Western Outdoor Times - Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!

Rainbow trout stockings are well underway and will continue all winter long at two-week intervals. Trout range in size from 11-12 inches in length, with some fish up to 16 inches.

Fishing is good to excellent for anglers using scented dough baits (such as Power Bait), worms or corn on the bottom. Tip: Anglers using 2-4 pound test line are getting 2-3 times more bites than anglers using 8-12 pound line. Small spinners such as Roostertails and Panther Martins, or spoons such as Kastmasters and Super Dupers work well for trout.

The morning bite is the best, but trout will bite sporadically throughout the day. When the bite is on, anglers are catching limits in an hour or two. Action for catfish, bluegill and bass has slowed due to colder water temperatures. Trout fishing is good to excellent at Green Valley lakes in Payson with Power Bait, worms and small spoons or jigs working best.

Last Stockings

All Urban Fishing Program waters in Phoenix and Tucson areas were stocked with trout during the week of Dec. 10-15

Green Valley Lakes (Payson) were stocked with trout during the week of Dec. 10 15

2012 End-Of-Year Reminders

Stay on the lookout for golden alga, a microscopic organism that releases substances that are toxic to fish. Game and Fish is working with city park staff and lake consultants to regularly monitor for and control the unwanted algae. Please do your part to prevent the spread of golden alga by not moving water or wet objects or fishing equipment from lake to lake. Clean, drain and dry all equipment.

The 2012 Class U Urban Fishing license is now 50 percent off through Dec. 31. Stop by a Game and Fish office or any of our sporting goods or retail license dealers and ask for your 2012 discount urban license for $9.25.

Submit your big fish catches for the 2012 Fish-of-the-Year contest. With only weeks to go, there are plenty of chances to report your big fish catches in either of two categories: kept or released. Application forms and instructions for the contest are in the current Urban Fishing Program guidebook or AZ Fishing Regulation booklet. Updates on the current leaders can be checked out on our web site at http://www.azgfd.gov.

2013 Urban Fishing Program Guidebooks Coming Soon

The 2013 Urban Fishing Program Guidebooks will be available at license dealers and Game and Fish offices by December 20. The free guidebooks are chock full of helpful tips and information on urban fishing. There are no changes in urban or statewide license costs or urban fishing regulations for 2013.