Fishing Season: Year Round

Tonto Creek - AZ

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

53

Orvis Phoenix 's Tip of the Week

Lots of good fishing at Tonto and it tribs, dry fly bites have been constant all day! Size 16 grey parachute is always a great prospecting fly! If you wanna catch some bigger fish in certain sections, throw a peeping caddis and bounce it off the bottom on undercut banks and hold on.

Directions open in app

Map of Tonto Creek

Water Flow Data

Tidal Conditions

5-Day Outlook as of 4/24/25

New Zealand Mud Snails have been found in Tonto Creek and AZGFD is asking for your cooperation in cleaning your boots when arriving and leaving! Spray your boots with Formula 409 and let dry for 15 mins and this has been working well.

Techniques & Tips as of 4/24/25

This is a small creek and a stealthy approach will rain supreme! Watch your shadows as you approach the pools and make your first cast count! If fishing below the Horton Creek confluence, try fishing some bigger streamers and you may hook into a Wild Brown. Peeping caddis imitations can produce some larger fish this time of year down there!

Local Species Available Year Round

  • Fish Icon

    Brown Trout

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    Rainbow Trout

Orvis Phoenix 's Recommended Fly Patterns

"Must-have" fly fishing patterns in descending order of importance:

Name: Colors: Size(s):
Tungsten Jig Bugger Black,olive 8-10
Griffith's Gnat black 18-22
Parachute Pheasant Tail phesant tail 16-20
Bead Head Krystal Caddis Larva Olive,tan 14-18
Semi Seal Dark colors (black/r 6-12
Perdigon Nymph Pearl 16-19
Tactical Peeping Caddis TH Jig olive 10-12
Bead Head Soft Hackle Pheasant Tail natural 14-18
Near Nuff Sculpin Olive 6
Rainbow Warrior Rainbow 16

Tungsten Jig Bugger

Bounce this tungsten streamer jig along the bottom and hold on.

2.99

Item #9R77

Buy Now

Orvis Phoenix 's Recommended Gear

Description: About Tonto Creek

Tonto Creek is one of several small streams along the Mogollon Rim NE of Payson, Arizona. It is one of the most accessible Rim creeks and boasts a hatchery at the headwaters. It is fed by Horton Creek just downstream of its headwaters, which is another favorite among small stream anglers. Further downstream Haigler Creek feeds it as it enters the Hellsgate Wilderness. Tonto Creek eventually ends up feeding Roosevelt Lake. The top 8 miles of Tonto garner the most attention from anglers as access to the lower stretches is extremely difficult and turns into a warmwater fishery deep within the Hellsgate Wilderness

Nearest Airport:

Payson

Hatches:

Caddis, Hoppers, Ants.

Best Time to Fish:

Sunrise to Sunset!

Best Stretch:

Bear Flat to Kohls Ranch

Best Access:

North of Kohls Ranch