Chevelon Creek
Fly fishing in Arizona · advanced · Best seasons: spring, fall
Target Species
Brown Trout
About This Water
Remote canyon stream with wild brown trout. Challenging access rewards with quality fishing.
Fishing Recommendations
Chevelon Creek is one of Arizona’s true "hidden gems" and arguably the finest wild Brown Trout stream in the Southwest. Tucked away in the rugged canyons of the Mogollon Rim, this is not a place for the casual "parking lot" angler. It is a destination for the hardy, the stealthy, and those who value wild fish in a spectacular, primitive setting.
As your guide, here is the comprehensive breakdown for tackling Chevelon Creek.
🎣 Location Overview
Chevelon Creek flows through a deep, sheer-walled basalt canyon on the Mogollon Rim, southeast of Winslow. What makes it special is its isolation and its Blue Ribbon status. Unlike the stocked rainbow streams nearby, Chevelon is managed for wild Brown Trout.
The water is characterized by a "pool-and-drop" morphology. You’ll find long, dark, incredibly deep pools connected by short, bouldery riffles. The water is often a tea-colored tint due to tannins from the pine forest above, which provides the perfect cover for ambush predators like the Brown Trout. It feels more like a miniature version of a canyon river in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison than a typical Arizona desert stream.
🐟 Target Species & Behavior
The primary draw here is the Wild Brown Trout. While you may occasionally find a stray Rainbow near the lake, the creek belongs to the Browns.
- Behavior: These fish are notoriously "spooky." Because the water is often clear and the canyon walls can reflect movement, these fish have high situational awareness.
- Feeding: They are highly piscivorous (fish-eating) once they hit the 12-inch mark. They also feed heavily on crayfish, which are abundant in the rocky crevices. During hatches, they will rise, but they are most famous for being "bank-tight" predators that wait for something substantial to swim by.
- Holding: Look for them in the "gloom." They love the undercut basalt banks, the shadows cast by the canyon walls, and the deep transition zones where a riffle enters a still pool.
📅 Best Times to Fish
Optimal Seasons
- Fall (Late September – November): The Prime Window. This is when the large resident Browns become aggressive and territorial as they prepare for the spawn. The weather is cool, and the "Monsoon" rains have usually subsided, leaving the water clear.
- Spring (April – Early June): Excellent fishing as the water warms up and fish become active after winter. However, you must watch for snowmelt runoff which can make the canyon descent dangerous and the water turbid.
Best Times of Day
- Dawn and Dusk: Brown Trout are photosensitive. The "magic hour" at Chevelon is often better than the rest of the day combined.
- Overcast Days: If you get a cloudy, moody day in the canyon, the fish will stay active in the shallows much longer.
🪰 Recommended Flies & Techniques
Top Fly Patterns
- Streamers:
- Simulator Craw: (Size 4-8) in rusty orange or olive.
- Woolly Bugger: (Size 6-10) in Black or Dark Olive.
- Sculpzilla: To mimic small baitfish.
- Nymphs:
- Prince Nymph: (Size 12-16) The flash works well in the tea-colored water.
- Hare’s Ear: (Size 14-18) Great for the riffles.
- Pats Rubber Legs: (Size 8-12) To mimic large stoneflies or small crayfish.
- Dries:
- Hopper patterns: (Size 8-12) in late summer/early fall.
- Parachute Adams: (Size 16-20) for midge or BWO hatches in the evening.
Techniques
- The "Strip and Pause": Fish streamers deep along the undercut banks. Cast as close to the rock wall as possible. Let it sink, then use erratic strips to mimic a wounded baitfish or escaping crayfish.
- Stealth Nymphing: In the riffles, use a high-stick nymphing technique. Because the pools are so still, a heavy indicator hitting the water will often spook every fish in the hole. Use a "dry-dropper" rig to keep things subtle.
- The Shadow Cast: Use the canyon shadows to your advantage. Fish the shady side of the creek even if the sun is high.
💡 Pro Tips & Local Knowledge
- Stay Out of the Water: If you can fish from the bank without being seen, do it. Wading in these still pools sends ripples across the surface that act like an alarm bell to wild Browns.
- The "Big Hole" Theory: Many anglers fish the first few pools and turn back. The further you hike downstream from the Chevelon Canyon Lake dam, the less pressure the fish see and the larger they tend to be.
- Crayfish Color: Turn over a few rocks. If the crayfish are molting, they might be blue-ish or bright orange. Match your streamer color to the bellies of the local crayfish.
- Gear: Use a 5-weight or 6-weight rod. While the creek is small, you need the backbone to throw heavy streamers and pull a 18-inch wild Brown away from submerged logs.
⚠️ Important Information
Access
- Access is primarily via Chevelon Canyon Lake. You have to hike down a steep, primitive trail from the rim to the dam, and then boulder-hop downstream.
- Physical Fitness: This is a strenuous trip. The hike out is a vertical climb of several hundred feet. Carry plenty of water.
Regulations
- Artificial Lures and Flies Only.
- Barbless Hooks are highly recommended (and often required depending on specific reach updates).
- Check the current Arizona Game & Fish (AZGFD) regulations, as Chevelon has specific bag limits (usually a 2-trout limit, but most serious anglers practice 100% Catch & Release here to preserve the wild genetics).
Safety
- Flash Floods: Never fish Chevelon if there is rain in the forecast anywhere on the Rim. The canyon is a funnel.
- Rattlesnakes: Black-tailed and Western Diamondbacks love the basalt talus slopes. Watch your hands when climbing over rocks.
- Cell Service: Non-existent once you drop below the rim. Tell someone your plan.
Guide’s Final Word: Chevelon Creek is a place that demands respect. If you put in the miles and move like a predator, it will reward you with the most beautiful, buttery-gold Brown Trout in the state of Arizona.
Bug Hatches & Matching Flies
| Hatch | Type | Peak months | Time of day | Hook sizes | Matching flies |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue-Winged Olive (BWO) Baetis spp. | mayfly | March, April, October, November | Midday | #18-22 | Parachute Adams #18-22, RS2 #20-22, Pheasant Tail Nymph #18-20 |
| Midges Chironomidae | midge | January, February, March, December | Morning/Afternoon | #20-24 | Zebra Midge #20-24, Griffith's Gnat #20-22, Morgan's Midge #22 |
| Pale Morning Dun (PMD) Ephemerella dorothea | mayfly | June, July | Late Morning/Early Afternoon | #16-18 | PMD Sparkle Dun #16-18, Pale Morning Dun Cripple #16, Military Mayfly #16-18 |
| Spotted Sedge Hydropsyche spp. | caddis | June, July, August | Evening | #14-16 | Elk Hair Caddis #14-16, LaFontaine's Deep Sparkle Pupa #14-16, Hydropsyche Larva #14 |
| Trico Tricorythodes spp. | mayfly | August, September | Early Morning | #22-26 | Trico Spinner #22-24, Sunken Trico Spinner #22-24 |
| Golden Stonefly Hesperoperla pacifica | stonefly | June, July | Afternoon/Evening | #8-12 | Pat's Rubber Legs #8-12, Rogue River Stone #10-12, Golden Stone Nymph #10 |
| Grasshoppers Orthoptera | terrestrial | August, September | Midday/Afternoon | #10-14 | Dave's Hopper #10-12, Amy's Ant #12-14, Fat Albert #10 |
| Crayfish Orconectes spp. | terrestrial | May, June, July, August | All Day/Crepuscular | #4-8 | Near Nuff Craw #6-8, Clouser Minnow (Rusty/Orange) #4-6, Simi Seal Leech #10-12 |