Updated October 15, 2026

    Verde River (Upper Verde)

    river in Arizona

    Upper Verde sections near Camp Verde and Mayer produce consistent trout fishing with diverse water types and accessible public reaches.

    River flow last 30 days

    0100200300400Sep 16Sep 22Sep 27115 cfs
    Flow now
    1,810cfs
    Above the typical range (105–238 cfs)
    Last 7 days
    Rising
    105 to 166 cfs
    Weather now
    69°F
    Clear Sky, wind 8 mph E
    Bite report · week of Oct 4

    Flows on the Verde River are at 144 cfs

    1. 01Flows on the Verde River are at 144 cfs, providing good wade fishing conditions.
    2. 02Terrestrials, particularly grasshoppers and beetles, are still a viable food source along grassy banks.
    3. 03Blue-Winged Olives (BWOs) are active, offering opportunities for selective trout feeding on duns and emergers, especially on overcast days.
    4. 04October Caddis hatches are expected, providing a chance for larger dry fly takes in the late afternoon.
    5. 05Midges and various nymphs remain a consistent subsurface food source for trout throughout the day.

    Past reports week by week

    7 weeks

    What to tie on

    Picked from reports, hatches and the season. Tap a fly for the recipe and where else it works.

    streamer

    Baby Brown Trout (Streamer)

    Trout fry
    #4#6#8

    Larger brown trout become more aggressive in the fall, making this streamer an effective imitation of smaller baitfish and juvenile trout.

    dry

    Juan's Slim Shady

    #14#16

    Blue-Winged Olive (BWO) hatches are active in the fall, making this low-profile dry fly excellent for selective trout feeding on adults.

    streamer

    Woolly Bugger (Olive)

    #4#6#8

    A versatile and reliable streamer, effective year-round for imitating leeches and baitfish, which are actively pursued by aggressive trout in colder fall waters.

    dry

    October Caddis (Dry)

    October Caddis (Dicosmoecus) adult
    #6#8#10

    The October Caddis is a significant fall hatch, and this large dry fly effectively imitates the adult caddis, drawing aggressive strikes.

    Buy at Amazon
    terrestrial

    Schroeder’s Parachute Hopper

    #6#8#10

    Terrestrial activity is still strong in early fall, and hoppers are a substantial food source, especially along grassy banks, appealing to opportunistic trout.

    nymph

    Zebra Midge

    Midge pupa (Chironomidae)
    #18#20#22#24

    Midges are a primary and consistent food source year-round, becoming increasingly important in fall as water temperatures drop. This weighted pattern effectively gets into the strike zone.

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    dry

    Parachute BWO

    #18#20#22

    Consistent BWO hatches are expected in the fall, and this pattern is effective for rising fish in softer water, especially on overcast days.

    nymph

    Jujubaetis

    Baetis nymph
    #18#20#22

    Baetis (BWO) nymphs are active year-round and become particularly important during fall hatches, making this an essential subsurface pattern.

    Buy at Amazon

    Where to fish and who to ask

    Sedona Fly Fishing Adventures · Sedona1Beasley Flats2Camp Verde / Tavasci Marsh Access3Mayer Bridge / Copper Canyon
    AccessFly shopGuide trips
    1

    Beasley Flats

    A popular wading stretch with riffles and pocket water that concentrate trout.

    34.572°N 111.833°WDirections
    2

    Camp Verde / Tavasci Marsh Access

    Public access and boat ramps near Camp Verde; good entry for longer float/fish days.

    34.519°N 111.843°WUSGS 09506000Directions
    3

    Mayer Bridge / Copper Canyon

    Scenic canyon reach with deeper pools and runs favored by experienced anglers.

    34.667°N 111.569°WDirections

    Fly shops within 40 miles

    22mi

    Sedona Fly Fishing Adventures

    Sedona, AZGuide trips

    Get Verde River (Upper Verde) reports by email

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    Arizona season by season

    What changes on the water through the year, with the flies for each season.

    Read before you go

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    Quick answers

    Common questions about Verde River (Upper Verde).

    What flies work best on Verde River (Upper Verde)?

    Our top scored fly patterns for Verde River (Upper Verde) right now are Baby Brown Trout (Streamer) (80% confidence), Tungsten Bead Pat's Rubber Legs (80% confidence), Juan's Slim Shady (80% confidence). These picks are scored from recent fishing reports, hatch data, and seasonal patterns.

    What fish species are in Verde River (Upper Verde)?

    Verde River (Upper Verde) holds Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout. See the species links on this page for fly recommendations and seasonal behavior for each.

    What are current flow conditions on Verde River (Upper Verde)?

    Live USGS streamflow readings for Verde River (Upper Verde) are charted in the sidebar of this page and updated automatically from the nearest gauge.

    Is Verde River (Upper Verde) fishing well right now?

    We publish a fresh bite report for Verde River (Upper Verde) each week based on recent on-the-water intel. The current report — with conditions, hatches, and what's producing — is on this page.