PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) plans to stock rainbow trout this week into the lower 3 mile walk-in section of Lees Ferry, Arizona’s premier blue-ribbon trout fishery below Glen Canyon Dam.

This will be the first trout stocking at Lees Ferry since 1998.

“Lees Ferry has long been considered a world-class trout fishery,” AZGFD Commissioner Kurt Davis said. “As a managing agency for this invaluable resource, we’re thrilled to begin providing anglers with even more opportunity to make memories at this breathtaking destination.”

After AZGFD creel survey results had been showing a dramatic decrease in angler catch rates, rainbow trout fishing during the past couple years seems to have recovered somewhat in the upper portion of the river with reports of large rainbow trout being captured.

Regardless of the improvement, trout fishing in the walk-in area has not recovered as quickly as AZGFD had hoped. This stocking is intended to boost sport-fishing opportunities for rainbow trout at this walk-in portion.

AZGFD plans to stock more trout as necessary, beginning again in April, to further address low catch rates and angler satisfaction.

“Lees Ferry is regarded as one of the top tailwater rainbow trout fisheries in the nation,” AZGFD Aquatic Wildlife Branch Chief Chris Cantrell said. “Even more impressive is that the fishing at this massive, clear-running river has an enormous impact on the economy near Marble Canyon.”

On the heels of last week’s high flow event, fishing could be excellent because these flows make aquatic invertebrates (fish food) available to trout. Normal flows should offer great wading and fishing this fall.

See more information on fishing in Arizona.