The Black River is a freestone river in Arizona, listed as Blue Ribbon by Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD).
1 USGS gauge on the water reports flow. 1 shop nearby are listed here.
Black River is a freestone river in Arizona.
Pick one of its USGS gauges and hear from us when the flow moves into or out of its usual range for the date, or crosses a flow you set. We check the public USGS reading every 2 hours and email only when it crosses, at most once every 6 hours. Flow alone is not a fishing forecast or a safety call.
Signed in: one step. Otherwise we email a confirmation link first. Every alert has one-click links to stop it.
Start from the agency's public access map. Nothing on this page grants or implies access: check the agency map, posted signs and landowner permission before you fish.
Nothing on this page grants or implies access.
Gauges, shops and guides within 40 miles
Map of Black River: gauges, shops and guides
Map of Black River with 1 USGS gauge.
Restrooms within 2 miles of Black River in a straight line, nearest first, with what anglers found when they went. The map says a restroom is there, not whether it is clean or open today.
Map of 3 restrooms near Black River
Skip the map; every place is in the list belowMap of 3 restrooms near Black River, numbered as in the list, with the water’s point marked.
At a campground · USFS
Not rated yet — be the first to tell other anglers if it's clean.
Mapped on OpenStreetMap · see or fix it on the map
At a campground · USFS
Not rated yet — be the first to tell other anglers if it's clean.
Mapped on OpenStreetMap · see or fix it on the map
At a campground · USFS
Not rated yet — be the first to tell other anglers if it's clean.
Mapped on OpenStreetMap · see or fix it on the map
Restroom locations and map details: © OpenStreetMap contributors, Open Database License, read Oct 24, 2026. Ratings, answers and photos are members' own; who shared them is never shown, and every photo is reviewed before it appears. Visits older than 18 months no longer count. Distances are straight-line miles, not driving. Nothing here grants access to private land. Community guidelines.
Catch and releaseRepresentative photo · not West Fork Black RiverThe Colorado River at Lees Ferry, Arizona. Photo: Denny Armstrong, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not West Fork Black River.
Catch and releaseRepresentative photo · not Stinky CreekThe San Juan River between Navajo Dam and the community of Navajo Dam, New Mexico. Photo: Phil Slattery, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Stinky Creek.
Arizona · about 6 mi
Featured sport-fishing waterRepresentative photo · not Big LakeNavajo Lake from Navajo Lake State Park, New Mexico. Photo: Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Big Lake.
Catch and releaseRepresentative photo · not Hayground CreekThe Piedra River in Hinsdale County, Colorado. Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Hayground Creek.
Featured sport-fishing waterRepresentative photo · not Crescent LakeCrowley Lake and the Long Valley Caldera from US 395. Photo: Clinton Steeds, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Crescent Lake.
Catch and releaseRepresentative photo · not Aker LakeHenrys Lake from Henrys Lake State Park, Idaho. Photo: James Postema, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Aker Lake.
Seasons, limits, special regulations and closures for each reach are on the agency pages below. Read them before you go.
Each comes from the agency's own published list; where the list names a reach it is quoted. A designation applies to the listed reach, not necessarily the whole water. Listed in the finder under trout.
On the Fish & Boat Arizona: waters AZGFD manages as a Blue Ribbon fishery (Water Management text) list (Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD), read 2026-10-24). All waters with this designation
On the Fish & Boat Arizona: Popular General Regulation Waters (trout waters) list (Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD), read 2026-10-24). All waters with this designation
Listings marked Unclaimed are built from open map records and the business's own website: confirm licensing, rates, dates and hours directly.
No guide within 40 miles yet.
The hatch and season chart for this water's region.
1 hatch charted for the region, not measured on this water. From Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.
Green drake (June to July)
None of our destination hubs is within 40 miles in a straight line. The trip planner builds a trip around the water itself: the guides and shops listed within 40 miles of it, its gauges and its nearest towns and airports.
No hub within 40 miles
A wade-fishing checklist for big western trout rivers: a 9 ft 5–6 weight outfit, nymph, dry and streamer setups, waders, boots and a wading staff, with estimated prices by tier and where to buy.
9′ rod, 5–6 weight, floating line · Rainbow and brown trout, whitefish
Open the checklistSeams, shelves and soft water, shown on real rivers.
Public YouTube videos from established channels, chosen by us to support this page. Not sponsored; the creators are not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear.
