CATFISH STOCKING UPDATE

High biological activity at three Urban lakes led to unsuitable conditions for the stocking of channel catfish on Friday, May 30.  Water Ranch Lake in Gilbert experienced a late spring golden alga bloom as mentioned in the last Bulletin.  The lake management consultant applied an algaecide treatment to the lake over the course of two days, however follow up tests show that golden alga continues to be present in the lake.  Until this pesky invader can be brought under control Water Ranch Lake will not be stocked.

Desert West Lake in Phoenix and Kennedy Lake in Tucson both had pH levels that were too high to safely stock the channel catfish on Friday, May 30.  When pH levels climb above 9.5 the catfish can go into shock or die if put into the water.  For those fish already in the lakes, high pH levels can make the fish very lethargic and unwilling to bite for days or even weeks.  Consequently, periods of slow fishing this time of year can often be explained by fish being negatively affected by high pH levels.  Both Desert West Lake and Kennedy Lake have been treated for the high pH levels and are expected to be stocked the week of June 9-14.

FREE FISHING DAY

There has been quite a bit of confusion about this year’s Free Fishing Day.  Anglers this year are getting a bonus, this year there are two Free Fishing Days!  Both Saturday, June 7 and Saturday, June 14 are Free Fishing Days, meaning that anglers can fish State and Urban waters without a fishing license on both days.  This is a great opportunity to introduce a friend or family member to fishing and create some new memories.  Fish are very photogenic!

SPRING CATFISH STOCKINGS TO END SOON

There are just two more catfish stockings scheduled during this spring catfish stocking season.  Stockings will take place the weeks of June 9-14 and June 23-28.  Over 7,000 catfish are stocked every other week to 19 Urban Fishing Program waters in the Phoenix and Tucson areas.  It takes two large stocking trucks with 20 compartments per truck to safely deliver the nearly two pound catfish all the way from Arkansas.  As summer approaches and temperatures routinely exceed 100 degrees, it becomes impractical to haul live fish into Arizona’s Urban lakes.  No fish stockings will be scheduled during July, August and the first half of September.  Fall catfish stockings will resume in mid-September.  Anglers can still fish for catfish, bass and bluegill at Urban waters throughout the summer, but the action is generally slower.

URBAN FISHING REPORT
Fishing for catfish continues to be good to excellent the week of stocking.  Anglers are having luck using stink baits or shrimp fished on the bottom.  Sunfish continue to bite well on small worms fished under a bobber.  The cool weather is keeping lake temperatures low allowing fish to be active throughout the day.  At Green Valley lakes (Payson) fishing is slowing down for trout, but anglers are still getting bites using worms or PowerBait.  Bluegill, crappie and bass are still biting well on small jigs and worms fished under a bobber at Green Valley.