Fishing

Trout Challenge

Arizona Game and Fish Department Trout Challenge

Arizona’s Trout Challenge Program was developed to encourage anglers to learn more about fishing opportunities in the state. Arizona Game and Fish Department manages many waters statewide to provide anglers the opportunity to catch several different species of trout, including two  found only in the Southwest, Gila Trout and Apache Trout.

There are two ways for anglers to complete the Challenge

1. Catch all four species of wild trout in Arizona. These species include Apache, Brown, Brook, and Rainbow trout.
2. Catch at least six of the eight total species in Arizona (including hatchery-raised trout): Gila, Apache, Brown, Brook, Rainbow, Grayling, Cutthroat, and Tiger trout.

Application Form

Interactive Trout Challenge map

Email applications and photos to aztroutchallenge@azgfd.gov, 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

1. Anglers must submit a completed application with species, location caught, and date caught.
2. Anglers must submit photographs of each species caught.
3. Fish must be caught legally in Arizona waters.
4. Anglers will only be eligible to complete each Challenge once. After completing one Challenge, in order to be eligible for the second Challenge, all fish submitted must be from different waters.
5. 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

Wild Trout Challenge

The Arizona Wild Trout Challenge highlights 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 (ie. 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 in Arizona. The species is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, but thanks to conservation efforts led by Arizona Game and Fish Department, select waters are open to angling.  Gila Trout are also native to Arizona and listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.  Unfortunately, no populations are currently open to angling.  The Gila Trout requirement for the Wild Trout Challenge is currently suspended.  As recovery efforts for this species progress, waters will be added to the list of locations where wild Gila Trout can be caught and they will be included in the challenge again.  Anglers who complete the challenge without Gila Trout will have the opportunity to add them to their certificate once populations are open to angling.

Arizona Trout Challenge

The Arizona Trout Challenge was developed to get people out fishing across the state.  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.

For more information: 623-236-6753 or aztroutchallenge@azgfd.gov