The scheduled date for the first trout delivery of the winter season is Thursday, Nov. 13 for all lakes in the Phoenix and Tucson areas. Trout averaging from 11-12 inches will be stocked at rates of 80-100 fish per lake surface acre for Urban Lakes and at lower rates for Urban Ponds. Fish deliveries will occur throughout the day starting from early morning well into the afternoon. Trout stockings will continue at two-week intervals throughout the next four months.

A total of over 12,000 trout from two Colorado trout producers will be delivered to all 21 waters in one day. With the colder temperatures at Payson’s Green Valley Lakes, trout stockings already started in October and will continue every other week. Remember, daily bag and possession limits for trout at Urban Lakes are four fish per person for licensed anglers and two fish for unlicensed juveniles under the age of 14. Trout limits at Urban Ponds are two fish for licensed anglers and one fish for youth.

Did you know that the feisty rainbow trout dancing on the end of your fishing line was most likely hatchery raised?

Each year, the Arizona Game and Fish Department stocks more than 3 million fish for anglers to catch in approximately 160 of Arizona’s lakes, rivers and streams – mostly rainbow, Apache, brook, and cutthroat trout, but some warmwater species such as largemouth bass and channel catfish as well.

The stocking program is supported with federal funds through the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Program, along with state funds from the sale of licenses and trout stamps.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Arizona Game and Fish Department are seeking public comments on issues associated with all the sport-fish stockings in the state as part of a draft environmental assessment process that is required to continue using federal funding for stocking activities in Arizona.