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White Mountain Apache Tribe Wildlife & Outdoor Recreation Division
Special Fishing Waters & Trophy Fishing

SPECIAL FISHING WATERS - REGULATIONS

The tribe has set aside certain Reservation waters for the management of high quality, trophy fisheries. Access is limited in these areas to provide visitors a trophy fishing experience.

  1. Special Reservation Fishing Permits are required for all persons (older than one [1] year of age) entering these Special Fishing Waters.
  2. Special Reservation Fishing Permits are valid for fishing on other lakes and streams that otherwise require a general Reservation Fishing Permit.
  3. Special Reservation Fishing Permits are not valid in the following circumstances:
    1. Special permits are not valid on other Special Fishing Waters that Require Special permits.
    2. Special permits are not valid in closed areas (refer to General Fishing Regulations, "Closed Areas")

  4. SPECIAL FISHING WATERS:
    1. CHRISTMAS TREE LAKE:
      1. After the Christmas Tree Fish Camp season is over (May 5 - May 21) Christmas Tree Lake is open as a limited access area. A special Christmas Tree Lake fishing permit is required of anyone at the lake.
      2. A maximum of twenty (20) daily permits will be issued on a first-come/first-served basis beginning the first working day of the year.
      3. Christmas Tree Lake Fishing Permits are available only at the White Mountain Apache Tribe Outdoor and Recreation Department.
BAG LIMIT: One(1) Apache trout sixteen (16) inches or longer and five (5) Brown trout of any size.

RESTRICTIONS:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  1. All fish not meeting the above bag-limit restrictions must be immediately released.
  2. If you cannot tell if the fish is an Apache trout or a Brown trout, let it go.
  3. Reservation Boat Permits are required for Christmas Tree Lake. Boat permits are not included in the Christmas Tree Fishing permit.
  4. OVERNIGHT CAMPING IS PROHIBITED at Christmas Tree Lake.
  5. Christmas Tree Lake is restricted to the use of BARBLESS artifical flies and lures only. All flies and lures are limited to a single barbless hook. Baits may not be used.
  6. Creeks above and below Christmas Tree Lake are closed to fishing.
 
CYLONE AND HURRICANE LAKES (RENT-A-LAKE):
Cyclone and Hurricane Lakes are exclusively reserved for "Rent-A-Lake" program patrons and are closed to general public access.

Trophy Fishing

Anglers caught state record brook trout (4 lb. 15 oz.) and brown trout (22 lb. 9 oz.) on the Reservation. The world record Apache trout (5 lb. 14 oz.) was caught in Hurricane Lake. Fish grow large in Reservations lakes because of lower fishing pressure (1/3 of state pressure). In addition some waters are managed for larger fish. Earl Park Lake and the North Fork of the White River three miles east of Horseshoe Lake are catch and release waters. Christmas Tree Lake is restricted to twenty anglers per day and one Apache trout over 16 trout.