Post by Steve Sutton on May 27, 2010 8:52:52 GMT -5
ATTENTION: Quagga and zebra mussels are a major threat to Utah waterways. Learn more about these destructive mussels and how to decontaminate your boat.
Would you like to see a Utah fishing regulation change? Have an idea for a new rule? Our biologists are already working on possible fishing changes for 2011, and we want to hear from you. Provide feedback on possible 2011 fishing changes.
Five year-old Rhett and nine year-old Gracie Pain of Riverton show off their day's catch from Scofield Reservoir.
Photo by Randall Stilson
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BIG SANDWASH RESERVOIR: (May 26) Anglers report good fishing for rainbows from boats and along the shoreline. Try trout baits and either small fish/crawfish-colored lures or brightly colored, flashy lures. Water levels are high. You can access the reservoir from the boat ramp and a new public access point on the northeast corner.
BROUGH RESERVOIR: (May 26) Anglers report that fishing has been fair to good across the reservoir. Some anglers are in small boats and float tubes, while others are along the shoreline. Try fishing in the morning or later in the afternoon. Several anglers have reported that catch rates drop off in the middle of the day.
BROWNE LAKE: (May 26) There haven't been any recent fishing reports, but you should find good fishing if the lake follows its normal pattern. The U.S. Forest Service has opened the roads to Browne and reported that the lake is ice free. However, the last few nights have been below freezing, so the ice may be forming at night and melting during the day. Watch out for storms — the weather can change very quickly in the Uinta Mountains.
BULLOCK RESERVOIR: (May 26) The ice is gone. There haven't been any recent fishing reports, but you should find fair fishing for rainbows. On sunny days, the weather warms up and improves bass fishing.
CALDER RESERVOIR: (May 26) Anglers reported good catch rates from the shore, using both flies and lures. Roads are accessible, but the area received snow and rain during the most recent storms. The reservoir has special catch-and-release regulations. You may use flies and lures only — no bait. See the Utah Fishing Guidebook for details.
COTTONWOOD RESERVOIR: (May 26) There haven't been any recent fishing reports from anglers. You'll probably see slow fishing until the waters warm. This reservoir has mostly warmwater fish.
CROUSE RESERVOIR: (May 26) There haven't been any recent reports from anglers, but you should find fair to good fishing. There is enough water to launch a shallow boat.
CURRANT CREEK RESERVOIR: (May 26) The ice is off. Fishing has been fair to good for both tiger and cutthroat trout. Tiger trout are hybrids of brown and brook trout. The tigers were stocked last year and are now approximately 10–12 inches long. Snowdrifts and muddy conditions are making it difficult to access the reservoir.
EAST PARK RESERVOIR: (May 26) Ice conditions are unknown. The reservoir might be ice-free, but it could also have a lot of unstable ice. If you decide to try it, check the ice thickness very carefully before venturing out. The U.S. Forest Service has not opened the roads early, like they did on the northeastern slope.
FLAMING GORGE: (May 26) Lake trout fishing has been good to excellent. The fish are active at any level in the lake, from just below the surface to 90 feet down. Anglers recommend various techniques; some have success jigging while others prefer trolling. Everyone agrees that if you can find a school, the hits will be fast and light. A good line (fluorocarbon or braid) helps you feel the strike and get a good hook-set when jigging. You can help the Flaming Gorge fishery by harvesting a limit of smaller lake trout. The limit is eight fish, with one over 28 inches.Burbot: Burbot fishing has been good through the ice, but now it's time to catch them from the shore or from boats. Try targeting rocky points and cliffs near the main channel, at depths from 10–50 feet. Use just about anything that glows (e.g., spoons, tube jigs, curly-tailed jigs, minnow jigs) and tip it with some type of bait. Place your baits close to the bottom and recharge the glow frequently. It is common to catch a fish immediately after re-glowing and dropping a lure. Burbot hit during the day, but they become more active during the twilight hours. You'll help the Flaming Gorge fishery by harvesting as many burbot as possible. There is no limit on burbot.Kokanee salmon: Kokanee fishing is picking up as the water gets warmer. Although the DWR has stocked millions of kokanee over the last few years, the population remains low due to predation by lake trout and burbot. Anglers need to harvest small lake trout and burbot to reduce their impact on kokanee.Rainbow trout: Anglers who target rainbows report good to excellent fishing from the shoreline and from boats. A boat is essential to access most of the reservoir; however, there is shore fishing near the visitors center (by the dam) and by the boat ramps. Fish are shallow and cruising the shoreline. Look for schools near cliffs, points and submerged ridges.Smallmouth bass: The bass are just starting to appear. The water still needs to warm a few degrees before smallmouth fishing will really improve.
