By Philip Haldiman

Independent Newsmedia

Let the fishing continue.

Peoria City Council recently approved a new four-year agreement with the Arizona Game and Fish Commission to maintain Rio Vista and Pioneer lakes as facilities taking part in the Community Fishing Program.

Jake Eason, neighborhood and community parks manager, said the fishing lakes at Rio Vista and Pioneer parks will continue to be stocked bi-weekly from September to mid-June.

As part of the agreement, a public information program will be launched to include informational kiosks at both lakes.

“The partnership between the city of Peoria and AZGF will continue to provide an outdoor recreation experience within our urban environment,” he said.

Additionally, fishing opportunities will expand in Peoria with the completion of Paloma Community Park, expected to open in 2020.

The new park, to be located east of Lake Pleasant Parkway, just south of the Loop 303, will include four lighted baseball fields and four multi-purpose fields, dog park, pickle ball courts and picnic ramadas.

The park’s fishing lake will be the largest of the city’s angling bodies at  5.2 surface acres.

The community fishing lake at Rio Vista Community Park is 3.9 surface acres, and at Pioneer Community Park the surface area is 4.95.

Through the Community Fishing Program, the Arizona Game and Fish Commission promotes and stocks the lakes at Rio Vista and Pioneer parks, provides administrative services, enforces urban fishing rules and regulations and monitors water quality. In addition, regular fishing clinics are held at the lakes.

Costs for the Community Fishing Program were $1,015 per lake surface acre for Fiscal Year 2015 and Fiscal Year 2016 and thereafter $1,030 per lake surface acre for the remainder of the term of this agreement, according to documents.

Mr. Eason said the lakes are stocked with catchable rainbow trout from November through March, every two weeks, and channel catfish from March through November.

During the period from about June 15 through Sept. 15, catfish stocking ceases due to heat stress factors. At least once per year, sunfish will also be stocked into both Rio Vista and Pioneer Lakes.

This stocking schedule will continue with the new agreement. But as needed, the Arizona Game and Fish Commission adjusts the stocking plan with other species to maintain a balanced fishery and improve angler success rates, he said.

Urban Fishing Program

A class U Urban Fishing License is required to fish in the ponds at Rio Vista and Pioneer community parks, available from the Arizona Game and Fish Department online, azgfd.com, or at more than 300 license dealers statewide. Lake assessment reports are provided to the city by the Arizona Game and Fish Commission and are available to the public. Fishing ponds are open during park hours only, 6 a.m.-10 p.m.

Fish Species: Trout

Maximum fish per day: 2 (1 for unlicensed child)

Fish Species: Channel Catfish

Maximum fish per day: 2

Fish Species: Large Bass

Maximum fish per day: 1 (must be 13-inch min. length)

Fish Species: Sunfish

Maximum fish per day: 5

Fish Species: White Amur

Maximum fish per day: 1 (must be 30-inch min. length)