Despite the challenging economy, or maybe because of it, the Urban Fishing Program is experiencing increased angler participation.  Sales of Urban Fishing Licenses in 2009 are over 10% above the record breaking 2008 year.
Eric Swanson, Urban Fisheries Program Manager, sees the growth trend as “Lots of people recognizing the excellent value of this high [...]

Fish stockings, featuring channel catfish, will resume during the week of September 21-26 at all 20 Urban Fishing Program waters in the greater Phoenix and Tucson areas.  The fall catfish stockings represent the “second half” of the spring/fall catfish delivery season that included a two month summer “halftime” break from stockings.  Over 14,000 pounds of [...]

Fishing is slow at all Urban Fishing waters statewide through the summer no stocking period.  Fish stockings will resume at all Phoenix and Tucson area Urban waters the week of September 21-26.  Catfish and bass have been tough to catch with the higher lake temperatures making them lazy and sluggish.  Fishing activity will begin to [...]

In 1985 what started out as a small fishing program at three lakes in Scottsdale and Tucson has now grown into one of the largest urban fishing programs in the nation.  The year 2010 will represent the 25th anniversary of Arizona’s Urban Fishing Program (UFP) and Game and Fish is planning some fun and innovative [...]

This is the busiest time of year for white amurs to graze on nuisance aquatic plants at urban waters.  Plants are abundant and growing fast.  White amur, or grass carp, are like “aquatic cows” feeding on plant growth across the bottoms of our lakes.  Vegetarians by nature, the white amur can feed on 1-3 pounds [...]

Fishing has tapered off at all Urban Fishing waters statewide now that the spring fish stocking season has ended.  Fish stockings will resume in mid September once temperatures start to cool once again.  Fishing is still fair at lakes as many catfish still remain, bluegill and other sunfish species are still plentiful, and bass are [...]

Do you have a favorite fishing picture from an Urban Fishing lake?  Join hundreds of others that have shared their special fishing moments by submitting their photos on the Game and Fish Department’s website at www.azgfd.gov.  Click on the Your Photos section on the front page and look under Fishing.  It is fun to look [...]

With catfish stockings on hold over the summer months, fishing becomes more challenging requiring anglers to be adaptable and persistent.  The dumb stockers are pretty much gone now, leaving behind the smarter more wary fish.  The many catfish, bass and bluegill remaining in the lakes have been around for awhile and have seen a lot [...]

Fishing for catfish continues to be good to excellent the week of stocking.  Now that warmer air and lake temperatures have arrived, the best catfish action is during low light or nighttime conditions.  Anglers are having luck using stink baits or shrimp fished on the bottom.  Sunfish continue to bite well on small worms fished [...]

Several Urban Lakes and Ponds will be receiving white amurs along with the regular catfish delivery the week of June 22-27.  These aquatic ‘cows’ will spend the summer grazing on the weeds just beginning to grow in many of the lakes in the Maricopa County area.  White amurs, also known as grass carp, can be [...]