Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
70
Lake, Lees Ferry and Lake Powell, cold-water fishing and warm-water fishing are sepa-
rated by yards rather than by miles, thanks to dams set between these and many other
rivers and lakes.
Warm-water lakes and streams are home to large- and small-mouth bass, walleye,
stripers, catfish, crappie, and bluegill. In cold-water lakes and streams, look for the Rio
Grande cutthroat, as well as kokanee salmon and rainbow, brown, lake, and brook
trout.
Two of the best places for fishing in New Mexico are the San Juan River, near Farm-
ington, and Elephant Butte Lake, not far from Truth or Consequences. The San Juan
River offers excellent trout fishing and is extremely popular with fly fishers. Elephant
Butte is great for bass fishing; in fact, it is considered one of the top 10 bass fishing loca-
tions in the United States.
Arizona offers good trout fishing on the Mogollon Rim and in the White Mountains
there, as well as in the Grand Canyon and the more easily accessible sections of the free-
running Colorado River between Glen Canyon Dam and Lees Ferry. In fact, this latter
area is among the country's most fabled stretches of trout water. Near there, Lake Powell
also offers abundant lake fishing within its many finger canyons.
Colorado has many cold-water species living in lakes and streams, including seven
kinds of trout (native cutthroat, rainbow, brown, brook, lake, kokanee, and whitefish),
walleye, yellow perch, northern pike, tiger muskie, and bluegill. Warm-water sport fish
(especially in eastern Colorado and in large rivers) include catfish, crappie, and bass
(largemouth, smallmouth, white, and wiper). Both lake and stream fishing are available
in the Durango area.
We recommend Taylor Streit's
Fly Fishing New Mexico
(David Communications). It
provides important details about 20 of the state's most notable waterways. Also of note
are
49 Trout Streams in New Mexico
(University of New Mexico Press) and
Flyfisher's
Guide to Arizona
(Wilderness Adventures Press). They include information about regula-
tions and descriptions of the types and varieties of fish you're likely to catch.
For information on obtaining fishing licensing, contact the
New Mexico Game and
Fish Department
(
&
505/476-8000;
www.wildlife.state.nm.us), the
Arizona Game
and Fish Department
(
&
602/942-3000;
www.azgfd.com), the
Utah Division of
Wildlife Resources
(
&
801/538-4700;
www.wildlife.utah.gov), or the
Colorado Divi-
sion of Wildlife
(
&
800/244-5613
or 303/297-1192; http://wildlife.state.co.us).
It is not necessary to have a fishing license in order to fish on Native American reserva-
tion land, but you must receive written permission and an official tribal document before
setting out on any fishing trips. Phone numbers for individual tribes and pueblos are
listed separately in the regional and city chapters later in this topic.
5
4
GOLF
Many come to this region specifically to play golf. The Southwest's hundreds of golf
courses range from easy public layouts to PGA championship links that have challenged
the best.
In Phoenix and Tucson, greens fees, like room rates, are seasonal. In the popular winter
months, fees at resort courses range from about $100 to $250 for 18 holes, which usually
includes mandatory cart rental. In summer, fees often drop more than 50%. Almost all
resorts offer special golf packages as well. Municipal courses charge about $40, with cart
