Here are this weeks fishing reports. Make sure to visit often as these reports are updated weekly. You can click on a region in the map or on a link to jump to the fishing report for that region.
Choose a region:
Northern Region
- Bear Lake
Central Region
Northeastern Region
Southeastern Region
Southern Region
Lake Powell
Northern Region report
Information compiled by Phil Douglass
DWR Northern Region Conservation Outreach Manager
Attention: Quagga and zebra mussels are a major threat to Utah waterways. Read how you can help keep them out of Utah.
| Waterbody | Report |
|---|---|
| Bear Lake 2010-03-11 Good |
For current conditions, call the Bear Lake information line after 6:00 p.m. The phone number is 435–946-8501. |
| Birch Creek Reservoir 2010-03-11 Slow |
The catch rates have been slow. The windy weather is going to increase soon, which will create tough fishing conditions at Birch Creek. Be prepared for the wind. |
| Blacksmith Fork River 2010-02-18 No recent report |
No recent reports. |
| Bountiful Lake 2010-03-11 Fair |
Conservation Officer Brandon Baron reports that fishing is fair. Warmer weather this week brought out more people. |
| Causey Reservoir 2010-03-04 Slow |
Dedicated Hunter Gary Gooch reports that the ice around the edges is slushy in the afternoon. An angler reported that he'd had just one bite that day. The angler fishes the reservoir a couple of times each week and has noticed a slowdown in fishing success. |
| Cutler Reservoir & Marsh 2010-03-11 Unstable ice |
The ice is unstable and unsafe. |
| East Canyon Reservoir & State Park 2010-03-11 Unstable ice |
Park Ranger Jeff Dale reports that the first four feet of ice along the edges is melting and getting slushy. The ice is better once you get out more than four feet from the shore, but is still unstable. Be safe and be prepared on the ice. Anglers report good fishing during the early morning and slow fishing during the day. Fish seem willing to move to shallower depths to take bait, so try rainbow PowerBait. |
| Echo Reservoir 2010-03-11 Good |
Dedicated Hunter Doug Johnson reports good fishing for rainbows. Anglers are catching fish that average 10 to 12 inches. Try using a variety of baits including minnows, PowerBait and white tube jigs with waxworms. You will likely catch smaller fish closer to shore and a few slightly larger fish in deeper water. |
| Farmington Pond 2009-06-10 No recent report |
No recent reports. |
| Holmes Creek Reservoir 2010-02-18 No recent report |
No recent reports. |
| Hyrum Reservoir & State Park 2010-03-04 Good |
Dedicated Hunter Mark Olson reports that anglers had success on the southeast corner of the reservoir by the inlet. Anglers caught many 15-inch rainbows, using green ice flies and green jigs with either wax worms or perch meat. They were in about 12 feet of water and caught the fish two feet off the bottom. Park Ranger Steve Bullock reports that ice conditions are changing due to the warm weather. The ice is about 16 inches thick, but the edges are beginning to melt. The ice is thin and slushy for the first three or four feet just offshore. Use caution when accessing the ice. Fishing continues to be good near the spillway. |
| Jensen Nature Park Pond 2010-03-04 Slow |
Conservation Officer Brandon reports that Jensen Pond received large trout on Feb. 17. There is now a two-fish limit at all community fishing waters. |
| Kaysville Ponds 2010-03-04 Good |
Angler Mike Butson reported good fishing at Kaysville Ponds. |
| Little Creek Reservoir 2009-04-21 No recent report |
No recent reports. |
| Logan River 2010-03-11 Fair |
Watch for hatches on warmer afternoons. |
| Lost Creek Reservoir 2010-03-04 Slow |
Conservation Officer Jonathan Moser reports that the ice is 14 to 16 inches thick. You can access the reservoir with a two-wheel-drive vehicle, but if you want to go to the boat ramp, you should probably have a four-wheel-drive vehicle. The road beyond the impound is snow-covered and ice-packed. Dedicated Hunter Richard Gooch interviewed anglers, but they hadn't had any bites. |
| Mantua Reservoir 2010-03-11 Good |
Anglers report good fishing but there are reports that the slush on top of the ice is getting worse. |
| Mirror Lake 2010-03-11 Slow |
Late winter ice fishing on the Uintas can mean unstable weather and brutal winds. Be prepared for extreme weather. |
| Newton Reservoir 2010-02-12 No recent report |
No recent reports. |
| Ogden River 2010-03-11 Slow |
The water flows are low and clear. |
| Pineview Reservoir 2010-03-11 Unstable ice |
Use caution. We heard an unverified report of someone breaking through the ice in the narrows. |
| Porcupine Reservoir 2010-03-11 Slow |
Dedicated Hunter Kevin Binggeli reports slow success for kokenee salmon with a small white jig at a depth of 20 to 30 feet. If you are willing to wait, fishing close to the dam is yielding good results. |
