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Fishing Tonto Creek: what the data says
Upper Tonto Creek below the Rim. a cold, stocked and wild trout reach above the warmwater lower creek. The river tops out around 7 ft. The contours are modeled from the water's real shoreline and maximum depth. Treat them as a rough guide, and never use them for navigation. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
Rainbow Trout fishing at Tonto Creek
In spring, rainbow trout run shallow here, mostly 2 to 7 ft. Summer fish stay in 2 to 7 ft, and winter fish hold in 1 to 7 ft. Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) is the standout, a creek channel at roughly 5 ft, rated prime for summer rainbow trout. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 7 ft | dawn & dusk | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 2 to 7 ft | dawn & dusk | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 2 to 7 ft | dawn & dusk | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 1 to 7 ft | dawn | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Brown Trout fishing at Tonto Creek
Start shallow in spring: brown trout sit in 1 to 7 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 2 to 7 ft, and winter fish hold in 1 to 7 ft. The spot to know is Riffle & run (mile 10.3), a rock pile in about 3 ft of water that rates prime for brown trout in fall. In summer the feeding windows fall in after dark and early morning. Tie on a spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 7 ft | dawn & dusk | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 2 to 7 ft | night & dawn | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 1 to 7 ft | dusk & dawn | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 1 to 7 ft | dawn | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
Smallmouth Bass fishing at Tonto Creek
In spring, smallmouth bass run shallow here, mostly 2 to 7 ft. Summer fish stay in 2 to 7 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 7 ft. Riffle & run (mile 10.3) is the standout, a rock pile at roughly 3 ft, rated prime for spring smallmouth bass. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 7 ft | dawn & dusk | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 2 to 7 ft | dawn & dusk | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 2 to 7 ft | midday & dawn | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 2 to 7 ft | midday | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Channel Catfish fishing at Tonto Creek
In spring, channel catfish run shallow here, mostly 2 to 7 ft. Summer fish stay in 2 to 7 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 7 ft. Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6) is the standout, a creek channel at roughly 5 ft, rated prime for summer channel catfish. Best bite is after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 7 ft | dusk | |
| Summer | 2 to 7 ft | night & dusk | |
| Fall | 2 to 7 ft | dusk | |
| Winter | 2 to 7 ft | midday |
Notable structure
- Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6): creek channel, around 5 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 2.3): creek channel, around 5 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 4.0): creek channel, around 5 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 6.0): creek channel, around 5 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 8.3): creek channel, around 5 ft
- Riffle & run (mile 10.3): rock pile, around 3 ft
Common questions
How deep is Tonto Creek?
Tonto Creek is about 7 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.
What fish are in Tonto Creek?
Anglers target smallmouth bass, channel catfish, rainbow trout, brown trout on Tonto Creek.
Where is the best fishing spot on Tonto Creek?
Riffle & run (mile 10.3) is the top-rated area: a rock pile in about 3 ft of water that rates prime for smallmouth bass in spring. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Tonto Creek?
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.
Nearby waters
Christopher Creek · Knoll Lake · Bear Canyon Lake · Woods Canyon Lake · Haigler Creek · Willow Springs Lake
See how Tonto Creek stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Arizona · best channel catfish lakes in Arizona · best rainbow trout lakes in Arizona · best brown trout lakes in Arizona
Browse all Arizona fishing maps or every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.