Fishing
Fish from the shoreline or launch a small boat to catch your limit from the stocked lakes full of rainbow, trout, and largemouth bass all in Graham County. Fishing ranges from small ponds to large lakes big enough for small motorized boats. Wherever you fish in Graham County you will be surrounded by the beauty of a varied natural landscape. Please see the Arizona Game and Fish Department for specific information.
Gila Box Riparian National Conservation Area
Hot springs, river rafting, birdwatching, and miles of trails make this National Conservation Area popular among those in the know.
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Hot springs, river rafting, birdwatching, and miles of trails make this National Conservation Area popular among those in the know. Bonita Creek wildlife viewing area is accessible and has numerous interpretive displays and shade shelters.
The 23,000-acre Gila Box Riparian National Conservation Area is truly an oasis in the desert. It has four perennial waterways - the Gila and San Francisco rivers and Bonita and Eagle creeks, which are the lifeline for this remarkable place. The Gila River canyon section, known as the Gila Box, is composed of patchy mesquite woodlands, mature cottonwoods, sandy beaches, and grand buff-colored cliffs. Bonita Creek, popular for birdwatching, hiking, and picnicking, is lined with large cottonwoods, sycamores, and willows. The perennial creek and riparian vegetation make this a cool year-round desert oasis.
Cliff dwellings, historic homesteads, Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep and over 200 species of birds make this year-round watery desert refuge worth the short drive from Safford.
The Gila Box Riparian National Conservation Area is located 20 miles northeast of Safford in Graham and Greenlee counties.
Contact Information:
Bureau of Land Management
Safford Field Office
711 14th Ave.
Safford, AZ 85546
928.348.4400
Riggs Flat Lake
Riggs Flat Lake is located at the end of Swift Trail, a road that winds along the top of the Pinaleño Mountains.
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Riggs Flat Lake is located at the end of Swift Trail, a road that winds along the top of the Pinaleño Mountains. It is a small picturesque lake, 11 acres in size, set in alpine forest and meadow. Its cold waters are stocked during the summer with rainbow, brown and brook trout, and anglers report that the fishing is usually good. Best baits for the rainbows are corn, cheese, garlic cheese, salmon eggs, and worms. The brown and brook trout are taken on artificial lures and flies as well.
Small boats are permitted on the lake, but most fish from the shoreline. If the big ones aren't biting, there is always plenty of scenery to enjoy.
In addition to the views of the lake and the surrounding forest, West Peak is visible from the vicinity of the lake. So are Aravaipa Valley and the Galiuro Mountains to the west if you don't mind taking a short hike to get to an overlook.
Location: Riggs Flat Lake is located in the Pinaleño Mountains 42 miles southwest of Safford.
Contact Information:
Safford Ranger District
711 14th Avenue, Suite D
Safford, AZ 85546
928.428.4150
928.428.2393 fax
Roper Lake
Enjoy desert vegetation, an accessible fishing dock, and stunning view of Mount Graham.
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Enjoy desert vegetation, an accessible fishing dock, and stunning views of Mount Graham. Roper Lake is stocked with Largemouth bass and Rainbow trout; it’s a great place for kids to catch their first fish. Boats are limited to small electric motors, creating ideal conditions for a sail board or a canoe. Roper Lake has 30 lake surface acres, a boat ramp, natural stone hot tub, a swimming beach, a day use island with picnic tables and grills, camping cabins, and campgrounds.
Contact Information:
Roper Lake SP
101 E. Roper Lake Road
Safford, AZ 85546
928.428.6760
San Carlos Lake
The San Carlos Apache Reservation is located in south-east Arizona and its 1.8 million acres comprise of seven biotic communities ranging from...
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We have excellent wildlife resources that include Rocky Mountain Elk, Coues-White Tailed Deer, Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep, Desert Big Horn Sheep, Javelina, Pronghorn Antelope, Black Bear, Mountain Lion, Wild Turkey, Predators and other small game. Our Drylake and Hilltop trophy elk units are managed for older age structure and have produced some of the largest elk in the world. We also have Bighorn Sheep, Coues-White Tailed Deer, Black Bear and Pronghorn Antelope that are in record books. All Big Game Hunting is managed for quality by maintaining low hunter densities and limiting permit sales. Big Game permits are issued on a first come first serve basis.
San Carlos also has excellent fishery resources that include both cold and warm water fisheries. When full, the San Carlos Lake is the largest lake in Arizona with 158 miles of shoreline and provides world class Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, and Flathead Cafish.
The northern end of the Reservation holds our cold water fisheries which include Seneca Lake, Point of Pines Lake, Dry Lake, and the Black River. Here you can catch Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Small Mouth Bass, and sometimes the Apache Cutthroat Trout.
Contact Information:
San Carlos Recreation and Wildlife Department
P.O. Box 97
San Carlos, AZ 85550
1.888.475.2344
928.475.2701
Dankworth Pond
Three miles south of Roper Lake, visitors can see an exhibit of full-size replicas of prehistoric Indian dwellings at Dankworth Pond.
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Three miles south of Roper Lake, visitors can see an exhibit of full-size replicas of prehistoric Indian dwellings at Dankworth Pond. These replicas are from known archaeological sites found in east-central Arizona. Dankworth Ponds has 15 lake surface acres with picnic Ramadas, and Indian Village, and a playground.
Contact Information:
Bureau of Land Management
Safford Field Office
711 14th Avenue
Safford, Arizona 85546
928.348.4400
