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Weekly statewide fishing report Our weekly rundown of fishing conditions at various locations in Utah Fishing discussion forums: For additional fishing information visit our wildlife discussion forums where you can exchange tips and advice with other Utah anglers.
NORTHERN REGION Information compiled by
Phil Douglass Updated June 1 BEAR LAKE (May 26) - Fishing for cutthroat and lake trout has been good this past week. Anglers who are trolling are having the best luck and are catching cutthroat trout and lake trout trolling in shallow water using flatlines with deep diving rapalas, yo-zuris, or rebels in black/silver and blue/silver finishes. Most of the fish are being caught in water from 10–25 feet deep off the Boy Scout Camp along the east side of the lake. Other anglers are also reporting good luck trolling for cutthroat trout from the State Park Marina north to the "no fishing" buoys off the mouth of Swan Creek. Try varying your trolling speeds and changing lures until you start getting hits. Other anglers are trolling with flatfish and rapalas off downriggers. Try running the downrigger at 10–15 feet down and your lure about 75–100 feet behind the cannon ball. Very few anglers are jigging at this time of the year, but this method should also work. Try using tube jigs tipped with cisco and start fishing in shallow depths 15–20 feet and then keep moving deeper until you locate active fish. Fish can be found at all depths at this time of year since the water is still very cold and the lake is not thermally stratified. The Utah State Park Marina new visitor's center is now open. Two new launching lanes have been added as well as a fish cleaning station and additional bathrooms/showers. Anglers can also launch small boats off the low-water boat ramp at Cisco Beach. There is now a dock provided at this site to aid in launching/retrieving your boat. This ramp is paved, but there is no protection from the wind and the concrete does not extend very far into the water. BOUNTIFUL POND - Fishing is fair. CLINTON CITY PARK POND - Fishing is fair. Possible catch: Rainbow trout, bluegill, largemouth bass, and channel catfish. EAST CANYON RESERVOIR - Fishing is fair. Anglers are having luck with trolling pop gear, casting bait, and spinners. FARMINGTON POND - Fishing is fair. KAYSVILLE PONDS - Fishing is fair. Possible catch: Rainbow trout, channel catfish, largemouth bass, bluegill, green sunfish, and black bullhead. HONEYVILLE POND - Fishing is fair. Trout limit is four. MABEY (CLEARFIELD CITY) POND - Fishing is slow to fair for catfish. PINEVIEW RESERVOIR - Fishing has been slow. ROCKPORT RESERVOIR - Fishing is fair to good. Anglers have been catching rainbow trout in the usual ways: trolling pop gear, casting bait, and spinners. WEBER RIVER - Fishing is fair to good. Anglers are having success using small nymphs. WILLARD BAY - Fishing is slow. Anglers are catching a few stripers and small catfish. UINTAS - State road 150 is open. Bridger Lake, Hoop Lake, Marsh Lake, Stateline Reservoir and Whitney Lake are know ice free, fishable and have been stocked. Marsh lake campgrounds are still under construction, but will open in the near future- call the Evanston Ranger district for an exact date. Campgrounds at Hoop lake and Bridger lake areas are open, though no water.
