Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I schedule a group tour at any hatchery? A: Most of the tours are self guided tours. You can schedule a group tour by calling at least a week in advance to a particular hatchery and schedule a tour.

Q: Does the fish hatchery cost anything to get in? A: No, there is no charge to visit an AZGFD fish hatchery. Arizona Q: Can I fish in AZGFD fish hatcheries? A: No. Fishing and possession of fishing equipment are prohibited at most AZGFD fish hatcheries. The Hatcheries www.azgfd.com only fish hatchery that allows fishing on site is Silver Creek Hatchery. Arizona Game and Fish Department (602) 942-3000 Q: How many trout do all the hatcheries stock into

Arizona waters each year? The Arizona Game and Fish Department prohibits discrimination A: Arizona hatcheries grow about 3 million trout per on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, religion, or dis- year. ability in its programs and activities. If anyone believes that they have been discriminated against in any of the AZGFD’s programs or activities, including its employment practices, the individual may Q: When are the lakes and streams stocked? file a complaint alleging discrimination directly with the Director’s A: Check out the stocking schedule on our website at Office, 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85086-5000, 602-942- AZGFD.com. 3000, or with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Attn: Civil Rights Coordinator for Public Access, 5275 Leesburg Pike, MS:WSFR, Falls Q: What’s the biggest trout that’s been caught in Church, VA 22041-3803. Persons with a disability may request a rea- sonable accommodation or this document in an alternative format Arizona? by contacting the Director’s Office as listed above. A: To date, the biggest trout caught was a 22 pound, 14.5 ounce brown trout caught in Reservation Lake by Bryce Sisson in August of 1999.

Q: Why do we need hatcheries in Arizona? A: Natural trout reproduction in Arizona is extremely limited because trout cannot reproduce in lakes or ponds without cold clear-running water. But angler demand for trout is high, so the six hatcheries fulfill that need.

Q: How many species of trout are raised in Arizona hatcheries? A: Seven species are raised: rainbow, brown, brook, cutthroat, tiger and Arizona’s native species Apache trout and recently Gila trout. The hatcheries also grow a small number of cool or warm-water species including largemouth bass, bluegill and roundtail chub.

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largemouth bass. largemouth

and Chiricahua leopard frog and in the near future future near the in and frog leopard Chiricahua and ery h tc a H reek C ilver S ery h tc a H reek C nyon Ca ery h tc a H reek C onto T

pikeminnow, razorback sucker, Gila topminnow topminnow Gila sucker, razorback pikeminnow,

roundtail chub, Colorado River River Colorado chub, roundtail  • Warm water: Warm

Apache and Gila trout, and Arctic Grayling Arctic and trout, Gila and Apache

Brown, Brook, Cutthroat, Rainbow, Tiger, Tiger, Rainbow, Cutthroat, Brook, Brown, od water: Cold •

of fish that are currently being stocked are: stocked being currently are that fish of

stocked in Arizona waters. Today the primary species species primary the Today waters. Arizona in stocked

Historically, there were numerous species of fish fish of species numerous were there Historically,

FISH STOCKED IN ARIZONA IN STOCKED FISH

SOUTHEAST ing efforts and keep the tradition of fishing alive. fishing of tradition the keep and efforts ing

- stock fish for pay to funds Restoration Sportfish those

of a fishing license is then used in combination with with combination in used then is license fishing a of

Service Sportfish Restoration Program. Your purchase purchase Your Program. Restoration Sportfish Service

portion of the cost goes to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Wildlife and Fish U.S. the to goes cost the of portion

system. When you buy a fishing pole or lure, a small small a lure, or pole fishing a buy you When system.

generated by anglers under the “user pay, user benefit” benefit” user pay, “user the under anglers by generated CENTRAL SOUTHWEST

RIVER

from income taxes, but exclusively from revenues revenues from exclusively but taxes, income from

COLORADO

Raising trout is a public service supported not not supported service public a is trout Raising

quality of sport fishing in Arizona. in fishing sport of quality

jobs. Hatcheries play a vital role in maintaining the the maintaining in role vital a play Hatcheries jobs.

fishing also generates 20,038 full time and/or part time time part and/or time full 20,038 generates also fishing

trip-related expenditures annually in Arizona. Sport Sport Arizona. in annually expenditures trip-related

glers that spend over $950 million on equipment and and equipment on million $950 over spend that glers

RIM MOUNTAINS

MOGOLLON WHITE - an 350,000 than more are There Arizona. of state the

fishing produces $1.47 billion in economic benefits for for benefits economic in billion $1.47 produces fishing

pact of Fishing in Arizona, annual recreational sport sport recreational annual Arizona, in Fishing of pact

- Im Economic 2013 the in analysis the to According NORTHWEST

RIVER

the fisheries program and the Department’s mission. mission. Department’s the and program fisheries the

CENTRAL COLORADO

NORTH tourists annually visit the hatcheries and learn about about learn and hatcheries the visit annually tourists

bird watchers and the general public. Thousands of of Thousands public. general the and watchers bird

These fish hatcheries are destination facilities for for facilities destination are hatcheries fish These

stock them into 118 locations throughout the state. state. the throughout locations 118 into them stock

by producing on average 385,000 pounds of fish and and fish of pounds 385,000 average on producing by

ment fish hatcheries contribute to the state economy economy state the to contribute hatcheries fish ment

- Depart year, Every hatcheries. our from stocked are

duction. Almost all of the trout harvested in Arizona Arizona in harvested trout the of all Almost duction.

