This week, we stocked rainbow trout into: Show Low Creek, Patterson Ponds, Green Valley Lakes, Yavapai Lakes, Fain Lake, Dead Horse Lake, Goldwater Lake, Watson Lake.

In our Community Fishing Program, we’re scheduled to start stocking trout the week of Nov. 18 — just in time for the holidays.

Catfish were stocked this fall and now we’re switching to trout. Top baits tend to be worms, salmon eggs, and PowerBait. Use light line (4-6 pound test) and size 8-12 baitholder hooks.

Bass anglers: Sounds like the reaction bite is hot at many desert impoundments, including Bartlett Lake in the Tonto National Forest, where bass sometimes are chasing shad to the surface, even around midday.  See a Bartlett report, and don’t forget to consult the latest fishing forecast.

Flathead catfish also are fattening up for the winter season. There’s been an influx of reports of big flats being caught at places such as Lake Pleasant, Bartlett Lake, and the Verde River — see the Catch of the Week below.