Cache Valley Fishing Future

[SkunkedAgain]

So I got looking through the 2024 stocking report and seen some really interesting news... I know it was mentioned in another report that they have stocked Mac's in Porcupine, which I think will be a really fun option up there for future fishing.. However, it may take ten years to get good, but I like the potential, just hope I will still be able to fish that pond by then...  Then the other surprise to me, they planted a bunch of tiny wiper in Hyrum... I love catching wiper and I know they have done very well in similar ponds across the state, so I'm really hoping they survive and do well... Probably five years before that will turn into anything, but I love seeing the new things the division is trying, even if they did seem to give up on trout in Hyrum... I feel bad about that, it was a great fishery for bows, but hopefully it will be a good wiper pond someday... later J

[smokepoles]

So I got looking through the 2024 stocking report and seen some really interesting news... I know it was mentioned in another report that they have stocked Mac's in Porcupine, which I think will be a really fun option up there for future fishing.. However, it may take ten years to get good, but I like the potential, just hope I will still be able to fish that pond by then...  Then the other surprise to me, they planted a bunch of tiny wiper in Hyrum... I love catching wiper and I know they have done very well in similar ponds across the state, so I'm really hoping they survive and do well... Probably five years before that will turn into anything, but I love seeing the new things the division is trying, even if they did seem to give up on trout in Hyrum... I feel bad about that, it was a great fishery for bows, but hopefully it will be a good wiper pond someday... later J

Man will that be fun when there is a bunch of long liners and outboard planers fishing for wipers amidst the power squadron of wakeboarders and such

[SkunkedAgain]

So I got looking through the 2024 stocking report and seen some really interesting news... I know it was mentioned in another report that they have stocked Mac's in Porcupine, which I think will be a really fun option up there for future fishing.. However, it may take ten years to get good, but I like the potential, just hope I will still be able to fish that pond by then...  Then the other surprise to me, they planted a bunch of tiny wiper in Hyrum... I love catching wiper and I know they have done very well in similar ponds across the state, so I'm really hoping they survive and do well... Probably five years before that will turn into anything, but I love seeing the new things the division is trying, even if they did seem to give up on trout in Hyrum... I feel bad about that, it was a great fishery for bows, but hopefully it will be a good wiper pond someday... later J

Man will that be fun when there is a bunch of long liners and outboard planers fishing for wipers amidst the power squadron of wakeboarders and such

Yup that should be quite the time on the ole Hyrum pond.... And you pointed out a real issue with their management plan, Hyrum fishing to me has always been an off summer season thing, so I wonder how it will work out... That's why the bows were such good fish to have in there, they grow fast each summer and are all ready for the fall and ice season when they bite willingly... I don't have a bunch of experience with wiper, but they seem like they feed much more willingly during the summer months... so I don't know what that means for the ice fishing at Hyrum...  Hope they still stock some bows and the perch come back with some size so it can still be a fun spot to hit the ice... Good comment... Later Jeff

[lavaman]

So I got looking through the 2024 stocking report and seen some really interesting news... I know it was mentioned in another report that they have stocked Mac's in Porcupine, which I think will be a really fun option up there for future fishing.. However, it may take ten years to get good, but I like the potential, just hope I will still be able to fish that pond by then...  Then the other surprise to me, they planted a bunch of tiny wiper in Hyrum... I love catching wiper and I know they have done very well in similar ponds across the state, so I'm really hoping they survive and do well... Probably five years before that will turn into anything, but I love seeing the new things the division is trying, even if they did seem to give up on trout in Hyrum... I feel bad about that, it was a great fishery for bows, but hopefully it will be a good wiper pond someday... later J

Man will that be fun when there is a bunch of long liners and outboard planers fishing for wipers amidst the power squadron of wakeboarders and such

Haha!

[BearLakeFishGuy]

I'm excited about the near-future for fishing in Cache Valley, but it will likely be heavily influenced by whether we get any water this winter.
Newton has some nice crappie, perch and gills coming along due to the last 2 years of high water. The fish that were there grew fiast and there was some good perch, gill, and crappie spawning from what I observed first-hand the last 2 years.
Hyrum also has had a couple of years of good perch and bass spawning, so that should be good starting this winter. Wipers, if they survived, should begin showing up this summer and definitely by summer 2026.
Mantua is also looking pretty good from a panfish perspective, if and when we get any ice this year. In any case, spring fishing from boats should be good.
Porcupine was excellent for kokanee this year and I expect it will only be better in 2025. The access issue for ice fishing is something that needs to be resolved. Has anyone heard anything from the UDWR regarding the gated roads up to the reservoir? It was posted about a month ago, but I haven't seen any updates. I still don't think the reservoir roads are privately owned and can be closed off. My apps show it as a county road. Please post if you heard anything different.

[SkunkedAgain]

Thanks Scott for your great perspective. Looking forward to trying out some of those recommendations.... Sure hoping it will be on ice, but it's not a good year so far for ice, so might have to do it in a boat... Don't know if you seen the discussion on the premium board about porcupine, but I think it's just a road closure for erosion control and fishing is still open, just controlled access... Hope that is the case... Thank you... Jeff

[lavaman]

Yeah, just looking at the extended forecast it doesn't look like there will be any possibility of any safe ice, or any ice for that matter, until sometime in January.

Two years in a row of warmer than normal temps during winter. And probably more than that according to the records. Times sure are rapidly changing, my fellow fishermen.

[BearLakeFishGuy]

And 2 years ago it was freezing cold, we had snow 4-5' deep in most parts of northern Utah and people were talking about the ice age returning. Why don't people remember that, but focus on this week's weather and act as if that is how it will always be? I think it is entertaining to watch this.

[lavaman]

And 2 years ago it was freezing cold, we had snow 4-5' deep in most parts of northern Utah and people were talking about the ice age returning.  Why don't people remember that, but focus on this week's weather and act as if that is how it will always be?  I think it is entertaining to watch this.

It for sure goes in cycles. We've only been keeping track of weather records for what- 150 years or so? Not sure why humans think they know everything when there's so much they don't know.