Welcome to
Gila Trout Chapter # 530
​of  TROUT UNLIMITED  
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Chapter President Jim Strogen--and AZGFD Educator of the year in 2019--fishes our adopted East Verde River near Payson.  We have a very active chapter.  Stream improvements, fund raising for our hatcheries, fly fishing classes for adults and school kids are just some of our programs which also incudes the Trout in the Classroom Program which provides cold water aquariums for selected classrooms so students can see and nurture young trout they care for from eggs to fingerlings.  And occasionally we find time to fish too.  

Welcome to Gila Trout #530 Chapter of Trout Unlimited. Our Chapter was founded in 2009. We are a 501c3 non-profit organization.
 
Most of our 105+ members live or vacation in Payson or the surrounding Mogollon Rim Country.
 
Payson is the gateway to great fishing in Rim Country. Several trout streams and lakes are within an hour of town. We are also only two hours away from many White Mountains fishing destinations. Please check out our Favorite Local Waters Photo Gallery and our Fly Fishing Instruction pages to learn more about fly fishing opportunities in the area.
 
Besides fishing, our members are involved in a variety of activities and projects that benefit the community, our surrounding forest, streams, rivers, and lakes (see Conservation Efforts and Native trout recreational fishing hatchery support).
 
Trout Unlimited Mission
To bring together diverse interests to care for and recover rivers and streams so our children can experience the joy of wild and native trout and salmon.
 
Trout Unlimited Vision
For communities across America to engage in the work of repairing and renewing the rivers, streams and other waters on which we all depend.

Click on photos of trout below for more information on the species.
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THIS IS A PHOTO OF A GILA TROUT WHICH ARE NATIVE ONLY TO ARIZONA AND WESTERN NEW MEXICO. THEY WERE NATIVE TO OUR LOCAL STREAMS 100 YEARS AGO, PRIOR TO STOCKING OF NON NATIVE TROUT SPECIES IN ARIZONA. BOTH GILA AND APACHE TROUT WERE LISTED AS ENDANGERED AND ARE NOW LISTED AS THREATENED. USFWS IS PROPOSING THE DELISTING OF APACHE TROUT DUE TO SUCCESSFUL RECOVERY EFFORTS.
LINK TO AFFILIATED FLYCASTERS CLUB SITE
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THIS IS A PHOTO OF A NATIVE ARIZONA APACHE TROUT. THEY ARE ONLY FOUND IN ARIZONA AND IS THE STATE FISH. IT IS A CLOSE RELATIVE OF THE GILA TROUT. APACHE TROUT ARE FOUND IN THE WHITE MOUNTAINS OF ARIZONA.