NOTE: The Urban Fishing Program does not stock fish from June 25 through mid September at any of our 21 designated waters. Stockings (catfish) in Phoenix and Tucson Urban Fishing Program waters will resume the week of Sept. 17-22.

Urban Fishing Report

With catfish stockings at all Phoenix and Tucson urban waters on hold over the summer months, fishing becomes more challenging, requiring anglers to be adaptable, patient and persistent. The dumb stockers are pretty much gone now, but plenty of wily catfish still lurk in the depths of the lakes, especially lakes of 5 or more acres. Catfishing is fair for anglers using worms, stink baits, or shrimp fished on the bottom. Catfish can be caught throughout the day, but are most active when the sun goes down. Most catfish are from 13-16 inches, but some lunkers over 3 pounds are being hauled out of the lakes.

The many catfish, bass and bluegill remaining in the lakes have been around for awhile and have seen a lot of the same baits, presented in the same way. Successful summer anglers have learned to change it up and experiment with new baits, new bait combinations and new presentations. Try combining a piece of shrimp with a worm, or try using a “worm blower” to inflate the worm and elevate it above the bottom. Do a web search for “secret catfish baits” and discover an amazing selection of concoctions sure to increase your fishing success. This is the time to make some rigging changes and try out some of the fluorocarbon fishing lines in lighter test weights to make your line practically invisible. Or, try fishing without weights and let your bait flutter to the bottom. For more bites, fish with 4- to 6-pound test line and keep your weights to a minimum. Keep trying new things, keep at it, and have fun learning more about fishing this summer.

Bluegill fishing is fair for anglers using worms and mealworms fished under a small bobber set at 4- to 6-foot depths. For more bluegill success, use 2-pound line, size 12 hooks, and just enough bait to cover the hook. Action for largemouth bass is fair, with the best baits finesse plastics fished in the early morning hours.

At Green Valley lakes (Payson), fishing is best for bass, bluegill and crappie. Fishing is poor for trout and catfish. Anglers using worms and meal worms under a small slip bobber are enjoying plenty of action, especially when fishing the outside edge of the weed-lines. Fishing with lures is difficult due to the presence of weeds around the lake edge.

Last stocking:
Phoenix and Tucson Urban Fishing Program waters were last stocked on June 13 with catfish (Note: this was the final spring stocking before the summer break).
Green Valley lakes in Payson were last stocked on May 11 with trout.

Next stocking:
Phoenix and Tucson Urban Fishing Program waters will not be stocked again until fall catfish deliveries resume the week of Sept. 17-22.
Green Valley lakes in Payson will not be stocked again until October, when trout deliveries resume.

Game and Fish website offers great resources for anglers

The Arizona Game and Fish Department’s website, www.azgfd.gov, is loaded with great resources and tips for anglers. Want to know where to fish and what’s biting? Go to the Weekly Fishing Report found under the “In the Spotlight” section. Need to know when trout stockings are taking place? Go to the Stocking Schedule page found in the “Spotlight” section, and pull up the summer trout stocking spreadsheet.

New in 2012 is the Fish&Boat interactive fishing map that features 150 of Arizona’s best fishing lakes, streams and urban ponds on a Google-based platform.

Interested in finding out about state record fish and big fish-of-the-year entries? Click on Fishing to view State Records and current 2012 Big Fish-of-the-Year records. Check out the photos of the record fish on this site. Speaking of photos, if you are interested in submitting your own fish photos, or viewing pics from other anglers, go to Your Photos. If you would like to receive free email reports from the department, click on eNews and subscribe to any or all of our nine newsletters and reports, including the Weekly Fishing Report, the Urban Fishing Bulletin, or Wildlife News.

We are also on Facebook.

To report fishing violations, call 1-800-352-0700. Reward money may be available.

Urban Fishing Program Manager: Eric Swanson, (623) 236-7263.
Urban Fishing Program Specialist: Joann Hill, (623) 236-7268.