San Francisco River Fishing Guides
A remote desert canyon river in Greenlee County running through Clifton to meet the Gila, with smallmouth bass and catfish in a rugged, little-fished setting.
Guides on the San Francisco River
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About the San Francisco River
The San Francisco River rises in western New Mexico, cuts south through some of the most remote canyon country in the Southwest, and enters Arizona in Greenlee County before joining the Gila below Clifton. The Arizona reach is rugged and lightly visited. The river runs between steep canyon walls through a landscape dominated by the Morenci mine complex and the Gila Box country, with cottonwood and willow along the banks where the channel widens. It is a genuine desert river: flows vary enormously between snowmelt, monsoon flood and the thin trickle of a dry June.
The fishery is warmwater and underrated. Smallmouth bass are the main sport fish through the canyon reaches, holding in the rock pools and runs, and they see very little pressure. Channel catfish are widespread and flathead catfish reach good size in the deeper holes. Largemouth bass and green sunfish occupy the slower backwaters, and common carp are abundant and provide genuine sport on fly tackle in the clearer pools. Rainbow trout are stocked seasonally in the cooler upper water near the New Mexico line but do not hold through an Arizona summer.
Fishing here is an expedition rather than an outing. Road access is limited to a few points, principally around Clifton and the crossings upstream, and reaching the better water usually means walking the canyon. Flash flooding during the monsoon is a serious hazard in a confined desert canyon and the river can rise many feet in under an hour, so checking the gauge at Clifton and the forecast is a safety matter rather than a convenience. There is very little commercial guiding on this water, and most anglers who fish it are self-guided.
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Access
Clifton - the gauge location and the main town on the river, with limited services.
Morenci - the mining community just above, the other population centre in the area.
Gila Box Riparian National Conservation Area - protected canyon country below the junction.
Gila River - the mainstem downstream, where the San Francisco ends.
Upper canyon crossings - limited forest road access toward the New Mexico line.
Safford - the nearest larger town, with lodging, tackle and full services.
Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest - public land holding the upper watershed.
Seasons
Spring: snowmelt keeps flows up and the river is often too high and cold to fish well.
Summer: hot, low and clear before the monsoon, with smallmouth and catfish both active early and late.
Fall: the best season, with settled flows, moderate temperatures and the least risk of flooding.
Winter: cold and low, with slow fishing and the deeper canyon pools the only realistic water.
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Questions
What is the current flow on the San Francisco River?
As of Nov 2, 6:45 am, the USGS gauge SAN FRANCISCO RIVER AT CLIFTON, AZ reads 12,000 cfs. Conditions update every 15 minutes.
What species can you catch on the San Francisco River?
Anglers target Channel Catfish, Common Carp, Flathead Catfish, Green Sunfish, Largemouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Smallmouth Bass on the San Francisco River in Arizona.
Where can you access the San Francisco River?
Clifton - the gauge location and the main town on the river, with limited services. Morenci - the mining community just above, the other population centre in the area. Gila Box Riparian National Conservation Area - protected canyon country below the junction. Gila River - the mainstem downstream, where the San Francisco ends. Upper canyon crossings - limited forest road access toward the New Mexico line. Safford - the nearest larger town, with lodging, tackle and full services. Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest - public land holding the upper watershed.
When is the best time to fish the San Francisco River?
Spring: snowmelt keeps flows up and the river is often too high and cold to fish well. Summer: hot, low and clear before the monsoon, with smallmouth and catfish both active early and late. Fall: the best season, with settled flows, moderate temperatures and the least risk of flooding. Winter: cold and low, with slow fishing and the deeper canyon pools the only realistic water.
Where are the fishing regulations for the San Francisco River?
Regulations change by season and section. Read the current rules on the Arizona agency site: https://www.azgfd.com/fishing-2/licenses-and-regulations/