Fishing Report

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“Due to drought conditions, many of our streams currently have extremely low flows,” reports Louis Berg, DWR Regional Aquatics Manager. “Pondtown Creek (tributary to Scofield Reservoir), Upper Gooseberry Creek (tributary to Gooseberry Reservoir), and Upper Huntington/Boulger (tributaries to Electric Lake) are examples. Many of the fish in these waters have been or probably will be lost.”
On Aug. 14, the daily trout limit at Electric Lake in Emery County was increased to eight fish. The restriction, which required anglers to use artificial flies and lures only, was removed. The new limit and removal of tackle restrictions will remain in effect through Dec. 31. On Jan. 1, the regulations set by the Utah Wildlife Board for 2003 will become effective.
“A fish kill is in progress at Wrigley Springs Reservoir, ” states Louis Berg, DWR Regional Aquatics Manager. “Live fish are lethargic and probably not very willing to bite. The same situation occurred last year, over an extended period, and resulted in an almost complete kill of fish in the lake. Anglers who catch fish here should keep them (a legal limit), rather than releasing them to be wasted.”
Abajo Mountains.Foy Reservoir continues to provide good fishing with PowerBait. Lures are also working in the morning and evening. Morning and evening fishing has been good at Monticello Reservoir, where the limit has been raised to eight fish, until Nov. 1. PowerBait is the most effective offering. Spinners work in the morning and evening. Fishing is fair with PowerBait at Blanding #3. Recapture Reservoir offers fair trout fishing with PowerBait. At Recapture, the daily bag and possession limit has been doubled for all game fish until Nov. 1. The daily bag and possession limits for all game fish have also been doubled at Lloyds Lake until Nov. 1, due to low water conditions and expected loss of fish.
Benchs Pond. Fishing has been slow from mid-morning until late afternoon. We recommend that anglers use dry flies in the early morning and evening. Baits have not been very effective.
Blue Lake. Access is walk-in or by ATV. The lake was not stocked this year.
Boulger Pond. Fishing has been slow with baits. Try dry flies in the early morning or evening.
Cleveland Reservoir.The daily bag and possession limits have been raised to 8 fish until November 1st. Anglers are encouraged to harvest the fish before the reservoir drains. Fishing has been fair for anglers using PowerBait or worms.
Duck Fork Reservoir. Anglers are harvesting good numbers of fish. Cutthroat trout are averaging about 16 inches and tiger trout about 10 inches. Worms appear to be the best bait. The new daily bag limit is 16 fish. Anglers may use any legal bait, lure or fly pattern. Lots of fish remain to be caught before the rotenone treatment project in mid-September. The shoreline is somewhat muddy but still accessible. Beginning Oct. 1, harvest of cutthroat trout will be prohibited to protect newly stocked Colorado River cutthroat trout. Tackle restrictions requiring the use of artificial flies or lures will also take effect at that time.
Electric Lake. “An emergency change in fishing regulations has been made at Electric Lake,” remarks Louis Berg. “This lake is expected to become empty in February. Anglers may now take a limit of 8 fish and may use any legal bait. Formerly the limit was two fish and anglers were required to use artificial flies or lures. The changes, intended to help prevent the wasting of fish, will remain in effect until Jan. 1.”
Ferron Reservoir. Little pressure and generally slow fishing conditions. Anglers are encouraged to harvest the illegally introduced brook trout, which may eventually overpopulate the lake, resulting in small fish in poor condition.
Gigliotti PondI. The DWR hopes to have the repairs completed and the pond refilled before the end of the year. The trout limit is eight, the largemouth bass limit is six, and the bluegill limit is 50. On Sept. 1, limits and restrictions identified in the 2002 Fishing Proclamation will resume.
Gooseberry Reseroivr. An angler contracted “swimmers itch” at Gooseberry Reservoir earlier in August. Swimmers itch is an itching dermatitis due to penetration into the skin of larval forms of schistosomes (trematode worms and flukes). Although extremely annoying, swimmers itch is neither communicable nor fatal. Antihistamines can be used to help alleviate the itching and topical steroid creams may reduce the swelling. The itching and swelling generally persist for several days. If you believe you have swimmers itch, please consult your doctor and notify a public health official.
Huntington Creek. Fishing success has been spotty with baits and lures. Fly-fishing has been much better with a size 12 Prince nymph, Renegade or Ugly. The limit is two trout in the “fly only” zone, which is on a portion of the Right Fork. Anglers on the Left Fork of the Huntington must use artificial flies or lures. Harvest of brown trout on the left fork is encouraged, where the limit is four fish.
Huntington North Reservoir. Slow fishing conditions. The limit is two bass. All bass over 12 inches must be immediately released.
Huntington Reservoir. Fish are deep this time of year. Anglers fishing during the day need to get their fly, lure or bait down to a depth of about 20 feet. Tiger trout range up to about 15 inches. Release of tiger trout is encouraged so that fish can grow larger. Any brown trout caught should be harvested. The reservoir is closed to the possession of cutthroat trout and trout with cutthroat markings.
Joe’s Valley Reservoir.Virtually no fishing pressure. Due to extremely low water levels, boats cannot be launched. Anglers are encouraged to release all larger splake for control of the abundant Utah chub population. The splake limit is two fish. All splake between 15-20 inches must be immediately released.
Lasal Mountains.The daily bag and possession limit for Kens Lake has been doubled for all game fish until Nov. 1 due to low water conditions and expected loss of fish. Dark Canyon offers fair fishing for 9-12 inch trout with traditional baits and lures. Blue Lake is fair to good with spinners and flies.
Lower Fish Creek. Flows remain moderate. Aquatic vegetation is thick along the shoreline. Fishing has been good for fly anglers walking the middle of the channel and casting toward the shore. The prince nymph has been an effective fly pattern. Most trout are less than 14 inches. From the railroad bridge approximately one mile below the Scofield Reservoir dam downstream to the confluence with the White River, only artificial flies and lures may be used.
Miller Flat Reservoir. Fishing has been fair with Roostertails or a fly and bubble. The daily bag and possession limits have been raised to 8 trout to help anglers harvest the trout before the reservoir drains
Pete’s Hole. Fishing has been excellent with an olive wooly bugger in the evening. Bait fishermen have had only fair success. The Jake’s Spin-a-Lure has been the most effective spinner. The daily bag and possession limit is four trout.
Potter’s Ponds.Fishing success remains fair to good. A bear has been frequenting the campground. Please keep a clean campsite and don’t leave fish or entrails behind.
Scofield Reservoir. Fishing for rainbow trout is fair from boats and poor to fair from shore with PowerBait. Fishing is better for boaters because fish are in deep water trying to avoid uncomfortably warm surface water. Most of the fish being caught are 16-19 inches in length.
Willow Reservoir.Fishing success has been slow. Early morning fishing provides the best results.
Wrigley Srpings Reservoir. A fish kill is in progress. This occurred last year, resulting in an almost total die-off.