Not sponsored All videos on reading water
Indicator rigs, depth and detecting the take.
Public YouTube videos from established channels, chosen by us to support this page. Not sponsored; the creators are not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear.
Not sponsored All videos on nymphing
Trip stories anglers chose to share publicly and tagged with Black River.
No stories from here yet.
Not a statement of access, fish presence or conditions.
A water page organises discovery. It does not assert public access, legal access, current fish presence, guide availability or fishing conditions.
Flows, gauge statistics and flood stages come from USGS and the National Weather Service when the page is shown. Regulations, stocking, species and season statements link to the agency that publishes them; this page copies only the species names and the quoted sentences. Guide and shop listings come from the Legendary directories. Position: the Fish & Boat Arizona: Popular General Regulation Waters (trout waters) published by Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD). Water type is our own classification.
Caution: High water: fish the edges; wading risky
No water temperature here.
At BLACK RIVER NEAR FORT APACHE, AZ. (USGS 09490500) Provisional USGS data
USGS 09490500
What the agencies suggest
During periods of high water, fish move towards the banks to find calmer water and lower velocitiesPennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission
Wading and boating should be avoided if waters are running high and muddy and the streambed is not visiblePennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission
If stream conditions are not favorable, consider fishing at a lakePennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission
General guidance from the readings and the published lines named above, not a fishing forecast. Local rules and closures come first.
Reading Nov 5, 3:30 PM MST · provisional USGS data
Highest for this date on record for Nov 5 Falling · 24 h
Discharge, last 7 days: 165 readings from Oct 29, 4:15 PM MST to Nov 5, 3:30 PM MST; ranging 203 to 42,500 ft³/s; latest 2,230 ft³/s.
USGS provisional data may be revised. Source: USGS Water Data API continuous values.
| Time | Discharge (ft³/s) | Gauge height (ft) |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 5, 3:30 PM MST | 2,230 | 6.35 |
| Nov 5, 2:30 PM MST | 2,240 | 6.36 |
| Nov 5, 1:30 PM MST | 2,290 | 6.43 |
| Nov 5, 12:30 PM MST | 2,340 | 6.49 |
| Nov 5, 11:30 AM MST | 2,350 | 6.5 |
| Nov 5, 10:30 AM MST | 2,400 | 6.56 |
| Nov 5, 9:30 AM MST | 2,380 | 6.53 |
| Nov 5, 8:30 AM MST | 2,450 | 6.61 |
| Nov 5, 7:30 AM MST | 2,530 | 6.71 |
| Nov 5, 6:30 AM MST | 2,510 | 6.69 |
| Nov 5, 5:30 AM MST | 2,590 | 6.78 |
| Nov 5, 4:30 AM MST | 2,660 | 6.85 |
| Nov 5, 3:30 AM MST | 2,700 | 6.9 |
| Nov 5, 2:30 AM MST | 2,710 | 6.91 |
| Nov 5, 1:30 AM MST | 2,690 | 6.89 |
