Updated fishing report

By By

*ABAJO MOUNTAINS:* (April 22) Blanding reservoirs Nos. 3 and 4 were stocked on
March 29 with 1,568 and 2,090 8-inch rainbow trout, respectively. Lloyds Lake,
Monticello Lake and Foy Reservoir are open. A moderate fish kill has been documented at Monticello and Foy, lowering the catch rate. Fishing for pike and
bass at Recapture Reservoir has been slow, but should pick up once the water warms a bit. At Recapture, Calvin Black, an aquatics biologist, suggests fishing
with weedless swimbaits in shallow weedy areas. He also says that bass are in the pre-spawn mode. The Dry Wash pond has been improved, deepened and has
already been stocked this spring with 8- to 9-inch rainbow trout. On April 13, Lloyds Lake was stocked with almost 4,000 8-inch rainbow trout.
*BENCHES POND:* (April 22) The pond is expected to thaw in the next few weeks.
*BLUE LAKE:* (April 22) The pond will be inaccessible until June or even July.
*BOULGER RESERVOIR:* (April 22) The pond remains under ice, but access is possible on foot. The ice is thinning and ice-off could be in the next few weeks.
*CARBON COUNTY COMMUNITY FISHING POND:* (April 22) The pond was stocked last
week with 500 10-inch rainbow trout-the second time this spring. The first
stocking occurred in mid-March with 500 9-inch rainbows. Anglers report good
success, especially with salmon eggs or worms. PowerBait hasn’t done as well.
Fly-fishing is successful with a variety of patterns. One angler reported a
catch rate of more than 30 fish per hour.
*CLEVELAND RESERVOIR:* (April 22) The reservoir remains encased in weak ice and
wet snow with a small band of water opening up around the shoreline. This week,
the band was only a few feet, but that could dramatically change after a few
warm afternoons. The deep, wet snow still presents an unpleasant hike to and
from the reservoir
*DUCK FORK RESERVOIR:* (April 22) The only access is by snow machine, but as the ice melts the road will be gated to prevent unnecessary damage to the road surface until it is completely dry.
*ELECTRIC LAKE:* (April 22) The boat ramp and open water is now accessible by foot traffic. The circle of water around the mine water discharge pipe expands
daily as the weather warms up. Expect only about a foot of open water ringing the shoreline around the dam. The ice is weak and the overlying snow is wet.
*FERRON RESERVOIR:* (April 22) The reservoir is inaccessible except by snow machine. Once the road melts and begins to dry, the U.S. Forest Service will
lock the access gate to prevent unnecessary damage to forest roads and resources.
*GIGLIOTTI POND:* (April 22) The pond was restocked for the second time on April 11 with 10-inch rainbow trout. The first stocking occurred a month earlier with
500 9-inch rainbow trout. Fishing success remains good. Try worms, PowerBait, salmon eggs, spoons and spinners.
*GOOSEBERRY RESERVOIR:* (April 22) Once the snow begins to melt, the U.S. Forest
will lock the access gate to prevent damage to forest roads and resources until
everything dries up.
*GRASSY LAKE:* (April 22) Access is blocked by snow and snow drifts.
*HUNTINGTON CREEK:* (April 22) The best fishing will occur within one mile of
the dam. Few fish will be found below South Hughes Canyon because of last year’s
flash floods. Fly-fishing has been fair below the dam. Brown trout up to 17
inches have been hooked. Good fly choices include leeches, wooly buggers, prince
nymphs, stone flies, bead head uglies, caddis larvae, hares ear and serendipity.
Last year, 770 7-inch cutthroat trout were stocked at the Forks of the Huntington campground, so anglers may find some of these planters in the vicinity or up the left fork.
*HUNTINGTON NORTH RESERVOIR:* (April 22) A week ago, we received a report of some 5-pound wipers being hooked with crankbaits at dawn. On the Utah Fishing
Forum, one angler recommended targeting wipers with jigs, Gulp minnows, rattle traps and rapalas. Another angler commented that fishing early is the most productive time of the day, especially from the standpoint of avoiding
recreational boats. On March 18, the reservoir wasstocked with 1,000 9-inch rainbow trout.
*HUNTINGTON RESERVOIR:* (April 22) This reservoir, also known as Mammoth Reservoir, continues to lie under heavy, wet snow and rotten ice. As of April 20, there was no open water along the shoreline. Please wait for the thaw before returning to this water. Ice fishing is not recommended.
