Post by Steve Sutton on Aug 19, 2010 16:30:24 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.
BIG SANDWASH RESERVOIR: (August 19) Anglers report fair to good fishing from boats and along the shoreline. They're catching rainbows and both species of bass. If you're after bass, try flipping jigs into the rocks and any submerged vegetation. Trout baits and either small fish/crawfish-colored lures or brightly colored, flashy lures are working for trout. The best times to fish for trout are early morning and later in the evening. You can access the reservoir from the boat ramp and from a new public-access point on the northeast corner.
BROUGH RESERVOIR: (August 19) Fishing has been slow along the shoreline and from float tubes and small boats. Try fishing in the morning and late in the afternoon/evening. With the warm water, proper catch-and-release techniques are critical. Use a strong-enough pole, line and leader to bring the fish in quickly, and then keep the entire fish in the water while removing the hook. Barbless hooks and rubber nets make it much easier to remove flies and lures. Fish that you can land, disengage and release quickly are much more likely to survive. Tired fish and fish exposed to the air may swim away, but they are much more likely to die a few days after release.
BROWNE LAKE: (August 19) Anglers report slow fishing most of the time. Try brightly colored lures, match flies to the latest insect hatches or use trout baits such as a worm-and-marshmallow combination or some of the new commercial baits. Watch out for storms — the weather can change very quickly in the Uinta Mountains.
BULLOCK RESERVOIR: (August 19) Anglers report fair fishing for bass and bullheads. They're also catching the occasional tiger muskie.
CALDER RESERVOIR: (August 19) Anglers report fair catch rates from the shore and slightly better fishing from float tubes and small boats. Try using large, terrestrial flies or minnow/leech imitations. You'll also have success with small, brightly colored spoons or fish-imitation lures. The reservoir has special catch-and-release regulations. You must use flies and lures only — bait is not allowed. See the Utah Fishing Guidebook for details. With the warm water, proper catch-and-release techniques are critical. Use a strong-enough pole, line and leader to bring the fish in quickly, and then keep the entire fish in the water while removing the hook. Barbless hooks and rubber nets make it much easier to remove flies and lures. Fish that you can land, disengage and release quickly are much more likely to survive. Tired fish and fish exposed to the air may swim away, but they are much more likely to die a few days after release.
COTTONWOOD RESERVOIR: (August 19) Anglers report catching a few tiger muskie but not any keepers. Anglers have also caught some smallmouth bass. Fishing is fair to good for black bullhead, which are large enough to provide a nice meal.
CROUSE RESERVOIR: (August 19) The water level is low, and fishing has been slow. The reservoir has been stocked with catchable-sized fish.
CURRANT CREEK RESERVOIR: (August 19) Anglers report fair to good fishing for both tiger and cutthroat trout. The tiger trout (a hybrid of brown and brook trout) that were stocked last year are now about 12 inches long. The area has received rain, so watch for muddy conditions that could limit access.
EAST PARK RESERVOIR: (August 19) You'll find fair to good fishing for rainbows and brook trout. The reservoir is accessible, although the road was somewhat muddy after recent storms. The boat ramp is open, and it's easy to launch small boats.
FLAMING GORGE: (August 19) You'll find fair to good fishing for most species:
Lake trout: Lake trout fishing has been spotty. It's good for a while, and then it shuts down. Most of the fish reported have been deep, around 60 to 90 feet, but there have been a few reports of fish much higher in the water column. 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.
Kokanee salmon: Kokanee fishing is fair to good if you can locate a school. Water temperatures at the surface are too warm, so fish about 60 feet down. 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 report good 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 mostly deeper but can still be found close to the shoreline. Fishing is usually better during the cooler hours of the day. Look for schools near cliffs, points and submerged ridges.
Smallmouth bass: Bass fishing has been slower than normal, but you can still find fair to good fishing. The fish are deeper this year because spring and summer rainstorms added a few feet of water above the shallow water where they typically spawn. The larger fish are dropping down to the 20-foot range. The cool spring also put them a few weeks behind their normal schedule.
Burbot: To catch burbot, 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 or minnow jigs) and tip your lure 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.
GREEN RIVER BELOW FLAMING GORGE DAM: (August 19) The cicada hatch is slowing down, and the grasshoppers and black ants are out in full force. Anglers report good fishing. On windy days, anglers who use lures have been more successful because it's easier for them to cast. Try Rapalas (floating, countdown and husky jerk); spinners; spoons; black, brown or olive marabou jigs; and plastic jigs. Anglers who fish with flies should try a large terrestrial — like a cicada or grasshopper — or watch for hatches and change flies accordingly.
LONG PARK RESERVOIR: (August 19) ishing from shore and boats has been good, especially near the inlet. A worm-and-marshmallow combination has been anglers' preferred bait, followed by bright shiny lures and a variety of dry flies.
MATT WARNER: (August 19) Anglers report fair to good fishing, which varies depending on the time of day and weather conditions. You'll find the best fishing during the cooler hours. Just about everything has been working, including common trout baits, flies and lures. Fishing is good from the shore, small boats and float tubes.
