AZGFD Trout Challenge

Catch Trout. Explore Arizona. Join the Challenge.

Take the Arizona Trout Challenge and fish your way across the state. Catch each trout species, explore new waters, and earn recognition for completing the challenge.

Arizona’s Trout Challenge Program was developed to encourage anglers to learn more about fishing opportunities in Arizona. The Arizona Game and Fish Department manages many waters across the state to provide anglers the opportunity to catch several different species of trout, including the Gila Trout that is only found in Arizona and New Mexico, and the Apache Trout that is only found in the White Mountains of Arizona.

two ways to join the challenge

Catch at least six of the eight total species in Arizona (including hatchery-raised trout): Gila Trout , Apache Trout, Brown Trout, Brook Trout, Artic Grayling, Cutthroat Trout, and Tiger Trout.

Arizona Game and Fish Department manages approximately 100 waters for trout, providing anglers the opportunity to catch trout in nearly every region of the state. Currently, eight species of trout are stocked in Arizona, including Gila, Apache, Brown, Brook, Rainbow, Cutthroat, and Tiger trout and Grayling. This Challenge highlights the breadth of waters stocked in Arizona and the diversity of opportunities to catch unique trout species in the state.

Catch all five species of wild trout in Arizona. These species include Apache Trout, Gila Trout, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, and Brook trout.

The Arizona Wild Trout Challenge highlights the unique fisheries in Arizona that offer anglers the chance to pursue wild trout. Many of these fisheries are managed by Arizona Game and Fish Department either through special regulations (i.e., catch-and-release, limited harvest) or habitat improvement projects aimed at increasing natural reproduction in these populations. This Challenge also highlights the opportunity to fish for native Apache Trout and Gila Trout in Arizona.

*Anglers who completed the wild trout challenge without a Gila Trout while the Gila Trout requirement was suspended may submit a photo of a wild Gila Trout that they catch for verification along with the stream it was caught at, date caught, and gear type used (fly or lure) to the email or mailing address listed below.  You do not need to resubmit the full application.  After the Gila Trout is verified, it will be added to your certificate and a new wild trout challenge certificate will be issued.

Help Us Conserve Native Trout!

Your participation plays an important role in conserving native trout and their fisheries. By completing the Apache Trout Angler Survey / Gila Trout Angler Survey every time you fish for Apache Trout / Gila Trout, you are contributing valuable information about fishing effort, catch rates, and angler satisfaction. This information helps us to understand the status of native trout fisheries and make informed decisions to sustainably manage our state’s natural resources.

Thank you for helping conserve native trout for future generations!

Email applications and photos to [email protected], or mail to:
Arizona Game and Fish Department
5000 W. Carefree Highway
Phoenix, AZ 85086
WMAQ, Native Trout and Chub Program

Rules for the Challenge

• Anglers must submit a completed application with the locations and dates for each species caught.
• Anglers must submit photographs of each trout they caught.
• Trout must be caught legally, and in Arizona waters.
• Anglers will only be eligible to complete each Challenge once. After completing one Challenge, in order to be eligible for the second Challenge, trout of the same species must be caught from different water (i.e. if a Brown Trout is submitted from the West Fork Black River for one Challenge, a Brown Trout must be from another water to qualify for the second Challenge).
• Waters not listed for a given species will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. The program committee reserves the right to accept or deny any application

Upon successful completion of a Challenge, anglers will receive a certificate with color images of each species they caught and submitted for the Challenge. In addition to the certificates, anglers will receive an Arizona Trout Challenge hoodie after completing their first Challenge, and an Arizona Trout Challenge collectable coin after completing their second Challenge.

contact

623-236-7607
[email protected]