| Rockport Reservoir 2010-03-11 Good |
Joseph Donnell thinks this is the last week for ice fishing. There is open water around the edges, which is making access very difficult. Get your boats ready. Ice-off is probably only a week or two away. River fishing is great before the spring runoff. |
| Weber River 2010-03-11 Good |
Biologist Pau Thompson reports that fishing is picking up as we get closer to spring. Try streamers in deep holes for trout, and #14 hares ears for browns and whitefish. |
| Willard Bay Reservoir 2010-03-04 Slow |
Fishing is now closed at the inlet near the south Marina. Fishing in this area will reopen at 6 a.m. on the last Saturday of April. |
Back to Top
Central Region report
Information compiled by Scott Root
Central Region Conservation Outreach Manager
Attention: Quagga and zebra mussels are a major threat to Utah waterways. Read how you can help keep them out of Utah.
| Waterbody | Report |
|---|---|
| Burraston Ponds 2010-03-05 Slow |
We have few reports of anglers at the ponds. There is open water and most anglers are using traditional baits and lures. Fishing success is slow to fair. |
| Canyon View Park Pond 2010-02-24 Closed |
Wait until spring to fish here. |
| Deer Creek Reservoir 2010-03-05 Good |
There were some anglers on the reservoir yesterday. Access onto the ice in good in places, but the ice can get soft with the warmer weather. Anglers are still reporting fair to good success week, mostly with bait-tipped jigs or traditional baits. Bring a plank to get on and off the ice, and check the ice thickness carefully. Please use caution. |
| Diamond Fork River 2010-03-05 Slow |
There have only been a few anglers on the river, and they report slow success. There is still some snow along the water but several parking areas are available. Bait is allowed but most anglers prefer using flies. |
| Grantsville Reservoir 2010-03-05 Slow |
There are no recent reports. Last week, Officer Troy Hammond reported that the reservoir has about 50 yards of open water around the perimeter. Old-timers have caught a few nice browns, but they aren't saying how. The ice is not safe. Fishing from shore only. |
| Highland Glen Park 2010-03-05 Slow |
There is open water and slow success. |
| Jordanelle Reservoir 2010-03-05 Unstable ice |
Some anglers are braving the ice and reporting over 12 inches on the north end from Hailstone. Don't fish the Rock Cliff side, there is very little water. Much of the open water is around the dam. The edges are usually weak. It's best to wait for ice off. |
| Kidney Pond 2010-03-05 Slow |
There is open water and slow success. |
| Midas Pond 2010-03-05 Slow |
There is open water and slow success. |
| Mill Hollow Reservoir 2010-02-24 Closed |
According to the media, Highway 35 may be closed or unplowed this year. If you can access the reservoir, use caution and check the ice carefully. There are no new reports this week. |
| Nine Mile Reservoir 2010-03-05 Good |
Success is fair to good through the ice. Try using white jigs tipped with nightcrawlers or jig woolly bugger flies. The fish are usually good-sized: 14 inches and up. The ice is about a foot thick. |
| Palisade Reservoir & State Park 2009-07-02 No recent report |
No recent reports. |
| Payson Lake 2010-02-19 No recent report |
No recent reports. |
| Provo River, Lower 2010-03-05 Good |
Anglers report good success with small (size 20 or smaller) midge imitations. Sow bugs are still effective. |
| Provo River, Middle 2010-03-05 Good |
Midges (size 20 or smaller), sow bugs and small, dark nymphs are working well. There are special regulations on much of the Provo River, see the Utah Fishing Guidebook for more. |
| Salem Pond 2010-03-05 Fair |
Officer Shawn Bagley reports fair success with traditional baits. |
| Settlement Canyon Reservoir 2010-03-05 Slow |
There is no report this week. Officer Troy Hammond reported last week that the ice is 2/3 off. One angler caught two nice fish, and said the fishing is slow but the weather is perfect. The remaining ice is not safe. The ice should be gone within the next week or two. |
| Spanish Oaks Reservoir 2010-03-05 Hot |
Angler Mark called to report great fishing for trout with salmon eggs. He also did well with flies. The gate is now open. |
| Spring Lake 2010-03-05 Unstable ice |
Officer Shawn Bagley reports unsafe ice. Anglers report some success for trout in the open water. |
| Strawberry Reservoir 2010-03-05 Fair |
The edges are still good and the fishing is fair. There are pockets of slush, so it's probably best to skip the ATV. Several parking areas have been plowed, but you can't drive past the Strawberry Marina turnoff. Try fishing with bait tipped jigs. If your success is slow, move locations. There are special regulations for Strawberry. Read the Utah Fishing Guidebook for details. |
| Thistle Creek 2010-03-05 Slow |
