Silver Creek

River Map

About Silver Creek

A short spring-fed creek flowing through the Show Low area at around 6,500 feet, Silver Creek punches well above its size with a consistent cold-water source that produces surprisingly technical wild trout fishing. The clear, slow-moving water and cautious fish reward fine tippet and delicate presentations — this is Arizona's closest analog to a classic spring creek. Winter access when other streams are frozen or inaccessible makes it a go-to for year-round fly fishers based in the White Mountains.

Regulations

October 1 through March 31: catch-and-release only, artificial flies or lures with single barbless hooks, no bait or scents. April 1 through September 30: standard AZGFD trout regulations apply. Note: the USGS gauge is located near Snowflake, well downstream and at lower elevation than the primary fishing water near Show Low; use it as a regional flow indicator — upper Silver Creek will run considerably lower than gauge readings suggest.

Learn More

Guides to help you fish Silver Creek 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…