Dead Horse Ranch State Park near Cottonwood has been stocked five weeks in a row and is brimming full of trout, so much so that one angler complained that it was too easy to catch fish there – what were we thinking? If you are looking for a place to take a young one who got an exciting present of some fishing gear, then this might be the perfect angling adventure.

For fly anglers, desert Sportsman suggests fishing the Dead Horse ponds with dark pattern wooly buggers with a small nymph dropper. This is a perfect place for learning to fly fish – lots of room for a back cast and lots of hungry trout.

Tempe Town Lake has been stocked with trout, and we are getting some decent reports from anglers. Use night crawlers, but take along some gold KastMasters as well for the yellow bass.

If you want a solitary fishing experience at a world-class fishery where they are already seeing some wild rainbows on redds (spawning beds), try Lees Ferry in northern Arizona.

Want a New Years’ fishing expedition where you can party hearty? Then try Casino Row along the Colorado River (Bullhead area). We stock trout there amidst the glitter.

How about some winter crappie? Patagonia Lake has been providing some nice slab-sided speckled beauties. We also stock trout in this picturesque lake located in prime Mearns’ quail territory (a pretty good winter birding area as well).

Don’t ignore Canyon or Saguaro lakes for both trout and some lunker bass. We stock trout at these two wonderful bass fisheries. Some bass anglers like to use swim baits resembling struggling stockers to entice behemoth bass for a holiday photo op.

If you are a fly angler or just love fishing rivers for trout using your spinning gear, then it is tough to resist the Lower Salt River where iconic bighorn sheep roam and speeding peregrine falcons soar. It’s a wild experience close to big city life.

Or simply get out the fishing pole and cozy up to your favorite urban fishing lake where we stock trout during the winter. Two brown pelicans have been making the rounds of these Valley waters, providing a pretty good urban wildlife watching experience.

And maybe while you are out there, give some thanks for the recent blessings of snow and rain to help all the habitats, especially the aquatic ones. We might just be in store for a phenomenal fishing year. Be sure Santa brings you a 2009 fishing license so you can go ho, ho, ho – fish on this coming year!!!!

By the way, many of our rivers and streams were running at spring-time levels last week, providing nutrient and water loading in key central Arizona fisheries. With a super snow pack building up, the fishing future is looking bright.

It’s a little early for predictions, but lots of prime Gambel’s quail territory also got drenched for the second winter year in a row. Right now, just whisper it ever so softly like it’s a hopeful question or an encouraging prayer – bumper crop.

Hope to see you out there.
2009-10 Fishing Regulations are now available
Should make great seasonal stocking stuffers

PHOENIX – Just in time to be stocking stuffers for your favorite outdoor enthusiast, the newly printed 2009-10 Arizona Fishing Regulations are now available for free at all fishing license dealers in the state, including all Arizona Game and Fish Department offices.

The theme of this year’s fishing regulations also dovetail well with the seasonal spirit of the holidays: “Kids don’t remember their best day of watching television.”

“Whether it is from a child’s Christmas wish or your own New Year’s vow, take your children fishing this coming year. I guarantee the memories you make will outlast the video game he or she wants” said Fisheries Chief Kirk Young.

Don’t forget that the 2009 fishing licenses are also available – a license is the ultimate gift that keeps on giving all year long. There are even family licenses and youth combination licenses available. Just check them out in the easy-to-use regulation booklet.

“Thanks to Arizona’s abundant snowpack and superb runoff that filled our lakes to overflowing last year, the fishing prognosis going into 2009 is very good. Recent winter storms also provide the hopeful promise of good things headed our way this coming year,” Young said.

Keep in mind that there are some regulation changes also heading your way for 2009-10.

The Game and Fish Department has instituted a protective slot limit at Saguaro, Canyon and Apache lakes, where you may have six bass in possession (combination largemouth and smallmouth), of which no more than one  may be between 13 and 16 inches. The slot limit at Roosevelt is also the same as the ones at the other Salt River lakes – one bass between 13 and 16 inches may be possessed.

The Game and Fish Commission also took off the bag limits for bass (all species) and catfish (all species) at Mogollon Rim area trout waters, specifically Willow Springs, Woods Canyon Lake, Black Canyon Lake, Bear Canyon Lake, Chevelon Lake, CC Cragin Reservoir (Blue Ridge), Knoll Lake and Long Tom Lake.

This year also institutes something new in the state – the first-ever seasonal, blue ribbon roundtail chub fishery. A 4.5-mile segment of Fossil Creek in the Verde Valley will be a catch-and-release-only, artificial fly and lure only, single barbless hook fishery with a seven-month season commencing Oct. 3, 2009.

“We are excited about this unique fishery for one of our impressive native fish, the roundtail chub, which has historically been referred to as Verde trout by many anglers,” Young said. “Keep an eye out for information on activities planned for opening day at Fossil Creek in October.”