May 13 DWR Fishing Report - Pages 9 - 15

["Mark Hadley" <markhadley at utah dot gov>]

LAKE POWELL * updated May 12

	Wayne Gustaveson, DWR Lake Powell project leader, provides the following report:

The lake elevation is 3,583 M.S.L. and the water temperature is 62 - 67 F.

Runoff has started.  The lake is beginning to rise, which is good news for those waiting for launch ramps to get back into full operation. Expect all launch ramps to have enough flooded concrete for great access by Memorial Day or before.

Rising water spells the end to sight fishing for spawning bass.  As water marches higher the shoreline moves away from stationary bass nests leaving them far from shore. While male bass still linger the nest is no longer readily visible and sight fishing is no more.  You just have to fish for bass again. Females move to feeding stations near rock structure.  The breaking edge of rocks will become better bass-catching habitat and shallow sand will decline in importance.  This will be a gradual transition over the next two weeks.

I really like fishing this time of year as many species of fish are moving and searching for food in the same areas.  It is often possible to catch bass, stripers, sunfish, crappie, walleye and catfish using the same lure on a single stretch of shoreline.  Single or double-tail plastic grubs, and/or shad imitating crank baits are extremely effective for very aggressive game fish. 

During this year of abundant shad perhaps the most important key is the shad spawn. All game fish are searching for shad, which spawn at first light in the backs of canyons and coves around floating debris and shoreline vegetation.  Shad eggs are adhesive and stick to the first object touched after fertilization.  The shad spawn dominates all other variables and is the best key for finding game fish.  Target the ends of canyons that contain off-colored water and show rooted brush or wind-rowed tumbleweeds.  Be there at first light and enjoy the spectacle for the first two hours of daylight.  Be prepared for a decline in activity from 7-10 AM.  Normally productive fishing hours find game fish finished chasing shad and quite dormant.  It may be afternoon or evening before shad-eating fish become active again.  

Striped bass are the ultimate shad-seekers. Expect to find stripers herding shad as the predawn morning sky lightens. Top water and shallow running shad baits are very effective early on adults.  Stripers feed quickly and efficiently on spawning shad.  Big stripers will be obvious as they roll, splash and chase from 5-7 AM (MST) and almost invisible after that time.  They become active again at dusk especially on warm calm nights when striper spawning may occur.

Young stripers have become active and will save the day.  They can be caught all day long in the same shallow murky water where shad spawn. Find them by trolling and casting vibrating shad baits like rattletraps. Once located a school is quite stationary and multiple stripers can be caught from each school. While yearlings are only 12 inches long they are perhaps the most voracious predators of young shad.  They eat thousands of shad larvae and may even boil on small shad during the next two weeks.  Catch and keep as many young stripers as possible. That will allow newly hatched shad to grow larger and provide more forage for the many adult bass and stripers that comprise the majority of game fish this spring.


SOUTHERN REGION - updated May 11
   
BAKER RESERVOIR:   Reservoir level is good.  The lake has been stocked with catchable-sized rainbow trout.  Fishing has been fair.  Try powerbait or worms from shore.  Trolling about anything will also work.

BEAVER MOUNTAIN LAKES: Access is possible as far as Kents Lake in the South Fork drainage, but not to Anderson Meadow or Labaron yet. The ice is off Puffer.  Fishing has been fair at Little Reservoir with a few nice brown trout taken.  Most of the lakes will be stocked around the end of the month.   

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 still limits access to higher lakes, but snow levels are decreasing rapidly.  Ice is gone on some of the lower lakes but higher lakes still have some ice.  The road to the top generally remains closed until some time in June.  Ice out is a popular time to catch some nice brook trout.  A black marabou jig is a standard lure to try.

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 and has had some turbidity due to runoff.   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.  Fishing will be slow until normal summer stocking begins later in May.

