Post by Steve Sutton on Jun 24, 2010 16:17:01 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.
BIG SANDWASH RESERVOIR: (June 24) Anglers reported good fishing from boats and along the shoreline for rainbows. Try trout baits and either small fish/crawfish-colored lures or brightly colored, flashy lures. Water levels are high. Access the reservoir from the boat ramp and a new public access point on the northeast corner.
BROUGH RESERVOIR: (June 24) Fishing has been fair to good from along the shoreline and from float tubes and small boats. Try fishing mornings and later in the afternoon; several anglers have reported catch rates decrease in mid-day.
BROWNE LAKE: (June 24) Reports on fishing have been scattered but it seems to be fair to good most of the time. The USFS has opened the roads to Browne. Frequent rains have created some muddy areas so access may be limited. Watch the storms as the weather can change very quickly in the Uinta Mountains.
BULLOCK RESERVOIR: (June 24) No new reports on fishing but it should be fair for rainbows and the weather has warmed up enough for bass.
CALDER RESERVOIR: (June 24) Anglers reported good catch rates from shore using both flies and lures. Roads have been drying out quickly so they are mostly accessible though the area did receive frequent rainstorms. The reservoir has special catch and release regulations, flies and lures only —no bait, check the Utah Fishing Guidebook for details.
COTTONWOOD RESERVOIR: (June 24) No new fishing reports from anglers. The waters are warm enough for warm water fish.
CROUSE RESERVOIR: (June 24) No anglers checked on the reservoir though it should be fair to good fishing. There is enough water to launch shallow boats and no signs of winter kill.
CURRANT CREEK RESERVOIR: (June 24) Fishing has been fair to good for both tiger and cutthroat trout. The tiger trout, a hybrid between brown and brook trout, stocked last year are roughly 10–12 inches this spring. The area has received rain so be aware there could be muddy conditions limiting angler access.
EAST PARK RESERVOIR: (June 24) The fishing has been fair to good for rainbows and brook trout. Access is good except for some sections of mud. The boat ramp is open—making it easy to launch small boats.
FLAMING GORGE: (June 24) Lake trout fishing has been good to excellent and the fish are active at any level in the lake from just below the surface to 90 feet down. Angler technique advice varies, some recommend jigging while others are trolling. All anglers agree, if you can find the school, the hits will be fast and light. A good line (flourocarbon or braid) helps to feel the strike and get a good hook-set when jigging. You can help the Flaming Gorge fishery by harvesting a limit of the smaller lake trout. The limit is eight fish with one over 28 inches.
Burbot fishing was good through the ice but now it is time to shift and learn to catch them from shore or boats. Try targeting rocky points and cliffs near the main channel, with depths from 10–50 feet Use just about anything that glows (spoons, tube jigs, curly-tailed jigs, minnow jigs) and tip with some type of bait. Anglers should place their 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 will 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 waters warm from the lower- to the mid-50s. Even though the Division 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 consumption of kokanee.
Rainbow trout: Anglers are reporting good to excellent fishing from shore and boats. A boat is essential to access most of the reservoir; however there is shore fishing near the Dam 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 fishing is starting up and the fish are moving up into the shallow waters. Recent storms put them off a bit but as soon as there are a few warm days in a row, the smallmouth will become active.
GREEN RIVER BELOW FLAMING GORGE DAM: (June 24) The cicada hatch started earlier this week and anglers are reporting good to excellent fishing. On windy days, anglers using lures have been more productive as they are able to cast better. Try Rapalas (floating, countdown and husky jerk); spinners; spoons; black, brown or olive marabou jigs; and plastic jigs. Anglers fishing with flies should try a cicada or watch for hatches and change flies accordingly.
MATT WARNER: (June 24) Anglers report good to excellent fishing. Anglers were catching fish using flies, lures and baits. They were fishing from the shore, small boats and float tubes. The area has dried out quickly, though there could still be some muddy places due to the storms.
