PHOENIX – As temperatures cool in the Valley, trout are making their annual Thanksgiving comeback to Tempe Town Lake.
The City of Tempe and the Arizona Game and Fish Department will host the annual Welcome Back the Trout Celebration from 4-6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 20 at the SRP Tempe Town Lake Marina. AZGFD will conduct a fishing clinic starting at 4 p.m. and will provide anglers of all ages with loaner rods, reels and bait, as well as the tips and hands-on advice they need to try their hand at the sport.
Families and community members are invited to come down and watch as thousands of rainbow trout from the Department’s Page Springs Hatchery are released into Town Lake. Attendees will also be able to fish without a fishing license during event hours.
See information on obtaining a license for future use.
“We know that fishing at Tempe Town Lake has become a tradition for many,” said Tempe Mayor Mark Mitchell. “I’m always happy to welcome back the trout to Town Lake because I know how much our residents and their families enjoy fishing together. For many, this is a meaningful time with family and friends. It’s a quality-of-life amenity and that helps to make our community a city where people want to be.”
Catfish action tends to slow down during the winter months, so the trout provide something different for anglers while enjoying the cooler weather. As trout season unwinds in the upper elevations, it’s just getting underway in lower elevations in the Phoenix metro, Tucson, and Yuma areas, as well as other locations our hatcheries stock.
“Whether you’re a first-timer or an experienced fishing pro, this is a great event to come out and fish,” said Scott Gurtin, AZGFD