There have only been a few anglers on the river, and they report slow success. There is still some snow along the water, but several parking areas are open and available. Bait is allowed, but most anglers prefer using flies. |
| Tibble Fork Reservoir 2010-03-05 Unstable ice |
Stay off the ice. The brown trout spawn has ended and fishing success is slow. |
| Utah Lake 2010-03-05 Fair |
There are large areas of open water. Stay off any remaining ice. The tributaries closed on March 1, and the water level is limiting fishing near the mouth of Spanish Fork River. |
| Vernon Reservoir 2010-03-05 Fair |
There is no recent report. Officer Troy Hammond reported last week that Vernon is still iced over, but that ice depth is uncertain. The ice could still be tick enough to fish, but make sure you check the ice carefully and use caution if you're going to try. |
| Vivian Park Pond 2010-03-05 Fair |
Anglers should stay off the remaining ice. You can see a few fish in the open water. |
| Willow Pond 2010-03-05 Fair |
Officer Roach reports that the pond was recently stocked and is fishing well. The other Salt lake County ponds are also open and fishable, except for Riverton pond which is closed until April 1. The Jordan River is running very high and is not fishable. |
| Yuba Reservoir & State Park 2010-03-05 Slow |
There is no new report this week, but you should expect unstable ice and weak edges. Visit www.stateparks.utah.gov for current conditions. |
Back to Top
Northeastern Region report
Information compiled by Ron Stewart
Northeastern Region Conservation Outreach Manager
Warnings: Several lakes in northeastern Utah may contain quagga and/or zebra mussels. Learn more about these destructive mussels and how to decontaminate your boat.
Whirling disease was found in the northeastern region of the state. Please make sure you clean, dry and sterilize waders, livewells and other fishing gear before venturing to another water.
Cleaning fish: Biologists now believe the disposal of fish parts, especially the head and skeleton, is one of the primary reasons whirling disease has spread to new waters. To avoid moving whirling disease and other undesired organisms, you should clean fish at home and send the parts to a landfill. If that isn't possible, please clean the fish and bury the parts at least 100 yards away from the water's edge. Do not move fish or fish parts from one water to another.
| Waterbody | Report |
|---|---|
| Big Sandwash Reservoir 2010-03-09 Good |
The reservoir has good ice and anglers report fair to good fishing. Remember, when a reservoir is being filled, the ice along the edges may be not be as thick as the ice further out. |
| Brough Reservoir 2010-03-09 Fair |
The reservoir has fishable ice. There are no new reports but fishing should be fair to good. Check the Utah Fishing Guidebook for special regulations. |
| Browne Lake 2010-03-09 Fair |
The lake has ice, but is only accessible by snowmobiles or skis. Watch out for storms. The weather can change very quickly in the Uinta Mountains. The last angler report was for fair fishing with periods of good fishing. |
| Bullock Reservoir 2010-03-09 Slow |
Officers have noticed signs of anglers but there are no recent reports. The ice should be over a foot thick with slow to fair fishing. |
| Calder Reservoir 2010-03-09 Good |
The reservoir has ice and is being accessed mostly by snowmobile. Anglers report fair to good fishing. The area has been receiving more snow during the recent storms, and the snow and snow drifts limit access. Check the Utah Fishing Guidebook for special regulations. |
| Cottonwood Reservoir 2010-03-09 Slow |
There are no new fishing reports from anglers. Fishing has been slow. |
| Crouse Reservoir 2010-03-09 Slow |
We can see signs of anglers but there are no new reports on fishing success. Our last report indicates good fishing for 14- to 16-inch fish. The recent snowstorms have limited access to skis or snowmobiles. |
| Currant Creek Reservoir 2010-03-09 Good |
The lake has good ice and we've heard it was fair to good fishing for cutthroat and tiger trout. The winter conditions are only limiting access to the dam. |
| East Park Reservoir 2010-03-09 Fair |
The reservoir has ice and should have fair to good fishing. Check ice thickness carefully before venturing out as it could be filling—especially along the edges. |
| Flaming Gorge 2010-03-09 Good |