CENTRAL REGION Information compiled by
Scott Root Updated May 26 STOCKED THIS WEEK - Tibble Fork Reservoir, Settlement Res., Rainbow Res., Silver Lake, Mill Creek, Payson Creek, Maple Lake, Box Res., Payson Res., Santaquin Pond, Canyon View Pond STRAWBERRY RESERVOIR - (May 26) - Many reports of varying success for trout. Deeper water seems to be best spot for large cutthroats. Some of these large fish cruise the shallows around dusk. Minnow imitating lures have been effective. Rainbows are still being caught in the shallows with bait or dark jigs. Regulations for the reservoir include and aggregate limit of four trout or kokanee salmon. No more than two may be cutthroat trout under 15 inches and no more than one may be a cutthroat over 22 inches. Immediately release all cutthroat between 15 and 22 inches (consider any trout with cutthroat markings a cutthroat). Don't feel compelled to harvest fish on every trip. Please do your part to ensure the future of this heavily utilized fishery by voluntarily releasing fish. JORDANELLE RESERVOIR (May 26) - Fair success for trout and small perch with standard techniques and baits. Smallmouth bass success has picked up. No parking along the highway. Perch limit is 50 fish. For updated conditions call (435) 649-9540. Bass limit is six, but immediately release all bass over 12 inches. Do your part to prevent the spread of whirling disease by cleaning mud from waders and equipment. Do not transport any parts of fish caught here to other waters. PROVO RIVER (above Olmstead Diversion Dam) (May 26) - Good fishing success reported on this part of the river. Special regulations apply to much of this river. Please read the proclamation for details. This year's big change includes between Charleston Bridge and the Legacy Bridge (near Midway) which allows the use of bait and a standard limit of four trout (any trout species and any size). Standard Provo River nymphs (size 18 and smaller) such as gold-ribbed hares ear, scuds, pheasant tails and other small nymphs will work best on the artificial-fly-&-lure-only stretches. Do your part to prevent the spread of whirling disease by cleaning mud from waders and equipment. Do not transport any parts of fish caught here to other waters. PROVO RIVER (Below Olmstead Diversion) (May 26) - (The Olmstead Diversion is located about one mile up the canyon from Bridal Veil Falls). Good fishing success using baits or flies. Water looks good and fish are getting active on the surface. Harvest of trout is encouraged on this stretch as well due to overpopulation of brown trout. DEER CREEK RESERVOIR (May 26) - Main boat ramp is open. Many anglers are using standard baits and reporting fair success for trout and slow success for perch. Trolling in the early morning hours has been effective. Try pop-gear and a worm combination. Yellow perch limit is 10. Regulations: trout limit is four (statewide); walleye limit is six, but only one can be over 20 inches, bass limit is six, but immediately release all bass over 12 inches. Do not transport any parts of fish caught here to other waters. UTAH LAKE (May 26) - Good success for most species around the lake. Standard fishing techniques depending on the species. There is no limit on white bass. Largemouth and smallmouth bass limit is six, but immediately release all largemouth and smallmouth bass over 12 inches. For more information on conditions call Utah Lake State Park at (801) 375-0731. YUBA RESERVOIR (May 26) - Trout fishing is slow to fair. Though the reservoir has been stocked with several thousand rainbow trout and 50,000 perch last year, anglers must release the perch. For more info call the State Park at (435) 758-2611. BURRASTON PONDS (May 26) - Fair to good fishing success by using traditional baits. HOBBLE CREEK & DIAMOND FORK RIVERS (May 26) - The Hobble Creek catch basin is drained to "a puddle." Both rivers are producing fair success with baits and flies. Diamond Fork, from Springville Crossing to it headwaters, is artificial flies and lures only. and it is closed to cutthroat trout possession. SPRING LAKE & SALEM POND (May 26) - Fair to good success. Worms and PowerBait have been popular. Regulations on both waters include a limit of fish (Daily bag and possession limit is an aggreate total of four fish for all species; for example, one trout, two channel catfish and one bluegill.) Bass, bluegill and channel catfish are also in these waters. CANYON VIEW POND & SPANISH OAKS POND (May 26) - Fair to good fishing success using standard fishing baits. PAYSON LAKES (May 26) - Stocked and reports of fair to good success. WILLOW POND (Murray) (May 26) - Success has been reported as fair to good. Try standard fishing techniques and baits. TIBBLE FORK RESERVOIR (May 26) - Stocked this week for the first time (2000 fish). VERNON, GRANTSVILLE AND SETTLEMENT CANYON RESERVOIRS (May 26) - Anglers report fair to good fishing with standard fishing baits. Settlement stocked this week. Send your Central Region fishing tips to: scottroot@utah.gov
NORTHEASTERN REGION Information compiled by
