Salt River

Photo: National Photo Company Collection Opens in a new tab. · Public domain

Should I go fishing?

Go with caution.

No single best way to fish. Wading, Bank fishing, and Floating have the same top score. Use current access, footing, weather, and local rules to choose.

Check first: Water temperature is unconfirmed. Use a stream thermometer before fishing.

Rating updatedRiver local time: Sep 12, 2026, 1:30 AM MST

Why this recommendation?

USGS shows 758 cfs. The flow has been stable over about 6 hours. USGS marks this reading provisional and may revise it. USGS records for this date (1941-2025, 81 readings) show a median near 1,280 cfs and the lower quartile near 982 cfs; today's flow is below normal for the date. This is below normal, so edge depth, temperature, and pressure matter.

Available live dataHighHow much of the live flow, weather, and alert data came back.

Confidence in this recommendationMediumWater temperature not verified; do not use this score to clear warm-water risk.

Usually checks again about every 45 minutes

If you go

Check first: Use USGS 09502000 before wading because releases can make familiar water unsafe.
Try: Read the USGS gauge before leaving home. If releases are much higher than your comfort level, plan to fish from banks or pick another water.
Leave when: Skip trout fishing when heat or water temperature is stressful, releases make wading pushy, seasonal closure language blocks your chosen access, storms or muddy inflow affect the river, or tubing traffic makes controlled presentations unrealistic.

Flow and weather

Showing server-checked river conditions while current readings refresh.

Flow: 758 cfs; Rising over about 6 hoursU.S. Geological Survey may revise this reading
Air forecast: 87°F
Next 24h high: 101.0°F
NWS air forecast near Sep 12, 2026, 5:00 PM MST
Rain chance: 56%

This is an air forecast, not a river-temperature reading. Check the water with a stream thermometer before fishing in hot weather.

7-day U.S. Geological Survey chart

Recent flow

Discharge

775 cfs494 cfs

Sep 5Sep 12

Latest reading: 758 cfs. Rising over about 6 hours. Chart covers Sep 5 through Sep 12; readings are provisional and may be revised.

Latest stored weather check

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Wind: 0 mph
Weather checked: Sep 12, 2026, 12:00 AM MST

More forecast and source details

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

National Weather Service

Lower Salt River forecast point

The National Weather Service forecast is temporarily unavailable.

Live data

Where these readings come from

Current U.S. Geological Survey gauge: Salt River below Stewart Mountain Dam

Rising over about 6 hoursU.S. Geological Survey may revise this readingObserved Sep 12, 2026, 1:00 AM MST

Official U.S. Geological Survey station Opens in a new tab.Official NWS forecast Opens in a new tab.

These values are from the latest server-checked river data. JavaScript can refresh them with newer readings. Use the official links below for the newest readings before you fish.

Flies for this time of year

Seasonal starting points, not a live hatch report. Match what you see on the water.

See flies for every season

SeasonWhat to look forFlies to try

Winter

What to look forMidges, small mayflies, light subsurface drift

Flies to try

Zebra midgesZebra Midge RS2-style emergersRS2 pheasant tailsPheasant Tail Nymph small eggsEgg Fly Patterns

Spring

What to look forMidges, small olives, caddis, baitfish and crayfish movement

Flies to try

Soft hacklesSoft-Hackle Wet Flies hare's earsGold-Ribbed Hare's Ear Nymph caddis pupaCaddis Pupa Patterns small streamersTrout Streamer Patterns

Also try crayfish

Summer

What to look forTerrestrials, baitfish, crayfish, warmwater forage

Flies to try

Small poppersBass and Panfish Popper Patterns woolly buggersWoolly Bugger clousersClouser Deep Minnow hoppers near shadeGrasshopper Patterns

Also try crayfish

FallThis season

What to look forMidges, small mayflies, baitfish, crayfish

Flies to try

Zebra midgesZebra Midge pheasant tailsPheasant Tail Nymph soft hacklesSoft-Hackle Wet Flies leechesLeech Patterns small streamersTrout Streamer Patterns

High release

What to look forLimited surface hatch matching

Flies to try

Weighted streamersTrout Streamer Patterns eggsEgg Fly Patterns large nymphsGeneral Nymph Patterns

Also try worms, crayfish on inside edges

Each fly name opens its matching Fly Box guide.

More fishing tips

Methods, fish species and trip notes

How to fish Salt River today.

The best Lower Salt plan starts with the release schedule and your target species. Cooler months can make trout tactics useful when fish are stocked or holding over, while warmer periods often shift the plan toward bass, sunfish, catfish, and careful low-light trout fishing.

