Please Don’t Feed Get yourself ready to fish Oak Creek. Oak Creek Illustrations by Randall D. Babb There are many places in Arizona where onto Page Springs Road. Continue straight July when approximately 3,000 - 4,500 WHAT TO USE. Pocket fishing is excellent. But what many for 2.7 miles at which point you will be fish are stocked per month. Numbers can anglers love about fishing Oak Creek is at the Page Springs bridge. Parking is vary but Page Springs Hatchery stocks Line: Use a light line (2-6 pound) Fishing Guide the rugged beauty of the creek and the limited. Please note, there is no parking or an estimated 26,000 rainbow trout in Oak surrounding views of the canyon. Fish- creek access from Bubbling Ponds or Page Creek each year. Check the azgfd.gov Hook size: Single-pointed barbless hook only (required in catch and release ing is about catching fish but it’s also Springs Hatcheries. Fish along the west website for the current stocking schedule BROWN TROUT about the experience. This guide was de- bank, opposite Page Springs Hatchery. or call Page Springs Hatchery at (928) areas) Small bait hooks (range 8-12) for veloped for both the accomplished and Please do not enter the hatchery grounds 634-4805 for the weekly fishing update. catch and keep areas novice anglers alike. It provides a map of with fishing gear or wet from walking Bait: Live bait is prohibited in catch and where to go, some practical guidelines, along the creek. WHAT TO CATCH. release areas. In catch and keep areas, and tips and tricks to make your fishing To get to Mormon’s Crossing, continue an- use the following: Worms, nightcrawlers, excursion fun and rewarding. All of Oak Creek is stocked with rainbow other 7 miles south past the Page Springs salmon eggs, and Powerbait (Oak Creek trout from Page Springs Hatchery. Pop- bridge. Turn right onto Purple Sage Road Canyon). On the lower reach of Oak Creek RAINBOW TROUT ulations of smallmouth and largemouth WHERE TO GO. then right onto Willow Point Road (Oak (from Chavez Crossing to the confluence bass, rock bass, green sunfish, flathead Creek Elementary School will be on your of the Verde River), use worms night- catfish and channel catfish are found on Oak Creek Canyon runs along SR 89A. right). This is an unpaved, dirt road. At the crawlers, meal worms, corn, Powerbait, the lower reaches of Oak Creek. Native It is a beautiful ravine located along the bottom of the hill is a cement bridge. This rubber worms/lizards/crayfish, and a Roundtail chub are also found in Oak Mogollon Rim between Flagstaff and is Mormon’s Crossing. variety of jigs. LICENSES, PASSES, Sedona. Oak Creek runs from Sterling Creek and are catch and release only Spinners: 1/32-1/16 in size, rooster tails, AND ENTRY FEES Springs Hatchery to the confluence of To get to Crescent Moon and Chavez anywhere on the creek. A wild popu- panther martens and cast masters (pref- SMALL MOUTH BASS the Verde River. This scenic byway has Crossing in Sedona, head south on SR 89A, lation of brown trout are found in Oak erably silver and gold patterns) Fishing licenses can be purchased some amazing views. turn left onto Upper Red Rock Loop Road. Creek Canyon. Native Gila trout are found in person at Arizona Game and Fish Take another left onto Chavez Ranch in the West Fork/Call of the Canyon re- Flies: Small patterns of caddis flies, Road. To get to Crescent Moon, turn right Department offices, Basha’s grocery in There are many locations on Oak Creek gion and are also catch and release only. midges, bead heads, nymphs and wooly onto Red Rock Crossing Road. If heading Sedona or in Cottonwood at Big Five to venture out and test your angling buggers skills. For a novice angler, we suggest to Chavez Crossing, do not turn right. CATCH AND RELEASE Sporting Goods and Walmart. Licenses can also be purchased online at www. starting on the lower end of Oak Creek Continue straight on Chavez Ranch Road. OR CATCH AND KEEP? TIPS AND TRICKS. beginning at Mormon’s Crossing and This road turns left at the top of the hill. azgfd.gov. Please be advised that loca- Travel approximately 1 mile down the dirt tions may change at any time without the Page Springs bridge in Cornville and Try different set ups. See what works!) LARGEMOUTH BASS heading north to Crescent Moon and road to reach the creek. CATCH AND RELEASE notice. A valid fishing or combination Chavez Crossing in Sedona. The Oak Creek catch and release area For rainbow trout, use spinners and license is required for resident and If you prefer to fish Oak Creek Canyon, spans from Call of the Canyon also flies. You can add a split shot 8-16 inch- non-resident anglers 10 years of age drive north out of Sedona on SR 89A To get to the Page Springs bridge, take known as West Fork to the north reach es above your hook to weigh it down. or older fishing any public accessible heading towards Flagstaff. Start at Grass- SR 89A heading south out of Sedona on Junipine Crossing. Here anglers will water