| Nov 5, 12:30 AM MST | 2,880 | 7.09 |
| Nov 4, 11:30 PM MST | 2,810 | 7.02 |
| Nov 4, 10:30 PM MST | 2,890 | 7.1 |
| Nov 4, 9:30 PM MST | 2,960 | 7.18 |
| Nov 4, 8:30 PM MST | 2,980 | 7.2 |
| Nov 4, 7:30 PM MST | 3,070 | 7.29 |
| Nov 4, 6:30 PM MST | 3,150 | 7.37 |
| Nov 4, 5:30 PM MST | 3,270 | 7.49 |
| Nov 4, 4:30 PM MST | 3,220 | 7.44 |
| Nov 4, 3:30 PM MST | 3,410 | 7.62 |
| Nov 4, 2:30 PM MST | 3,410 | 7.62 |
| Nov 4, 1:30 PM MST | 3,520 | 7.73 |
| Nov 4, 12:30 PM MST | 3,600 | 7.8 |
| Nov 4, 11:30 AM MST | 3,720 | 7.91 |
| Nov 4, 10:30 AM MST | 3,870 | 8.05 |
| Nov 4, 9:30 AM MST | 3,980 | 8.16 |
| Nov 4, 8:30 AM MST | 4,010 | 8.18 |
| Nov 4, 7:30 AM MST | 4,160 | 8.32 |
| Nov 4, 6:30 AM MST | 4,190 | 8.35 |
| Nov 4, 5:30 AM MST | 4,240 | 8.39 |
| Nov 4, 4:30 AM MST | 4,400 | 8.54 |
| Nov 4, 3:30 AM MST | 4,510 | 8.63 |
| Nov 4, 2:30 AM MST | 4,650 | 8.75 |
| Nov 4, 1:30 AM MST | 4,830 | 8.91 |
| Nov 4, 12:30 AM MST | 4,990 | 9.04 |
| Nov 3, 11:30 PM MST | 5,050 | 9.09 |
| Nov 3, 10:30 PM MST | 5,230 | 9.23 |
| Nov 3, 9:30 PM MST | 5,450 | 9.4 |
| Nov 3, 8:30 PM MST | 5,760 | 9.64 |
| Nov 3, 7:30 PM MST | 5,670 | 9.57 |
| Nov 3, 6:30 PM MST | 6,030 | 9.84 |
| Nov 3, 5:30 PM MST | 6,030 | 9.84 |
| Nov 3, 4:30 PM MST | 6,470 | 10.2 |
| Nov 3, 3:30 PM MST | 6,670 | 10.3 |
| Nov 3, 2:30 PM MST | 7,060 | 10.6 |
| Nov 3, 1:30 PM MST | 7,310 | 10.7 |
| Nov 3, 12:30 PM MST | 7,640 | 10.9 |
| Nov 3, 11:30 AM MST | 7,960 | 11.2 |
| Nov 3, 10:30 AM MST | 8,160 | 11.3 |
| Nov 3, 8:45 AM MST | 9,030 | 11.8 |
| Nov 3, 7:45 AM MST | 9,260 | 12 |
| Nov 3, 6:45 AM MST | 9,850 | 12.3 |
| Nov 3, 5:45 AM MST | 10,200 | 12.5 |
| Nov 3, 4:45 AM MST | 10,800 | 12.9 |
| Nov 3, 3:45 AM MST | 11,700 | 13.4 |
| Nov 3, 2:45 AM MST | 11,700 | 13.4 |
| Nov 3, 1:45 AM MST | 12,800 | 14 |
| Nov 3, 12:45 AM MST | 12,900 | 14 |
| Nov 2, 11:45 PM MST | 13,900 | 14.6 |
| Nov 2, 10:45 PM MST | 14,400 | 14.8 |
| Nov 2, 9:45 PM MST | 14,500 | 14.8 |
| Nov 2, 8:45 PM MST | 15,400 | 15.3 |
| Nov 2, 7:45 PM MST | 15,700 | 15.4 |
| Nov 2, 6:45 PM MST | 16,200 | 15.6 |
| Nov 2, 5:45 PM MST | 16,800 | 15.9 |
| Nov 2, 4:45 PM MST | 17,200 | 16.1 |
| Nov 2, 3:45 PM MST | 18,700 | 16.7 |
| Nov 2, 2:45 PM MST | 19,800 | 17.2 |
| Nov 2, 1:45 PM MST | 20,600 | 17.5 |
| Nov 2, 12:45 PM MST | 22,100 | 18.1 |
| Nov 2, 11:30 AM MST | 23,000 | 18.5 |
| Nov 2, 10:30 AM MST | 23,900 | 18.8 |
| Nov 2, 9:30 AM MST | 23,900 | 18.8 |
| Nov 2, 8:30 AM MST | 21,200 | 17.8 |
| Nov 2, 7:30 AM MST | 19,900 | 17.3 |
| Nov 2, 6:30 AM MST | 18,900 | 16.8 |
| Nov 2, 5:30 AM MST | 18,000 | 16.4 |
| Nov 2, 4:30 AM MST | 17,100 | 16.1 |
| Nov 2, 3:30 AM MST | 17,700 | 16.3 |
| Nov 2, 2:30 AM MST | 18,700 | 16.7 |
| Nov 2, 1:30 AM MST | 20,600 | 17.5 |
| Nov 2, 12:30 AM MST | 21,600 | 17.9 |
| Nov 1, 11:30 PM MST | 24,800 | 19.2 |
| Nov 1, 10:30 PM MST | 27,900 | 20.3 |
| Nov 1, 9:30 PM MST | 30,900 | 21.3 |
