Fishing at River Reservoir, Apache County, Arizona

• Overview

  River Reservoir sits in Apache County, out in Arizona. The ground around here is farm and woodlot. Surface area is around 142 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. The full circuit measures close to 2.3 miles on foot. Few waters listed in Apache County are bigger. Nearest place of any size is Eagar, 9.9 miles away. For a city, Gilbert is 143 miles off. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on River Reservoir

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Fish reported in the area, according to open records, include rainbow trout, common carp, brown trout, desert sucker and sonora sucker. Treat it as evidence of what swims in the area. On River Reservoir that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 62°F at the top of summer and 28°F at the bottom of winter. The year gives four workable seasons without severe ends. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. At River Reservoir the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. This one is mapped as intermittent, so a wasted trip is a real risk in a dry year. There is a car park half a mile from the bank. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Should this one be busy, Tunnel Reservoir is 0.4 miles off. Nothing here settles the position at River Reservoir for certain.