Rating: Good

Fishing is good for stocked Apache trout and wild brown trout. The stream is stocked weekly with Apache trout until mid-September. Flow levels are higher and slightly off color during monsoon run off, but will drop and clear as monsoon storms subside. Try dry flies, nymphs, streamers, small lures or PowerBait for trout. Hoppers or hoppers with droppers will work well in early fall when insects are most active. West Fork Campground is now open up to the first river crossing. When hiking upstream of the campground, West Fork Black River upstream of Hayground Creek is catch and release, artificial lure or fly only with single point barbless hook. Hayground Creek is closed to all fishing.  As fall progresses, watch out for spawning brown trout. Try not to target fish on redds or step on redds in the stream. This creek has a great population of wild browns. Protecting spawning fish will allow these populations to thrive.