| Nov 1, 6:30 PM MST | 42,500 | 24.8 |
| Nov 1, 5:15 PM MST | 42,300 | 24.8 |
| Nov 1, 4:15 PM MST | 38,200 | 23.6 |
| Nov 1, 3:15 PM MST | 33,700 | 22.2 |
| Nov 1, 2:15 PM MST | 21,900 | 18 |
| Nov 1, 1:15 PM MST | 19,700 | 17.2 |
| Nov 1, 12:15 PM MST | 16,500 | 15.8 |
| Nov 1, 11:15 AM MST | 12,500 | 13.8 |
| Nov 1, 10:15 AM MST | 7,140 | 10.6 |
| Nov 1, 9:15 AM MST | 5,470 | 9.42 |
| Nov 1, 8:15 AM MST | 4,590 | 8.7 |
| Nov 1, 7:15 AM MST | 4,190 | 8.35 |
| Nov 1, 6:15 AM MST | 3,480 | 7.69 |
| Nov 1, 5:15 AM MST | 2,790 | 7 |
| Nov 1, 4:15 AM MST | 1,970 | 6.03 |
| Nov 1, 3:15 AM MST | 863 | 4.45 |
| Nov 1, 2:15 AM MST | 270 | 3.05 |
| Nov 1, 1:15 AM MST | 242 | 2.94 |
| Nov 1, 12:15 AM MST | 227 | 2.88 |
| Oct 31, 11:15 PM MST | 217 | 2.84 |
| Oct 31, 10:15 PM MST | 210 | 2.81 |
| Oct 31, 9:15 PM MST | 205 | 2.79 |
| Oct 31, 8:15 PM MST | 205 | 2.79 |
| Oct 31, 7:15 PM MST | 205 | 2.79 |
| Oct 31, 6:15 PM MST | 205 | 2.79 |
| Oct 31, 5:15 PM MST | 205 | 2.79 |
| Oct 31, 4:15 PM MST | 203 | 2.78 |
| Oct 31, 3:15 PM MST | 205 | 2.79 |
| Oct 31, 2:15 PM MST | 208 | 2.8 |
| Oct 31, 1:15 PM MST | 210 | 2.81 |
| Oct 31, 12:15 PM MST | 210 | 2.81 |
| Oct 31, 11:15 AM MST | 210 | 2.81 |
| Oct 31, 10:15 AM MST | 210 | 2.81 |
| Oct 31, 9:15 AM MST | 210 | 2.81 |
| Oct 31, 8:15 AM MST | 210 | 2.81 |
| Oct 31, 7:15 AM MST | 210 | 2.81 |
| Oct 31, 6:15 AM MST | 210 | 2.81 |
| Oct 31, 5:15 AM MST | 210 | 2.81 |
| Oct 31, 4:15 AM MST | 212 | 2.82 |
| Oct 31, 3:15 AM MST | 212 | 2.82 |
| Oct 31, 2:15 AM MST | 215 | 2.83 |
| Oct 31, 1:15 AM MST | 215 | 2.83 |
| Oct 31, 12:15 AM MST | 217 | 2.84 |
| Oct 30, 11:15 PM MST | 217 | 2.84 |
| Oct 30, 10:15 PM MST | 217 | 2.84 |
| Oct 30, 9:15 PM MST | 219 | 2.85 |
| Oct 30, 8:15 PM MST | 219 | 2.85 |
| Oct 30, 7:15 PM MST | 219 | 2.85 |
| Oct 30, 6:15 PM MST | 222 | 2.86 |
| Oct 30, 5:15 PM MST | 222 | 2.86 |
| Oct 30, 4:15 PM MST | 217 | 2.84 |
| Oct 30, 3:15 PM MST | 217 | 2.84 |
| Oct 30, 2:15 PM MST | 217 | 2.84 |
| Oct 30, 1:15 PM MST | 219 | 2.85 |
| Oct 30, 12:15 PM MST | 219 | 2.85 |
| Oct 30, 11:15 AM MST | 222 | 2.86 |
| Oct 30, 10:15 AM MST | 222 | 2.86 |
| Oct 30, 9:15 AM MST | 224 | 2.87 |
| Oct 30, 8:15 AM MST | 224 | 2.87 |
| Oct 30, 7:15 AM MST | 224 | 2.87 |
| Oct 30, 6:15 AM MST | 227 | 2.88 |
| Oct 30, 5:15 AM MST | 229 | 2.89 |
| Oct 30, 4:15 AM MST | 232 | 2.9 |
| Oct 30, 3:15 AM MST | 232 | 2.9 |
| Oct 30, 2:15 AM MST | 234 | 2.91 |
| Oct 30, 1:15 AM MST | 234 | 2.91 |
| Oct 30, 12:15 AM MST | 234 | 2.91 |
| Oct 29, 11:15 PM MST | 236 | 2.92 |
| Oct 29, 10:15 PM MST | 239 | 2.93 |
| Oct 29, 9:15 PM MST | 242 | 2.94 |
| Oct 29, 8:15 PM MST | 242 | 2.94 |
| Oct 29, 7:15 PM MST | 242 | 2.94 |
| Oct 29, 6:15 PM MST | 244 | 2.95 |
| Oct 29, 5:15 PM MST | 247 | 2.96 |
| Oct 29, 4:15 PM MST | 249 | 2.97 |
Normal for Nov 5: 44–93.5 ft³/s (middle half of 71 years of record). Now: 2,230 ft³/s, highest for this date on record.
