PINETOP, Ariz. — The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) will remove the Covid-19 50-vehicle capacity restriction for the April 1 opening of the catch-and-keep trout season at Silver Creek. Total vehicles allowed will still be restricted to parking lot capacities for visitor safety.
Even with the removal of restrictions, AZGFD continues to recommend that all visitors to Silver Creek follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Arizona Department of Health Services (AZDHS) to ensure social distancing and limit large gatherings.

Though Silver Creek may be crowded on opening day 2022, AZGFD staff expects fishing to be good for this year since reports from the catch-and-release season have been positive and no large flood events have occurred this winter.

To provide an alternative location for anglers that want to avoid the crowds, AZGFD recommends anglers try Woodland Lake in Pinetop. Woodland Lake was stocked with extra rainbow trout in both fall 2021 and spring 2022.

Anglers should take note that statewide fishing regulations were amended in 2021 and the statewide trout bag limit is four trout per person. The four-trout bag limit applies to catch-and-keep at Silver Creek.

The catch-and-keep trout season at Silver Creek will continue until Sept. 30.