Ice conditions had been improving but the warm weather is starting to melt things a bit. Check the ice carefully before you try to fish. One group of anglers drove onto ice that was over a foot deep, but quickly returned to open water because of a pressure ridge. There has been safe ice from the pipeline northward, with a bit of snow that makes it easier to walk. Most of the Utah portion of the reservoir has ice. The Sheep Creek, Lucerne, Cedar Springs and Mustang Ridge boat ramps are now blocked. Warmer temperatures and wind could change conditions quickly, but, as of the end of last week, launching at a developed ramp wasn't possible. Anglers can help the Flaming Gorge fishery by harvesting their limit of smaller lake trout (the limit is 8 lake trout, once of which can be over 28 inches) and all the burbot they can manage (there is no limit on burbot). The burbot are heavy with eggs right now so the more we can remove the fewer will spawn. Lake trout: Lake trout fishing has been spotty. Some anglers have reported great fishing while others report slow fishing. Two of the conflicting reports came from groups that were fishing in the same place one day apart. Try jigging aggressively to attract fish, then subtly jigging to entice a strike. Most of the hits will be light, so having good line (fluorocarbon or braid) will help you feel the strike and get a good hook-set. Burbot: Burbot fishing is also spotty or good depending on your location. Try targeting rocky points and cliffs near the main channel with depths from 10 to 30 feet. Use just about anything that glows (spoons, tube jigs, curly-tailed jigs, minnow jigs) tipped with some type of bait. Anglers should place their baits close to the bottom and recharge the glow frequently. Anglers commonly catch a fish immediately after re-glowing and dropping a lure. Tip-ups and deadsticked rods can also be effective, but moving around and actively jigging just off the bottom will help you attract and catch fish. Burbot hit during the day, but they become extremely active during the twilight hours. Kokanee salmon: Kokanee fishing is slow this time of year. Despite the millions of kokanee that have been stocked over the last few years, the population remains low because of predation by lake trout and burbot. Anglers should harvest small lake trout and burbot to help the kokanee. Rainbow trout: Ice conditions have stopped boats and have limited anglers to shore fishing in Utah. Check ice carefully before venturing out. Ice fishing success is fair to good for anglers targeting rainbows in Wyoming. Fish are located from the surface to 70 feet deep. Look for schools near cliffs, points and submerged ridges. Try ice flies and jigging lures tipped with mealworms or another bait. |
| Green River below Flaming Gorge dam 2010-03-09 Good |
The daily river flows will fluctuate, so watch the depths of the waters around you. Try fishing with glowbugs (trout egg imitations), scuds, nymphs and small fish imitations. The brown trout spawning run is over, but the redds are still in the riverbed. Try to avoid damaging the eggs if you're wading. Spin anglers should try Rapalas (floating, countdown and husky jerk), spinners, spoons, plastic jigs or black, brown or olive marabou jigs. |
| Matt Warner 2010-03-09 Good |
Anglers reported good fishing before the last big snowfall. Deep snow and drifts are limiting access to skis and snowmobiles. |
| Moose Pond 2010-03-09 Fair |
Fishing should be fair. |
| Pelican Lake 2010-03-09 Good |
Ice anglers report good fishing for bluegill with a fair number of largemouth bass mixed in. Try more active jigging rather than slight movements. Anglers were using small castmasters and other jigging lures in about 15 feet of water. Watch for thin ice along the edges as the lake fills. Temperatures drop quickly after the sun goes down, so be prepared or leave early. Note: This is a watch water for invasive mussels. Be sure to clean and dry fishing, hunting and other equipment exposed to the water, such as decoys, waders, rubber boots and fish finders, both before and after using the reservoir. |
| Red Fleet Reservoir 2010-03-09 Good |
Park managers have closed the main access road to Red Fleet. Anglers may still access the reservoir from the backside but it is more difficult. Fishing is good for rainbows. |
| Starvation Reservoir 2010-03-09 Fair |
Reservoir has good ice and fair fishing for perch and rainbows under the highway, at Rabbit Gulch and at Saleratus Wash. Anglers have also caught a few walleyes. |
| Steinaker Reservoir 2010-03-09 Good |
Anglers report good fishing with some slow times. Morning and late afternoon seem to be the best times to fish. From the strike pattern, fish are moving in schools and are mainly near the bottom. Hits are light, so anglers that let their rod sit with little or no movement are doing the best. Try tipping a small, light-colored jig with bait like a meal or wax worm, salmon eggs or earthworm to improve your catch rate. As the reservoir fills, watch out for weaker ice along the edges. Roughly 13,000 white rainbows were stocked this fall, so don't be surprised if you catch a fish that looks like an albino trout. |
Back to Top
Southeastern Region report
Information compiled by Brent Stettler
DWR Southeast Region Outreach Manager
Attention: Quagga and zebra mussels are a major threat to Utah waterways. Read how you can help keep them out of Utah.