MOOSE POND: (August 19) Anglers report good fishing. The pond is stocked with catchable-sized fish from Utah hatcheries.
PELICAN LAKE: (August 19) Fishing has been good, especially when the wind is calm. Anglers may find some bass and bluegill in the shallows, but most have moved into deeper water. Note: The DWR is monitoring this lake for the presence of invasive mussels. Before and after boating, be sure to clean, drain and dry boats, fishing gear or other equipment exposed to water (like decoys, waders, rubber boots and fish finders).
RED FLEET RESERVOIR: (August 19) Anglers report fair to good fishing for rainbows, bass and bluegill, and they are beginning to figure out how to catch walleye. Recent surveys showed an abundance of illegally introduced walleye in the nets. These fish represented several age classes, with some over six pounds. Red Fleet has no limit on walleye, and all walleye must be killed and removed — no catch and release allowed. Note: The new washing station is up and running. Be sure to clean, drain and dry any equipment or gear used in the water, including boats, jet skis, pull-behind floats, skis, kneeboards, fishing gear and other damp equipment.
SHEEP CREEK LAKE: (August 19) Fishing has been slow. As the summer progresses, it's getting more difficult to find places to cast without interference from weeds. Float tubes and small boats (like a canoe or float tube) make it easier to locate weed-free areas.
SPIRIT LAKE: (August 19) Fishing for rainbows and small tiger trout has been good from shore and from small boats like canoes and float tubes. Commercial trout baits, worm-and-marshmallow combinations and a wide variety of small flashy lures and flies are all working well. Remember that the fish in high mountain lakes can often be finicky. If one bait, lure or fly doesn't work, just switch to another.
STARVATION RESERVOIR: (August 19) Anglers report good fishing for rainbows and perch, and fair fishing for bass and walleye. Check out the rocky points, inlets and shallow bays. Try fishing parallel and close to the shoreline in the early morning and evening. Big fish often cruise the shore looking for newly hatched fry and terrestrial insects washed in by the waves.
STEINAKER RESERVOIR: (August 19) Anglers report good fishing for rainbows, bass and bluegill. You'll do equally well fishing with baits and lures from the shoreline or from boats. Bass and bluegill may be in the shallows or in water up to 25 feet deep. More than 500 tagged rainbow trout have been stocked for the Family Fishing Event — see the posters at Steinaker and local businesses for details. Also, approximately 13,000 albino rainbows were stocked last fall, so do not be surprised if you catch a very pale fish with pink eyes.
BIG SANDWASH RESERVOIR: (August 19) Anglers report fair to good fishing from boats and along the shoreline. They're catching rainbows and both species of bass. If you're after bass, try flipping jigs into the rocks and any submerged vegetation. Trout baits and either small fish/crawfish-colored lures or brightly colored, flashy lures are working for trout. The best times to fish for trout are early morning and later in the evening. You can access the reservoir from the boat ramp and from a new public-access point on the northeast corner.
BROUGH RESERVOIR: (August 19) Fishing has been slow along the shoreline and from float tubes and small boats. Try fishing in the morning and late in the afternoon/evening. With the warm water, proper catch-and-release techniques are critical. Use a strong-enough pole, line and leader to bring the fish in quickly, and then keep the entire fish in the water while removing the hook. Barbless hooks and rubber nets make it much easier to remove flies and lures. Fish that you can land, disengage and release quickly are much more likely to survive. Tired fish and fish exposed to the air may swim away, but they are much more likely to die a few days after release.
BROWNE LAKE: (August 19) Anglers report slow fishing most of the time. Try brightly colored lures, match flies to the latest insect hatches or use trout baits such as a worm-and-marshmallow combination or some of the new commercial baits. Watch out for storms — the weather can change very quickly in the Uinta Mountains.
BULLOCK RESERVOIR: (August 19) Anglers report fair fishing for bass and bullheads. They're also catching the occasional tiger muskie.
CALDER RESERVOIR: (August 19) Anglers report fair catch rates from the shore and slightly better fishing from float tubes and small boats. Try using large, terrestrial flies or minnow/leech imitations. You'll also have success with small, brightly colored spoons or fish-imitation lures. The reservoir has special catch-and-release regulations. You must use flies and lures only — bait is not allowed. See the Utah Fishing Guidebook for details. With the warm water, proper catch-and-release techniques are critical. Use a strong-enough pole, line and leader to bring the fish in quickly, and then keep the entire fish in the water while removing the hook. Barbless hooks and rubber nets make it much easier to remove flies and lures. Fish that you can land, disengage and release quickly are much more likely to survive. Tired fish and fish exposed to the air may swim away, but they are much more likely to die a few days after release.
COTTONWOOD RESERVOIR: (August 19) Anglers report catching a few tiger muskie but not any keepers. Anglers have also caught some smallmouth bass. Fishing is fair to good for black bullhead, which are large enough to provide a nice meal.
