A new moon is Aug. 6, which means anglers can use submersible lights to take advantage of the food chain.

Submersible lights fished at night in major desert impoundments attract plankton, which attracts threadfin shad, which attracts piscatorial predators. That, we suspect, will attract you.

Set up on major lake points that serve as fish roads and highways and tend to get populated at night - the mouth of a major cove with submerged vegetation or hump, passageways or narrows, submerged creeks, rivers or arroyos.

Chum the area with canned corn to attract predators such as largemouth bass, striped bass or flathead catfish.

Don't forget to target those large flathead catfish - word is spreading of the unique, monster catfish opportunities, especially in the lower Colorado River, Lake Pleasant and Bartlett Lake. For the smell-oriented cats, try hot dogs, corn, chicken liver, prepared catfish baits or, if legal in the selected fishery, live bluegill or carp.

Top-water action has picked up, and Lake Pleasant is one of the hot spots. Other good opportunities to see a fish destroy the surface are at Lake Powell, Bartlett, Saguaro, and sometimes Apache and Canyon.

At Lake Powell, Wayne Gustaveson reported the morning and evening striper boils are getting better as the new moon approaches, and bass fishing improves as aquatic weeds grow on sand flats in the backs of flood plain canyons.

Stockings are taking place this week in the following White Mountain fisheries: Bear Canyon Lake, Willow Springs Lake, Woods Canyon Lake, the east and west forks of the Black River, Little Colorado River in Greer and Sheeps Crossing.

Trout fishing also reportedly is excellent on the rim. Power Bait, worms, and flies such as wooly buggers have been drawing consistent action.

Here are some tools. Before heading out, check out the summer trout stocking schedule, and our Fish&Boat Arizona map.

If you have a Twitter account, you can find me in the land of tweets. My handle is @NickFishAZ. In addition to posting this report, I will post the latest fish-related news and tips. When I began Twitter, I couldn't believe I'd joined a web site called "Twitter." But it has benefits, even to anti-technology anglers.

Hopefully I can see some of you out on the water sometime. Since some us can't escape the homestead or workplace, please share your success by sending your photos and reports to BFishing@AZGFD.gov.