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I recently moved a heck of a lot closer to Utah (still in Wyoming though)... so I will be heading down to Utah this spring for fishing... You can't find walleye anywhere in SW Wyoming...
I was wondering if anyone could give me an update on the ice situation at Utah Lake? I haven't seen any recent ice reports from there, wondering if it is because the ice is about to go? Anyone have any predictions on when a guy could get a float tube out?
Thanks a bunch! Appreciate any and all information.
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I thought that they had walleye in Sulfur Creek just outside of Evanston.
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Well you are correct... but have you or anyone you known caught one before? When they first showed up years ago I would catch a few here and there, when actively targeting them. But the population was never very strong in there and the Wyoming Game and Fish has undergone efforts in previous years to net them and remove them from the lake.
I have not heard of anyone catching one in years and I remember reading somewhere that the game and fish had noticed a huge drop off in their numbers... the netting seems to have been pretty effective.
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A friend of mine lives in Evanston and he has seen some of the walleye that a couple of guys pull out of there that are from 3-5 lbs.
Of course they won't say how or where that they have caught them but some nice fish in there.
Maybe the netting could help with keeping them from over populating and help keep the size up on the ones that you do catch.
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[#0000FF]As one of our "lower elevation" lakes, UL is among the last to freeze and the first to thaw. And some years it never freezes completely. This year it capped between Christmas and New Years...during the hard freeze after our first big storm. The ice quickly grew to over 4 inches thick in some places but never seemed to get much thicker. Then we got a couple of periods of warmer weather and even some rain.
Sketchy for ice fishing on the main lake but still some fishable spots around the docks in the (shallow) harbors.
I am usually about the first open water tangler to hit Utah Lake each year. Last year we had a warm winter and I was tubing it on the 13th of February. Typically it is the first or second week of March before I can launch.
Walleyes start showing up for their prespawn feed when the water gets about 40 degrees. The spawn begins after the water gets above about 45 degrees. And the Lincoln Beach area is best both for tubing and for walleyes.
Stay in touch and I will be happy to introduce you to that area. Arranging your own introduction to the toothy critters will be on you.
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Also don't forget about Deer Creek.
About the time that Utah Lake is winding down the bite at Deer Creek starts to pick up in mid May and goes into June.
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[quote a_bow_nut]Also don't forget about Deer Creek.
About the time that Utah Lake is winding down the bite at Deer Creek starts to pick up in mid May and goes into June.[/quote]
[#0000FF]Actually, I don't even bother much with the walleye spawn in Utah Lake. I prefer to fish them after about May 1...during the post spawn period. That's when I have had my best days on the bigger fish. They really go on the chew then.
And the walleye fishing in Deer Creek is way down from what it used to be. Tough to score even a couple of "teen inchers" during a day on the flats. Plus...us float tubers now have to have our tubes decontaminated on Deer Creek.
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[quote a_bow_nut]A friend of mine lives in Evanston and he has seen some of the walleye that a couple of guys pull out of there that are from 3-5 lbs.
Of course they won't say how or where that they have caught them but some nice fish in there.
Maybe the netting could help with keeping them from over populating and help keep the size up on the ones that you do catch.[/quote]
Yeah I have heard rumors that people still catch them occasionally but I sure wish the game and fish would stop the netting operation. They are in there now I don't think netting is going to get rid of them, they may as well put some perch in there and start managing the lake as a walleye lake. The trout fishing has been really bad for over a decade now...
The smallmouth in there seem to be doing good, they are very healthy. I will be fishing Sulphur on and off since I live nearby I'll maybe post some reports on the Utah board if I have any kind of success fishing for bass / eyes.
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[quote a_bow_nut]Also don't forget about Deer Creek.
About the time that Utah Lake is winding down the bite at Deer Creek starts to pick up in mid May and goes into June.[/quote]
I was considering Deer Creek too but after TD mentioned the decontamination of tubes I think I'm going to stick w/ Willard and Utah Lake for eyes... might even give Starvation a try.
I know this thread is kind of going all over the place now, Utah Lake, Sulphur Creek, Willard,... Does anyone ever target Tiger Muskies at Pineview at ice off?
Thanks for all the input. Appreciate it!
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[#0000FF]I am guessing that the south marina of Willard will be about the first spot to open for tubing this year. The incoming flow will open it up quickly and since we can now drive all the way in it is worth a shot. I have caught walleyes very early there...and always some everlovin' kitties. Even some early crappies if you get lucky. And if you're really lucky a wiper or two.
Send me a PM with your email address and I will send you the walleye sections on my writeups for both Utah Lake and Willard Bay. Should provide some worthwhile input from a fellow tuber's point of view. Lotsa fish porn.
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] I imagine I will make a trip as soon as I can after the ice leaves.... whether the walleye are ready for me or not, I need to get out in the tube w/ the long rods!