Highest for this date on record for this date. 2,230 ft³/s is above the highest daily mean recorded on this date of daily mean flow for Nov 5 at this gauge over 71 years of record: 10th 36, 25th 44, median 59, 75th 93.5, 90th 312 ft³/s.
Daily means on record for Nov 5: lowest 29.9 ft³/s, highest 1,870 ft³/s.
Classes as USGS labels them (hyswap: flow categories (WDFN_stats schema) (U.S. Geological Survey) ); percentiles from the USGS daily statistics (U.S. Geological Survey) (approved daily means; the reading is provisional and instantaneous).
Falling over 24 hours: discharge down 34.6%, from 3,410 to 2,230 ft³/s. Rising or falling means a change of more than 10% in discharge (or 0.2 ft of gauge height) over 24 hours; our rule of thumb, not a USGS class.
The National Weather Service has no flood-stage gauge here, so no official flood category is shown.
No current water-temperature reading at this gauge, so no temperature guidance is given. Take a stream thermometer: the trout lines Arizona Game and Fish uses are 67°F.
This gauge is on our page for Black River, but no agency page we read lists its species.
Flow above the record for this date. Higher than any daily mean USGS has recorded on this date at this gauge. Expect much higher, faster water than usual for the season.
hyswap: flow categories (WDFN_stats schema) (U.S. Geological Survey) Statistics documentation (percentiles of daily mean discharge) (U.S. Geological Survey)Turn Around Don't Drown. “A mere 6 inches of fast-moving flood water can knock over an adult.” No flow number makes a crossing safe; if in doubt, stay out.
Turn Around Don't Drown (National Weather Service)Guidance from the readings above and the published thresholds named with each line; not a fishing forecast, a safety guarantee or a statement about access. Local rules and closures come first.
Checked Nov 5, 4:01 PM MST; readings refresh at most every 15 minutes and statistics daily. Provisional USGS data can be revised. Conditions change: re-check before you go. This is general guidance, not a fishing forecast, a safety guarantee or a statement about access.
Catch and releaseRepresentative photo · not West Fork Black RiverThe Colorado River at Lees Ferry, Arizona. Photo: Denny Armstrong, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not West Fork Black River.
Catch and releaseRepresentative photo · not Stinky CreekThe San Juan River between Navajo Dam and the community of Navajo Dam, New Mexico. Photo: Phil Slattery, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Stinky Creek.
Arizona · about 6 mi
Featured sport-fishing waterRepresentative photo · not Big LakeNavajo Lake from Navajo Lake State Park, New Mexico. Photo: Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Big Lake.
Catch and releaseRepresentative photo · not Hayground CreekThe Piedra River in Hinsdale County, Colorado. Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Hayground Creek.
Featured sport-fishing waterRepresentative photo · not Crescent LakeCrowley Lake and the Long Valley Caldera from US 395. Photo: Clinton Steeds, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Crescent Lake.
Catch and releaseRepresentative photo · not Aker LakeHenrys Lake from Henrys Lake State Park, Idaho. Photo: James Postema, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Aker Lake.
Alpine, Arizona
River cabins · 11 mi
Alpine, Arizona
Fishing lodge · 11 mi
