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Tonto Creek flowing below Horton Creek in Arizona
All Arizona reports

Tonto Creek

Photo: Richard N Horne Opens in a new tab. · CC BY-SA 4.0

Should I go fishing?

Skip fishing here today.

No access method is recommended today. Review the live conditions below before choosing another river or day.

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

Rating updatedRiver local time:

Why this recommendation?

USGS shows 0 cfs. Recent readings do not show a clear trend. USGS marks this reading provisional and may revise it. USGS records for this date (1941-2025, 85 readings) show a median near 9 cfs and a low-water marker near 0 cfs; today's flow is unusually low for the date. Low water can make fish spooky, warm, pressured, or concentrated; check temperature and handling risk.

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
Check the active Tonto National Forest bridge-construction closure before choosing Horton, Upper Tonto, or Lower Tonto access.
Try
Move slowly and fish upstream when possible so the first cast lands before your shadow does.
Leave when
Skip it when Forest Service closures affect the access you planned, monsoon storms or runoff stain the creek, road conditions are unsafe, water is too warm for trout, or the downstream gauge is rising enough to make crossings questionable.

Flow and weather

Showing server-checked river conditions while current readings refresh.
Flow
0 cfs
From the latest stored river check. Open the official source for the newest reading.
Air forecast
67°F
Next 24h high
86.0°F

NWS air forecast near

Rain chance
70%

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

Latest stored weather check

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Wind
2 mph
Weather checked
More forecast and source details

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

National Weather Service

Tonto Creek forecast point

The National Weather Service forecast is temporarily unavailable.

Live data

Where these readings come from

RiverReports gauge: Tonto Creek above Gun Creek near Roosevelt

Official USGS station Opens in a new tab.RiverReports gauge Opens in a new tab.Official NWS forecast Opens in a new tab.

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

Each fly name opens its matching Fly Box guide.

More fishing tips

Methods, fish species and trip notes

How to fish Tonto Creek today.

This is a small-water report. Short casts, quiet movement, and flexible access planning matter more than long leaders or heavy rigs. If closures or storms make the upper creek impractical, shift to nearby Rim water instead of forcing the plan.

Low and clear

Stay back from pools, use one light nymph or a small dry-dropper, and avoid repeated casts through the same pocket.

Stable medium flow

Cover pocket water, plunge pools, and undercut edges with short drifts and frequent fly changes.

Rising or stained

Skip crossings and fish only soft edges if the water is safely approachable. Flash flooding can make the creek dangerous quickly.

Winter or post-storm

Road snow, ice, and bridge work can matter more than the fly box. Confirm access before leaving Payson.

Wading, bank fishing or floating?
Not recommended todayChoose another river or day

No access method is recommended in today's conditions. Review the live river and weather checks before making another plan.

Wading40/100

Not recommended today. Recheck the river, weather, and access before planning another trip.

Bank fishing40/100

Not recommended today. Recheck the river, weather, and access before planning another trip.

Floating40/100

Not recommended today. Recheck the river, weather, and access before planning another trip.

Full river report

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

Tonto Creek can be a useful small-stream trout plan, but the current trip should start with Forest Service closure notices, fire restrictions, and the downstream gauge before you drive up the Rim.

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.
Attractor fly
An attractor fly is bright or bold. It draws a strike without copying one exact insect.
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.
Dry-dropper
A dry-dropper rig has a floating fly with an underwater fly tied below it.
Midge
Midges are tiny flies and a common trout food, especially in cold water.
Pocket water
Pocket water is a small calm spot among rocks or fast current.
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

USGS shows 0 cfs. Recent readings do not show a clear trend. USGS marks this reading provisional and may revise it. USGS records for this date (1941-2025, 85 readings) show a median near 9 cfs and a low-water marker near 0 cfs; today's flow is unusually low for the date. Low water can make fish spooky, warm, pressured, or concentrated; check temperature and handling risk.

HeatUse caution

The current NWS air forecast is about 67F, and the next 24-hour high reaches about 86F. 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.

SeasonHelps

Fall: Cooler weather and lighter pressure can make short technical sessions more useful if flows are stable.

Public alertsHelps

No active NWS alert was returned for this forecast point.