Low release

Look for connected depth, shade, and soft seams. Low water can make fish spooky and can also expose rough footing.

Moderate stable release

This is the best all-around window for wading, nymphing, swinging soft hackles, and fishing streamers from safe edges.

High release

Treat the river as a boat or bank plan, not a casual wade. Fish inside bends, eddies, and protected banks only where legal and safe.

Summer heat

Fish early or late, carry water, and do not force trout fishing if water temperature or fish condition makes it a poor choice.

Wading, bank fishing or floating?

Access choicesNo single best option

Wading, Bank fishing, and Floating have the same top score. Use current access, footing, weather, and local rules to choose.

Wading50/100

Wading is in play only where your chosen access has clear footing, legal entry, and no forced crossings.

Bank fishing50/100

Bank and edge fishing remains a practical low-commitment option if access is legal and footing is safe.

Floating50/100

A float is in play where this report supports boat access and wind, releases, and shuttle logistics are manageable.

Full river report

Is Salt River worth the trip today? Check flow, weather, hatches, access, and rules for Arizona before you go.

The Lower Salt River is close to Phoenix and easy to reach, but the fishing plan depends on releases from Stewart Mountain Dam, busy recreation traffic, seasonal access closures, and whether you are targeting stocked trout, bass, or warmwater fish.

Fishing words used on this page

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) gauge: A USGS gauge is an official river station that measures flow or water height.
Cubic feet per second (cfs): Cubic feet per second, or cfs, shows how much water passes the gauge each second.
Nymph: A nymph is a young water insect. Anglers also use the word for a fly that copies it.
Presentation: Presentation means how you cast and move the fly so it looks natural to a fish.
Seam: A seam is the line where fast and slow water meet.
Blue-winged olive (BWO): Blue-winged olives, or BWOs, are small mayflies that often hatch in cool or cloudy weather.
Caddis: Caddis are small water insects. The adults look a little like tiny moths.
Emerger: An emerger copies an insect as it rises from below the water toward the surface.
Midge: Midges are tiny flies and a common trout food, especially in cold water.
Soft hackle: A soft-hackle fly has moving fibers that can look like an insect rising through the water.

Why this call

Why this score

FlowUse caution

HeatUse caution

The current NWS air forecast is about 87F, and the next 24-hour high reaches about 101F. This is an air forecast, not a water-temperature reading. Fish early and check the river with a stream thermometer.

Short-term weatherUse caution

The forecast has storm or heavy-precipitation risk, so timing and access matter more than the score alone.

Best mode nowUse caution

Wade: Wading is in play only where your chosen access has clear footing, legal entry, and no forced crossings.

SeasonHelps

Fall: Cooling weather can improve comfort and make streamers, nymphs, and bass tactics useful while you wait for current stocking information.

Trip notes

Check these before you choose a reach.

Best flows

Use the Stewart Mountain Dam gauge and release trend more than a fixed target number. Stable moderate releases are the cleanest all-around fishing window. Sharp release changes, high water, or extreme heat should narrow the plan fast.

When to leave

Skip trout fishing when heat or water temperature is stressful, releases make wading pushy, seasonal closure language blocks your chosen access, storms or muddy inflow affect the river, or tubing traffic makes controlled presentations unrealistic.

Local plan

Start with the gauge and closure check, then choose the access style: Water Users for a quick release read, Blue Point or Pebble Beach for classic area access, and Phon D Sutton or Goldfield only after confirming current parking and use conditions.

Backup water

If the Lower Salt is too hot, high, crowded, or closure-limited, compare Oak Creek, Canyon Creek, or a legal lake/warmwater option after checking each route's current access and rules.

Salt River access and rules.

Use these places as starting points. Open the access link below and check posted signs before you park or enter.

Before you go

Verify the current Arizona rules and posted Tonto National Forest closures before fishing. The 2025 and 2026 Arizona rules list seasonal bald eagle closure areas on the Salt River, including below Stewart Mountain Dam where vehicle or foot entry on the south side may be closed from Dec. 1 through June 30 while floating through is allowed. Lower Salt/Verde is also listed as an aquatic invasive species affected water.

Where to access the river

Water Users Day Use Area

A popular kayak and tubing access on the Lower Salt. It can become very busy during summer months.

Blue Point Day Use Area

A riparian day-use area suited to floating and birding. Fish early before recreation traffic builds.

Pebble Beach Day Use Area

A popular river access and tubing point. Useful for scouting, but expect pressure.