CROUSE RESERVOIR: (August 19) The water level is low, and fishing has been slow. The reservoir has been stocked with catchable-sized fish.
CURRANT CREEK RESERVOIR: (August 19) Anglers report fair to good fishing for both tiger and cutthroat trout. The tiger trout (a hybrid of brown and brook trout) that were stocked last year are now about 12 inches long. The area has received rain, so watch for muddy conditions that could limit access.
EAST PARK RESERVOIR: (August 19) You'll find fair to good fishing for rainbows and brook trout. The reservoir is accessible, although the road was somewhat muddy after recent storms. The boat ramp is open, and it's easy to launch small boats.
FLAMING GORGE: (August 19) You'll find fair to good fishing for most species:
Lake trout: Lake trout fishing has been spotty. It's good for a while, and then it shuts down. Most of the fish reported have been deep, around 60 to 90 feet, but there have been a few reports of fish much higher in the water column. 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.
Kokanee salmon: Kokanee fishing is fair to good if you can locate a school. Water temperatures at the surface are too warm, so fish about 60 feet down. 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 report good 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 mostly deeper but can still be found close to the shoreline. Fishing is usually better during the cooler hours of the day. Look for schools near cliffs, points and submerged ridges.
Smallmouth bass: Bass fishing has been slower than normal, but you can still find fair to good fishing. The fish are deeper this year because spring and summer rainstorms added a few feet of water above the shallow water where they typically spawn. The larger fish are dropping down to the 20-foot range. The cool spring also put them a few weeks behind their normal schedule.
Burbot: To catch burbot, 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 or minnow jigs) and tip your lure 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.
GREEN RIVER BELOW FLAMING GORGE DAM: (August 19) The cicada hatch is slowing down, and the grasshoppers and black ants are out in full force. Anglers report good fishing. On windy days, anglers who use lures have been more successful because it's easier for them to cast. Try Rapalas (floating, countdown and husky jerk); spinners; spoons; black, brown or olive marabou jigs; and plastic jigs. Anglers who fish with flies should try a large terrestrial — like a cicada or grasshopper — or watch for hatches and change flies accordingly.
LONG PARK RESERVOIR: (August 19) ishing from shore and boats has been good, especially near the inlet. A worm-and-marshmallow combination has been anglers' preferred bait, followed by bright shiny lures and a variety of dry flies.
MATT WARNER: (August 19) Anglers report fair to good fishing, which varies depending on the time of day and weather conditions. You'll find the best fishing during the cooler hours. Just about everything has been working, including common trout baits, flies and lures. Fishing is good from the shore, small boats and float tubes.
MOOSE POND: (August 19) Anglers report good fishing. The pond is stocked with catchable-sized fish from Utah hatcheries.
PELICAN LAKE: (August 19) Fishing has been good, especially when the wind is calm. Anglers may find some bass and bluegill in the shallows, but most have moved into deeper water. Note: The DWR is monitoring this lake for the presence of invasive mussels. Before and after boating, be sure to clean, drain and dry boats, fishing gear or other equipment exposed to water (like decoys, waders, rubber boots and fish finders).
RED FLEET RESERVOIR: (August 19) Anglers report fair to good fishing for rainbows, bass and bluegill, and they are beginning to figure out how to catch walleye. Recent surveys showed an abundance of illegally introduced walleye in the nets. These fish represented several age classes, with some over six pounds. Red Fleet has no limit on walleye, and all walleye must be killed and removed — no catch and release allowed. Note: The new washing station is up and running. Be sure to clean, drain and dry any equipment or gear used in the water, including boats, jet skis, pull-behind floats, skis, kneeboards, fishing gear and other damp equipment.
SHEEP CREEK LAKE: (August 19) Fishing has been slow. As the summer progresses, it's getting more difficult to find places to cast without interference from weeds. Float tubes and small boats (like a canoe or float tube) make it easier to locate weed-free areas.
SPIRIT LAKE: (August 19) Fishing for rainbows and small tiger trout has been good from shore and from small boats like canoes and float tubes. Commercial trout baits, worm-and-marshmallow combinations and a wide variety of small flashy lures and flies are all working well. Remember that the fish in high mountain lakes can often be finicky. If one bait, lure or fly doesn't work, just switch to another.
STARVATION RESERVOIR: (August 19) Anglers report good fishing for rainbows and perch, and fair fishing for bass and walleye. Check out the rocky points, inlets and shallow bays. Try fishing parallel and close to the shoreline in the early morning and evening. Big fish often cruise the shore looking for newly hatched fry and terrestrial insects washed in by the waves.
STEINAKER RESERVOIR: (August 19) Anglers report good fishing for rainbows, bass and bluegill. You'll do equally well fishing with baits and lures from the shoreline or from boats. Bass and bluegill may be in the shallows or in water up to 25 feet deep. More than 500 tagged rainbow trout have been stocked for the Family Fishing Event — see the posters at Steinaker and local businesses for details. Also, approximately 13,000 albino rainbows were stocked last fall, so do not be surprised if you catch a very pale fish with pink eyes.