MOOSE POND: (June 24) Anglers are reporting good fishing. The pond is stocked so most of the fish are catchables from Utah's hatcheries.
PELICAN LAKE: (June 24) The recent storms have created some interesting fishing conditions; however, in between storms the fishing has been good to excellent. Anglers are finding fish in the shallows and in about 15 feet of water depending on the weather. Both species bass and bluegill seem to be moving in and out of the shallows depending on the temperatures and storm conditions. Note: This is an AIS watch water for invasive mussels. Be sure to clean and dry fishing and other equipment exposed to the water, such as boats, waders, rubber boots and fish finders, both before and after using the reservoir.
RED FLEET RESERVOIR: (June 24) Anglers report good fishing for rainbows, bass and bluegill in between storms. Recent surveys showed an abundance of the illegally introduced walleye in the nets. These fish represented several age classes with some over six pounds. Anglers may access the reservoir from the backside but the closed gate limits it to walk-in only. This is to hinder the movement of invasive Zebra and Quagga mussels by controlling boat launching. Note: The new washing station is up and running. This is an AIS watch water for invasive mussels so be sure to clean and dry fishing and other equipment exposed to the water, such as boats, waders, rubber boots and fish finders, both before and after using the reservoir.
STARVATION RESERVOIR: (June 24) Anglers report fair to good fishing for rainbows, browns and walleye with bass now showing up in the surveys. Check out the inlets and shallow bays. Try fishing parallel and close to the shoreline as big fish often cruise the shore looking for newly hatched fry and terrestrial insects, etc. washed in by the waves.
STEINAKER RESERVOIR: (June 24) Anglers report good to excellent fishing for rainbows, bass and bluegill from shore and boats. Baits and lures fished from the shore or boats were doing equally well. The trout can be near the surface and often right along the shoreline. Bass and bluegill are in the shallows. Over 500 tagged rainbow trout have been stocked for the Family Fishing Event; see the posters at Steinaker and local businesses for details. Also, roughly, 13,000 albino rainbows were stocked last fall so do not be surprised if you catch a fish that looks like a ghost.
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.
BIG SANDWASH RESERVOIR: (June 24) Anglers reported good fishing from boats and along the shoreline for rainbows. Try trout baits and either small fish/crawfish-colored lures or brightly colored, flashy lures. Water levels are high. Access the reservoir from the boat ramp and a new public access point on the northeast corner.
BROUGH RESERVOIR: (June 24) Fishing has been fair to good from along the shoreline and from float tubes and small boats. Try fishing mornings and later in the afternoon; several anglers have reported catch rates decrease in mid-day.
BROWNE LAKE: (June 24) Reports on fishing have been scattered but it seems to be fair to good most of the time. The USFS has opened the roads to Browne. Frequent rains have created some muddy areas so access may be limited. Watch the storms as the weather can change very quickly in the Uinta Mountains.
BULLOCK RESERVOIR: (June 24) No new reports on fishing but it should be fair for rainbows and the weather has warmed up enough for bass.
CALDER RESERVOIR: (June 24) Anglers reported good catch rates from shore using both flies and lures. Roads have been drying out quickly so they are mostly accessible though the area did receive frequent rainstorms. The reservoir has special catch and release regulations, flies and lures only —no bait, check the Utah Fishing Guidebook for details.
COTTONWOOD RESERVOIR: (June 24) No new fishing reports from anglers. The waters are warm enough for warm water fish.
CROUSE RESERVOIR: (June 24) No anglers checked on the reservoir though it should be fair to good fishing. There is enough water to launch shallow boats and no signs of winter kill.
CURRANT CREEK RESERVOIR: (June 24) Fishing has been fair to good for both tiger and cutthroat trout. The tiger trout, a hybrid between brown and brook trout, stocked last year are roughly 10–12 inches this spring. The area has received rain so be aware there could be muddy conditions limiting angler access.
EAST PARK RESERVOIR: (June 24) The fishing has been fair to good for rainbows and brook trout. Access is good except for some sections of mud. The boat ramp is open—making it easy to launch small boats.