Ron Stewart Updated June 2 BIG SAND WASH RESERVOIR - Reports of fair to good fishing. The west side access will be closed due to construction work. The boat ramp will remain open and the east side may be accessed from the ramp. BULLOCK/COTTONWOOD RESERVOIRS - Reports of fair fishing on Bullock. Cottonwood doesn't have much in it because of reports it may be drained. Reservoirs are located approximately five miles north of the town of Gusher. BROUGH RESERVOIR - Reports of good fishing. Fishing from the bank, float tubes or small boats is recommended due to primitive launch conditions and water levels. Note: Special regulations, please read proclamation. To get to Brough, take State Route 88 south from US Route 40 (Ouray Road). Turn west at the second dirt road past the high power lines. Follow this road approximately two miles staying to the left at each main fork. Road is quite rutted. BROWNIE/SPIRIT LAKE - Report of fair to good fishing at Brownie. No reports from Spirit Lake but the USFS said the road is accessible (roughly four weeks early). Spirit Lake is usually good fishing this early in the season. EAST PARK/OAKS PARK - Reports of good fishing, water levels are lower than usual. Expect roads to still have some muddy places. CALDER/CROUSE RESERVOIRS - Calder (2004) joined Crouse (2002) as a drought victim. DWR biologists have determined Calder had a complete winterkill just prior to ice melt. CURRANT CREEK RESERVOIR - Reports of good fishing. The road around the reservoir will still have muddy areas as it did receive some snow this last cold spell. FLAMING GORGE RESERVOIR - All ramps except Anvil Draw are accessible. Surface water temperature is currently 55 degrees. Rainbow trout fishing is good along shoreline areas using PowerBait™, a marshmallow/worm combo, or a nightcrawler under a bobber. Boat fishermen are doing well casting small jigs or lures, especially on rocky points in Hideout, Sheep Creek and other Canyon areas. Lake trout fishing is fair to good with large fish reported at Antelope, Sheep Creek, Anvil Draw, Stateline and Jarvies. Action for small lake trout is very good from Squaw Hollow to Buckboard. Concentrate in 30 to 50 feet of water along the river channel. Good techniques include trolling bottom structure using down riggers or steel line and large flatfish or crank baits; or vertical jigging using tube or bucktail jigs with or without a minnow or sucker meat. There are many small- and medium-sized lake trout in Flaming Gorge, so please take advantage of the new six-fish lake trout regulation (one over 28 inches) and harvest a limit. Smallmouth bass are becoming active with pre-spawn fish being caught along rocky shorelines and in the back of bays. Try jigs, grubs and crankbaits imitating crayfish. Kokanee action also has improved recently with good reports from Gold Point, Hideout, and Squaw Hollow and Big Bend. Most fish are being caught at 30- to 40-foot depths trolling small fluorescent lures at moderate to fast speeds behind a downrigger. Some anglers prefer trailing the lure behind a dodger, flasher or string of popgear. GREEN RIVER (upper) - Base flows have declined from the spring peak and will average 1000 cfs through the summer with afternoon fluctuations possible as high as 1600 cfs. Recent cool weather has delayed cicada activity, however dry fly fishing was improving with a few cicadas present to compliment midge and BWO hatches. The blue wing olives are especially prevalent on cool, cloudy days. Try cicada imitations, size 8–12, as well as various attractor patterns, beetles and small BWO patterns, size 18–22. Nymph fishing is still effective using olive, tan or pink scuds, size 10-16; San Juan Worms, size 12–14; bead head midge, size 16–22; and RS-II, WD-40, or pheasant tails, size 16-20. For streamer fishing, try brown, tan or olive wooly buggers, size 2–6, and light-colored minnow imitations. Spin fishermen have been doing well using small rapalas; spinners; black, brown or olive marabou jigs; and tube jigs. New Zealand Mudsnail densities have dramatically increased in several localized areas near and downstream of Little Hole. Please thoroughly clean mud and vegetation from waders, boats and fishing gear, and if possible, completely dry equipment before leaving the area. GREEN RIVER (lower) - No new reports from anglers. Water levels remain low for this time of year look like mid-summer flows. MATT WARNER RESERVOIR - Reports of good fishing. Roads are in good shape except for after storms. MOON LAKE - Reports of good fishing. Road accessible and campgrounds open. PELICAN LAKE - Reports of fair to good fishing. High winds have made fishing a real adventure. RED FLEET RESERVOIR - Anglers report good to excellent fishing for rainbow trout. Bass and bluegill beginning to get good as well. STARVATION RESERVOIR - Anglers report fair to good fishing for trout, bass, walleye and yellow perch. STEINAKER RESERVOIR - Reports range from fair to excellent fishing for trout and bass. Anglers indicate its still mostly weather related, the best fishing was on warmer days. UINTA MOUNTAIN LAKES AND STREAMS - High elevation lakes and ponds may still have some ice and snow but most have melted out. New snow fell at higher elevations during the last set of storms. Be prepared for any kind of weather. Note: four trout limit with a bonus of four more brook trout — see proclamation for details.
