The Urban Fishing Program is soon to be rebranded as the Community Fishing Program to reflect a broader commitment to providing close-to-home fishing at more communities across Arizona.

Also starting January 1, 2014, will be new fishing and hunting license options. To fish the newly renamed Community Fishing waters, anglers may purchase the $24 Community Fishing License that includes two pole privileges (no need to buy a Two Pole stamp). Or to fish all waters of the state, anglers may purchase the $37 General Fishing License that includes trout stamp, two pole and Community Fishing privileges. The Trout Stamp and Two Pole Stamps are being eliminated and these privileges included in all future fishing and combo hunt/fish licenses.

Another improvement is that all licenses will be valid for 365 days from date of purchase, rather than good only during the calendar year. Beginning in 2014, there will be 15 more locations added to the Community Fishing program representing a 70-percent increase to 36 total waters.

Four of these new locations are in the Yuma area: Fortuna, Redondo, Yuma West Wetlands and Council Park lakes.

The other 11 fishing locations are in the greater Phoenix area and include newly built 5-acre lakes in Peoria and Maricopa, Tempe's 220-acre Town Lake, and eight other existing park ponds in Gilbert, Glendale, Maricopa, Phoenix and Scottsdale. More information on these exciting improvements to the Urban Fishing Program will be provided in the months ahead.