Lee's Ferry, Arizona - World Class Fishing

The completion of the 700 foot Glen Canyon Dam (left) in 1963 created massive Lake Powell on the Arizona / Utah border. The lake has since become renowned as a water recreation area, and is visited by millions annually.

Below the dam the Colorado River flows into the remnant of Glen Canyon with icy water from the bottom of Lake Powell. This has created a great "tailwater" trout fishery for fifteen miles from the dam to Lee's Ferry, where the Paria River flows into the Colorado. This was a site of a ferry crossing in the 19th century.

This is the ultimate environment for rainbow trout. It is not uncommon for a boatload of fishermen to catch 100 fish in a day, often averaging a pound or more. In addition, visitors experience the unique beauty of a sheer-walled red rock canyon. Wildlife is plentiful. There are shady, pleasing beaches where one may relax, eat lunch, or camp out. The river is shallow in Glen Canyon and is extremely conducive to fly fishing.

We did our fishing at Lee's Ferry with the legendary Arizona outdoorsman, Dale Whitemore (who has retired from guiding), out of nearby Marble Canyon. He is shown (above right) with a whopper of a rainbow trout. Above left, Dale and I relax in his boat. The river is shallow and not easy to navigate, so going out with a guide lets you concentrate on fishing. Plus you will hear many colorful stories!

There are very strict limits on keeping trout from Lee's Ferry. Most guides and regulars encourage and practice catch and release out of strong respect for the resource. The result is a very productive fishery. My personal best was about 40 fish caught in one day.

Here I am with one of my better catches. Note the heavy overcoat. Lee's Ferry is a year-round fishery although you have to bundle up in the winter. The trout spawn in the winter, making their redds (nests) on shallow gravel bars. Hence it is a very popular season for fly fishermen as they can sight cast right to the fish which are very aggressive during spawning.

The most pleasant outdoor weather here is the spring and fall, and fishing remains good no matter what the season. Although summers are quite warm the fish remain extremely active. The water flow from Glen Canyon Dam tends to be higher in the summers due to electrical demand. This stirs up edible materials from the river bed which causes the trout to feed very actively and makes for excellent fishing.

Glen Canyon is renowned for its scenic beauty as well as the fishing. At left, sheer thousand foot red walls crowd the channel. Right, a lush marshy area at the foot of a spring reflects in the calm water.

One day raft trips are offered out of Page. They start at the foot of the dam and finish at the Lee's Ferry dock. Guests are then bussed back to Page. Because this section of the Colorado River has no whitewater (rapids) but still offers spectacular scenery the tour is extremely popular. It is ideal for families with young children or the elderly.

For the more adventurous there are numerous designated camping areas scattered through the canyon, and these, too, are very popular.