I just got a note from Terry Gunn who runs a guiding service at Lees Ferry and he said the fishing is terrific right now, with thick, fat and heavy rainbows averaging 16 to 17 inches, plus there are some hitting 18 to 20 inches.

“I have recently had clients hook into fish that were probably much larger, but as you well know, the big ones almost always get away,” Gunn said.

For those of you that remember what the fishing was like in 1999 and 2000, Gunn said, you will be as excited as he is about the current conditions and what the increased nutrient load should do for the fishing at Lees Ferry.

What’s more, this is the off-season. You might just find yourself with long stretches of solitary river to fish while experiencing some of the best wild trout fishing in the country. With gas prices dropping, this might be a good time for a fall Ferry adventure.

Closer to home, the Urban Program Lakes are being stocked with trout today, Nov. 13. Saguaro Lake is also being stocked with trout this week. The Lower Salt river near Phoenix was stocked with trout last week, along with the Verde River between Camp Verde and Cottonwood, plus Dead Horse Ranch State Park.

This coming week, Canyon Lake is scheduled for trout stockings. Be sure to put Tuesday, Nov. 25 on your calendar for the “Welcome Back the Trout” celebration at Tempe Town Lake. The good folks from Cabela’s in Glendale are joining us again this year.

It sounds like some anglers have been catching large trout again at Long Lake east of Flagstaff. It’s a long, bumpy road into this lake on the eastern edge of Anderson Mesa, but some large trout might just be worth the effort.

I am a little surprised that the good fall fishing has continued at Pleasant, Bartlett and Saguaro and Alamo but it has. But it sounds like the fishing has finally slowed at Mead, Mohave and Havasu.

Also, at Alamo Lake State Park they are having a “Night Under the Stars” program with university astronomers bringing telescopes. Sounds like to good trip to catch the late afternoon bass bite, watch the stars, maybe catch some nighttime crappies, and then camp out.

With the warmer weather expected this weekend, it’s a good time for a cast-and-blast expedition for quail, ducks, and bass. Squirrel season is still underway for a couple of more weeks.

This might also be the last hurrah for trout in the high mountain lakes. The nights are cold enough that you might find some rimming ice in the mornings. It will only take one nice snow-laden storm to change the equation. Don’t forget that you can experience some good Apache trout fishing at Silver Creek near Show Low throughout the winter.

Go wet a line. Maybe I’ll see you out there.

100,000 rainbows swimming toward urban lakes
PHOENIX – Get ready for lots of angling action because one hundred thousand rainbow trout will grace the Urban Fishing Program waters in the Valley of the Sun and Tucson areas this winter season, with the first installment Nov. 13.

“In these challenging economic times, it’s terrific to have enjoyable fishing close to home that also provides healthy low calorie meals – rainbow trout,” said Eric Swanson, Urban Fisheries Program manager for the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

Starting Nov. 13 and continuing to mid March, around 12,000 trout from Colorado will be stocked every two weeks in the department’s designated 21 Urban Fishing Program lakes.

The urban lakes have also been recently stocked with channel catfish, feisty hybrid sunfish and largemouth bass. “This is the time of year when you can catch almost anything; trout, catfish, sunfish and bass, possibly all on the same day in the urban program waters,” Swanson said.

Youth under age 14 can fish for free, but those 14 and older must have an urban fishing license. But if you don’t already have an urban fishing license, you can get a great deal right now – the 2008 urban licenses are half price ($9.25) during November and December for both residents and nonresidents alike.

“The urban fishing license is an especially good deal for winter visitors – they get the same price as resident anglers,” Swanson noted.