Trip notes

Check these before you choose a reach.

Best flows

Use RiverReports and USGS 09499000 as a trend and safety reference, then verify upper-creek clarity and access. Stable or slowly falling clear water is best. Rising, stained, or storm-fed water should move the day to scouting or another route.

When to leave

Skip it when Forest Service closures affect the access you planned, monsoon storms or runoff stain the creek, road conditions are unsafe, water is too warm for trout, or the downstream gauge is rising enough to make crossings questionable.

Local plan

Start with the closure and fire-restriction check, then compare Horton, Upper Tonto, Lower Tonto, and accessible pocket water only after flow, weather, and road conditions still support the trip.

Backup water

If Tonto Creek is closed, storm-stained, warm, or too low, compare Canyon Creek, Oak Creek, Silver Creek, or a legal Rim lake after checking current rules and access.

Tonto Creek 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 fishing rules, special fishing rule tables, license requirements, Forest Service closures, and posted signs before fishing. Do not assume campground, trailhead, or hatchery-adjacent access is open just because older reports describe it.

Where to access the river

Horton Creek and Tonto Creek access area

Useful Rim-country access when open, but it is affected by the 2026 Forest Road 289 bridge-construction closure notices.

Upper and Lower Tonto Creek campgrounds

Forest Service campground access can put you near fishable water, but seasonal closures and construction notices must be checked.

Tonto Creek Hatchery area

Good for orientation and learning, but public access to fish-rearing areas is restricted and the hatchery is not a fishing beat.

Forest Road 289 area

Road access can be affected by bridge work, winter storms, and fire restrictions. Read the current alerts before relying on it.

  • Tonto National Forest published a temporary closure affecting Upper and Lower Tonto Creek campgrounds and Horton Creek trailhead parking from March 9 through Dec. 31, 2026.
  • Forest Road 289 may remain passable during work, but delays or changing site access can still affect the day.
  • The hatchery road is paved to the facility, but AZGFD warns winter weather can still close or complicate public visitation.
  • Lower drainage access can involve private property, reservoir conditions, and seasonal bald-eagle closures near Roosevelt Lake.
  • Use official signs, current fire restrictions, and Forest Service alerts if they differ from older fishing reports.

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

ArizonaOak Creek fishing reportA more famous Arizona canyon trout option with its own access, crowd, and regulation checks.ArizonaCanyon Creek fishing reportAnother Mogollon Rim trout creek when you need a different small-stream plan.ArizonaSilver Creek fishing reportA White Mountains hatchery-property fishery with very different seasonal rules.
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.

Flow and weather

Check the latest river reading and forecast before you leave.

Access and land

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

More helpful links

Use these links for stocking, safety, and other local details.

See all 8 checked sources

Rules and closures

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

Flow and weather

Check the latest river reading and forecast before you leave.

Access and land

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

More helpful links

Use these links for stocking, safety, and other local details.

Source check is old. Last checked . Open the official links now and check for changes.

See something wrong? Report a source problem. Please do not send private spots or private access notes.

How this report was checked

How this report was checked

Trip guidance checked

What was checked: This report starts with official regulation, access, flow, weather, and public-river sources, then adds practical planning guidance for anglers.

Live measurements and forecasts keep their provider timestamps. Rules, access, and trip guidance use the source-review date shown here. BlueStreamFly planning advice is editorial interpretation, not an agency notice.

First-hand experience: BlueStreamFly does not claim a first-hand visit or local field test for this report unless a real contributor is explicitly named and linked.

Quick questions

Is Tonto Creek good for fly fishing?

It can be, especially as a small-stream Rim-country trout plan, but current access and water conditions decide whether it is worth the drive.

What flow should I check for Tonto Creek?

Use RiverReports and USGS 09499000 for trend context, but remember the gauge is downstream and may not perfectly describe upper creek pockets.

Are there closures on Tonto Creek?

Yes, current Forest Service notices affect key campground and trailhead areas in 2026. Check official alerts before leaving.

What flies should I bring?

Bring small caddis dries, parachute Adams, ants, beetles, pheasant tails, hare's ears, zebra midges, perdigons, and a few small buggers.