12-20-2007, 01:04 AM
[size 1]WARNING: whirling disease was found in the Northeastern Region, please clean, dry and sterilize waders, live wells and other fishing gear before venturing to another water. Do not clean fish or dump fish parts taken from one water into another lake or stream, this could move whirling disease organisms.
BIG SAND WASH RESERVOIR: No new reports but surrounding waters do have ice so its likely there is ice on Sandwash. Check ice thickness carefully as edge ice could be quite thin due to filling. Main access is from the boat ramp.<br />
BULLOCK / COTTONWOOD RESERVOIRS: No new reports. Both reservoirs should have ice but check conditions carefully before venturing out. Reservoirs are located approximately five miles north of the town of Gusher.<br />
BROUGH RESERVOIR: No new reports on fishing success just that the reservoir has ice. Check ice condition carefully before venturing out. Reservoir is being filled which may make water murky. Note: Special catch and release regulations, please read proclamation. To get to Brough, take State Route 88 south from US Route 40 (Ouray Road). Turn west at the second dirt road past the high power lines. Follow this road approximately two miles staying to the left at each main fork. Road can be quite rutted.<br />
BROWNIE / SPIRIT LAKE: No new reports from anglers even though roads are accessible. The area has not received much snow from the recent snowstorms. Lakes are now frozen but no information on ice conditions. Check ice condition carefully before venturing out. Warning: whirling disease has been found in this area. Do not clean fish or dump fish parts taken from one water into another lake or stream, also make sure to clean, dry and sterilize waders, live wells and other fishing gear before venturing to another water. to avoid moving whirling disease.<br />
CALDER / CROUSE RESERVOIRS: Reports of good ice fishing prior to the last set of storms. Area has received recent snow so road access is questionable. The new "trophy fishery" regulation for Calder went into effect on January 1, 2007 so baits and scents can not be used while ice fishing.<br />
CURRANT CREEK RESERVOIR: Lake is frozen, no reports on fishing conditions. Check ice thickness carefully before venturing out. Area received more snow last week. The roads is usually kept open to the dam.<br />
EAST PARK / OAKS PARK: No new reports, access by skis or snowmobile. Reservoirs should be frozen, check ice condition carefully before venturing out.<br />
FLAMING GORGE: Good fishing for rainbows, lake trout and kokanee on majority of the reservoir. Utah ramps are open. Ice reported down to about Firehole in Wyoming. Rainbows have moved shallow again in response to cooler water temps. Larger fish can be found feeding on points in 10- to 20-foot water or in inflow areas. Rainbows can be caught from shore using bait and lures in the typical spring locations such as Mustang Ridge, the Visitor Center area, Sheep Creek Bay, Antelope Flat, and most shoreline areas in Wyoming. All Rainbows can also be caught trolling small spoons, pop gear or rapalas in 10 to 20 feet of water. Use long line technique or planer boards to get lures away from boat. Very nice sized fish are being caught.<br />
Kokanee fishing is open again as of December 1, 2006<br />
Smallmouth fishing is very slow, fishing becomes difficult during fall and winter. Smallmouth typically move deeper in winter and can be found as deep as 60 feet.<br />
Lake trout fishing is fair to excellent depending on location and size of targeted fish. Smaller fish are quite catchable and action has been good. Larger fish have pretty much finished the spawn and are now feeding again making them easier to catch. If boat fishing for lake trout; try trolling bottom structure using down riggers or steel line and flatfish, crank baits, or flashers trailing a lure or minnow for large lake trout. Vertical jigging using tube or bucktail jigs tipped with sucker meat can also be effective for lake trout when they are on the bottom. Long-lining rapalas and other minnow imitation lures a couple hundred feet behind the boat or behind planer boards is a good technique to use to catch large lake trout in the next few weeks. Large fish finish spawning and actively feed near the surface in December. Areas around Linwood Bay are good locations to start. White, brown or chartreuse colored three-inch tube jigs on a 3/16- or 1/4-ounce jig heads tipped with meat can been particularly effective for small lake trout. White tube jigs have been working well the past few weeks. Fish in depths from 50 to 90 feet, also look for suspending fish over deep structure and use your graph to put a jig or lure right in front of them. There are many small- and medium-sized lake trout in Flaming Gorge, so please take advantage of the eight-fish lake trout regulation (one over 28 inches) and harvest a limit. These smaller fish are excellent eating. Fishing is typically best during periods of stable weather and high pressure or just before a front moves in. The current surface temperature in the canyon is 41 to 43° F.<br />