SOUTHEASTERN REGION Information compiled by
Brent Stettler Updated June 1 ABAJO MOUNTAINS - Good fishing continues at Blanding #3 and Blanding #4 reservoirs with traditional baits. At Recapture Reservoir, fishing for northern pike was fair with spinners from the shore or with Rapalas from a boat. Foy and Monticello continue to be good during the day with traditional baits and excellent in the evening with spinners. BENCHES RESERVOIR - Fishing success was sporadic, due to changing weather conditions. Bait fishermen have been using worms or PowerBait. Fly fishermen have had some success by slow-stripping brown leech patterns on sinking line. The reservoir is freshly stocked. BOULGER RESERVOIR - The reservoir was just stocked, but fishing was poor over the long weekend, due to cold and wind. Bait fishermen have been using worms tipped with marshmallows. A renegade fly pattern or Griffith's gnat about four feet behind a half-full bubble was effective. CLEVELAND RESERVOIR - Fishing was slow over the weekend. There were very few fishermen and very little success. Todd Munford of Big Pine Sports in Fairview recommends yellow or corn PowerBait, wildfire Power Nuggets or a nightcrawler. Anglers trolling from small boats have had luck with Panther Martin or Roostertail spinners. ELECTRIC LAKE - One hardy angler near the dam reported good success on Monday. He layed a worm tipped with a marshmallow on the bottom. Anglers may want to try a nightcrawler/salmon egg combination on the upper end of the lake as the weather warms up. Fly fishermen might try a dark wooly bugger, trolled slowly on sinking line. Tributaries (inflowing water sources) are closed to fishing until July 10 to protect spawning cutthroats. FAIRVIEW LAKES have been planted. Access is good. Try Zeke's Sierra Gold or PowerBait. Fly fishermen should try bright-colored wooly buggers or brown leech patterns. FERRON RESERVOIR - Access remains closed about four miles above Millsite Reservoir. GIGLIOTTI POND - The DWR and Castle Country Bassmasters have jointly finished installing a leak-proof bottom liner. Soil, rocks and trees have been placed over the liner to enhance fish habitat. The pond will begin filling on June 10 and should be full and stocked in early July. A special Kids' Fishing Event will take place in early September. GOOSEBERRY RESERVOIR - Slow fishing over the weekend. Very little angler pressure. We recommend trying nightcrawlers for cutthroats or PowerBait for rainbow trout. GRASSY LAKE - Fishermen experienced good success over the weekend with silver Panther Martin spinners and Jake's Spin-a-Lures. Fish averaged 12 inches. HUNTINGTON CREEK - Surface action was fair for fly fishermen with #14 Royal Wulff or #18 Griffith's gnat patterns. HUNTINGTON RESERVOIR - Fishing continues to be sporadic, ranging from fair to good. Over the weekend, anglers were having best success with nightcrawlers. Fly fishermen have had luck with a brown or rust-colored leech or wooly bugger patterns, trolled slowly on sinking line. JOES VALLEY RESERVOIR - Dedicated hunters Mark Allen and Jared Loftus interviewed 14 parties of anglers. None of them were having success with any kind of bait or spinner. The boat ramp is open, and boats may be launched. Aquatics Biologist Craig Walker recommends using whole dead chubs, up to 8 inches long, for the really big splake. The trout limit is two; only one over 22 inches; all trout from 15-22 inches must be immediately released. LASAL MOUNTAINS - Hidden Lake was stocked. Sergeant Ed Meyers reports good fishing at Hidden Lake for anglers with baits or flies. Don's Lake was good for hold-over splake and tiger trout with flies and lures. Kens Lake is full and fishing was good for rainbow trout. Shore anglers have been using traditional baits, such as PowerBait. Boaters have been trolling Jake's and Rapalas with good success. The roads to Oowah and Warner lakes are open. Fishing at Oowah was excellent. Fish are being caught on salmon eggs, PowerBait, flies and lures. Dark Canyon and Medicine Lake are accessible and should be stocked very soon. Only Blue Lake remains inaccessible. Anglers are reminded that the fish limit at all LaSal Mountain lakes is four trout. LOWER FISH CREEK - Conservation Officer Stacey Jones reports that bait and lure fishing below the dam have been successful. Flows have been high for fly fishermen, although some have had success with brown leech patterns. MILLER FLAT RESERVOIR - Dedicated hunter creel surveys done on Memorial Day reported good fishing. PowerBait and worms worked equally well. Most fish were in the 12- to 16-inch range, although one fisherman reported catching a 3.5-pound rainbow trout with a worm. PETES HOLE - Fishing was fair over the weekend. Most anglers caught small tiger trout in the 6- to 8-inch category. Spincasters enjoyed fair success with small spinners. POTTERS PONDS offered only poor fishing this past weekend. The weather played a significantly negative role. SCOFIELD RESERVOIR - Conservation Officer Stacey Jones reported slow fishing over the weekend, due to cold temperatures and wind. Midges continue to slow fishing success for shoreline anglers. Most bank fishermen have been using worms and marshmallows or PowerBait. Jones says that boaters trolling with a nightcrawler and pop gear or a needlefish have done reasonably well. Dedicated hunters Jared Loftus and Mark Allen visited Scofield on Monday and reported fair to good success for shoreline anglers using worms and marshmallows. They found that anglers seemed to do better in shallower rather than deeper water. Popular fly patterns have included red crystal buggers and olive leeches. Anglers are reminded that tributaries are closed to fishing until July 10.
