June 3 DWR Fishing Report - Pages 10 - 18

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

LAKE POWELL * updated June 2

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

The lake elevation is 3,587 M.S.L. and the water temperature is 68 - 72 F.

Launching access is superb now with all extended ramps under water.  Wahweap ramps including Stateline, Main Ramp and Antelope Point, plus Bullfrog and Halls Crossing are all in operation. The only ramp not open is the new Bullfrog ramp for larger vessels. Boating access is the best it has been for a long time. Antelope Point ramp offers the shortest ride in the narrow channel when going uplake from the south end and makes it a much shorter and therefore more enjoyable trip.  

Stripers are very catchable but the pattern is quite specific. This is a lakewide pattern.   Many scattered schools of stripers are found roaming the main channel and main canyon.  They go deep to rest but come up to feed on shad and crayfish on adjacent rocky points and ledges.  Each morning and evening the band of fish stage on certain feeding points near deep water.  Since the exact point holding the vagabond school is unknown; and it may be a different point each time, it is necessary to try all possible points.  That is not as hard as it seems.  Troll a shad imitating bait (shad rap, thunderstick, rattletrap, wally diver) across a main point protruding into the channel.  Start 100 yards from the point and troll 100 yards past the point.  If no fish hit then move to the next point.  DO NOT TROLL LONG DISTANCES BETWEEN POINTS.  Adult stripers will be found ON THE POINT.  When a striper hits make repeated passes back and forth across the productive point until the fish quit biting.  By selecting points in this manner fishing time is maximized.  Points can be revisited after they rest for an hour. More fish can be caught each time a point is revisited. Soon a series of points holding fish that day is known and a trolling circuit allows the catch total to accumulate to large numbers by the end of the day. 

Troll between 3 and 3.5 mph.  Let out at least 100 feet of line.  Use planer boards to get the bait away from the prop wash and allow a third line to be trolled behind the boat. When a fish is hooked other anglers should reel their baits past hungry schoolmates. Double and triple catches are common as the school reacts to one fish biting by looking for something to eat. Have a rod ready with a rattletrap or spoon to cast to fish following the troll-hooked striper.

Night fishing is hot right now at Bullfrog.  Just fish from the relocated Hite marina dock tied to the Bullfrog breakwater.  Put a light in the water. Use a small crappie jig tipped with a tiny piece of anchovy to catch all of the 12-14 inch stripers you can clean.  No better eating fish swims in the lake.  Harvesting these little stripers will help allocate limited shad supplies to more game fish.  Keep all the little stripers to prolong shad life and make BOIL fishing better this fall. Oh, yes!  Bigger stripers hit, too, but the little ones keep you awake all night long.    

Bass are moving to summer patterns meaning that rocky points, reefs and shoals are getting better.  Fish plastic tubes and grubs on the deep breaking edge where visible yellow rock blurs into deep blue water.  Top water baits are good for the first and last hours of daylight. 

Walleye are caught by striper trollers and by bass casters.  Using a worm as a trailer on the terminal bait will increase walleye catch rate. Don't be surprised to catch any aggressive bass, striper, sunfish or catfish on worms.  Expect walleye catch rate to be higher in the lake upstream from Bullfrog than downstream. 


SOUTHERN REGION - updated June 1
   
BAKER RESERVOIR:   Reservoir level is dropping.  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.

BARKER RESERVOIRS, NORTH CREEK LAKES: Barker Reservoir and Lower Barker Reservoir are located at the head of the North Creek drainage northwest of the town of Escalante.  The two reservoirs are accessible by road.  Eight other smaller reservoirs and ponds are located in the area and are accessible by 1/4 to 2 mile hikes from the Barkers.  The Barkers are now accessible by vehicle and the ice is off the higher lakes in the area.  The Barkers will be stocked with catchable rainbow trout this week.  Try jigs, spinners or bait from shore.  Dougherty Basin Lake is closed to fishing until July 11.

BEAVER MOUNTAIN LAKES: Access is possible to all the lakes.  Little Reservoir and Kent's Lake have been stocked with catchable size rainbows; the higher elevation lakes will be stocked soon.  Fishing has been fair at Little Reservoir with rainbow trout and a few nice brown trout taken. 

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 may still limit access to higher lakes, but snow levels are decreasing rapidly.  Ice is gone off most lakes.  The gates on the road to the top are scheduled to be opened on June 15.   A black marabou jig is a standard lure to try.  Bait and wooly bugger / leech patterns or scud fly pattens will also work.  Special regulations on many of the Boulder Mountain waters include a trout limit of 4 of which only 2 may be over 14 inches.  There is a bonus limit of an additional 4 brook trout (total limit of 8 trout if at least 4 are brook trout.  The bonus limit is intended to reduce numbers of brook trout at waters where they reproduce naturally and may become too numerous to maintain good growth and condition.  Check the proclamation to see where the bonus limit applies.

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 but has been relatively clear.  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 and have been stocked with catchable rainbow trout.  Try powerbait or worms from shore. 