A recent report of ice fishing for burbot in upper Wyoming is fishing has been good and some fish are in the 27- to 30-inch range. Try fishing off the points at night, especially first few hours after sunset as the fish move in from deeper waters. Try working the bottom with jigs tipped with sucker meet or other scented baits. Burbot, or ling cod, were illegally introduced into the upper Green River drainage and have made their way to Flaming Gorge Reservoir. The daily and possession limit for burbot is 25 fish, and all burbot caught must be killed. Please familiarize yourself with the appearance of these fish in case you catch one. Although the fish are quite odd looking in appearance, they are very good to eat with white flesh similar to walleye or perch. These fish are moving south in the reservoir and are now being caught frequently in Utah's waters. Numerous burbot were caught on the Linwood Bay lake trout spawning area with jigs and spoons.<br />
GREEN RIVER: (upper) The flows on the river are currently 800 cfs. Due to low inflows into the reservoir in 2007, flows should remain steady at 800 cfs throughout the winter to conserve water. From Dec 10 to 17, equipment maintenance will require use of the bypass tubes. Water levels should remain close to 800 cfs.<br />
Fishing on the river may slow a bit as the Bureau of Reclamation uses the bypass tubes while doing maintenance on the dam. Dry fly fishing is typically slow during the winter. Nymphing action has been good to excellent. The slot limit size range has changed from 13-20-inch to 15-22 inches to make regulations more consistent statewide. Nymphing with glo-bugs and San Juan worms with smaller nymphs trailering has been the workhorse. Small midge patterns work some days. Streamers are working well and have been extremely good some days. Size 2-4 buggers such as Goldilox and patterns in olive, pink and white.<br />
Spin fishermen should try small rapalas (floating, countdown and husky jerk); small spinners; black, brown or olive marabou jigs; and small jigs. Please check to see that your tube jigs contain no fish attracting scents as they are illegal to use in the river.<br />
New Zealand mudsnail densities have dramatically increased in several localized areas near Little Hole, and have been documented in most areas of the river. Please thoroughly clean mud and vegetation from waders, boats and fishing gear; and if possible, completely dry equipment before leaving the area. A hot water bath (120° F) will kill mudsnails, and spraying equipment with 409 or a similar soap solution before drying will increase effectiveness.<br />
GREEN RIVER: (lower) Water level is low. No new reports from anglers. Some stretches are beginning to freeze.<br />
MATT WARNER RESERVOIR: No new reports. Iced over and should be good fishing. Last snow storm dropped an additional foot or more snow blocking access from Hwy 191. Likely southern access is closed as well from recent snowfall and deep drifts.<br />
MOON LAKE: No new reports. Should be iced over as observed at lakes at similar elevations.<br />
PELICAN LAKE: New ice about four to six inches thick on areas close to shore. Waterfowl were keeping the middle ice-free but it looks like it has frozen in the last night or so. Anglers reported great fishing on Thursday for bluegill and a few bass.<br />
RED FLEET RESERVOIR: Reservoir is almost completely open water. Some ice forming but only in the shallowest bays. Park personnel were working to plow roads to the boat ramp on Friday.<br />
STARVATION RESERVOIR: No signs of ice yet or reports from anglers.<br />
STEINAKER RESERVOIR: Ice forming only on the shallowest edge of the northern bay, the rest is all open water. Park personnel were working to clear ice and snow from roads.<br />
UINTA MOUNTAIN LAKES AND STREAMS: No new reports. Lakes and streams have ice but check it carefully before venturing out. Area has received several snowstorms. Early ice fishing on lakes and reservoirs is also almost always good. Fishing success on mountain lakes and streams can be spotty so if one isn't producing try moving to another. With over 400 managed fisheries on the South Slope alone, it's easy to find a new place to fish. Always go prepared for serious weather, as the Uinta Mountains are well known for frequent unexpected storms and high winds. Note: The Uinta Mountains have a four-trout limit with a bonus of four more brook trout - see proclamation for details. [/size]