FLAMING GORGE: (June 24) Lake trout fishing has been good to excellent and the fish are active at any level in the lake from just below the surface to 90 feet down. Angler technique advice varies, some recommend jigging while others are trolling. All anglers agree, if you can find the school, the hits will be fast and light. A good line (flourocarbon or braid) helps to feel the strike and get a good hook-set when jigging. You can help the Flaming Gorge fishery by harvesting a limit of the smaller lake trout. The limit is eight fish with one over 28 inches.
Burbot fishing was good through the ice but now it is time to shift and learn to catch them from shore or boats. Try targeting rocky points and cliffs near the main channel, with depths from 10–50 feet Use just about anything that glows (spoons, tube jigs, curly-tailed jigs, minnow jigs) and tip with some type of bait. Anglers should place their 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 will 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 waters warm from the lower- to the mid-50s. Even though the Division 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 consumption of kokanee.
Rainbow trout: Anglers are reporting good to excellent fishing from shore and boats. A boat is essential to access most of the reservoir; however there is shore fishing near the Dam 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 fishing is starting up and the fish are moving up into the shallow waters. Recent storms put them off a bit but as soon as there are a few warm days in a row, the smallmouth will become active.
GREEN RIVER BELOW FLAMING GORGE DAM: (June 24) The cicada hatch started earlier this week and anglers are reporting good to excellent fishing. On windy days, anglers using lures have been more productive as they are able to cast better. Try Rapalas (floating, countdown and husky jerk); spinners; spoons; black, brown or olive marabou jigs; and plastic jigs. Anglers fishing with flies should try a cicada or watch for hatches and change flies accordingly.
MATT WARNER: (June 24) Anglers report good to excellent fishing. Anglers were catching fish using flies, lures and baits. They were fishing from the shore, small boats and float tubes. The area has dried out quickly, though there could still be some muddy places due to the storms.
MOOSE POND: (June 24) Anglers are reporting good fishing. The pond is stocked so most of the fish are catchables from Utah's hatcheries.
PELICAN LAKE: (June 24) The recent storms have created some interesting fishing conditions; however, in between storms the fishing has been good to excellent. Anglers are finding fish in the shallows and in about 15 feet of water depending on the weather. Both species bass and bluegill seem to be moving in and out of the shallows depending on the temperatures and storm conditions. Note: This is an AIS watch water for invasive mussels. Be sure to clean and dry fishing and other equipment exposed to the water, such as boats, waders, rubber boots and fish finders, both before and after using the reservoir.
RED FLEET RESERVOIR: (June 24) Anglers report good fishing for rainbows, bass and bluegill in between storms. Recent surveys showed an abundance of the illegally introduced walleye in the nets. These fish represented several age classes with some over six pounds. Anglers may access the reservoir from the backside but the closed gate limits it to walk-in only. This is to hinder the movement of invasive Zebra and Quagga mussels by controlling boat launching. Note: The new washing station is up and running. This is an AIS watch water for invasive mussels so be sure to clean and dry fishing and other equipment exposed to the water, such as boats, waders, rubber boots and fish finders, both before and after using the reservoir.
STARVATION RESERVOIR: (June 24) Anglers report fair to good fishing for rainbows, browns and walleye with bass now showing up in the surveys. Check out the inlets and shallow bays. Try fishing parallel and close to the shoreline as big fish often cruise the shore looking for newly hatched fry and terrestrial insects, etc. washed in by the waves.
STEINAKER RESERVOIR: (June 24) Anglers report good to excellent fishing for rainbows, bass and bluegill from shore and boats. Baits and lures fished from the shore or boats were doing equally well. The trout can be near the surface and often right along the shoreline. Bass and bluegill are in the shallows. Over 500 tagged rainbow trout have been stocked for the Family Fishing Event; see the posters at Steinaker and local businesses for details. Also, roughly, 13,000 albino rainbows were stocked last fall so do not be surprised if you catch a fish that looks like a ghost.