Fishing Report for Southeastern Utah

By By

GENERAL- In southeastern Utah, all popular lakes, reservoirs and streams have been stocked. Many waters have already received their total annual allotment of fish from the hatcheries, due to concerns about drought and reservoir dewatering later this summer. Presently, fishing conditions are good and water levels are satisfactory. The July 4 holiday weekend may be the best time this summer to wet a line!
BENCHES RESERVOIR- This reservoir has been planted with its total summer allotment of 4,800 catchable-size rainbow trout. Fishing was fair over the weekend. Suggested end tackle includes chartreuse or rainbow PowerBait. Gold Jake’s Spin-a-Lures have also been effective. Fly fishers should try brown leeches.
BLUE MOUNTAINS- Blanding #3 was stocked with a total of 3,000 rainbow trout this spring, but won’t be restocked again this summer due to concerns about the reservoir drying up. Blanding #3 continues to be fair for rainbow trout, using PowerBait. Fishing is better in the early morning or evening. Recapture Reservoir is good for northern pike, which are being caught with spinners from the shore or crankbaits from boats. Most pike will be found in 10-15 feet of water in the deeper parts of the reservoir. Rainbow trout fishing at Recapture has been slow. Foy Reservoir has been good with traditional baits and spinners. Both Foy and Monticello reservoirs were planted with 4,500 catchable-size rainbow trout early this month.
BOULGERS RESERVOIR- The reservoir’s full annual allotment of 4,800 9-10 inch fish has been planted. Refer to “Benches Reservoir” for tackle recommendations.
CLEVELAND RESERVOIR- The reservoir has been planted with 4,000 catchable-size rainbow trout. No further stocking will occur this year, due to concerns about the reservoir drying up. Wildfire Power Nuggets have been effective. Fly fishing has been fair with red or chartreuse crystal buggers.
DUCK FORK RESERVOIR- Duck Fork has no fish at this time. Later this summer, Duck Fork will be stocked with small tiger trout and Colorado River cutthroat trout. The tiger trout are expected to be large enough to catch in 2004.
ELECTRIC LAKE- The water level remains stable. Outflow is six cubic feet per second (cfs) and will remain so through the summer. The boat ramp on the north end is about one half mile away from the reservoir pool. Small craft can be hand-carried to the water. Bank anglers have had fair success on the north end with a night crawler tipped with a floating chartreuse Power Egg. Fly fishers have had fair success using brown leeches or red crystal buggers. This year, the limit on fish at Electric Lake is four trout which may be taken on any type of bait, lure or fly. Tributaries are closed until July 12. When tributaries open, the limit will be two trout, but artificial flies and lures must be used.
FERRON RESERVOIR- The reservoir has been stocked with 3,000 9-10 inch rainbow trout. There are carry-over trout from last year and an abundant population of brook trout. Try a worm or fly and bubble combination. The trout limit is four. However, anglers may take a bonus limit of four brook trout in addition to the normal trout limit. All tributaries are closed until July 12th.
GIGLIOTTI POND- The pond water level continues to drop. Trout fishing has been slow. No more trout will be stocked this summer. Two weeks ago, the Castle Country Bass masters worked with the DWR to catch 210 bluegill and 24 largemouth bass from Red Fleet Reservoir for stocking at the Gigliotti Pond. Remember that the pond is catch and release only for both bluegill and bass. The trout limit is four fish. Dave Babcock of the bass club suggests that anglers fish near the trees (and underwater structure) for both bass and bluegill. He recommends a small plastic white grub, tipped with a small piece of worm 2-3 feet below a bubble.
GOOSEBERRY RESERVOIR- The reservoir has been filling up. The reservoir’s summer allotment of 6,400 9-10 inch rainbow trout has already been planted. Try night crawlers for the cutthroat and chartreuse PowerBait for rainbow trout. Fishing success has been fair to good. Fly fishermen should try a double renegade or red or olive crystal bugger. All tributaries are closed until July 12.
GRASSY TRAIL RESERVOIR- The reservoir is closed to fishing in 2003.
GREEN RIVER GOLF COURSE PONDS- The limit is four fish in the aggregate for all species.
HUNTINGTON CREEK- The water is running low (six cfs) and clear from Electric Lake dam to the Forks of the Huntington, where the water becomes turbid and more than doubles in volume. Fishing in the upper reaches has been tough. Trout are wary and have been holding in deeper pools. A dark leech or wooly bugger is recommended. On the right fork (from Flood and Engineer’s Canyon upstream to Electric Lake) only artificial flies may be used and the trout limit is two. Todd Munford of Big Pine Sports in Fairview reported good fishing on the left fork for anglers willing to hike. Todd suggests using a #16 beadhead pheasant tail, prince nymph, or a #12-14 royal wulff on the surface with a dropper consisting of a #16-18 disco midge or copper john. On the left fork, only artificial flies and lures may be used. The harvest of brown trout is encouraged.
HUNTINGTON GAME FARM POND- Fishing is slow. No more fish will be stocked until next May.
HUNTINGTON NORTH RESERVOIR- Trout fishing has been slow. No more trout will be stocked until October. Largemouth bass fishing has been fair to good for those with the gear and know-how to catch them. In 2003, the bass limit is two; all largemouth bass over 12 inches must be immediately released.
HUNTINGTON RESERVOIR (near the top of Huntington Canyon)- Although low for this time of year, the water level is satisfactory. Tiger trout range between 12-17 inches and have gone into deeper water (14-18 feet). Todd Munford of Big Pine Sports in Fairview reports fair shoreline fishing on the eastside.