*JOES VALLEY RESERVOIR:* (April 22) Large tiger trout have been caught on whole chubs anchored with big hooks. Tigers ranging from 4 to eight pounds have been
taken. Smaller trout continue to take lures like a Jakes or Kastmaster in gold.
Tiger-muskie fishing should pick up after spring storms pass. Anglers are encouraged to fish for them in shallow water where weeds or boulders offer concealment for ambushing bait fish.
*KNIGHT-IDEAL COMMUNITY FISHING POND:* (April 22) This Wellington pond was stocked for the second time this spring on April 11 with 500 10-inch rainbow trout. Fishing has been good with worms, PowerBait and salmon eggs. A new concrete pier with a safety rail has been erected and is open for use. This will offer persons in wheelchairs the opportunity to fish directly over the water.
There are concrete sidewalks, picnic tables, a porta-potty and a gravel parking area for visitor convenience.
*LA SAL MOUNTAINS:* (April 22) La Sal Mountain lakes remain inaccessible because
of snow and mud. The Rattlesnake Ponds are accessible and stocking may have
already occurred. Ken’s Lake was stocked on March 29 with nearly 3,000 8-inch
rainbow trout. Conservation Officer Adam Wallerstein reports good fishing for
rainbow trout with PowerBait, spinners, spoons such as Daredevils and
Kastmasters. Bass that measure around 15 inches are being caught on soft plastics.
*LEFT FORK OF HUNTINGTON CREEK:* (April 22) Last fall, trout were planted in the campground of the Forks of the Huntington, so anglers could find limited numbers
of smaller 7-8 inch trout along that stretch.
*LOWER FISH CREEK:* (April 22) Water is now being released from Scofield
Reservoir. Trout will be found several miles downstream from Scofield dam.
Over-winter dewatering of the creek left the drainage without fish except in the
deeper holes. Anglers who are willing to hike downstream for two or more miles
will find the greatest numbers of large brown trout.
*LOWER GREEN RIVER:* (April 22) One angler recently reported good fishing with
chicken livers, shrimp and nightcrawlers. Most catfish measure around 10 to 12
inches. During Melon Days in mid-September, however, anglers caught one 7-pound
and two 5-pound catfish.
*MAY DAY POND:* (April 22) Fishing is good using worms and PowerBait.
*MILLER FLAT RESERVOIR:* (April 22) In the spring, the U.S. Forest Service closes road access to prevent damage to roads and forest resources. The gates are reopened after the roads dry up.
*MILLSITE RESERVOIR & STATE PARK:* (April 22) Fishing success fluctuates between fair and good for all four species of trout, some of which get up to 16 inches.
This past week, one fly fisherman marked some fish on his graph but wasn’t successful in finding a pattern they were interested in. Another, however, caught a 14-inch tiger and 12-inch cutthroat. Hatcheries will not stock Millsite this year in anticipation of the dam renovation in 2017. The draw-down that will precede reconstruction may result in the temporary loss of the trout fishery.
*PETES HOLE:* (April 22) Snow and snow drifts will keep this pond inaccessible
for at least a month.
*PRICE RIVER:* (April 22) The water level is better now that water is being
released from Scofield Reservoir. Because of overwinter dewatering of lower Fish
Creek, anglers will find more and bigger trout in the larger pools along the river.
*RIGHT FORK OF HUNTINGTON CREEK:* (April 22) The creek’s trout population was wiped out by the flash floods that followed the Seeley Fire. Limited stocking
has taken place, but restoring the trout population to its pre-fire size will depend on restoration of the vegetation within the drainage.
*SCOFIELD RESERVOIR:* (April 22) The reservoir thawed this week and is now entirely ice-free. Boats may be launched and shoreline fishing is available
along all public beach fronts. The biggest trout continue to be caught with whole chubs skewered with large hooks and fished off the bottom. The larger the
bait, the larger the potential catch. However, large baits keep smaller fish off the line and minimize the catch rate. Parents and grandparents, who are only
interested in a high catch rate for younger children, should stay with worms, salmon eggs and PowerBait to keep the kids busy reeling in both chubs and small cutthroat trout that range from 9 to 13 inches and weigh from a quarter to half a pound.
*STRAIGHT CANYON CREEK:* (April 22) Fishing is good for brown trout up to 20 inches. Try fishing with nymphs.
*WILLOW LAKE:* (April 22) Snow and a large snow drift block access. As snow melts, the gate across the road will be locked until things dry up to prevent unnecessary road and resource damage.
*WRIGLEY SPRINGS RESERVOIR:* (April 22) This reservoir is inaccessible. The U.S.
Forest Service has locked the access gate to prevent road damage.