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I recently moved from Provo to Las Vegas for school and I am literally going crazy due to the lack of fishing in this area, I should have thought this through before I moved to a desert. However my wife has agreed that for my birthday we can go to southern Utah for a fishing/camping weekend. I am not familiar with southern utah waters and would appreciate a little advice. I would love to catch some trout in a mountainous setting, preferably with my fly rod, but I am open to anything. Also this trip will likely happen during the middle of September. Thanks in advance.
About four weekends ago I returned from a trip to Petersburg Alaska, it was incredible, our group caught several hundred pounds of fish including halibut and king salmon. Our largest Halibut was ~100 lbs and the largest king was 30+ I have included a few pics. I highly recommend this trip, it was my second time and I am ready to go back again next yet year.
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Where abouts did you go in Petersburg, lodge etc. thinking of going next year some place in Alaska.
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Nice salmon. As for southern Utah, I would hit Kolob, Or for a real scenic trip but smaller fish, try Navajo lake
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Fishgvr, we went to Rocky Point Resort, they do an exceptional job. The food was great, the guides were knowledgable and very helpful. I really like Petersburg because cruise ships are unable to navigate into the area so it is far less touristy than nearby places. I highly recommend them.
Lonnie, thanks for the tips, I am considering kolob or panguitch lake, which do you prefer? Thanks again.
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Don't feel too bad about moving to Las Vegas. Now your only 4 1/2 hr to San Diego and some of the best fishing in the country .
The bite is RED HOT right now for Tuna, Dorado & Yellow Tail. Yum !
See [url "http://www.fishermanslanding.com/index.php"]http://www.fishermanslanding.com/index.php[/url]
[url "http://www.pointlomasportfishing.com/"]http://www.pointlomasportfishing.com/[/url]
[url "http://www.hmlanding.com/"]http://www.hmlanding.com/[/url]
[url "http://www.seaforthlanding.com/pages/fishcount.php"]http://www.seaforthlanding.com/pages/fishcount.php[/url]
I like the Condor out of Fisherman's Landing
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Good advice for the most part., 1day boats are hitting Dorado, Yellowtail and Tuna right now. Could still be good in Sept.
Out of the 4 landing mentioned I would go with H & M.
You will most likey get a speeding ticket trying to make it from Las Vegas to San Diego
in 3 1/2 hours.[sly] And miss the boat.
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Your right ! I keep thinking Utah speed 80 to 90 mph.
OK ! It will take 4 1/2 hrs
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If you have a float tube/pontoon boat Kolob and Panguitch are good choices. Depending on how you are camping, Kolob if your are taking a RV is is pretty steep and very limited areas to camp. A lot more choices if you are in a tent. Panguitch has more opportunities to camp. Two weeks ago we caught a lot of fish on Panguitch black hares ears was a very good fly. If you prefer a stream you can fish the Sevier/Mammoth/Asey along HWY 89 around Hatch UT. You can also fish a couple small ponds/lakes in the Duck creek area. Tropic Res and Pine lake near Brice Canyon. Beaver mountain above Beaver has some nice little lakes again can be a steep haul to some of them. Otter Creek/Minnersville also good fishing but may be a little hot this time of year. I prefer these fisheries at ice off. Minersville is artificial only. If you want to backpack there is also the Boulder Mt area. I am the same way. I have to get out of Vegas. Problem is there really is no where to go that is less then a 3hr drive.There are a few more you just have to get out and explore. Hope this helps
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[quote Lonnie] Nice salmon. As for southern Utah, I would hit Kolob, Or for a real scenic trip but smaller fish, try Navajo lake[/quote]
huh? smaller fish at Navajo? you're using the wrong baits....
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Thanks Rex, this is exactly the information I was looking for! I am currently leaning towards Panguitch only because the camping facilities seem less rustic, my wife is not an experienced camper so we are taking baby steps.
I also appreciate the San Diego information, I love salt water fishing and hope to be able to plan a trip down there soon.