- pro fish water warm to dedicated is hatchery sixth

ery ery h tc a H rings Sp terling S ery h tc a H Ponds ling bb Bu ery h tc a H rings Sp ge a P

role in providing good trout fishing in Arizona. The The Arizona. in fishing trout good providing in role

are used for cold water production and play a major major a play and production water cold for used are

Five of these fish hatcheries hatcheries fish these of Five and in operation today. today. operation in and S

hatcheries, six of which are still maintained maintained still are which of six hatcheries,

partment (Department) has operated 15 fish fish 15 operated has (Department) partment

- De Fish and Game Arizona the 1922 ince Bubbling Ponds Hatchery Canyon Creek Hatchery Page Springs Hatchery

Bubbling Ponds Fish Hatchery resides on Commis- Canyon Creek Fish Hatchery is located approximate- Page Springs Hatchery is the largest of six fish sion-owned land approximately 4 miles northeast ly 40 miles east of Payson in Gila County. The prop- production hatcheries in Arizona and provides on of Cornville, AZ. The property is managed by the erty is owned by U.S. Forest Service (Tonto Forest), average 216,000 lbs. of trout which equals approxi- Hatchery Program. This facility originally produced and operated by the Department’s Hatchery Program mately 57% of all rainbow trout stocked in Arizona. trout until 1980 when trout production was moved under Special Use Permit (SUP) since 1969. Canyon Page Springs Hatchery is the largest state run hatch- entirely to Page Springs Hatchery. Catfish production Creek Hatchery produces on average 80,000 lbs. of ery and makes a $185.3 million positive impact to the dominated for several years but was then phased into trout that represents 20% of the total trout stock in overall state economy. Located less than two hours production of sunfish and, bass. In addition, several Arizona, generating an economic impact of $125.9 north of Phoenix in Cornville, Arizona, Page Springs species of native fishes were cultivated. In the mid- million to the state; also CCH dedicates around 90% Hatchery is located on about 116 acres beautifully 1990’s, the hatchery began raising razorback suckers of its trout production to stock the White Mountains situated on the banks of Oak Creek. It produces more and Roundtail chub under contract. The property which represent 65% of all the trout stocked in the than one million fish per year to stock Arizona’s provides habitat for rare or declining species such White Mountains. Canyon Creek hatchery has a lakes, ponds and creeks. Page Springs Hatchery has as northern Mexican garter snake, Page springsnail, small visitor center. Visitors can take a self-tour of been in operation since 1932 when it was owned and a rare species of caddis fly. The Audubon Society the facility. by the Arizona Trout Company. In 1938 the Arizona identified the habitat at the hatcheries and the Game and Fish Department stepped in and secured This facility is open daily 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Closed riparian area along lower Oak Creek as an Important the land lease and eventually purchased the property for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Bird Area (IBA), which draws thousands of wildlife in 1949. Page Springs Hatchery has a visitor center, watching enthusiasts. To schedule a group tour call (928) 535-5475. hiking trails and public restrooms. Visitors can take a self-tour of the facility. Bubbling Ponds Hatchery has hiking trails, picnic area and restroom. The facility is open daily from Feeding fish is permitted only at the feeding pond. sunrise to sunset. Closed for Thanksgiving and Open daily 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Closed for Thanks- Christmas. giving and Christmas. To schedule a group tour call (928) 634-4805.

Silver Creek Hatchery Sterling Springs Hatchery Tonto Creek Hatchery

Silver Creek Fish Hatchery resides on commission Sterling Springs Hatchery is comprised of 2 acres at Tonto Creek Fish Hatchery is located approximately owned land acquired in 1978. SCH is located approx- the headwaters of Oak Creek located approximately 16 miles east of Payson in Gila County. The property imately 11 miles northeast of Show Low in Navajo midway between Sedona and Flagstaff on Hwy 89A is owned by U.S. Forest Service (Tonto Forest), and County (Game Management Unit 3B). The property is (Game Management Unit 6B). The property is owned operated by the Department’s Hatchery Program managed by the Hatchery Program. The property is by U.S. Forest Service (Coconino Forest), and oper- under Special Use Permit (SUP) since 1935. The av- comprised of approximately 821 acres of deeded land ated by the Department’s Hatchery Program under erage production of TCH is 50,000 lbs. of trout which at the headwaters of Silver Creek (Silver Spring). Special Use Permit (SUP) since 1955. The primary represents 15% of all the trout stocked in Arizona, Many wildlife species utilize the property, either purpose of SSH is to supply Page Springs Hatchery contributing to the economy of the state with approx- seasonally or year round. In addition, Silver Creek (PSH) with fingerling trout for growth out and stock- imately $72.7 million annually. Tonto Creek Hatchery provides aquatic habitat for native fish species in- ing, Approximately 1.3 million fingerlings are raised has a visitor center. Visitors can take a self-tour of cluding speckled dace and bluehead sucker, as well from eggs at SSH for this purpose, although some the facility and feed the fish at the show pond. Feed- as angling opportunities for Apache and rainbow are stocked directly into select waters as fingerlings. ing fish is permitted only at feeding pond. trout. Silver Creek Hatchery is vital to sustain stock- Due to the fact that the water at PSH is too warm to This facility is open from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. ing of trout in the White Mountains. All the Apache hatch trout eggs all the trout that are stocked from Monday through Sunday. trout stocked in Arizona are produced by Silver PSH were hatched at SSH this makes SSH hatchery Creek Hatchery. vital for sport fishing in Arizona. To schedule a group tour call (928) 478-4200.

The facility is open daily from sunrise to sunset. Only scheduled tours are allowed at this facility. Closed for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Call (928) 282-3643.

To schedule a group tour call (928) 537-7513.