LAKE POWELL By Wayne Gustaveson, www.wayneswords.com Updated June 2 Lake elevation: 3,587 ft., Water temperature: 68–72° F. Launching access is superb now with all extended ramps under water. Wahweap ramps, including Stateline, Main Ramp and Antelope Point, plus Bullfrog and Halls Crossing, are all in operation. The only ramp not open is the new Bullfrog ramp for larger vessels. Boating access is the best it has been for a long time. Antelope Point ramp offers the shortest ride in the narrow channel when going uplake from the south end and makes it a much shorter and therefore more enjoyable trip. Stripers are very catchable but the pattern is quite specific. This is a lakewide pattern. Many scattered schools of stripers are found roaming the main channel and main canyon. They go deep to rest but come up to feed on shad and crayfish on adjacent rocky points and ledges. Each morning and evening the band of fish stage on certain feeding points near deep water. Since the exact point holding the vagabond school is unknown; and it may be a different point each time, it is necessary to try all possible points. That is not as hard as it seems. Troll a shad imitating bait (shad rap, thunderstick, rattletrap, wally diver) across a main point protruding into the channel. Start 100 yards from the point and troll 100 yards past the point. If no fish hit then move to the next point. DO NOT TROLL LONG DISTANCES BETWEEN POINTS. Adult stripers will be found ON THE POINT. When a striper hits make repeated passes back and forth across the productive point until the fish quit biting. By selecting points in this manner fishing time is maximized. Points can be revisited after they rest for an hour. More fish can be caught each time a point is revisited. Soon a series of points holding fish that day is known and a trolling circuit allows the catch total to accumulate to large numbers by the end of the day. Troll between 3 and 3.5 mph. Let out at least 100 feet of line. Use planer boards to get the bait away from the prop wash and allow a third line to be trolled behind the boat. When a fish is hooked other anglers should reel their baits past hungry schoolmates. Double and triple catches are common as the school reacts to one fish biting by looking for something to eat. Have a rod ready with a rattletrap or spoon to cast to fish following the troll-hooked striper. Night fishing is hot right now at Bullfrog. Just fish from the relocated Hite marina dock tied to the Bullfrog breakwater. Put a light in the water. Use a small crappie jig tipped with a tiny piece of anchovy to catch all of the 12- to 14-inch stripers you can clean. No better eating fish swims in the lake. Harvesting these little stripers will help allocate limited shad supplies to more game fish. Keep all the little stripers to prolong shad life and make BOIL fishing better this fall. Oh Yes! Bigger stripers hit too, but the little ones keep you awake all night long. Bass are moving to summer patterns meaning that rocky points, reefs and shoals are getting better. Fish plastic tubes and grubs on the deep breaking edge where visible yellow rock blurs into deep blue water. Top water baits are good for the first and last hours of daylight. Walleye are caught by striper trollers and by bass casters. Using a worm as a trailer on the terminal bait will increase walleye catch rate. Don't be surprised to catch any aggressive bass, striper, sunfish or catfish on worms. Expect walleye catch rate to be higher in the lake upstream from Bullfrog than downstream.