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NWFF -- have you considered fishing the Colorado between Lake Mead and Willow Beach? I have heard that it can be good fishing for both stocked rainbows as well as big stripers (feeding on stocked rainbows!). It sounds as if trout stocking may possibly continue in this area, after the Willow Beach hatchery was shut down.
This isn't far from Las Vegas at all. Depending on city traffic, you could be to Willow Beach in about an hour.
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I lived there for 10 years, so I know your pain. If you like warmwater fishing, the area isn't too bad. You might want to branch out a bit. I used to love to fish the Overton arm of Lake Mead. Caught multiple species, (and turtles) and wasn't crowded at all with decent desert scenery. You also are close to Quail Creek and Sand Hollow in Utah, which are often outstanding.
If you have a burning urge for trout, besides Willow beach, they used to stock Lake Mead itself with planter trout. It wasn't usually the greatest, but one time I unexpectedly caught trout, bluegills and largemouth on the fly one evening. They also stock some community ponds with trout during winter. Floyd Lamb state park was a nice place for fishing and a picnic during the winter and spring.
Further North, in Lincoln county, there are a few lakes to wet a line and even ice fish in the winter. Eagle Valley was my favorite.
Finally, don't overlook Kolob reservoir and Pine Valley reservoir. I used to love going to Pine Valley. You can flyfish the stream and the lake, and for a put-and-take lake, it would surprise you with an occasional nice brookie or brown. Nice mountain surroundings as well. My one fishing regret when I lived in Vegas was that I only discovered Kolob the last 2 years I was there. Nuff said.
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I used to love Kolob. Then they opened it up to bait fishing about 4 or 5 yrs ago. Now it gets to crowded. With quads running up and down the road very dusty. Haven't been back since ![[Image: sad.gif]](http://www.bigfishtackle.com/images/gforum/sad.gif) .
Your original post said southern Utah. NDOW posts stocking reports so you know when and where they stock. Just to hot for me to fish around here. But there are some places here in NV. As mentioned Eagle Valley. You also have Echo Canyon, Wayne E. Kirch Wildlife Management Area (also known as Sunnyside). Further north you have Cave Lake and a few others that I have not fished. But if you want out of the heat the places to go are the ones I talked about earlier. If you post the ???s on the NV site they can probably fill you in a more places to go. I will probably hit Panquitch again over Columbus Day in Oct. Attached Last Oct on a Micro brown wooley
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[quote vegasback2id]I used to love Kolob. Then they opened it up to bait fishing about 4 or 5 yrs ago. Now it gets to crowded. With quads running up and down the road very dusty. [/quote]
There is a reason it get's crowded. The reason is NOT because it's open to bait fishing. It's crowded because it's a beautiful place that provides quality fishing!
Ironic that prior to opening the fishery to bait fishing the UDWR felt like there were too many fish in the reservoir. Bait fishing was supposed to help reduce the amount of fish and increase average size. Artificial only proponents argued that opening it to bait fishing would destroy the quality fishery. Recent samplings at Kolob have shown otherwise: the fishery still has too many fish! So, even with more liberal regulations, the fishery still has a need for higher mortality in order to increase average size.
Sounds to me like it could use some additional pressure.
Also ironic: someone from Vegas complaining about crowds on Cedar Mountain!
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I used to target Kolob right after ice out, thru Memorial day. Excellent fishing and hardly any crowds. I can't imagine things have changed all that much.
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I do agree about Kolob is beautiful. Especially in the fall. And people should be able to enjoy it. But I spent alot of time up there. It was pretty much the only place I would go. But if you don't think that opening it up to bait (all) fishing increased the amount of people you are crazy. I am not a guy who says change it back to artificial only. It has nothing to do with the fishing. I just choose not to deal with all the dust, there is very few places you can get away from the road. Which is the real reason I don't go there any more. And someone who has not been there I am just letting them know the conditions.
Artificial only after Labor Day thru Memorial Day. Can't even use bait to ice fish. It Obviously needs more pressure.
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