This is straight from the Arizona Fish And game Website under "FISHING REPORTS" For the week of May 18 ,2006

Fishing News

Bass Pro Shop is coming to Mesa,

will fund fish stockings in two urban lakes

MESA, Ariz. Construction is officially underway on the new Bass Pro Shop 180,000-square-foot store in Mesa, and the outdoor retail giant has already stepped forward to help preserve popular fishing opportunities in the local community.

Even before its retail house is built in Arizona, Bass Pro is stepping forward to be a good neighbor by helping fund the urban fish stockings in Mesa, says Arizona Game and Fish Commissioner Hays Gilstrap.

Bass Pro agreed to help fund fish stockings at Red Mountain and Riverview lakes in Mesa for the next year to preserve these popular fishing opportunities for local anglers.

Bass Pro should be commended for stepping forward as a sponsor to help fund the Urban Fishing Program in Mesa. We look forward to working closely with Bass Pro in the future, said Gilstrap during the Bass Pro Shop groundbreaking ceremony in Mesa on May 12.

Martin MacDonald, the director of conservation for Bass Pro Shops, says, We are proud to be able to help support this Urban Fishing Program for the good people of Mesa.

MacDonald says that Bass Pro has won more awards for its conservation efforts than any other outdoor retailer in America and will work with local conservation efforts to help preserve our outdoor traditions for future generations.

Gilstrap pointed out that fishing and other outdoor recreational industries are major contributors to Arizona's overall economy. Also, the retail sales of hunting- and fishing-related items provide funding for Arizona's wildlife conservation efforts.

A federal excise tax on hunting- and fishing-related merchandise is ultimately funneled back to the states in the form of grants through the Sportfish and Wildlife Restoration Act.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department does not receive any state tax money from the General Fund. A sizeable portion of the agency's funding for wildlife management comes from the sales of state hunting and fishing licenses, tags and stamps.

A significant portion of the agency's funding for conservation efforts is also derived from the Sportfish and Wildlife Restoration grants it receives, so when you buy a fishing lure or other similar item from places, such as Bass Pro Shops, you are helping fund sport-fish and wildlife restoration efforts.

Now I have 2 reasons to visit the Phoenix Area. One of them being to eat at IN & OUT BURGER and the second to visit BPS as I have never been. Heck ill gladly drive the 3 hours to pay BPS a visit,if its as awe inspiring as I have seen on TV and in magazines and thier catalogs.

now if they would only put one in california I don't even live there but seems to me they wouldn't lose money there