GREEN RIVER BELOW FLAMING GORGE DAM: (May 26) Daily flows on the river will fluctuate, so keep a close eye on water depth. It is transition time. Try changing from the winter techniques of fishing glowbugs (trout egg imitations) scuds, nymphs and small fish imitations to the dry flies. Watch for hatches and change flies accordingly. The browns' spawning run is over, but the redds (nests) may still be there. Be careful to avoid damaging the eggs and the young that still use the gravel for protection. Spin anglers should try Rapalas (floating, countdown and husky jerk); spinners; spoons; black, brown or olive marabou jigs; and plastic jigs.
MATT WARNER: (May 26) Anglers report good to excellent fishing with flies, lures and baits. They were successful from the shore and in small boats and float tubes. The area has melted and dried out quickly, but there are still some muddy places due to recent storms.
MOOSE POND: (May 26) There haven't been any recent reports, but you should find good fishing.
PELICAN LAKE: (May 26) Recent storms kept the water chilly, so fishing improved slowly. Now, the warmer weather is making a big difference. Anglers found fish in about 15 feet of water last weekend, and they reported good to excellent fishing for bass and bluegill. Both species seem to be moving in and out of the shallows, depending on the weather. Because the weather was cold for most of last week, the fish moved deeper. You'll find the best fishing at Pelican after a few sunny days. Note: The DWR is monitoring this lake for the presence of invasive mussels. Before and after boating, be sure to clean and dry any fishing gear or other equipment that is exposed to water (like decoys, waders, rubber boots and fish finders).
RED FLEET RESERVOIR: (May 26) Anglers reported good fishing for rainbows, between two recent storms. Park managers have opened the main access road to Red Fleet and the boat ramp. Note: The DWR is monitoring this lake for the presence of invasive mussels. Before and after boating, be sure to clean and dry any fishing gear or other equipment that is exposed to water (like decoys, waders, rubber boots and fish finders).
STARVATION RESERVOIR: (May 26) Anglers report fair to good fishing for rainbows, browns and walleye. And now the bass are starting to appear! Check out the inlets and shallow bays as the fish prepare to spawn. Try fishing parallel and close to the shoreline. Big fish often cruise the shore looking for places to spawn. They might also be looking for easy prey, washed in by the waves.
STEINAKER RESERVOIR: (May 26) Anglers report fair to good fishing, mostly for rainbows. Baits and lures fished from the shore or boats were doing equally well. The trout can be near the surface and are often right along the shoreline. Some anglers have caught bass by fishing the shallows after a couple days of warm weather. Roughly 13,000 albino rainbows were stocked last fall, so do not be surprised if you catch a very pale fish with pink eyes.
Would you like to see a Utah fishing regulation change? Have an idea for a new rule? Our biologists are already working on possible fishing changes for 2011, and we want to hear from you. Provide feedback on possible 2011 fishing changes.
Five year-old Rhett and nine year-old Gracie Pain of Riverton show off their day's catch from Scofield Reservoir.
Photo by Randall Stilson
-->
BIG SANDWASH RESERVOIR: (May 26) Anglers report good fishing for rainbows from boats and along the shoreline. Try trout baits and either small fish/crawfish-colored lures or brightly colored, flashy lures. Water levels are high. You can access the reservoir from the boat ramp and a new public access point on the northeast corner.
BROUGH RESERVOIR: (May 26) Anglers report that fishing has been fair to good across the reservoir. Some anglers are in small boats and float tubes, while others are along the shoreline. Try fishing in the morning or later in the afternoon. Several anglers have reported that catch rates drop off in the middle of the day.
BROWNE LAKE: (May 26) There haven't been any recent fishing reports, but you should find good fishing if the lake follows its normal pattern. The U.S. Forest Service has opened the roads to Browne and reported that the lake is ice free. However, the last few nights have been below freezing, so the ice may be forming at night and melting during the day. Watch out for storms — the weather can change very quickly in the Uinta Mountains.
BULLOCK RESERVOIR: (May 26) The ice is gone. There haven't been any recent fishing reports, but you should find fair fishing for rainbows. On sunny days, the weather warms up and improves bass fishing.
CALDER RESERVOIR: (May 26) Anglers reported good catch rates from the shore, using both flies and lures. Roads are accessible, but the area received snow and rain during the most recent storms. The reservoir has special catch-and-release regulations. You may use flies and lures only — no bait. See the Utah Fishing Guidebook for details.
COTTONWOOD RESERVOIR: (May 26) There haven't been any recent fishing reports from anglers. You'll probably see slow fishing until the waters warm. This reservoir has mostly warmwater fish.
CROUSE RESERVOIR: (May 26) There haven't been any recent reports from anglers, but you should find fair to good fishing. There is enough water to launch a shallow boat.
CURRANT CREEK RESERVOIR: (May 26) The ice is off. Fishing has been fair to good for both tiger and cutthroat trout. Tiger trout are hybrids of brown and brook trout. The tigers were stocked last year and are now approximately 10–12 inches long. Snowdrifts and muddy conditions are making it difficult to access the reservoir.