Goldfield and Phon D Sutton

Lower river access areas with day-use logistics, shade structures in places, and seasonal closure considerations nearby.

Stewart Mountain Dam / Saguaro Lake context

The USGS gauge below Stewart Mountain Dam is the primary release reference for this report.

Many Tonto National Forest day-use areas require a Tonto pass or other accepted pass. Check the current site page before driving.
Day-use sites may prohibit overnight camping and can have different restroom, fee, and parking conditions.
Summer recreation traffic can make a technically good fishing flow unpleasant for fly fishing. A dawn plan is often better.
As of this review on May 24, 2026, Tonto National Forest had Stage 1 fire restrictions in effect for the summer restriction window. Recheck before using stoves, campfires, or grills.
The Lower Salt/Verde system is listed by Arizona as an aquatic invasive species affected water, so clean, drain, and dry gear.
Do not rely on informal social posts for closures. Use official Tonto National Forest and Arizona rule sources.

If this water does not fit the day, check another report before you start the drive.

ArizonaOak Creek fishing reportA shaded canyon trout stream when you want colder small water and can handle Sedona access pressure.

ArizonaCanyon Creek fishing reportA Mogollon Rim trout creek with a more mountain-stream feel and special-regulation planning.

ArizonaColorado River fishing reportArizona's major cold tailwater option when you want trout water with clear flows and canyon logistics.

See all Arizona fly fishing reports

Sources and report details

Official agencies and primary river operators come first. Secondary tools are labeled so you know what carries the most weight.

Rules and closures

Check what is allowed, where the rule applies, and whether the river is open.

Fishing rulesOfficial agency2025 and 2026 Arizona fishing regulationseregulations.com (opens in a new tab)

Flow and weather

Check the latest river reading and forecast before you leave.

SafetyOfficial agencyNational Weather Service forecast point near the Lower Salt Riverforecast.weather.gov (opens in a new tab)

Access and land

Check public entry points, land rules, and seasonal access changes.

Public accessOfficial agencyTonto National Forest: Lower Salt River seasonal bald eagle closuresfs.usda.gov (opens in a new tab)

Rules and closures

Check what is allowed, where the rule applies, and whether the river is open.

Fishing rulesOfficial agency2025 and 2026 Arizona fishing regulationseregulations.com (opens in a new tab)

What this source covers

Open the current rules and check the river section, season, and special limits.

Fishing rulesOfficial agencyArizona Game and Fish fishing resources and stocking schedulesazgfd.com (opens in a new tab)

What this source covers

Open the current rules and check the river section, season, and special limits.

Flow and weather

Check the latest river reading and forecast before you leave.

SafetyOfficial agencyNational Weather Service forecast point near the Lower Salt Riverforecast.weather.gov (opens in a new tab)

What this source covers

Open this page and check the latest safety advice before your trip.

River readingOfficial agencyUSGS current conditions: Salt River below Stewart Mountain Dam, AZwaterdata.usgs.gov (opens in a new tab)

What this source covers

Open this river reading to check the latest level, flow, and update time.

River readingSecondary river toolRiverReports: Salt River below Stewart Mountain Dam, checked but flow unavailableriverreports.com (opens in a new tab)

What this source covers

Open this river reading to check the latest level, flow, and update time.

Access and land

Check public entry points, land rules, and seasonal access changes.

Public accessOfficial agencyTonto National Forest: Lower Salt River seasonal bald eagle closuresfs.usda.gov (opens in a new tab)

What this source covers

Open the land or access page, then check signs before you park or enter.

Public accessOfficial agencyTonto National Forest: Mesa Ranger Districtfs.usda.gov (opens in a new tab)

What this source covers

Open the land or access page, then check signs before you park or enter.

Public accessOfficial agencyTonto National Forest: Phon D Sutton Day Use Areafs.usda.gov (opens in a new tab)

What this source covers

Open the land or access page, then check signs before you park or enter.

Quick questions

Is the Lower Salt River good for fly fishing?

Yes, but it is a mixed-species desert river. It can be good for trout during cool stocked windows and for bass or warmwater fish when water and weather shift.

What gauge should I check?

Use USGS 09502000, Salt River below Stewart Mountain Dam. The RiverReports page was checked, but the live flow display was unavailable during this build.

Can I wade the Salt River?

Sometimes, but wading depends on dam releases. Check the gauge, stay conservative, and avoid crossings when the release is high or rising.

What flies should I bring?

Bring zebra midges, pheasant tails, eggs, worms, soft hackles, woolly buggers, crayfish, small baitfish, and a few bass poppers.

Salt River

Go with caution.

If you go