Western Outdoor Times - Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!

Get Out For Trout

This is the time of year when the Arizona Game and Fish Department really kicks in its winter trout stockings in the lower-elevation lakes. You can’t beat the recent weather, so now is a great time to get out and fish for trout.

Fishing Updates

Anglers sent in the following reports this week:

Brand reported that he caught some rainbow trout at Desert Breeze Lake (an Urban Fishing Program water in Chandler) using spring green Power Bait, small panther martins, mealworms, and nightcrawlers under a bobber.

Mike A. reports he fished the lower Salt River at Phon D. Sutton last weekend and got a few strikes but didn't catch anything. Mike said, “I had high hopes because two weeks ago I managed to catch two trout in a short amount of time. I was using night crawlers and Power Bait both times. There was plenty of wildlife and other animals to see though, including bald eagles, horses and even a bull (all on the opposite side of the river).”

Brett M. reports that the grass or algae growth on the bottom of Kiwanis Lake is significant. “Every cast results in clumps of this nasty coarse grass on the hook and weight. Even bobbers are getting stuck on it unless you keep your line less than 2 feet from the bobber.

Fishing is unproductive, although I've seen a few lucky catches. I've made 3 good attempts for trout in the last week with no success, where I usually would catch my limit (or at least one). I would have to rate Kiwanis poor-to-bad at the present; [I’m] going to have to try some of the other urban lakes.”

Thanks for the report, Brett, we’ll check into it.

Brian M. reports that Oak Creek is fishing good for rainbow and brown trout. Most catches were on a small white midge (18) with a Hare's Ear flashback dropper. Trout in the Upper West Fork area aren’t very active, but lower in the canyon temperatures are around 70 and the fishing is great. Key times are 8-11 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to dusk.

Lyman Lake State Park and access to Lyman Lake in eastern Arizona closed for the season on Dec. 1.

Fishing Licenses For Gifts

Looking for holiday gift ideas? 2013 fishing licenses make great gifts.

In the midst of the holiday rush, don’t forget to buy your 2013 fishing license. Class A licenses (general fishing license for state waters) cost $23.50 for residents and $70.25 for non-residents. Trout stamps (which are required in addition to a Class A license for the taking of trout) are $15.75 for residents and $57.75 for nonresidents.

Class U (Urban) fishing licenses cost $18.50 for residents and nonresidents. The Class U license is valid only at the 21 designated Urban Fishing Program waters and is good for all fish species (including trout).

‘One Size Fits All’

If you want one fishing license that covers all waters in the state, then the Class L, Super Conservation Fishing license is the way to go. At $53 for residents and only $63 for non-residents, this super license includes the state fishing license, trout stamp and urban license — all in one package deal.

Fishing licenses are sold at over 320 license dealers statewide, at any Game and Fish office, or online at http://www.azgfd.gov/eservices/licenses.shtml. You can even buy them ahead of time as Christmas gifts for friends and family as long as you know the personal information that needs to go on the license.

All anglers age 14 and over must purchase a license to fish in Arizona.