The fall stocking season has begun and catfishing is really good.
Reports from anglers are saying that 2 pound cats are being caught with a few 3-4 pounders. The early morning and evening are best but the bite is also becoming more active during the day. Shrimp, stink baits, and chicken liver are working but hot dogs are working the best.
The catfish are fat, healthy and feisty.
For the next 10 months all urban lake anglers can look forward regular fish stocking. The stocking season began last month with catfish but once the catfish cycle ends after 4 deliveries through the fall, there will be 9 stockings of rainbow trout and back to catfish when the water temp warms back up through the summer.
Catfish will be stocked mid-September through mid-November, stop for the winter and begin again in mid-March through June.
Trout will be stocked beginning mid-November through mid-March.
Sunfish will be stocked mid-October through to the end of November and again at mid-March through the end of April.
Nice sized catfish (1-4 pounds) are being caught at Tempe Town Lake along with some small bass.
For best results: For catfish try chicken liver on a bobber, worms and/or corn. if you’re going for the bass, try a spinner bait in the evening. White, in particluar, seems to be working well.
Due to high water temps and the absence of AZ Game Fish stocking the urban lakes, the fishing activity has slowed dramatically.
There have been some reports of 2-4 pound catfish being caught but the overall bite is low. The last stocking of catfish was back on June 25th.
For best results: To get anything to bite this time of year a little luck will be required. But for those few, myself included, who just can’t stay away from a quiet lake try stink baits for those 2-4 pound catfish. Also try shrimp fished off the bottom without a sinker.
There are some sunfish biting. Small worms seem to be working the best with a bobber. Try hitting the morning bite for your best odds at getting anything.
Fishing for catfish has been excellent this year in the urban lakes and will soon get better with a stocking of catfish expected on June 9. Recent stockings of catfish have included some big fish at around 4-6 pounds.
For best results try using stink baits with a sliding sinker fished at the bottom.
Other options include shrimp and worms.
Trout fishing is good to excellent at Green Valley Lakes in Payson. Reports are saying there are some nice 1 - 3 pound rainbows available.
For trout try Power Bait, worms and salmon eggs.
Go for the largemouth bass with spinner bait, spoons or try plastics with a drop shot. The bass are actively in their spring spawn period and are aggressive and biting. AZ Game and Fish are asking that we practice catch and release during the spawn.
Bluegills are also in their spring spawn.
This is a great lake for kids and beginning anglers.
Trout stockings will take place through mid May.
Reports say that one angler brought in 17 largemouth bass using Senkos and spinner baits.
The largemouths aren’t the only fish biting right now. The catfish and bluegills are also excellent.
For channel catfish try shrimp, hot dogs, or worms and fish off the bottom.
The latest stocking included 15 - 20 inch catfish and are restocked every 2 weeks.
Spring fishing is HOT! HOT! HOT!
Don’t wait another day to go fishing. Fishing activity at Urban Fishing Program lakes and ponds is excellent with anglers reporting nice stringers of catfish, aggressive bluegill and hybrid sunfish, some nice bass and a few remaining trout.
Fish have been stocked three weeks in a row with channel catfish and hybrid sunfish
On top of all the stockings of big fish, the lakes are producing good action for largemouth bass, bluegill and redear sunfish as all three of these species are in spring spawning mode and moving close to shore.
Stockings of the 1-3 pound catfish will continue every two weeks through June. So get out now during these cool spring days to enjoy fishing that is hot, hot, hot!
Use:worms, stink baits, and shrimp fished on the bottom with a sinker attached about a foot above the baited hook should work well for catching catfish.
Daily bag limits are four catfish per person at Urban Lakes, and two catfish per person at Urban Ponds (note regulations and park signs for lake and pond designations).
If you’re missing the trout here in the vallye and Tucson try going a little north. The beautiful 13-acre Green Valley Lakes in Payson are unique within the Urban Fishing Program because they continue to receive stockings of rainbow trout through early May. While only trout are stocked there, there are at least four other popular sport fish commonly caught: crappie, largemouth bass, bluegill and channel catfish.
The trout season kicks off on the 15th.
With fish stockings taking place every 2 weeks through March at urban fishing lakes and ponds, the fishing is expected to be good to great this season.
For best results use scented dough balls like Power Bait, worms, or small trout lures like spinners and spoons.
Bluegill are currently biting and reports are saying the action is good. Try meal worms, corn, or dough balls with a small bobber.
Catfish action is fair. Use hot dogs, stink bait, dough balls and shrimp. Catfish stocking has stopped for the winter and will resume in the spring.
November 15, trout season officially begins.
To get ready AZ Game and Fish will be stocking all urban fishing areas in Phoenix and Tucson with 11 to 12 inch trout. Each area will get 80 to 100 trout per lake acre. Fish will be stocked every 2 weeks for the next 4 months.
Prepare your tackle for the up coming trout season:
Daily bag limits for urban fishing lakes is 4 per licensed person and 2 for unlicensed kids under age 14. At urban fishing ponds the limit is 2 per licensed person and 1 for unlicensed kids under 14.
