Southeastern Utah Fishing Report

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Updated May 11
ABAJO MOUNTAINS – Blanding #4 Reservoir was stocked with 3,500 10-inch rainbow trout. Blanding #3 was planted with 1,500 10-inch trout. Conservation Officer Joe Nicholson says that fishing at Recapture Reservoir continues to be slow, but adds that persistent fishermen have been rewarded with some nice pike. Nicholson recommends large jigs in white and pumpkin seed colors, or crawfish imitating crankbaits.
BENCHES RESERVOIR – The reservoir is starting to open up near the spillway. Ice-off is expected within a week. The reservoir’s tributary is closed to fishing until July 9.
BOULGER RESERVOIR – The reservoir is opening up near the inlet. Access by snowshoe or snow machine only. The tributary is closed until July 9.
CLEVELAND RESERVOIR – The status of ice and open water changes daily. For the most part, the lake remains ice-bound. On warm days, open water appears along the edges. Todd Munford of Big Pine Sports in Fairview recommends using a nightcrawler with split shot; or a black or olive 1/32 ounce jig with a piece of nightcrawler, suspended by a floating bubble.
ELECTRIC LAKE – The north end is open, but remains accessible only by snow machine. Please do not attempt to ice fish the south part of the lake due to safety concerns. Todd Munford says that cutthroat trout are stacking near the inlet for the spring spawn. A nightcrawler/salmon egg combination was the best bet. The best lures have been tan or rust Roostertails or 1/8 ounce brown marabou jigs. Tributaries are closed to fishing until July 9 to protect spawning cutthroat trout.
FAIRVIEW LAKES – The lakes remain ice-bound. Most fish winter-killed. Restocking is expected prior to Memorial Day.
GOOSEBERRY RESERVOIR – The reservoir is mostly frozen, depending on the weather. Water along the east shoreline opens up on warm days. Access by snow machine only. Tributaries are closed to fishing until July 9th.
HUNTINGTON CREEK – The water is rising and becoming turbid. Todd Munford advises anglers in the fly-only zone to use large attractor patterns, trailed by small nymphs, such as the RS 2, WD-40, or Lil Brassie. Brown trout are generally within the 10-12-inch size class. Below the fly fishing zone, Munford recommends jigging 1/16 oz black marabou jigs, drifted in deeper riffles.
HUNTINGTON RESERVOIR (on the Wasatch Plateau, Sanpete County)-The reservoir shoreline has begun to open up on warm days, although recent cold weather has refrozen the reservoir. The DWR advises against further ice fishing this year.
JOES VALLEY RESERVOIR – The reservoir is open. Aquatic biologists Justin Hart and Craig Walker fished the reservoir recently. They hooked whole dead chubs or shiners on a minnow hook, and swam the bait with a slow retrieve. They caught six splake within the slot, but nothing larger. However, they talked with an angler, who reported catching numerous fish in the slot, and also caught one nice 4-5 pound splake. He had been fishing from a pontoon boat with sinking line and a large streamer. Special regulations apply. The limit is two trout, only one over 22 inches. All trout between 15-22 inches must be immediately released.
LASAL MOUNTAINS – Conservation Officer Joe Nicholson indicates that fishing is starting to pick up on the Colorado River. Channel cats are being taken on worms. LaSal Mountain lakes, though difficult to access, are opening up. Oowah has open water, although the gate remains closed. For anglers willing to hike the three miles beyond the gate, fishing was good for 10- 12-inch trout with salmon eggs and spinners. Kens Lake was stocked with 7,000 catchable-size rainbow trout. Officer Nicholson reports good fishing at Kens for 10-13-inch rainbows and an occasional brown trout. Fishermen have done well with spinners and PowerBait. A few bass and catfish are also being caught. Anglers are reminded that the trout limit is four.
MILLER FLAT RESERVOIR-Access by snow machine only. The reservoir is starting to open up on warm days, and fishing is expected to be good with salmon eggs or chartreuse PowerBait.
MILLSITE RESERVOIR – Aquatics Biologist Craig Walker recommends that anglers fish the deep drop-offs with a jig, spinner or leech pattern. Bait fishermen should try eggs on the bottom with a slip sinker. Walker cautions that the shoreline is muddy, so bring your boots.
SCOFIELD RESERVOIR – The reservoir is ice-free, and angler pressure is high on weekends. A creel survey last weekend indicated that fishermen did the best on the southwest side using worms. Angler Ian Pogue reported good fishing success with nightcrawlers, egg sacs, a gold Blue Fox, and gold Jake’s Spin-a-Lures. Todd Munford’s contacts say fishing has slowed down. Munford recommends nightcrawlers tipped with a garlic salmon egg as the best bait. The longer the cast, the better. He says tubers and pontooners have done fairly well on the southeast side with Canadian brown leeches, trolled slowly on sinking line. Most trout being caught are in the 14-16-inch size range. Conservation Officer Stacey Jones once again cautions anglers against throwing back fish hooked by bait or egg sacs. “Hooking mortality is very high this time of year.” states Officer Jones. “It is illegal to harvest eggs from a female trout and then release the fish back into the water,” continues Jones. Please remember that all tributaries to Scofield Reservoir are closed to fishing until July 9 to protect spawning cutthroat trout.