EAST FORK OF THE SEVIER RIVER:   The river in Black Canyon has dropped and cleared.  Some trout are present in the area near Osiris Mill and above. Try caddis or hopper patterns or small spinners.  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): Reservoir levels are 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:   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:   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: Most of the area is now accessible.  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:  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 now possible from both the south side from the town of Virgin and from the north via Cedar Canyon.  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.  There have been some hatches of midges with trout feeding actively at the surface at times.  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:  There are fair numbers of 12-13 inch rainbows in the reservoir.  Try casting wooly buggers, jigs, or spinners near shore. Tremendous midge hatches at times.  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.
  
MONROE MOUNTAIN LAKES: Annabella, Deep, and Big lakes have been stocked with catchable rainbow trout.  Try powerbait from shore.  Manning Meadow Reservoir and Barney Lake should be accessible by vehicle soon, but Manning Meadow is closed to fishing until July 11; Barney is open to fishing but the trout limit is 2 and fishing if limited to artificial flies and lures only. 

NAVAJO LAKE:   The lake is up to the top of the dike.  One Forest Service campground and the lodge are open.  Stocking of catchable rainbow trout has begun.  There are also a few brook trout which carried over the winter.   Try trolling about anything or powerbait from shore for the rainbows; nightcrawlers or bugger/leech patterns for the brookies.

NEWCASTLE RESERVOIR:  Slow fishing for rainbow trout.  Water temps are in the sixties and smallmouth are on beds.  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: Good fishing in the morning and evenings.  Mostly fat 12-13 inch rainbows, with an occasional larger fish.  Also good from shore using powerbait or worm and marshmallow combination.  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 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.  Good hatches of midges in the evenings.  Try a Griffiths gnat or emerger pattern.   
 
PINE LAKE:   The lake is down about 4 ft.  Most of the trout were lost this past winter due to winter kill.  The lake has been restocked with  catchable-sized rainbow trout.  Try power bait or worms from shore.  Damsels fly or leech patterns will work for fly fishers.

PINE VALLEY RESERVOIR: Stocking of rainbow trout has begun.  Try bait or spinners from shore.  There are also some brook trout. 

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:  Bass are now in shallow and success has improved.  Try plastic baits, crayfish crankbaits or spinner baits.  Success has also been reported for both rainbow trout and bluegill.  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.  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: Tributaries and main stream have been clear.  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 hopper or caddis patterns or small 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.  Woods Pond west of Cedar City has also been stocked.

WIDE HOLLOW RESERVOIR: Reservoir at Escalante State Park west of the town of Escalante.  The reservoir level is dropping.  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: Fair fishing for rainbow, cutthroat and brook trout.  Try spinners or bait from shore.  The inlet channel is closed to fishing.


Help Prevent the Spread of Whirling Disease

        Thanks to a number of factors, including preventative efforts by anglers, Myxobolus cerebralis, the parasite that causes whirling disease in salmonids (trout, salmon, whitefish, grayling) is found in relatively few waters in Utah.

        Anglers can help contain the disease by following a few simple procedures, outlined in the Division of Wildlife Resources Whirling Disease and Utah Trout: What Utah Anglers Need To Know brochure:

* Don't dispose of fish heads, skeletons or entrails in any body of water.  Fish parts should be disposed of in the garbage, by deep burying or by total burning.

* Don't transport live fish between bodies of water.  This practice could spread disease and is strictly illegal.

* Clean all equipment of mud (boats, trailers, waders, boots, float tubes and fins) before leaving your fishing water.  Thoroughly dry equipment in the sun, if possible, before reuse.  If you are traveling directly to other waters, clean your equipment with a strong solution of chlorine bleach or use another set of equipment.

* If you observe the symptoms of whirling disease in fish (various deformities of the head, twisted spines, a black tail or fish swimming in whirling motions), or if you observe illegal fish stocking, contact your local DWR conservation officer or call the DWR's poaching hotline at 1-800-662-3337.

        Anglers are strongly encouraged to follow these procedures when fishing at the following waters, which staff at the DWR's Fisheries Experiment Station report have tested positive for the whirling disease parasite:

*	FREMONT RIVER, SPRING CREEK, UM CREEK
*	MILL MEADOW RESERVOIR
*	FORSYTH RESERVOIR
*	JOHNSON VALLEY RESERVOIR
*	OTTER CREEK
*	OTTER CREEK RESERVOIR
*	MINERSVILLE RESERVOIR
*	BEAVER RIVER (TRIBUTARY TO MINERSVILLE RES.)
*	ROCKPORT RESERVOIR
*	PORCUPINE RESERVOIR
*	LITTLE BEAR RIVER
*	HYRUM RESERVOIR
*	CAUSEY RESERVOIR
*	SOUTH FORK OGDEN RIVER (CAUSEY TO PINEVIEW)
*	BLACKSMITH FORK RIVER (LOWEST PART OF RIVER, AT MOUTH OF CANYON BELOW ABANDONED DAM)
*	SPRING CREEK AREA (COLLEGE WARD, CACHE COUNTY)
*	WEBER RIVER
*	LOST CREEK (TRIBUTARY TO WEBER RIVER)
*	EAST CANYON CREEK (TRIBUTARY TO WEBER RIVER)
*	BEAVER CREEK (TRIBUTARY TO WEBER RIVER, NEAR KAMAS)

        For a free copy of Whirling Disease and Utah Trout: What Utah Anglers Need To Know, call the DWR's Aquatic Education section at (801) 538-4769 or visit the nearest DWR regional office, DWR fish hatchery or USDA Forest Service office.

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