EAST PARK RESERVOIR: (May 26) Ice conditions are unknown. The reservoir might be ice-free, but it could also have a lot of unstable ice. If you decide to try it, check the ice thickness very carefully before venturing out. The U.S. Forest Service has not opened the roads early, like they did on the northeastern slope.
FLAMING GORGE: (May 26) Lake trout fishing has been good to excellent. The fish are active at any level in the lake, from just below the surface to 90 feet down. Anglers recommend various techniques; some have success jigging while others prefer trolling. Everyone agrees that if you can find a school, the hits will be fast and light. A good line (fluorocarbon or braid) helps you feel the strike and get a good hook-set when jigging. You can help the Flaming Gorge fishery by harvesting a limit of smaller lake trout. The limit is eight fish, with one over 28 inches.Burbot: Burbot fishing has been good through the ice, but now it's time to catch them from the shore or from boats. Try targeting rocky points and cliffs near the main channel, at depths from 10–50 feet. Use just about anything that glows (e.g., spoons, tube jigs, curly-tailed jigs, minnow jigs) and tip it with some type of bait. Place your baits close to the bottom and recharge the glow frequently. It is common to catch a fish immediately after re-glowing and dropping a lure. Burbot hit during the day, but they become more active during the twilight hours. You'll help the Flaming Gorge fishery by harvesting as many burbot as possible. There is no limit on burbot.Kokanee salmon: Kokanee fishing is picking up as the water gets warmer. Although the DWR has stocked millions of kokanee over the last few years, the population remains low due to predation by lake trout and burbot. Anglers need to harvest small lake trout and burbot to reduce their impact on kokanee.Rainbow trout: Anglers who target rainbows report good to excellent fishing from the shoreline and from boats. A boat is essential to access most of the reservoir; however, there is shore fishing near the visitors center (by the dam) and by the boat ramps. Fish are shallow and cruising the shoreline. Look for schools near cliffs, points and submerged ridges.Smallmouth bass: The bass are just starting to appear. The water still needs to warm a few degrees before smallmouth fishing will really improve.
GREEN RIVER BELOW FLAMING GORGE DAM: (May 26) Daily flows on the river will fluctuate, so keep a close eye on water depth. It is transition time. Try changing from the winter techniques of fishing glowbugs (trout egg imitations) scuds, nymphs and small fish imitations to the dry flies. Watch for hatches and change flies accordingly. The browns' spawning run is over, but the redds (nests) may still be there. Be careful to avoid damaging the eggs and the young that still use the gravel for protection. Spin anglers should try Rapalas (floating, countdown and husky jerk); spinners; spoons; black, brown or olive marabou jigs; and plastic jigs.
MATT WARNER: (May 26) Anglers report good to excellent fishing with flies, lures and baits. They were successful from the shore and in small boats and float tubes. The area has melted and dried out quickly, but there are still some muddy places due to recent storms.
MOOSE POND: (May 26) There haven't been any recent reports, but you should find good fishing.
PELICAN LAKE: (May 26) Recent storms kept the water chilly, so fishing improved slowly. Now, the warmer weather is making a big difference. Anglers found fish in about 15 feet of water last weekend, and they reported good to excellent fishing for bass and bluegill. Both species seem to be moving in and out of the shallows, depending on the weather. Because the weather was cold for most of last week, the fish moved deeper. You'll find the best fishing at Pelican after a few sunny days. Note: The DWR is monitoring this lake for the presence of invasive mussels. Before and after boating, be sure to clean and dry any fishing gear or other equipment that is exposed to water (like decoys, waders, rubber boots and fish finders).
RED FLEET RESERVOIR: (May 26) Anglers reported good fishing for rainbows, between two recent storms. Park managers have opened the main access road to Red Fleet and the boat ramp. Note: The DWR is monitoring this lake for the presence of invasive mussels. Before and after boating, be sure to clean and dry any fishing gear or other equipment that is exposed to water (like decoys, waders, rubber boots and fish finders).
STARVATION RESERVOIR: (May 26) Anglers report fair to good fishing for rainbows, browns and walleye. And now the bass are starting to appear! Check out the inlets and shallow bays as the fish prepare to spawn. Try fishing parallel and close to the shoreline. Big fish often cruise the shore looking for places to spawn. They might also be looking for easy prey, washed in by the waves.
STEINAKER RESERVOIR: (May 26) Anglers report fair to good fishing, mostly for rainbows. Baits and lures fished from the shore or boats were doing equally well. The trout can be near the surface and are often right along the shoreline. Some anglers have caught bass by fishing the shallows after a couple days of warm weather. Roughly 13,000 albino rainbows were stocked last fall, so do not be surprised if you catch a very pale fish with pink eyes.