Freeze/thaw cycles: Depending on elevation and weather conditions, lakes and reservoirs may be open or frozen on any given day. Smaller mountain waters generally freeze overnight and thaw by early afternoon. Larger bodies of water are more resistant to the daily freeze/thaw cycles. Unless you plan to fish a large body of water, schedule your fishing trip for the afternoon.
| Waterbody | Report |
|---|---|
| Abajo Mountains 2009-07-02 No recent report |
No recent reports. |
| Cleveland Reservoir 2009-07-02 No recent report |
No recent reports. |
| Duck Fork Reservoir 2009-07-02 No recent report |
No recent reports. |
| Electric Lake 2010-03-11 Slow |
Lieutenant Carl Gramlich fished at the beginning of the month with slow results. His fish-finder showed fish moving through the water column at 10–20 feet with a few on the bottom at 36 feet. Most of the other anglers are having equally poor success. However, one angler pulled several tigers through the ice using yellow PowerBait. |
| Ferron Reservoir 2009-07-02 No recent report |
No recent reports. |
| Gigliotti Pond 2009-07-02 No recent report |
No recent reports. |
| Gooseberry Reservoir 2009-07-02 No recent report |
No recent reports. |
| Huntington Creek 2010-03-11 Good |
On March 9, 2010, Tom Ogden fished below the forks and caught a number of 8- to 10-inch brown trout using floating line and a #12 Montana or #12 serendipity. He also landed one 14-inch cutthroat. |
| Huntington North Reservoir 2009-07-02 No recent report |
No recent reports. |
| Huntington Reservoir 2009-07-02 No recent report |
No recent reports. |
| Joes Valley Reservoir 2010-03-11 Fair |
On March 7, 2010, DWR Biologist Tony Wright fished in Seely Cove in 10 feet of water and caught a fat 22.5-inch splake. He used the back two inches and tail of a small chub, hooked to a light green jighead. A gold attractor was tied about a foot above the jig. Tony believed the chub was the most important element of the end tackle. Anglers need to exercise extreme caution, especially in Seely Creek Cove. There are warm springs on the bottom that have thinned the ice. One ice angler nearly drowned last weekend had it not been for a nearby rescuer.The limit at Joes Valley Reservoir is four trout. Only one may be over 18 inches. |
| La Sal Mountains 2009-07-02 No recent report |
No recent reports. |
| Lower Fish Creek 2009-07-02 No recent report |
No recent reports. |
| Miller Flat Reservoir 2009-07-02 No recent report |
No recent reports. |
| Millsite Reservoir & State Park 2009-07-02 No recent report |
No recent reports. |
| Petes Hole 2009-07-02 No recent report |
No recent reports. |
| Right Fork of Huntington Creek 2009-04-02 No recent report |
No recent reports. |
| Scofield Reservoir 2010-03-11 Good |
One blogger on BigFishTackle.com commented that he fished the west side on March 6, 2010 and had steady action all morning. He used a jighead tipped with a nightcrawler and iced 73-trout. Nine were tiger trout. Cutthroats outnumbered rainbows two to one. The angler didn't mention the size of fish, although 10–12 inch trout have been typical with a few ranging up to 18 inches. Special regulations at Scofield Reservoir are in place. The limit is four fish in the aggregate. No more than two may be cutthroat or tiger trout under 15 inches, and no more than one may be a cutthroat or tiger trout over 22 inches. All cutthroat and tiger trout from 15–22 inches must be immediately released. Trout may not be filleted, and the heads or tails removed in the field or in transit. Any trout with cutthroat markings is considered a cutthroat trout. |
| Straight Canyon Creek 2009-05-14 No recent report |
No recent reports. |
| Willow Lake 2009-06-17 No recent report |
No recent reports. |
| Wrigley Springs Reservoir 2009-07-02 No recent report |
No recent reports. |
Back to Top
Southern Region report
Information compiled by Mike Hadley
DWR Southern Region Aquatics Biologist
Attention: Quagga and zebra mussels are a major threat to Utah waterways. Read how you can help keep them out of Utah.
