Starting January 1, 2023, the catch-and-release section on Oak Creek has been expanded to include Oak Creek from the Highway 89A bridge at Slide Rock State Park upstream to the Sterling Springs Fish Hatchery property boundary including the West Fork Oak Creek. This section will be catch and release only for trout, artificial fly and lure only, barbless hooks only. Stream flow is at base flow with a recent reading of 37.2 cfs on 12/23/2024 @ 8:45 a.m. Cave Springs Campground is closed during the 2024 season for repairs. The leaves have fallen in the upper canyon and the busy tourist season has finally subsided. This means that access to Oak Creek for anglers becomes much easier. Anglers are still finding success on inline spinners and flies. Hellgrammite, Simi-seal leech, midges, Elk Hair Caddis, hoppers, and mayfly patterns are a good bet. We received recent reports of anglers catching Gila trout as far down as Grasshopper Point. This is a great time to target the brown trout in Oak Creek.