Access to Oak Creek is open. Fall is a busy time for recreationists as the leaves begin to change color, but once the leaves have all fallen, recreation use drops dramatically. Trout fishing has been good along all of Oak Creek from its confluence with the Verde River upstream. This is an excellent time to target the brown trout that spawn in the fall. Campgrounds are open. Caddisfly, mayfly, Dobsonfly (Hellgrammite), Wooly Bugger, leech, and midge patterns should produce well. Inline spinners like Joe’s flies and Panther Martins will also work well. Rainbow trout were stocked last week. Gila trout were stocked this week. Check the regulations before heading out, the upper section (Junipine Crossing to the Call of the Canyon Road Crossing including West Fork Oak Creek) of Oak Creek is catch-and-release only for trout, artificial fly and lure only, single pointed barbless hooks only. This regulation will change Jan. 1, 2023, with the catch-and-release section expanding to include the Highway 89A bridge at Slide Rock State Park upstream to the Sterling Springs Fish Hatchery property boundary, including West Fork Oak Creek. This section will be catch-and-release only for trout, artificial fly and lure only, barbless hooks only.