SOUTHERN REGION Information compiled by
Mike Ottenbacher Updated June 1 BAKER RESERVOIR: Reservoir level is dropping. The lake was stocked with catchable-sized rainbow trout. Fishing was fair. Try PowerBait™ or worms from shore. Trolling about anything will also work. BARKER RESERVOIRS, NORTH CREEK LAKES: Barker Reservoir and Lower Barker Reservoir are located at the head of the North Creek drainage northwest of the town of Escalante. The two reservoirs are accessible by road. Eight other smaller reservoirs and ponds are located in the area and are accessible by 1/4- to two-mile hikes from the Barkers. The Barkers are now accessible by vehicle and the ice is off the higher lakes in the area. The Barkers will be stocked with catchable rainbow trout this week. Try jigs, spinners or bait from shore. Dougherty Basin Lake is closed to fishing until July 11. BEAVER MOUNTAIN LAKES: Access is possible to all the lakes. Little Reservoir and Kents Lake have been stocked with catchable size rainbows; the higher elevation lakes will be stocked soon. Fishing was fair at Little Reservoir with rainbow trout and a few nice brown trout taken. BEAVER RIVER: Flows and turbidity may be up on warmer afternoons in the canyon area. Try spinners or nymph patterns. There may be some caddis or mayfly hatches on warmer days. Releases have begun from Minersville Reservoir so flows in the lower river are up. Please prevent the spread of whirling disease by cleaning mud from waders and equipment. Do not transport any parts of fish caught here to other waters. BOULDER MTN LAKES: All waters on the Boulder Mountain are now open to fishing except Dougherty Basin Lake. Snow may still limit access to higher lakes, but snow levels are decreasing rapidly. Ice is gone off most lakes. The gates on the road to the top are scheduled to be opened on June 15. A black marabou jig is a standard lure to try. Bait and wooly bugger/leech patterns or scud fly pattens will also work. Special regulations on many of the Boulder Mountain waters include a trout limit of four of which only two may be over 14 inches. There is a bonus limit of an additional four brook trout (total limit of eight trout if at least four are brook trout). The bonus limit is intended to reduce numbers of brook trout at waters where they reproduce naturally and may become too numerous to maintain good growth and condition. Check the proclamation to see where the bonus limit applies. CHALK CREEK: Small stream east of Fillmore. Little fishing pressure. Good fishing for small wild rainbow trout and rainbow/cutthroat hybrids. Best fishing is away from the campground and more heavily fished spots. The North Fork provides a good spot for those willing to hike. Meadow Creek and Pioneer Creek are other small streams in the area that contain populations of small, wild trout. CLEAR CREEK: Small stream along I-70 by Fremont Indian State Park. The stream is up but was relatively clear. Your ability to fish here will depend on weather and the amount of runoff. Good fishing for browns and rainbows up to 14 inches. The tributaries also contain populations of small, wild trout. Little pressure. CORN CREEK: Fair fishing for brown trout. Little pressure. Fishing can be a challenge here with thick riparian vegetation. DUCK CREEK/ASPEN MIRROR: These lakes are now open to fishing and have been stocked with catchable rainbow trout. Try PowerBait™ or worms from shore. EAST FORK OF THE SEVIER RIVER: The river in Black Canyon has dropped and cleared. Some trout are present in the area near Osiris Mill and above. Try caddis or hopper patterns or small spinners. There are few trout in the lower portion. Improvement in the fishery in the lower portion will depend on the recovery of the watershed following the impacts of flooding last year following fires. For the section of river from the BLM property boundary (about four miles south of Antimony) upstream to the confluence with Deer Creek, special regulations include the use of artificial flies and lures only and a limit of two trout. Releases have begun low below Otter Creek Reservoir so the river is high and turbid through the Kingston Canyon area. ENTERPRISE RESERVOIR (Upper and Lower): Reservoir levels are low. Catchable size rainbow trout have been stocked in the lower reservoir. Fishing was good with trout taken up to 15 inches. Try PowerBait™ and worms. Some adult smallmouth bass have been transplanted to reestablish the bass fishery. If you catch a bass, please release it so we can get the smallmouth fishery going again. Smaller trout will also be stocked at the upper reservoir this spring if conditions are suitable. FISH LAKE: Now is a good time to try for splake, rainbows and lake trout. Best fishing is by boat. For splake, try anchoring near the weed line in 20–30 feet of water. Jig with a spoon or plastic jig tipped with sucker or perch meat. You