayfish imitations work great, cranks and plastics

2-3" floating rapalas

4" black or dark green senkos texas rigged with small offset shank, no bullet weight

4" pumpkinseed Zoom lizards were the absolute ticket the last 2 years I was there, texas rigged with bullet weight

fly rig with pop flies

[rcdinaz]

For smallies any of the entrances from the San Carlos side will be good. Grab a map and head towards Point of Pines. You will want to go to the west side, Ten of Diamonds and Malay were great for both trout and smallies but even last year fishing was not very good.

 

CP covered most of the baits. Rebel Craw, Rapala's, Slash baits, small white or black jigs (Yum or Power Bait can be fish magnets), also worms. You may only want to do lures but a box of nightcrawlers can make a bad day a good day.

 

Good luck and watch out for the bears! (seriously watch out for bears, they are everywhere along the river)

[rcdinaz]

You might also consider a trip to Lee's Ferry and rent a boat. We just got back and it was awesome. The help I got from all the members here was excellent and really helped us get started right of the bat the very first day catching fish.

 

The scenery also makes it a pretty special destination.

[johnnie blaze]

http://www.azbasszone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=167522

Here's some info.

[Siwash]

I haven't been since 2009, and I'm not sure I'd go there several days if you really wanna get into the fish...I felt like the river's fish population was in decline, and that was before the Wallow Fire blew it out.

 

That being said, it's epic country and you will have fun regardless of the fishing. If you spend several days on the river chances are HIGH you will encounter a black bear. I've never been there and not ran into one, or had one wander through my camp. Please be prepared for that if you go.

 

I concur with the lure suggestions and might add small black or gold spinners (Mepps, Panther Martins) can also be productive, especially if you fish holes that might also hold browns and rainbows. No clue what their status is on the river anymore. RCD's advice about worms is good. Taking 5 minutes to catch a few dozen hoppers on the way in (usually they are out in great numbers before you climb up to Point of Pines) is also a good way to catch fish if you aren't opposed to using bait.

 

Along with what RCD said, I rented a boat few years ago on Lee's Ferry and man it was cool.

 

Another backpack/fish trip I have always wanted to take is East Clear Creek...

[Tdub]

I haven't been there since the fire, but have heard there are fish being caught. I would say the lower you go on the black the better you will do. I would stay well below the point of pines area if it were me. They hit almost everything one more that you might use would be hellgrammites. We are trying to fish it the end of May, I'm excited to get back there.

[wildwoody]

how did we get from black river to lee's farrie

[Avid Hunter]

Thanks for the pointers everyone.. Its going to take some more research on my end before we decide to do. It's either going to here or Lees Ferry. Really wish I had made it out to the Black before the fire so I could have seen what it used to be like.

[txspeck]

I went last year (early summer) and we caught a bunch. HOWEVER, the average size of the fish we were catching was 8-10". Lots and lots of little bass which was great for the kids as they would bite anything that hit the water. Awesome country and as long as your not going out there expecting to catch a lot of 3-5 pounders it was fun to be out on the reservation. Had our section of the river all to ourselves the whole trip. I think the biggest caught (or seen) was maybe a shade over a pound. Water was clear and flowing and seemed pretty healthy. This is the one and only time I have fished the Black.

 

Whatever you decide will be good, always a good time.