Welcome, Winter Temps And The Trout!

Tip Of The Week

Silver Creek near Show Low is a spring creek that comes out of the ground at a constant temperature and does not freeze in the winter. Catch-and-release fishing for big rainbow trout with artificial lure and flies, with single barbless hooks, will continue through the winter.

The Reel Deal

Fishing, hunting, football, campfires, and possible "cast-n-blast" adventures (it's quail season!) - this is our cool wave of fall perfection. It also signals the return of trout to our Community Fishing Program lakes and ponds.

Bartlett Lake is one of the better places to "cast and blast," and anglers should take note that the Yellow Cliffs boat ramp is temporarily closed due to low water level, but the Jojoba ramp remains open.

This is the transition period from the fall-activity patterns to the winter ones. Fish are edging deep and as the water cools, their metabolism slows down. Bass can still be found chasing shad at the surface at times, but for most lakes, expect top-water action to be sporadic (but worthwhile).

Go target bass while water temperatures are inside a range that enables these game fish to chase bait fish - \ there are only a few weeks left.

By purchasing your license online annually, you also are conserving wildlife for the future and leading wildlife conservation efforts. Thanks for your passion for wildlife.

Trout Stockings

Cooler temperatures have finally come back, which means the time was right to switch to stocking trout. Our first Community Fishing Program trout stocking - of 6,110 pounds! - was in mid-November.

The first trout stockings into "core" waters, done on two separate days, were into Green Valley, Red Mountain, Water Ranch, Evelyn Hallman, Papago, Steele Indian School, Encanto, Alvord, Desert West, Cortez, Pioneer, Rio Vista, and Surprise.

The second stockings were into all Tucson-area waters (Lakeside, Kennedy, Sahuarita, and Silverbell), as well as Copper Sky, Veterans Oasis, Desert Breeze, Kiwanis, Riverview, and Chaparral.

Our final catfish stockings are done for the season. We will resume stocking catfish next March.

Purchase Licenses Online

Be sure to purchase a fishing license online at http://www.azgfd.gov -- they're good for 365 days from the date of purchase and a Youth Combo Hunt/Fish License is just $5! A resident General Fishing License is $37 and a resident Community Fishing License is $24.