| Waterbody | Report |
|---|---|
| Baker Reservoir 2010-03-04 Slow |
The water level is low but should rise with the upcoming runoff. Fishing is generally slow. Catchable-sized rainbows will be stocked within the next two weeks and fishing should improve. |
| Barker Reservoirs (North Creek Lakes) 2010-03-04 Slow |
All lakes, except for Barker and Lower Barker reservoirs, are closed to fishing until April. Access is limited by snow so there is little fishing pressure. |
| Beaver Mountain Lakes 2010-03-04 Fair |
You can access more of the lakes with a snowmobile. Fishing pressure is light throughout the winter, with Little Reservoir and Kent's Lake receiving the most pressure. |
| Beaver River, Lower 2010-03-04 Fair |
The ice is gone and water level is low, so fish are easily spooked. There is not much fishing pressure. |
| Beaver River, Upper 2010-03-04 Slow |
The anchor ice is making fishing difficult. The area near the mouth of the canyon is starting to open up. |
| Boulder Mountain 2010-03-04 Fair |
Most of the Boulder Mountain lakes are closed to fishing until April 17. Check the Utah Fishing Guidebook to see which lakes are open year-round. Access is limited to snowmobile. |
| Clear Creek 2010-03-04 Fair |
The lower section in the state park is a little murky with some runoff. You may be able to find water that is more clear upstream above the narrows. |
| Corn Creek 2009-06-25 No recent report |
No recent reports. |
| Duck Creek Pond / Aspen Mirror Lake 2010-02-04 No recent report |
No recent reports. |
| East Fork Sevier River in Kingston Canyon 2010-03-04 Fair |
The ice is gone and the water level is low, so tread lightly to avoid spooking fish. The water is a little murky. |
| East Fork Sevier River, Black Canyon 2010-03-04 Fair |
The river in Black Canyon generally does not freeze over. Trout get sluggish during the winter, but you can still find productive stream fishing throughout the colder months. Try winter tackle like nymphs, spinners and streamers. |
| East Fork Sevier River, Upper 2009-06-25 No recent report |
No recent reports. |
| Enterprise Reservoir, Upper 2010-03-04 Slow |
The ice is starting to melt at the upper reservoir. Depending on the temperatures and wind, there should be enough open water to fish within two weeks. The lower reservoir was drained last fall and will be stocked near the end of March. |
| Fish Lake 2010-03-04 Fair |
Fishing is fair to good. There is a lot of deep snow and slush, so don't bother with an ATV. The ice is still over a foot thick, but you have to dig down to get to it. Fishing pressure is still heavy on the weekends. The slowest fishing is often found in the spots with the most concentrated pressure. Try fishing mornings or late afternoon or evening to get away from the crowds. You can catch small trout and perch in shallow water, around 15 to 20 feet. For larger splake and rainbows move to 30 feet and fish on the bottom, or suspend 20 to 30 feet down over deeper water. Rainbows and perch should hit light-colored jigs or spoons tipped with mealworms, wax worms or night crawlers. For splake, try tipping your jigs with perch meat. The bite can often be light so a spring bobber can be handy. (Perch will also hit a jig tipped with perch meat.) Anglers are catching small lake trout at depths of 80 to 95 feet with large tube jigs tipped with fish meat. Catching large lake trout is rare and requires a lot of patience. A few anglers are leaving perch on the ice. Note: This is wasting and is illegal. It is important that anglers harvest perch at Fish Lake, but not at the expense of the law. If you're not going to take the fish home, please release them. |
| Forsyth Reservoir 2010-03-04 Slow |
Fishing is generally slow. Anglers are catching a few nice splake and tigers with white jigs. Try tipping your jig with fish meat or a piece of minnow. |
| Fremont River 2010-03-04 Fair |
The road from Mill Meadow to Fish Lake is not plowed. Winter fishing can be fair to good in the Bicknell Bottoms. |
| Gunlock Reservoir 2009-06-25 No recent report |
No recent reports. |
| Iron County Community Fisheries 2010-03-04 Slow |
Rainbow trout will be stocked in Parowan Pond around mid-March. Leigh Hill Reservoir in Cedar City will open to fishing on July 1, 2010. |
| Johnson Reservoir 2009-06-25 No recent report |
No recent reports. |
| Kolob Reservoir 2010-03-04 Fair |