EAST FORK OF THE SEVIER RIVER:   The river in Black Canyon has been high and turbid.  Releases from Tropic Reservoir have ended so conditions could improve depending upon runoff from other tributaries.  Some trout are present in the area near Osiris Mill and above. 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 4 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 2 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):  The reservoirs are gaining some water but are still low.  Catchable size rainbow trout have been stocked in the lower reservoir.  Fishing has been 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:   The ice is gone.  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 ft 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 2 of your 4 trout limit may be lake trout and only 1 may be a lake trout larger than 20 inches.  
					
FORSYTH  RESERVOIR:   The ice is off. 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: Snow still limits access to the Gooseberry lakes, Seven Mile and U M Creek, but conditions are changing rapidly.  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 - 4 bass under 10 inches and 2 over 20 inches. 

JOHNSON RESERVOIR: Ice is gone.  The lake is accessible from Fish Lake.  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 UDWR office with some details.

KOLOB RESERVOIR:  Access is possible from the south side, still inaccessible from the north.  The snow is going fast so access may be possible soon from the north.  Fishing has slowed somewhat, but anglers are still taking 14-18 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.  Special regulations include artificial flies and lures only, with a limit of 1 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 has been trolling. Please prevent the spread of WHIRLING DISEASE.  DO NOT TRANSPORT any parts of fish caught here to other waters.

MINERSVILLE RESERVOIR: Open water.  There are fair numbers of 12-13 inch rainbows in the reservoir.  Try casting wooly buggers, jigs, or spinners near shore. 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.
  
NAVAJO LAKE:   The ice is off.  No fishing reports yet.  The lake will be stocked with catchable rainbow trout by the end of the month. 

NEWCASTLE RESERVOIR: Open water.  Slow fishing for rainbow trout.  Water temps are in the low sixties and smallmouth have been staged off shore in 10-15 ft of water but should be moving on beds soon.  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: Fishing has improved with warmer temps.  Good for mostly 12 inch rainbows with a few larger fish up to 3 lbs.  Trolling has been working best.  A worm and marshmallow combination has been working well for stillfishers or shore anglers.  Please prevent the spread of WHIRLING DISEASE.  DO NOT TRANSPORT any parts of fish caught here to other waters.

PANGUITCH LAKE: Fishing has been slow for mainly 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.   
 
PINE LAKE: The lake is accessible by vehicle.  The ice is off.  The lake is down about 4 ft.  Most of the trout were lost this past winter due to winter kill.  The lake will be stocked some time this week with catchable-sized rainbow trout.  Try power bait or worms from shore.

PINE VALLEY RESERVOIR: The ice is off.  You can try for some of the brookies that hold over through the winter but normal stocking of catchable size rainbow trout won't start until later in May.

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:  The lake is low but rising.  Bass are now in shallow and success has improved.  Try plastic baits, crayfish crankbaits or spinner baits.  Some success for rainbow trout reported.  Remember the special regulations for bass - 4 bass under 10 inches and 2 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 along the darker lava rock dikes or shallow bays where the water warms in the afternoons on sunny days.  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 4 bass under 10 inches and 2 over 20 inches. 

SEVIER RIVER, ASAY CREEK, MAMMOTH CREEK:  Flows and turbidity in the upper tributaries (Asay Creek and Mammoth Creek) will vary from day to day as snow melts.  The upper tributaries have been up and colored this past weekend.  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 nymph patterns or spinners. Whirling disease has been 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 has been 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 2 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 has been stocked with catchable size rainbows and has been good fishing with powerbait or worms.  Rainbow trout have also been stocked at the Parowan Pond. 

WIDE HOLLOW RESERVOIR: Reservoir at Escalante State Park west of the town of Escalante.  The reservoir is near full and the boat ramp is usable.  Fishing has been good for 10-12 inch rainbows using spinners from the bank.  Bass have been moving in shallow on warmer days.

YANKEE MEADOW RESERVOIR: The reservoir is accessible by truck.  The ice is off.  A popular spot at ice-out for brook trout and rainbow trout.  There are also good numbers of cutthroat present now.  Try spinners or bait from shore.  The inlet channel is closed to fishing.



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