• Outdoor Activities
• Outdoor Resources
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• Biking
• Swimming and Cliff Jumping
• Golf
• Camping
• Fishing
• Raft, Canoe, and Kayak
• Jeep Trails

Fishing

Oak Creek and the Verde River offer relaxing times for the fisherman. Trout seems to be the catch of the day, though record–size Catfish populate remote sections of the Verde River west of Clarkdale. You’ll need a license which can be purchased at a variety of local sources. Oak Creek is stocked with Rainbow Trout annually and the Browns are wild.

Arizona Game and Fish
www.gf.state.az.us/h_f/fishing_rules.shtml

Start here for basic regulations and links to lake levels, river flows, and record fish.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department offers an excellent 44 page guide that is aimed at all levels of fishing expertise. It has been newly revised and has updated maps. Get a copy of Arizona Fishen' Holes - The Arizona Game and Fish Department's guide to popular fishing waters and facilities in Arizona, and hit the water. From White Mountain lakes to Patagonia Lake, from the Verde River to The Gila River, this compact guide can lead you to the nearest Arizona source for largemouth bass, rainbow trout, or any other local game species. You can order the book for $6.00 by calling 602.789.3324 or go to the Game and Fish website, print the order form, and mail it in. Take a look at this book and other interesting titles at: http://azgfd.gov/publications

USGS Stream Real-Time Flow Data
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/rt

Fishing conditions often mirror water activity in relation to the weather. Get the upper hand by checking the current flow conditions for any stream you might want to fish and gauge it against the average flow for that watercourse. The USGS Real-Time Data for Arizona gives you a nice chart showing any recent spikes in the flow and indicates exactly when that data was taken. The data is sampled at the recording site every 15-60 minutes, stored onsite, and then transmitted to USGS offices every 1- 4 hours by radio, satellite, or phone lines. The data is available on-line within minutes of retrieval.

The Dame Juliana Anglers
www.damejulianaanglers.com/home.html

A great list of links to women’s fly fishing worldwide. The Dame Juliana Anglers is based out of Phoenix and represents an informal group of women with a common love of fly fishing. They organize and promote fly tying and fly fishing classes as well as fishing trips throughout Arizona and other Western states. Their name comes from the 15th century English nun, Dame Juliana Berners, known as the First Lady of fly fishing. In 1496 Dame Juliana authored The Second Book of Albans, a book considered to be the very first treatise on fishing. At least a dozen of her fly designs are still in use by anglers worldwide.

Fishing Locations – Lakes and Rivers
www.gf.state.az.us/h_f/where_fish_north.shtml

The Arizona Game and Fish website. Sedona and the Verde Valley are located in the region called “North Central Arizona”. This page has a chart cross-referencing the streams (Oak Creek, Verde River, etc.) with the fish found therein (Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, etc.). It also links to other Arizona regions should you be traveling about the state in search of your favorite fishing hole.

All About Fishing
www.aa-fishing.com/az/arizona-map.html

Fishermen start here! In addition to the same comprehensive fishing information this site provides for all 50 states, it is also the best website for Arizona fishing locations. All game species are listed and include a detailed natural history on each species, national and state records, habitat info, fishing clubs and organizations focused on that species, and technical tips for fishing that particular catch. An interactive map with Arizona fishing locations heads up the page. Just click on any lake or stream and a nice map with driving instructions appears. A very polished website with plenty of links and valuable resources.

Verde NRCD
www.verde.org

The Verde Natural Resource Conservation District was formed in 1941 to help landowners and managers conserve soil and water resources along the Verde River. Go to their “Water Information” page and then on to the “Explore The Verde Watershed” page to research links to all things Verde. Though this site is not geared toward fishing it is an information rich website that might help answer questions geared for any Verde fishing expedition. The Verde River offers fine fishing, especially in its less accessible regions like the Upper Verde near Sycamore Canyon west of Clarkdale (record-size Catfish) and the section of the Verde below the Verde Hot Springs that borders the Mazatzal Wilderness on its way south to Horseshoe Reservoir and Bartlett Reservoir near Phoenix.

Rainbow Trout Farm
Oak Creek Canyon
3 miles north on Hwy 89A
928.282.5799

Open 9-5 daily except for major holidays. The Rainbow Trout Farm has been the instant family fun place in Oak Creek Canyon for many years. Within minutes your kids will be hooking a big one and their excitement will last for years to come. The assistants on site will clean and fry your catch for an enjoyable picnic by the creek. No fooling, in my experience more parents rave about the Trout Farm than almost any other attraction on their Sedona vacation except their Jeep tour. The simple reason is that their children had a ball. How nice it is to have your kids happy with the vacation Mom and Dad planned. Swim at Slide Rock, five miles further up the canyon, just before or after the Trout Farm for an extra-special, super double-whammy for the kids. You’ll have happy campers who won’t complain when you go out to dinner later that night....by yourselves!

Basha’s
West Sedona – Basha’s Plaza
Hwy 89A at Coffeepot Drive
928.282.5351

Sedona Sports
Just south of the “Y’ – Creekside Plaza
251 Hwy 179
928.282.1317 – 866.204.2377
www.sedonasports.com

Sedona Sports is a one-stop hiking, biking, fishing, and sporting goods store. Its modest size offers an amazing assortment of all the basic necessities for each category. They rent bikes, packs, hiking sticks, binoculars, baby carrier packs, tents, strollers, and even GPS at reasonable prices. Even if you forgot something at home necessary to your spur-of-the-moment adventure, you can get it here. They also sell the Forest Service’s required Red Rock Pass for parking your car in the Coconino National Forest and recreating on the land.

Canyon Outfitters
www.sedona.net/shop/canyon
West Sedona
2701 W. Hwy 89A
928.282.5293

Not a fishing only store, however Canyon carries the basics. It’s he most comprehensive Sedona source for hiking and camping equipment. Tents, topo maps, boots, sleeping bags, water bottles, technical rock climbing gear, packs, and clothing. Another great family-run operation.

Sedona Sports
Just south of the “Y’ – Creekside Plaza
251 Hwy 179
928.282.1317 – 866.204.2377
www.sedonasports.com

Sedona Sports carries basic fishing equipment for sale and rental. Didn’t bring a rod? You can rent one here. It’s one-stop shopping because they sell fishing licenses, too.

Gon’ Fishen – Jim McInnis
928.282.0788

“For the novice and experienced angler”. Jim has been a Coconino National Forest licensed guide for Oak Creek since 1995. He has been guiding longer than anyone else in the area and has a sense of humor only a seasoned fisherman seems to develop. Patience and a great attitude, both qualities he possesses in spades, truly help. I’ve known Jim for many years and have spent time with him on the creek as well as at work at Pink Jeep Tours. I count him as a personal friend and highly recommend him. He is a Sedona resident and outdoorsman at heart.

The Hook Up
623.412.3474 – 888.899.4665
www.thehookupoutfitters.com

One of the most complete fishing guide operations in the Southwest. The Hook Up is based out of Phoenix and has special use permits for National Forest areas all over the state. They offer an Oak Creek Canyon “Red Rock Trout Adventure” for Rainbow and Brown fly fishing. Catch and release, of course.