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Rating depth structure for rainbow trout.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
Spring-fed Haigler Creek north of Young. Perennial trout pools flowing to Tonto Creek. The river tops out around 5 ft. What you see is a modeled chart: the shoreline is real, the max depth is published, and the contours between are estimated. Plan with it; don't navigate by it. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
On the chart, Haigler Creek draws 67 acres inside 14.9 miles of shoreline. An index of 13 puts the bank firmly in maze territory: point after pocket after cove, every one a casting target. The whole water is littoral — nothing here runs deeper than ~15 ft, so it's all weed-and-bait territory. Call it 5.6 mi long by 1.6 mi wide at the broadest reach. You'll find it in Gila County. For a second option, Willow Springs Lake lies 8 mi northeast.
Start shallow in spring: rainbow trout sit in 1 to 5 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 1 to 5 ft covers summer, 1 to 5 ft covers winter. The spot to know is Outside-bend hole (mile 0.4), a creek channel in about 4 ft of water that rates prime for rainbow trout in summer. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. Throw a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon until the fish tell you otherwise.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 5 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Riffle & run (mile 6.3) (3 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 1 to 5 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.4) (4 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 1 to 5 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Riffle & run (mile 6.3) (3 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 1 to 5 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Outside-bend hole (mile 0.4) (4 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Spring brown trout on Haigler Creek hold shallow, usually 1 to 5 ft. Depth-wise the year is flat: 2 to 5 ft in summer, 1 to 5 ft once it turns cold. The chart's best answer is Riffle & run (mile 6.3) — rock pile, 3 ft, prime for fall. Prime time lands in after dark and early morning. The summer box starts with a spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night).
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 5 ft chart-limited; documented 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Riffle & run (mile 6.3) (3 ft) | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 2 to 5 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 60 ft | night & dawn | Riffle & run (mile 6.3) (3 ft) | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 1 to 5 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 30 ft | dusk & dawn | Riffle & run (mile 6.3) (3 ft) | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 1 to 5 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 35 ft | dawn | open water | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
The chart marks 4 structure features on Haigler Creek; the deepest is Outside-bend hole (mile 0.4) at about 4 ft.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Arizona waters are set by the Arizona Game & Fish Department — and special regulations can apply to Haigler Creek specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Arizona fishing regulations →
Haigler Creek is about 5 ft (2 m) deep at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
Anglers target rainbow trout, brown trout on Haigler Creek.
Outside-bend hole (mile 0.4) is the top-rated area: a creek channel in about 4 ft of water that rates prime for rainbow trout in summer. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by species and season.
For rainbow trout, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Haigler Creek is regulated by the Arizona Game & Fish Department. Check the official Arizona regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Willow Springs Lake 8 mi · Woods Canyon Lake 8 mi · Christopher Creek 9 mi · Tonto Creek 10 mi · Bear Canyon Lake 12 mi · Knoll Lake 16 mi · Black Canyon Lake 17 mi · Chevelon Canyon Lake 20 mi · Chevelon Creek 25 mi · Webber Creek 26 mi · East Clear Creek 26 mi · C.C. Cragin Reservoir (Blue Ridge Reservoir) 26 mi
See how Haigler Creek stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in Arizona · best brown trout lakes in Arizona
More water nearby: Gila County fishing maps (10 charts). Browse all Arizona fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.