Black River Small Mouth

[andrewmilich]

I have heard fishing the lower black river for smallies is great.  I have never been there.  Can anyone give me some honest suggestions as to where to go that would be decent.  I have a 4x4 vehicle as I know some places say that's needed.  Also what do you guys typically use?  I guess another question is...is it even open to fish right now?  thanks for all the help.  I fished smallies a lot in the midwest but never in Arizona. 

 

 

[wish2hunt]

It used to be great fishing there, haven’t been in a while though. Pumpkin colored grubs worked great. Anything crawdad color should work.

[andrewmilich]

8 minutes ago, wish2hunt said:

It used to be great fishing there, haven’t been in a while though. Pumpkin colored grubs worked great. Anything crawdad color should work.

not even sure how to get there any help?  tick flats?  or where?

 

 

[stanley]

Yep, still pretty good fishing.  At least it was two summers ago....    Was VERY good in the old days, and seemed to be starting to come back in the past couple of years.  Agreed with wish2hunt regarding lures, though my primary the last few trips has been a fly rod with streamers for the smallies and nymphs for the browns/rainbows (generally fish up-river far enough to get into plenty of trout).   Have also had great luck with black rooster tails if using spinning gear.  As to whether it is open or not, you should call the San Carlos tribe to confirm.  Also be aware that if you are going to fish or access the north side, you need a White Mountain permit.

Regarding location, do a Google search for the 'pump station' on the Black river (Point of Pines is a reference point to get you in the rough area on a map).  Look for the 2000 road NE from Point of Pines, and then take the 1560 road to the river from there.  Pump station is well known, so not giving away anybody's secret spot there.  Good place for an initial trip to get to know the rough area, and then you can explore from there to find your own honey holes.  

 

[andrewmilich]

6 minutes ago, stanley said:

Yep, still pretty good fishing.  At least it was two summers ago....    Was VERY good in the old days, and seemed to be starting to come back in the past couple of years.  Agreed with wish2hunt regarding lures, though my primary the last few trips has been a fly rod with streamers for the smallies and nymphs for the browns/rainbows (generally fish up-river far enough to get into plenty of trout).   Have also had great luck with black rooster tails if using spinning gear.  As to whether it is open or not, you should call the San Carlos tribe to confirm.  Also be aware that if you are going to fish or access the north side, you need a White Mountain permit.

Regarding location, do a Google search for the 'pump station' on the Black river (Point of Pines is a reference point to get you in the rough area on a map).  Look for the 2000 road NE from Point of Pines, and then take the 1560 road to the river from there.  Pump station is well known, so not giving away anybody's secret spot there.  Good place for an initial trip to get to know the rough area, and then you can explore from there to find your own honey holes.  

 

thanks this is huge appreciate it

[AZBIG10]

1 hour ago, wish2hunt said:

It used to be great fishing there, haven’t been in a while though. Pumpkin colored grubs worked great. Anything crawdad color should work.

PM in bound. I owe my wife a fly fishing trip.

[oz31p]

1 hour ago, andrewmilich said:

thanks this is huge appreciate it

We fished tick flat june2019. All top water. 40-60 fish a day

rapala grass hoppers and crawdads just barley twitching them 

[CouesFanatic]

Are they still requiring a covid test within 72 hours?

[audsley]

Slow down a bit.  In normal times the Black River is running too high and fast to be fishable until late April or May.  Your lures/flies won't stay down and it's a little fast for feeding.  There's a website that proviides stream flows.  Right now it's showing a very low flow rate of 25.4 cfs at the pump station, but I suspect that rate will pick up when snow melt starts pouring in.   Someone in the north country might have a better feel for current conditions, but here's the site.  https://waterdata.usgs.gov/az/nwis/current/?type=flow

I always went in the summer.  Never heard of anyone fishing in the winter but won't say it can't be done.  Summer thunderstorms will turn the water too muddy to fish by late June or July, but it clears again about October.  Expect to see bears and protect your food.  You might have good luck with Senkos or crawdad imitation lures.

Note that the Point of Pines/pump station area is only reachable from the San Carlos side.  You need their permit which used to be $20 per day and probably still is.

[Allforelk]

Be prepared to jump saddles from hole to hole. Late May-Early June it is possible to exceed 60 fish a day. I caught my personal best on 6-6-06 at 1:30 in the afternoon, and I grew up fishing for smallies on Otisco Lake in NY. All of the reference points above will put you on fish. 

[Barlowbunch]

Roads ok this time of year?  Just moved back to the state and haven't been up here in 10 years.  Used to frequent it, but I can't for the life of me remember when we went.  Thinking of heading up this weekend with the kids. 

[stanley]

With the general lack of rain/snow, I'm thinking the roads will be just fine.  Likely just the usual rocky-bumpy ride.  

[Squirrel n Dumplings]

Does anyone know if you can still buy San Carlos fishing permits at that gas station in Globe? 

[trphyhntr]

59 minutes ago, Squirrel n Dumplings said:

Does anyone know if you can still buy San Carlos fishing permits at that gas station in Globe? 

I asked the other day on Facebook and was told no you can’t. That you gotta go to the gas station in front of the casino now or the game and fish  

[Phil Carr]

I was up there two weeks ago Turkey hunting. River is very low. The road are decent but rutted pretty good. Access to the pump station was closed. Whites crossing and 10 of Diamonds is accessible. Plan on doing lots of walking. Water in many areas less than a foot deep. 
The whole area is dry. Many of the tanks were empty. We did a little fishing and caught a few, but it’s not the same river I fished in the past.