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Rainbow trout stockings have started and will continue all winter long at two-week intervals at all Urban Fishing waters. 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 a salmon egg/marshmallow combo on the bottom. 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 throughout the day. When the bite is on, anglers are catching limits in an hour. Action for catfish and bass has slowed due to colder water temperatures.

Bluegill fishing offers good action during the afternoons for anglers using meal worms on the bottom or under a small bobber. Trout fishing is good to excellent at Green Valley lakes in Payson with Power Bait, worms and small spoons working best.

Top flies for fly fishermen have been Copper Johns, wooly buggers, simi seal leaches and pheasant tail nymphs.

Community Fishing Program Starts 2014

Beginning Jan. 1, 2014, the Urban Fishing Program will be renamed the Community Fishing Program. All current park waters in the program will become Community Fishing waters. New signage will be installed at all locations.

In addition to the current 21 waters, another 15 new waters will be added. Specific information on all the changes will be available the end of the year both online at http://www.azgfd.gov, or in the upcoming 2014 Community Fishing Guidebooks that will be available at all Department offices and license dealers.

New guidebooks will include lake maps and park information on all 36 waters in the Community Fishing Program.

2013 End-Of-Year Reminders

Winter stockings of rainbow trout will continue every two weeks through the winter. Trout average 11-12 inches in size and are stocked in generous amounts.

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 2013 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 2013 discount Urban license for $9.25.

Remember the Web - http://www.azgfd.gov for stocking schedules, the Fish&Boat Arizona webmap, outdoor events calendar, and other great fishing and outdoor information.

Also check out the Web for Weekly Fishing Reports, to submit your fishing photos or to send us your latest fishing report. Talk with us on our Facebook page or get social with us on Twitter @AZGFD. Also, check out the Urban Fishing Bulleting on the AZGFD Web site.