Fishing report for southeastern Utah

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ABAJO MOUNTAINS: (May 21) On May 16 and 17, Tommi Budd fished Blanding #4. On Saturday Tommi caught four 12- to 15-inch rainbows with rainbow PowerBait. On Sunday, he have a single bite. Sergeant J. Shirley reports excellent fishing with spinners or bait at Dry Wash Reservoir along the Johnson Creek Road, and good pike fishing at Recapture Reservoir.
BENCHES POND: (May 21) The pond is ice-free and stocking should occur by Memorial Day weekend.
BOULGERS POND: (May 21) The ice is off at Boulgers Pond. Last weekend, access was limited by snow drifts. The pond should be stocked by Memorial Day. Try to catch carryover rainbows with nightcrawlers and marshmallows.
CLEVELAND RESERVOIR: (May 21) Todd Munford reports good fishing for carryover rainbows. Todd suggests rainbow PowerBait or a nightcrawler tipped with a salmon egg for bait anglers, or a chartreuse crystal bugger on sinking line for fly anglers.
ELECTRIC LAKE: (May 21) The lake is ice-free. Anglers report fair-to-good fishing. Two anglers landed six cutthroats in under two hours near the boat ramp with a nightcrawler and bubble. Todd Munford describes fishing as fair-to-good on the north side. Try a straight nightcrawler with three feet of leader behind a full bubble.
GIGLIOTTI POND: (May 14) There are is no report for this week, however, fishing was fair-to-good last week. Aquatics Program Manager Paul Birdsey encourages anglers to practice catch-and-release fishing to maintain a high catch rate. When releasing a deeply-hooked fish, it’s best to cut the line rather than trying to remove the hook and causing further injury. Tips on catch-and-release fishing are found in the /Utah Fishing Guidebook / on pages 36 and 37.
HUNTINGTON CREEK: (May 21) On May 16, Nathan Duersch fished the right fork of the Huntington and reported slow fishing. His most effective surface pattern was a size 20 blue-winged olive. His most productive wet fly was a caddis. Huntington Creek has special regulations. Fishing from Flood and Engineer’s Canyon upstream to the dam is by artificial fly only with a limit of two trout. The left fork from the top of the campground upstream is by artificial fly or lure only.
HUNTINGTON NORTH RESERVOIR: (May 07) Tom Ogden fly fished for four hours from a tube on April 27 and caught only an 18-inch rainbow and a 17-inch largemouth bass. He used a black and green wooly bugger on medium-sink line. He had best luck when casting toward shore, letting the fly sink, and then quick-stripping the line.
HUNTINGTON RESERVOIR: (May 21) The ice has receded and shoreline fishing is possible. Todd Munford recommends a straight nightcrawler and full bubble with a slow retrieve.
JOES VALLEY RESERVOIR: (May 14) A party of DWR anglers fished the reservoir on May 8. The most productive fishing location was just north of the dam. Biologist Daniel Keller recommends using a piece of chub and resting it on the bottom. Daniel was also successful in catching trout with a red and white Daredevil and a gold Jakes Spin-A-Lure. Daniel’s party caught a combined total of 18 fish, ranging from 10 to 17 inches. DWR Fisheries Technician Steve Regrutto caught the biggest fish: a 20-inch splake. Shore anglers fared as well as boat or tube anglers.
In 2009, fishing regulations changed at Joes Valley Reservoir. The limit is four trout, only one of which trout may be over 18 inches. DWR fishery biologists hope the new regulation will encourage more angler use while managing the chub population.
The U.S. Forest Service will conduct a prescribed burn west of Joes Valley beginning May 14. You will be able to see fire and smoke for an undetermined length of time.
LA SAL MOUNTAINS: (May 21) Conservation Officer TJ Robertson provided the following reports on May 18:
Dons Lake – Fishing is slow and fishing pressure is low.
Hidden Lake – Anglers report great fishing action. Worms and salmon eggs should work best for bait anglers. Small spinners, like the Jakes lure in silver and green, are also working well. Fly anglers have been using smaller patterns like nymphs or small caterpillars.
Kens Lake – Anglers report good fishing, with the best fishing in the evening. Multiple colors of PowerBait have been working well. Worms, salmon eggs and small marshmallows are also effective. Officer Robertson reminds anglers to use the dumpsters and leave the lake clean. The Bureau of Land Management asks the public to avoid driving on the lakebed. Driving on the lakebed destroys the clay liner.
Oowah – The Lake is open and fishing is great. Baitcasters are doing well with worms and marshmallows. Green, yellow, and rainbow sparkle PowerBait have been the most popular baits. Small silver and green Jakes are the most effective lure.
Warner Lake – The Lake is now open.
LOWER FISH CREEK: (May 21) On May 17, Tom Ogden reported a discharge of 20 fps from Scofield Reservoir dam.
MILLSITE RESERVOIR & STATE PARK: (May 14) DWR Biologist Daniel Keller reports slow fishing. Try worms or rainbow PowerBait.
SCOFIELD RESERVOIR: (May 21) According to Todd Munford, shore fishing is fair with a nightcrawler tipped with a chartreuse marshmallow. Trollers should try an orange triple teaser or a straight nightcrawler. There are special regulations at Scofield Reservoir to control the growing chub problem. See the /Utah Fishing Guidebook / for details.
STRAIGHT CANYON CREEK: (May 14) Anglers report slow fishing, with no recommendations on bait or tackle.