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The Rio Yaqui heads in the mountains of northwest Chihuahua
and flows to the Gulf of California through the Sonora
lowlands. There are thought to be two distinct types
of native trout in the Yaqui headwaters. One occurs in
the more northerly Rio Bavispe watershed, including the rios
Gavilan, Negro, and Nutria. An allied form
inhabits the southern watershed, in the rios
Papigochic and Tomochic. The southern form may be more
closely related to the trout of the Rio Mayo, but it's
distribution or genetic affinities have not been studied to
any great degree.
Adult Yaqui trout are spectacular for their
broken or "punctuated" red lateral band. Some excellent
habitat remains for Yaqui trout in the more remote northern portions
of their range. This species is generally considered the most
accessible to anglers, and affords better angling than other native
trouts of the Mexican mainland. Hybridization with hatchery rainbow trout is
a grave threat to this beautiful species.
Trout are also found in the Guzman basin, and interior drainage just
to the northwest of the Yaqui. These trout were once thought
to be native, but are now believed to be remnants of transplants;
Mormon settlers of the region having taken Yaqui trout across the
divide in the early l900's.
The first museum specimens of Yaqui trout were collected by Starker
Leopold, son of the famous naturalist Aldo Leopold, in l948 from the Rio Gavilan.
John Hatch, grandson of Clarence Lunt (Leopold's guide) operates
Gavilan Tours and offers expeditions in Mexico to fish for
native Yaqui trout.
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