can catch rainbows still-fishing with bait or trolling spinners or pop gear with a worm. Troll deeper for lake trout. Shore fishing is best near Twin Creek using worms or wet flies/streamers, but remember, the stream itself is closed to fishing. Shore anglers can also have success for splake using whole dead minnows or cut bait from shore at night. Special regulations for Fish Lake include no more than two of your four trout limit may be lake trout and only one may be a lake trout larger than 20 inches. FORSYTH RESERVOIR: Fair fishing for some nice splake and tiger trout. Try casting jigs or spinners from shore or trolling. Please prevent the spread of whirling disease. Do not transport any parts of fish caught here to other waters. FREMONT RIVER: Flows in the section between Johnson Reservoir and Mill Meadow Reservoir are up with some runoff. Brown trout are abundant in the section between Mamoit Springs and Mill Meadow. Private property along much of the lower section, obtain permission before fishing. Please prevent the spread of whirling disease by cleaning mud from waders and equipment. Do not transport any parts of fish caught here to other waters. GOOSEBERRY AREA: Most of the area is now accessible. Special regulations on U M Creek include artificial flies and lures only and closed to the possession of cutthroat trout. GUNLOCK RESERVOIR: Bass are in shallow and fishing has improved. Green sunfish, bluegill and crappie are present here, too. Remember special regulations for bass — four bass under 10 inches and two over 20 inches. JOHNSON RESERVOIR: Abundant chubs, suckers and small perch are a problem here. A limited number of tiger muskies have been stocked in Johnson Reservoir. A number of them have been in the reservoir long enough to produce some large fish. Ice out should be one of the best times to pick up a tiger muskie. Try a large spoon or minnow imitation. If you catch one, please contact the nearest DWR office with some details. KOLOB RESERVOIR: Access is now possible from both the south side from the town of Virgin and from the north via Cedar Canyon. Fishing has slowed somewhat, but anglers are still taking 14- to 18-inch rainbows. Try the rocky points or any place with some gravel, where the larger rainbows are cruising the shoreline. Spinners, jigs or bugger/leech patterns with work. There have been some hatches of midges with trout feeding acitvely at the surface at times. Special regulations include artificial flies and lures only, with a limit of one trout which must be over 22 inches. Scented jigs are not allowed. Kolob Creek above the reservoir is closed until July. KOOSHAREM RESERVOIR: The ice is off. The reservoir is full. Slow fishing for some nice cutthroat and rainbows. Best success by trolling. LOWER BOWNS RESERVOIR: The lake is now accessible by vehicle. Generally some fast fishing early in the season. MILL MEADOW RESERVOIR: Open water. Some success reported from spinners cast from shore. Best success was trolling. Please prevent the spread of whirling disease. Do not transport any parts of fish caught here to other waters. MINERSVILLE RESERVOIR: There are fair numbers of 12- to 13-inch rainbows in the reservoir. Try casting wooly buggers, jigs, or spinners near shore. Tremendous midge hatches at times. Special regulations include a trout limit of one fish, which must be over 22 inches; artificial flies and lures only. Scented jigs are not allowed. The park is now administered by Beaver County. Please prevent the spread of whirling disease. Do not transport any parts of fish caught here to other waters. MONROE MOUNTAIN LAKES: Annabella, Deep, and Big lakes have been stocked with catchable rainbow trout. Try PowerBait™ from shore. Manning Meadow Reservoir and Barney Lake should be accessible by vehicle soon, but Manning Meadow is closed to fishing until July 11; Barney is open to fishing but the trout limit is 2 and fishing if limited to artificial flies and lures only. NAVAJO LAKE: The lake is up to the top of the dike. One Forest Service campground and the lodge are open. Stocking of catchable rainbow trout has begun. There are also a few brook trout which carried over the winter. Try trolling about anything or PowerBait™ from shore for the rainbows; nightcrawlers or bugger/leech patterns for the brookies. NEWCASTLE RESERVOIR: Slow fishing for rainbow trout. Water temps are in the sixties and smallmouth are on beds. There are a lot of nice smallmouth bass here but they can be difficult to catch since they don't have to work too hard for food with the abundant golden shiner population. OTTER CREEK RESERVOIR: Good fishing in the morning and evenings. Mostly fat 12- to 13-inch rainbows, with an occasional larger fish. Also good from shore using PowerBait™ or worm and marshmallow combination. Please prevent the spread of whirling disease. Do not transport any parts