04-30-2008, 12:10 AM
Fishing for catfish is good to excellent with a variety of baits working well on the bottom. Cats are biting variously throughout the day and anglers willing to spend a couple hours or fish different times of the day are being rewarded with some 2-3 pound fish. Top catfish baits include stink baits, shrimp or worms fished with a sliding sinker, or no sinker. Catfishing is poor at Chaparral (Scottsdale) and Red Mountain (Mesa) lakes due to cancelled catfish stockings the week of April 29-May 3. Bluegill and other sunfish are biting readily at all lakes on meal worms, worms or small doughballs under a small bobber. The bite for largemouth bass has slowed somewhat during this post-spawn period, but early morning anglers are still getting action on some nice fish in the 2-3 pound range using drop shot and split shot rigs. At Green Valley lakes (Payson) fishing is good for trout, particularly in the two smaller ponds which received some bonus trout stockings recently for local children's fishing clinics. The final trout stocking of the spring season will take place the week of May 4-10 and will be a double stocking. Try PowerBait, worms or salmon eggs for the trout.