Upper Salt River is a fairly narrow system and is comprised of riffle/run habitat and pools that support fishable populations of largemouth bass, bluegill, smallmouth bass, and white crappie.
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Rainbow Trout, Largemouth Bass, Sunfish and Catfish can all be found in the waters of the Salt River below Saguaro Lake. Take advantage of this year-round trout fishery in the summer when the air temperatures are 100°F and the water is 65°F.
It is home to a year round bass, carp and sucker population and is stocked September through April with Rainbow Trout. This is the closest place to town where you can catch a trout in moving water.
The Salt River below Mark Twain Lake is separated into two sections: the Reregulation Pool and the mainstem Salt River. The Reregulation Pool is most popular for crappie, largemouth bass, flathead catfish, and channel catfish. There are two access points to the 9-mile-long pool.
Salt Pan CreekImportant: Fish and shellfish caught in these waters should not be eaten due to high levels of pollutants being found in these waters. You should release your catch.
You can swim in the Salt River, but be aware that the water is not as clean as your typical swimming pool because of all the folks and animals who use the river daily.
As leaves fall off and the wind blows, salt is dispersed around the surrounding land. Since the salt river is lined by Tamarisk, much of that salt falls into the water, making it salty.
Lower Salt River: A surprisingly short drive from downtown Phoenix reaches the Salt River, where runoff from the distant mountains waters the desert. Here you can swim, float, and paddle among huge cacti, towering cliffs, and a herd of wild horses.
Marshmallows get very sticky when wet, making them the perfect ammunition to lob at other tubers for some lighthearted fun. They also float, so you can pick up discarded ammo and reuse it as you travel down the river.
One of my favorite annual trips to lead is a moonlight paddle down the Lower Salt River east of Phoenix. The Salt River is a great little trip either early in the morning, or long after the tubers have gone home—it's serene, has some nice scenery, is convenient to the metro Phoenix area, and offers easy logistics.
The river was used for irrigation by the pre-Columbian Hohokam culture, by later Native Americans, and by early Euro-American settlers in the 19th century. It currently provides a major source of irrigation and drinking water for Phoenix and surrounding communities through the Salt River Project.