of fish caught here to other waters. PANGUITCH LAKE: Fishing was slow for rainbows. Special regulations here include the release of all cutthroat trout under 22 inches. Only one cutthroat trout (over 22 inches) may be kept in your daily limit of four trout. Sections of the tributary streams near the lake are closed until July PARAGONAH (RED CREEK) RESERVOIR: Good fishing for rainbow trout. Try spinners, leech or bugger patterns in the inflow area. Remember that the stream itself is closed to fishing. Most of the fish at Paragonah are the result of spawning and natural recruitment from the section of stream immediately above the lake, so look but don't touch, and stay out of the stream. Good hatches of midges in the eveninings. Try a Griffiths gnat or emerger pattern. PINE LAKE: The lake is down about four feet. Most of the trout were lost this past winter due to winter kill. The lake was restocked with catchable-sized rainbow trout. Try PowerBait™ or worms from shore. Damsels fly or leech patterns will work for fly fishers. PINE VALLEY RESERVOIR: Stocking of rainbow trout has begun. Try bait or spinners from shore. There are also some brook trout. PIUTE RESERVOIR: The reservoir is low. The ramp and docks are nearly out of the water. Launch at your own risk. Slow fishing. Little fishing pressure. Some small trout are present but we need a good water year to produce some fishing here. QUAIL LAKE: Bass are now in shallow and success has improved. Try plastic baits, crayfish crankbaits or spinner baits. Success has also been reported for both rainbow trout and bluegill. Remember the special regulations for bass - four bass under 10 inches and two over 20 inches. REDMOND LAKE: Little pressure. Slow fishing. REX RESERVOIR: Accessible by truck. Fishing is good. Try worms or PowerBait™ from shore. SAND COVE RESERVOIRS: Two small reservoirs by the town of Veyo. Catchable-size rainbow trout have been stocked in the upper reservoir. Bluegill were stocked at both reservoirs last year to get populations started. It will likely be a year or so yet before there are many bluegill of any size though. Introductions of largemouth bass are planned for this year. SAND HOLLOW RESERVOIR: A new reservoir near St. George. The lake is now open to fishing. Public access to the reservoir is available only through the State Park. Surface water temps have been in the 60s. Good fishing for bass up to 14-15 inches as well as bluegill. Try a small plastic bait or spinner bait for bass. Try a small jig or piece of worm below a float near some of the submerged vegetation for bluegill. Special regulations here include a limit of four bass under 10 inches and two over 20 inches. SEVIER RIVER, ASAY CREEK, MAMMOTH CREEK: Tributaries and main stream have been clear. Most of the trout water on the Sevier is located upstream (south) from the town of Hatch. Intermittent sections of good habitat are present above Hatch and easily accessible from Highway 89. The river contains mainly brown trout and mountain whitefish. Asay Creek west of Highway 89 is on private land and access is restricted. Public access is possible on much of Mammoth Creek west of Highway 89. Special regulations apply to a section of Mammoth Creek, check the proclamation for details. Try hopper or caddis patterns or small spinners. Whirling disease was documented in the drainage. Please prevent the spread of whirling disease. Do not transport any parts of fish caught here to other waters. THOUSAND LAKES MTN: No recent reports. TROPIC RESERVOIR: Reservoir at the head of the East Fork of the Sevier River, west of Bryce Canyon Nat'l Park. The reservoir is now accessible. It was stocked with catchable rainbow trout. There are also some brown trout. Try some PowerBait™ or spinners from shore. URBAN PONDS: Good fishing for rainbow trout at the two Tawa ponds along the Snow Canyon Parkway and the Skyline Drive Pond in St. George. The trout limit is two at the St. George ponds. Catch and release only for largemouth bass. Anglers 14 years or older need a valid Utah fishing license to fish here. Older anglers are requested to use artificial flies or lures. The St. George ponds were stocked last week for the final time this summer. The Hurricane Pond was stocked with catchable size rainbows and was good fishing with PowerBait™ or worms. Rainbow trout have also been stocked at the Parowan Pond. Woods Pond west of Cedar City has also been stocked. WIDE HOLLOW RESERVOIR: Reservoir at Escalante State Park west of the town of Escalante. The reservoir level is dropping. Fishing was good for 10- to 12-inch rainbows using spinners from the bank. Bass have been moving in shallow on warmer days. YANKEE MEADOW RESERVOIR: Fair fishing for rainbow, cutthroat and brook trout. Try spinners or bait from shore. The inlet channel is closed to fishing.
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