Access is limited to snowmobile. There is little ice fishing pressure because of the poor access. The ice fishing can be good, if you can get to the reservoir. |
| Koosharem Reservoir 2009-06-25 No recent report |
No recent reports. |
| Lower Bowns Reservoir 2010-02-04 No recent report |
No recent reports. |
| Mammoth Creek 2010-02-04 No recent report |
No recent reports. |
| Mill Meadow Reservoir 2010-03-04 Hot |
The ice is still thick with solid edges and not much slush. Perch fishing is excellent, despite the fishing pressure and harvest rate. Try small jigs tipped with nightcrawlers, mealworms or perch meat. Target depths of 15 to 25 feet and fish right on the bottom. Most perch are pretty small, but anglers are catching enough to fill their limit of fish over eight inches. Anglers are encouraged to harvest perch to help the population stay in balance with the available food. Remember that the perch limit has been increased to 50. Anglers have also caught a few browns and splake. |
| Minersville Reservoir 2010-03-04 Fair |
The ice is getting soft around the edges and thinner all over. Open water should appear very shortly. Ice-off will likely occur within a few weeks, depending on temperatures and wind. Remember that the use or possession of bait, including scented lures, is prohibited at Minersville Reservoir. |
| Monroe Mountain Lakes 2009-06-25 No recent report |
No recent reports. |
| Navajo Lake 2010-03-04 Good |
There is plenty of ice. Access is limited to snowmobile. Anglers report good fishing for splake. Try light-colored jigs or flashy spoons tipped with half a minnow or cutbait (like chub or sucker). |
| Newcastle Reservoir 2010-03-04 Slow |
The edges of the ice are starting to open up. There is quite a bit of open water at the upper end. One angler reports no success fishing in the open water. Expect complete ice-off within a couple of weeks, depending on temperatures and wind. |
| Otter Creek Reservoir & State Park 2010-03-04 Slow |
The ice is still pretty thick, but getting very soft and slushy around the edges. Ice fishing will be over shortly, though it has been slow lately anyway. Open water fishing should begin within the next two or three weeks. Expect complete ice-off by the end of the month. |
| Panguitch Lake 2010-03-04 Slow |
There are no recent reports, but recent access conditions were poor with lots of snow and thick ice. Remember that cutthroat and tiger trout 15 to 22 inches must be released. For help with fish identification, download the identification guide at wildlife.utah.gov/trout.pdf. |
| Paragonah Reservoir 2010-03-04 Fair |
The snow is too deep for anything but snowmobiles. Ice fishing can be good, if you can get there. |
| Pine Lake 2010-03-04 Fair |
Access is limited by snow. Ice fishing can be good, if you can get there. |
| Piute Reservoir 2010-03-04 Slow |
The lake is almost full and water is now being released to accommodate the upcoming runoff. Fishing has been slow lately, with anglers catching only a few small fish. The upper end of the reservoir has a lot of open water. Safe ice conditions will be gone soon and open water fishing should begin within the next two to three weeks. The ice should be off by the end of the month. |
| Quail Lake 2010-03-04 Fair |
Trout fishing is slow to fair. Bass fishing pick up as the water warms into the 50s over the next month. Bass fishing should really turn on in April when the temperature hits 60. For coldwater bass, make sure you fish during the warmest part of the day. A very slow retrieve is key. Dead-sticking is often the best technique. Many bass anglers prefer drop-shot rigs in the winter, but don't be afraid to use larger plastics or even hardware. |
| Sand Hollow Reservoir 2010-03-04 Slow |
The water temperature is in the mid- to upper-40s. Bass fishing pick up as the water warms into the 50s over the next month. Bass fishing should really turn on in April when the temperature hits 60. For coldwater bass, make sure you fish during the warmest part of the day. A very slow retrieve is key. Dead-sticking is often the best technique. Many bass anglers prefer drop-shot rigs in the winter, but don't be afraid to use larger plastics or even hardware. |
| Sevier River in Marysvale Canyon 2010-03-04 Slow |
Piute Reservoir is almost full and water is now being released to accommodate the upcoming runoff. Flows in Marysvale Canyon are high and turbid, which is making fishing difficult. |
