Arizona Game and Fish Department biologists conducting an autumn fish survey at Roosevelt Lake discovered that a relatively new invader, the American gizzard shad, has experienced a population explosion here at Arizona’s largest inland lake.

“This species looks like threadfin shad on steroids,” said Fisheries Chief Kirk Young. “These wide-bodied invaders from the eastern United States are shaped like footballs and can readily grow past the size where they are available to most sport-fish as forage.”

Young added that it is a wait-and-see proposition to determine if these invasive shad will have positive or negative impacts on Roosevelt or possibly the other popular fisheries along the Salt River.

The same material that the U.S. military uses to build Predator drones and spy satellites has become available to the masses; in a fishing rod. Unidirectional carbon fiber, a common carbon mesh, received a super-light lift in government labs, prompting its secret classification.

But government insiders have hobbies, too. One man, whose name cannot be released, decided to work with Orvis, an outdoors supplier, to create the ultimate fly fishing rod. He learned that the military was using a new kind of composite, a carbon fiber woven to be strong in every direction, but with 25 percent less weight than normal carbon mesh.

More exciting still, the new material weighs less than traditional fishing rods.

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 coming Thursday, 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.

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.

Want to spend a day outside with family and friends enjoying the outdoors?  Then come spend a day of free fishing on Saturday, June 14th.  The Prescott National Forest will co-host activities at two locations. The "Verde Valley Fishing Fun Day" is from 8 a.m. to noon at the Dead Horse Ranch State Park lagoon in Cottonwood.  Activities are also scheduled at Lynx Lake South Shore in Prescott from 7 a.m. to noon.