The Northern California Fly Fishing Board

Off on a brief family vacation next week.

We'll spend 4 days between Sedona, Falgstaff and up into Grand Canyon Nat'l. park. Looks like sightseeng is good for half that.

A quick scan of the map shows a lot of potential in the area but I've be unable to scare up much detail.

Anyone fished that area? This time of year?

Thanks for any specifics or generalities you can offer.

Mike

If you can make it to Lee's Ferry on the Colorado River (below Glen Canyon Dam), do it! If you can, hire a guide and do it by boat, although there is 3 miles of foot-accessable bank/wade fishing. Use really small nymphs, #22 & #24 midges and maybe a #12 woolly bugger.

If you can't fish there, give Oak Creek in Sedona a shot. I'm not sure if the 2008 rainbow stocking has begun (look up the AZ Game and Fish Site and call G&F, they're really helpful) but there is also a self-sustaining brown trout population there...and Sedona is beautiful.

The snow pack is good this year so I'm not sure what you'll find. Lake Mary near Flag can be productive, but I've never fished there. I usually fish well, NorCal, but when I fish AZ I head further east into the White Mountain Apache Reservation.

Hope this helps in some way,
Arizona Bruce

What Bruce said...
When will you be in Sedona?
For Oak Creek you will want to fish above Slide Rock State Park out of Sedona. Drop off family at the park and drive up from there, or you could fish up from the park. It is flyfishing only at the Call of the Canyon day use area, about 15 min up from slide rock, where the west fork comes in. Caddis and myflies, 4wt, you can get into some decent browns. You will need a park pass that you can get at the ranger station on your way up to slide rock, left side. It's kinda confusing as to what passes work where and for what parking area. With the standard pass you can park at any wide spot in the road. Ask at the ranger station.

You could fish for pike at Ashurst Lake. This is between Sedona and Flag east of I17.

Mike,
Along with what Scott recommended, I have to add the Crescent Moon Picnic area that's South (sort of) of Sedona. You can fish Oak Creek there, using caddis dries and small beadhead nymphs...this is where the pictures of Red Rock Crossing get taken, most of the people walking the banks are taking pictures of the rocks or building little towers of rocks to stimulate the vortex .

Small rainbows but a lot a water that didn't have any other fishermen around both times I've been there...plus, I'm in the background of a lot a tourist's pictures...try to wear felts, I fished it once in Tevas and them red rocks are slick!

Paul

Mike,

The site is: azgfd.gov

According to G&F, the stocking has begun in Oak Creek. That is the most stocked creek in the state. Like I said, there's a lot of info on that site, and Scott and Paul have added to that.

Much luck,
AB

Thanks all of you who replied (I'd name names but can't see you in this wibndow, sorry) .......your input has been very helpful.
Mike