Flyfisher's Guide to Arizona (Flyfisher's Guides) [Paperback]

Will Jordan (Author)

Book Description

Series: Flyfisher's Guides | Publication Date: January 16, 2008

Arizona has a myriad of great trout streams that are overlooked and under-fished. The Indian reservations also provide outstanding flyfishing opportunities for trophy trout. Noted flyfisher, Will Jordan, spent years fishing Arizona. He covers in detail Lee s Ferry, the Colorado River watershed, the Verde River watershed, the Salt, Little Colorado, and Gila watersheds and their many waters. The Williams lakes, Flagstaff area lakes and the warmwater fisheries are also covered. There are over 39 detailed river maps, as well as hatch charts, recommended flies, and travel information to help you plan your next flyfishing trip to Arizona. The Flyfisher's Guide to Arizona is the 30th book in our flyfishing guide series.

Editorial Reviews

Review

This new Flyfisher's Guide to Arizona joins the long list of highly acclaimed Flyfisher's Guides published by Wilderness Adventures Press in Belgrade, Montana. Now a Montana resident himself, author Will Jordan spent more than two decades exploring the backcountry streams and rivers in Arizona. He attended college in Flagstaff and worked at Grand Canyon National Park for four years. He is currently involved with a new publishing endeavor, Montana Sporting Journal, in Billings. Jordan's vast experience and expertise are evident in this book. After a thorough introduction to Arizona and its geography, he divides the state's fisheries into five main watersheds: the Colorado, Verde, Salt, Little Colorado, and Gila rivers. He also includes information pertaining to a number of the state's warmwater fisheries as well as miscellaneous trout waters, including Navajo Nation fisheries, Flagstaff-area fisheries, and Williams-area fisheries. While the majority of the book focuses on where-to and when-to advice, Jordan also includes helpful how-to information on tactics he has found successful on the small trout streams and rivers that characterize Arizona. Each major watershed is covered in great detail, beginning with specific rivers, lakes, and streams, as well as many of the tributaries to major rivers. Information deals with seasons, special regulations, maps, specific characteristics, flows, and river mile data. Special species (trout and bass) are noted for certain bodies of water. Especially valuable are the listings and drawings of Arizona game fish, material on etiquette and catch-and-release requirements, trip planning, the top 10 trout flies for Arizona with photographs and tying instructions and a glossary of acronyms and jargon. The book concludes with up-to-date data for Arizona fly shops and sporting goods stores, a listing of guides and outfitters, contact information for each of the six regions of the six regions of the Arizona Game and Fish Department, useful Web sites, and a detailed index. --Jack W. Berryman, Southwest Fly Fishing magazine

I wish I had read Will Jordan's "Flyfisher's Guide to Arizona" when I arrived in Arizona in 1961. I would have taken up fly-fishing and it would have changed my life. As it was, I had to discover Arizona's streams on my own. Possessing a sturdy binding and slick cover, this 6-by-9-inch softcover from Wilderness Adventures Press is a "where-to" rather than a "how-to" guidebook. The assumption is that the reader knows how to fly-fish and tie flies, and wants to know where to find the best streams and lakes. The author, a graduate of Northern Arizona University, has spent more than 20 years fishing, photographing and writing about Arizona's fly-fishing waters. After an introductory overview, Jordan organizes his book by watershed, beginning with the Colorado River and Arizona's fly-fishing mecca, Lee's Ferry. What follows are accurate descriptions of each region's fly-fishing waters and the fishes therein. Comprehensive rather than exhaustive, the book encapsulates each water's history and management status, directions on getting there, conditions likely encountered, best times to fish there, dates of peak flows, aquatic insect emergences and other fly-fishing essentials. As is to be expected, some regions are favored over others, with the White Mountains and Apache Indian Reservations predominately featured. Poorly producing streams are discussed, along with blue-ribbon sites. Flagstaff's lakes are in a separate section, as are warmwater fisheries and other select sites. In addition to recommending tactics and tackle, the author includes pertinent information on each location's trails and access peculiarities, while giving advice on potential float trips and backpacking possibilities. Information about campsites and other accommodations also is provided. Maps and photos are distributed generously throughout the book. As the book progresses, the reader is treated to accurate natural-history descriptions of the six principal game fishes taken on fly rods - each accompanied by a black-and-white drawing. Up-to-date information is given for the two native trout. There also are suggestions regarding stream etiquette, catch-and-release methods and trip planning. Toward the end, the reader is provided clear presentations and descriptions of the author's top 10 flies, both dry and wet, complete with suggestions as to when and where to use them. Last but not least, the book contains a succinct index and glossary, phone numbers and websites for Arizona fly shops and fly-fishing organizations and contact information for land management agencies. Not every stream is included, as the author considers some places too fragile for general use. I was therefore please to find my best trout water included and my pet stream omitted. Some things are best learned by oneself, and reading this book will get you off to a great start! --David E. Brown, Arizona Wildlife Views magazine

About the Author

Will is an outdoorsman with over two decades of experience in exploring the remote backcountry streams and rivers of Arizona. As an avid flyfisherman, photographer, and writer, Will is a contributor to Southwest Fly Fishing magazine and Montana Sporting Journal.

Product Details

• Paperback: 294 pages
• Publisher: Wilderness Adventures Press, Inc. (January 16, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932098542
• ISBN-13: 978-1932098549
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #962,734 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent resource, December 20, 2011

By 

Jay Spicer - See all my reviews

This review is from: Flyfisher's Guide to Arizona (Flyfisher's Guides) (Paperback)

The Flyfisher's Guide to Arizona is an indispensable resource for flyfishing Arizona. From the well-known stuff like Lee's Ferry to some tiny trickles, Will Jordan covers it all. Trout (including where you can find gila and apache trout), smallmouth bass, and other species are covered. Flagstaff, Phoenix, Tucson, Sedona - you name it, it's covered. Useful maps and hatch charts as well, and a list of flies and recipes to get you started. Highly recommended.