For nighttime anglers, a waning, third-quarter moon means submersible lights will be increasingly effective at drawing the plankton/bait fish/sport-fish chain. Nights will get darker, stars should appear brighter, and we’re just days from the Sept. 1 start of the early dove season. Cast and blast, anybody?

Time to make Labor Day weekend plans. Check out our Fish & Boat AZ map and plan your next adventure. A few other suggestions:

• Woods Canyon and Willow Springs lakes. Both of these Mogollon Rim lakes are exceptional producers and always worth a visit — crowds or not. Get there early to get a camping spot.
• Canyon Creek. It’s just down the road from Woods and Willow Springs lakes. It’s being stocked with rainbow trout. To get there, take the Young road off Highway 260 and keep a watch for the sign for the turn (left). It’s easy to miss.
• Lake Powell in northern Arizona.  On any given day Powell might just provide some of the best freshwater fishing in North America. With 1,700 miles of shoreline, you might not even see another angler. See Wayne Gustaveson’s tips in the full report.
• Lees Ferry. Fishing has been good in the walk-in area.
• Any of our Top 5 family camping and fishing spots for August.

One last cast: Channel catfish will return to Community Fishing Program waters in late September. See the Aug.-Dec. stocking schedule that was just released.

What’s been stocked this week

Rainbow trout: Silver Creek, Fool Hollow Lake, Show Low Lake, Dogtown Reservoir, Show Low Creek, Little Colorado River-Greer, Goldwater Lake, Oak Creek.