Mountain West
East Fork Black River
Gauge data unavailable for East Fork Black River.
Check USGS directly ↗
24-Hr Pressure
22.53 inHg · → High/stable
Local Weather
Tough conditions — fish deep
Today
🌦️Drizzle
70° / 56°
Tomorrow
☁️Overcast
73° / 54°
Sat
🌧️Rain
68° / 58°
0.46"
Sun
⛈️Thunderstorm
74° / 54°
0.32"
Cold front incoming — go deep with nymphs, surface activity likely slow.
Weather by Open-Meteo · No API key · Updated every 30 min
What should I fish today?
⚡ AIAI-powered recommendation using today's live flow, temperature, and hatch data.
Time of Day
Using: PMDs
What should I pack?
Rod, flies, tippet, and safety gear specific to today's East Fork Black River conditions.
🪰 Hatch Calendar
East Fork Black River · July · Summer
Showing typical dates — water temperature data unavailable for live hatch predictions.
Select month
PMDs (size 16-18) at peak — best dry fly month. Caddis evenings. GREEN DRAKES (size 10-12) hatching mid-month — iconic Black River event. Yellow Sallies (size 14-16). Monsoon thunderstorms can spike flows late month.
River Map
About East Fork Black River
Arguably Arizona's finest wild trout destination, the East Fork Black River drains the high-elevation White Mountains through pristine Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest and Fort Apache Indian Reservation boundary lands, holding one of the largest accessible populations of genetically pure Apache trout in existence. The water is cold, remarkably clear, and runs very low — this is technical small-stream fishing in a remote, spectacular alpine setting. Access via US-191 and Forest Road 276 near Alpine puts you at one of the best Apache trout fisheries in the American Southwest.
Regulations
Valid Arizona fishing license required. Much of the best water requires a White Mountain Apache Tribe Recreation Permit in addition to the state license — purchase at tribal offices in Whiteriver or authorized dealers in Show Low. Apache Trout are catch-and-release only statewide. Verify current tribal season dates and special regulations before fishing; tribal rules supersede state rules on tribal lands. No active USGS gauge — check with local outfitters in Alpine or Eager, or use the Waterline app.
Learn More
Guides to help you fish East Fork Black River with more confidence.
Arizona Fishing Regulations for Fly Anglers
Licenses (no separate trout stamp), the year-round default season, the Apache Trout catch-and-release statewide rule, the West Fork Oak Creek…
Trout Species of Arizona
Arizona's only native trout — the Apache Trout, the state fish and one of the great Western recovery success stories — alongside wild brown trout on…
How Barometric Pressure Affects Fishing (And How to Use It)
That gorgeous bluebird day after a cold front? Worst fishing of the year. Here's the data behind why pressure changes matter more than the weather…