| Thousand Lake Mountain 2010-03-04 Fair |
Access is limited, with best access from I-70. Ice fishing can be good to excellent in Solomon Basin. |
| Tropic Reservoir 2010-02-18 No recent report |
No recent reports. |
| Washington County Community Fisheries 2010-03-04 Fair |
All community fisheries have a new limit of 2 fish, in any combination of species. (For example: two trout, or one trout and 1 bluegill, or 2 bluegill, etc.) Rainbow trout will be stocked in every ponds one more time in mid-March. The Southern Utah Anglers and the DWR will be holding the annual St. George Kids Fishing Derby at the Tawa Ponds on Saturday, April 10. Volunteers will be on hand to help kids rig up and catch fish. Prizes will also be given out. Fishing poles and gear will be provided, but kids can bring their own gear if they have it. The event will run from 8 a.m. to about 3 p.m. |
| Wide Hollow Reservoir 2010-03-04 Closed |
The reservoir has been drained so that the dam can be rebuilt. It will be filled again in 2011. |
| Yankee Meadow Reservoir 2010-03-04 Slow |
Access is limited to snowmobile. Fishing is slow. |
Back to Top
Lake Powell report
Information compiled by Wayne Gustaveson, www.wayneswords.com
Attention: Quagga and zebra mussels are a major threat to Utah waterways. Read how you can help keep them out of Utah.
| Waterbody | Report | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Powell 2010-03-09 Fair |
Lake elevation: 3,619 feet Water temperatures: 49–51°F My optimism and great expectations for fishing success in 2010 was given a boost when an angler caught a big striper on March 2. Dale Barsness from Duck Creek, Utah was casting for stripers in Navajo Canyon using a deep diving Norman DD22 lure in 20 feet of murky water. Dale and his friend Bart found a school of willing 4-pound stripers and quickly caught 40 fish during the hour that the school was active. Of the 40 fish, they kept 20 to eat and released the rest.
The exciting news is that Dale brought in a 36-inch striper that he estimated to weigh 15 to 20 pounds. (Unfortunately, Dale could not get an accurate reading on his handheld scale. From my personal experience with Lake Powell striped bass, that length equates to a weight of 16 to 18 pounds.) Dale had caught enough fish to eat, so he took a picture with the big fish and released it so that it can grow some more. The question now becomes, how big will this fish be the next time it's caught? The big fish was swimming with a school of smaller stripers. The pattern is typical for spring at Lake Powell, so try targeting murky water with a bottom depth of 20 to 30 feet. Murky water warms faster than clear water. With the storm fronts that move through each week in March, you should fish on warm afternoons without wind. Cold blooded fish respond quickly to a warm spot. They feel the warmth and stay in the warmer water for as long as possible. Sun beating on a rock wall also warms the water and draws fish. Wind, though, mixes the water and displaces any warming that has occurred. Seek out protected canyons with minimal wind for best results. Enjoy the moment when you locate a school of stripers and maybe one of the fish will be larger than the rest. Forage populations have been high the past few years, so anglers will likely catch more big striped bass in 2010. You can catch largemouth bass on the same pattern and with the same strategy. The difference is that the largemouth bass will be in the brush near the wall, while striped bass will be over the submerged creek channel. Both species, though, prefer warmer, protected zones of colored water that are out of the wind. So find a flat rock with direct southern exposure that could collect heat from the sun and transmit that into the water. Use a thermometer to fine tune your fishing experience. The main channel temperature is now near 50 degrees. For best results, seek a warm cove with water temperatures over 53 degrees. But don't neglect the main channel. Smallmouth bass are in the depths seeking stable temperatures, but will move up into the shallows when the afternoon sun warms the clear water in a shallow crack or small inlet in the cliffs. Fishing success this week will follow the water temperature. The warm days will bring good fishing. Colder days will require a good angler to make the fish bite. Either way, you'll have fun when you're surrounded by beautiful Lake Powell. |