in Arizona. A youth combination hopper Point and continue north to Cave For smallmouth and largemouth bass, towards Cottonwood. Then take a left find stocked rainbow trout as well as hunt and fish license (ages 10-17) for Springs. Fishing is along this entire route. use a jig, rubber worms/lizards, or live wild brown trout and native gila trout. resident and non-resident is $5. There are many trailheads, picnic, day worms. GREEN SUNFISH Along this portion of Oak Creek several use areas, and public campgrounds along A Red Rock Pass is required for parking rules apply: For green sunfish and rock bass, use a the way. The canyon has both catch and 1/32 jig with a bobber tipped with a at the following developed day use ar- release and catch and keep areas. See our • Single-pointed barbless hooks only meal worm or nightcrawler. For best eas: Encinoso, Banjo Bill, Bootlegger and Oak Creek stocking map for more details. • No live bait results, fish close to the bank. Halfway. Contact the Red Rock Ranger • Artificial fly and lure only District for more information. Passes • All trout must be immediately released For catfish, use live worms, chicken WHEN TO GO. can be purchased at fee machines at unharmed livers, cut bait, or hotdogs. CHANNEL CATFISH many of the picnic areas throughout Oak Creek’s fishing season runs all year CATCH AND KEEP the canyon. The following sites require long. However, if you are fishing for trout, CONTACT NUMBERS an entry fee: Crescent Moon Ranch, www.azgfd.gov For catch and keep, the daily bag limit is your best bet is to fish above Grasshopper Grasshopper Point, Slide Rock, and Call unlimited on smallmouth and largemouth Arizona Game and Fish Department Arizona Game and Fish Department Point where the colder water can support of the Canyon (West Fork). An Arizona 5000 W. Carefree Highway • Phoenix, AZ 85086 bass and rock bass, green sunfish, and Region II Office...... (928) 774-5045 trout year ‘round. The optimal time to fish State Parks pass can be used at Slide (602) 942-3000 channel and flathead catfish, anywhere Oak Creek is during the stocking season. Page Springs Hatchery. . .(928) 634-4805 Rock State Park except weekends The stocking season begins in March and along Oak Creek. Downstream of Junipine FLATHEAD CATFISH The Arizona Game and Fish Department prohibits discrimination (Fridays-Sundays) and state holidays Crossing, the daily bag limit is six trout. Red Rock Ranger District . (928) 203-2900 on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, religion, or dis- ends in November. The Arizona Game and from April 1st to October 31st. Developed ability in its programs and activities. If anyone believes that they Fish Department typically stocks every Roundtail chub must be released un- Sedona Chamber campgrounds along Oak Creek include: have been discriminated against in any of the AZGFD’s programs or other week during the stocking season. harmed anywhere along the creek. of Commerce...... (928) 282-7890 activities, including its employment practices, the individual may Manzanita, Cave Springs, and Pine Flats Stocking numbers increase as the sum- file a complaint alleging discrimination directly with the Director’s Please refer to the Arizona Game and East and West. Camping reservations Office, 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85086-5000, 602-942- mer months approach. This is to support TO REPORT FISHING VIOLATIONS, CALL Fish Department’s current fishing regula- can be made at recreation.gov or on-site 3000, or with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Attn: Civil Rights heavier angler activity in the canyon. The THE OPERATION GAME THIEF HOTLINE Coordinator for Public Access, 5275 Leesburg Pike, MS:WSFR, Falls tion guidelines. at the campground. Walk-in reserva- largest stockings are between April and AT (800) 352-0700 ROUNDTAIL CHUB Church, VA 22041-3803. Persons with a disability may request a rea- tions are limited. sonable accommodation or this document in an alternative format by contacting the Director’s Office as listed above.

2-2019 Cave Springs Oak Creek - Sedona

Catch & Release Waters Call of the Canyon and Stocking Sites

Oak Creek Features Bootlegger

Stocking Sites Campgrounds

Stocking Sites Day Use Fee Area Banjo Bill Catch and Release Points Stocking Sites Only Oak Creek Catch and Release Extent Slide Rock 0 1 2 miles

SITE NAME LAT LONG Manzanita Crescent Moon 34.82 -111.80 Shangri La Chavez Crossing 34.83 -111.79 Encinoso Grasshopper Point 34.89 -111.73 Ropes that Rescue 34.91 -111.73 Encinoso 34.92 -111.74 Shangri La 34.93 -111.74 Manzanita 34.94 -111.74 Ropes that Rescue Slide Rock 34.95 -111.75 Banjo Bill 34.96 -111.75 Bootlegger 34.97 -111.75 Call of the Canyon 34.99 -111.74 Cave Springs 35.00 -111.74

Grasshopper Point

Chavez Crossing

Crescent Moon

Lower Oak Creek Page Springs Bridge Stocking Sites

SITE NAME LAT LONG Page Springs Bridge 34.77 -111.76 Mormon’s Crossing 34.74 -111.75

Mormon’s Crossing