9/24/2009 10:23:00 PM Unique fishery opens Oct. 3 on Fossil Creek
Special to The Courier
Get your spinning gear and fly rods ready for the Oct. 3 grand opening of the first-ever seasonal, one-of-a-kind "Verde trout" fishery on Fossil Creek - one of the state's most distinct waterways.
Fossil Creek, located on the Tonto and Coconino National Forests, is about 15 miles east of Camp Verde and 5 miles west of the town of Strawberry. One can find it by driving along Forest Service Road 708.
Arizona Game and Fish Department biologists said the opening of this catch-and-release fishery for native roundtail chub, also known as Verde trout, is yet another chapter in the history of this picturesque travertine stream that has played an integral role in the development of Arizona.
Several groups and organizations, along with Game and Fish, will be available at Fossil Creek to provide information about the area and the importance of this fishery.
"This is a great way to teach people about this amazing area and the unique fishing opportunity it provides," Game and Fish biologist Scott Rogers said. "People need to know about this area, how to respect it, and the native fish species found in the creek."
Rogers added that anglers already have demonstrated their dedicated conservation abilities in helping renovate this creek.
"We feel that this fishery opens the door even wider for a whole new public appreciation for native fish species that will aid us in all our native fish recovery efforts," Rogers added.
This seasonal fishery requires anglers to use only artificial fly and lures, single barbless hooks and utilize catch-and-release techniques in which fish are immediately released unharmed.
The fishing season will be open from the first Saturday in October through April 30. Only the middle 4.5 miles of the creek is open to fishing and signs will be visible.
This portion of renovated creek is home to many of Arizona's imperiled native fish, including roundtail chub, speckled dace, longfin dace, desert suckers and Sonora suckers.
These fish now inhabit a healthy habitat thanks to an extensive renovation and reintroduction project conducted by Game and Fish, the Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Coconino National Forest, the Northern Arizona Flycasters and Arizona Public Service.
The project featured the removal of nonnative fish, construction of a fish barrier on the lower portion of the creek and the decommissioning of the Childs hydroelectric power plant.
Reader Comments
Posted: Friday, September 25, 2009
Article comment by:
Michelle Harrington
There are extremely few roundtail chub, aka Verde trout, in Fossil Creek. Most are headwater chub, which are a species of special concern in Arizona. Headwater chub are also nearly impossible to differentiate from roundtail. Fossil Creek should not be opened to fishing. Visitation to the creek is already out of control. Now the newly restored fishery itself will be under siege.
