The Black Sure isn't What it used to be

[Coach]

Kinda sad posting this. The Black River has always been a very special place for me. Certain parts of it I have asked my family to spread my ashes, should they outlive me. The last few trips, I've seen it more congested, more polluted, both from the fire and human disregard. I used to have places I could hike into and never see another person.

 

Now, no matter how far I hike up or down, I find more people. I get that - we all want to enjoy a limited stretch of river. But the attitude has become increasingly hostile. Everyone seems to have the same mentality and frustration. They/we think if we hike far enough we'll get that little stretch of river to our self, if just for a couple of hours.

 

Beyond the people, the river itself isn't doing well. The banks are knee-deep sludge from the fire runoff, and everything is coated with some gooey slime-type algae. It really breaks my heart to go down there and see areas littered in trash and human waste.

 

I used to consider the Black a sanctuary, but it sure isn't what it once was.

 

 

[Hoss50]

This saddens me. I have not been up there in years, but when I was young we use to take family vacations to the black almost every year and camp, hike, and fish. Some of my best childhood memories are of catching crawdads on the black and having cookouts. That was back when you could still camp right on the river too though.

[TRKHNTR]

Good choice on a place to have your ashes spread, years ago I spread my brothers ashes in that area one of his favorite places before he passed. I will agree with your assessment on the Black River area granted the Wallow fire has a lot to do with the problems and scenery of the area, I have to wonder if the new paved road all the way to Alpine has given more access to the area causing the congestion and trash.

[CouesPursuit]

The Black River was that 'guys trip' my dad would always attend every year, that I couldn't go on for years more until I was ready. It was a place that helped made me get good grades and be a good boy without even seeing it. "Catching fish 'til your elbows hurt," and "so many fish you can't count 'em," he'd say. I still get the chills when I think of George Strait's "The Best Day" and how my dad taking me for the first time made me feel. I lost track of how many fish I caught the first morning I was there. We didn't see another soul.

 

I started to see it coming as I went every year after that first trip in '98 until the wallow fire in '11. I thought it would just be a break and that it could be good for the river to get a clean slate and keep the people out for a few years. Unfortunately, I was very wrong. I've heard the fishing has picked back up from our family friends that still go, but I can't bring myself to corrupt the finest fishing memories I have with what you've described.

 

I've now been going to Lees Ferry a couple times every spring/summer for something (completely) different, which I understand is nowhere near what it was to others 20 years ago. I wish I was there for that, too. Crazy.

[bvanetten]

We do a Black river trip every may. Sometimes it's a backpack trip (this year was) sometimes we camp on top. We go in on the San Carlos Res. This trip has been going on every year for the pas 37 years. My buddy who has been planning this trip all this time keeps a journal of each trip, (who went, temp, weather conditions, fish caught, animals seen, fun things we did, etc).

 

The year before the wallow fire was the record for fish caught. 15 guys fishing for 3 full days landed 458 fish, with quite a few 2.5 + lb smallies. We'll eat a few fish on the river one day but the rest are catch and release. We didn't stop going after the fire, 37 year old tradition to uphold and all. First couple of years after the fire we would try the fishing on the river but spent quite a lot of time on the stock tanks on top and Point of Pines lake. Fishing was bad on the river but that was to be expected. There were still small bass but all the larger bass were gone as were all the trout. As bad as it was, every year got better. This year we broke the record. about the same # of guys fishing for 3 to 4 days landed 505 fish. A few 2+ lb smallies, a few 14+ inch rainbow. Average smallie was in the 1lb range. There is still ash/mud in the slower pools but they are much deeper now, like they used to be. The topwater fishing this year was incredible, nothing like a smallmouth bass slamming a popper. Only saw 2 other people on the river the whole time. Talked turkey with some Jakes, ran into a few bears, weather was great, ate like kings, as always a great time on the Black. As we always do, we hiked out any trash we found which wasn't much, maybe it's where we go but the river seems to be rather people trash free.

 

My boys absolutely love this trip and we have some others that go even though they don't fish. It's that great of a trip. In my eyes, the river took a big hit with the fire but it is on a good track to being as good as it was, this year is proof of that I think. Keep it hard to get to, keep it primitive, and it will always be good.

[Sneaker]

In the cycle of human consumption and modern communication, amazing resources are very hard to completely preserve and enjoy. Some of my best childhood memories were made on the river. Bears, innumerable fish, and all. If I were the tribes, I would be pushing to protect and guard that resource, doing counts, possibly limiting permits if need be etc, if things are turning for the worst?

[trphyhntr]

Kinda sad posting this. The Black River has always been a very special place for me. Certain parts of it I have asked my family to spread my ashes, should they outlive me. The last few trips, I've seen it more congested, more polluted, both from the fire and human disregard. I used to have places I could hike into and never see another person.

 

Now, no matter how far I hike up or down, I find more people. I get that - we all want to enjoy a limited stretch of river. But the attitude has become increasingly hostile. Everyone seems to have the same mentality and frustration. They/we think if we hike far enough we'll get that little stretch of river to our self, if just for a couple of hours.

 

Beyond the people, the river itself isn't doing well. The banks are knee-deep sludge from the fire runoff, and everything is coated with some gooey slime-type algae. It really breaks my heart to go down there and see areas littered in trash and human waste.

 

 

 

 

 

 

i havent been since 2001 but my friend caught 60 fish 2 weekends ago on the black. some nice ones too

[FancyRedneck]

I was there about 2 weekends ago , It is getting more popular. Just like Fossil Creek area the more people that let the secret out the more trashed your secret area gets trashed . Same with " honey holes ". We did good and for 8 guys we only took about 20 fish for a fish fry caught so many that we only took some before heading back to camp at 4 , saw 2 others down there that had a full stringer of cats maybe around 50 or so , some really good ones and some that were only 6-8 ". To each their own I guess.

[Allforelk]

My best Smallmouth to date came out of that river. I used to do a 4 day trip every year and would switch to my fly rod every other day to give the webbing between my fingers a break from my spinning reel. Only saw one other camp in all those trips. Pretty sure .270 has a good bear story on those waters if I remember correctly.

[ctafoya]

I must be lucky. We never run into anyone down there besides locals.

[lancetkenyon]

I have only been once for some unknown reason. A weekend trip with some buddies when they got out after Desert Storm. My best smallie was from the Black, about a 5#er. I thought I snagged in a small pool, until my rod doubled over. Ultralight gar is a blast with medium fish. Hiked in, stayed 3 days, caught about 40 fish. Saw deer in the river, elk, and a black bear about 30' from me at first light.

 

My Dad had a friend who passed away on that river. Not sure if he got killed by the bear, or the bear found him sometime after he passed away in his tent. Either way, they found some of his remains about 2 weeks after he didn't come home. Sad, but true, story.

[Zeke-BE]

This is depressing!! Az is running out of room. I'm one of the few locals. Family name actually settle here in the late 1800s. Also it doesn't help Arizona only has a few places for fishing. It's not like Idaho or Montana. . And please please don't mention the wallow fire