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BIG SAND WASH RESERVOIR: No new reports but surrounding waters do have ice so its likely there is ice on Sandwash. Check ice thickness carefully as edge ice could be quite thin due to filling. Main access is from the boat ramp.<br />
BULLOCK / COTTONWOOD RESERVOIRS: No new reports. Both reservoirs should have ice but check conditions carefully before venturing out. Reservoirs are located approximately five miles north of the town of Gusher.<br />
BROUGH RESERVOIR: No new reports on fishing success just that the reservoir has ice. Check ice condition carefully before venturing out. Reservoir is being filled which may make water murky. Note: Special catch and release regulations, please read proclamation. To get to Brough, take State Route 88 south from US Route 40 (Ouray Road). Turn west at the second dirt road past the high power lines. Follow this road approximately two miles staying to the left at each main fork. Road can be quite rutted.<br />
BROWNIE / SPIRIT LAKE: No new reports from anglers even though roads are accessible. The area has not received much snow from the recent snowstorms. Lakes are now frozen but no information on ice conditions. Check ice condition carefully before venturing out. Warning: whirling disease has been found in this area. Do not clean fish or dump fish parts taken from one water into another lake or stream, also make sure to clean, dry and sterilize waders, live wells and other fishing gear before venturing to another water. to avoid moving whirling disease.<br />
CALDER / CROUSE RESERVOIRS: Reports of good ice fishing prior to the last set of storms. Area has received recent snow so road access is questionable. The new "trophy fishery" regulation for Calder went into effect on January 1, 2007 so baits and scents can not be used while ice fishing.<br />
CURRANT CREEK RESERVOIR: Lake is frozen, no reports on fishing conditions. Check ice thickness carefully before venturing out. Area received more snow last week. The roads is usually kept open to the dam.<br />
EAST PARK / OAKS PARK: No new reports, access by skis or snowmobile. Reservoirs should be frozen, check ice condition carefully before venturing out.<br />
FLAMING GORGE: Good fishing for rainbows, lake trout and kokanee on majority of the reservoir. Utah ramps are open. Ice reported down to about Firehole in Wyoming. Rainbows have moved shallow again in response to cooler water temps. Larger fish can be found feeding on points in 10- to 20-foot water or in inflow areas. Rainbows can be caught from shore using bait and lures in the typical spring locations such as Mustang Ridge, the Visitor Center area, Sheep Creek Bay, Antelope Flat, and most shoreline areas in Wyoming. All Rainbows can also be caught trolling small spoons, pop gear or rapalas in 10 to 20 feet of water. Use long line technique or planer boards to get lures away from boat. Very nice sized fish are being caught.<br />
Kokanee fishing is open again as of December 1, 2006<br />
Smallmouth fishing is very slow, fishing becomes difficult during fall and winter. Smallmouth typically move deeper in winter and can be found as deep as 60 feet.<br />
Lake trout fishing is fair to excellent depending on location and size of targeted fish. Smaller fish are quite catchable and action has been good. Larger fish have pretty much finished the spawn and are now feeding again making them easier to catch. If boat fishing for lake trout; try trolling bottom structure using down riggers or steel line and flatfish, crank baits, or flashers trailing a lure or minnow for large lake trout. Vertical jigging using tube or bucktail jigs tipped with sucker meat can also be effective for lake trout when they are on the bottom. Long-lining rapalas and other minnow imitation lures a couple hundred feet behind the boat or behind planer boards is a good technique to use to catch large lake trout in the next few weeks. Large fish finish spawning and actively feed near the surface in December. Areas around Linwood Bay are good locations to start. White, brown or chartreuse colored three-inch tube jigs on a 3/16- or 1/4-ounce jig heads tipped with meat can been particularly effective for small lake trout. White tube jigs have been working well the past few weeks. Fish in depths from 50 to 90 feet, also look for suspending fish over deep structure and use your graph to put a jig or lure right in front of them. There are many small- and medium-sized lake trout in Flaming Gorge, so please take advantage of the eight-fish lake trout regulation (one over 28 inches) and harvest a limit. These smaller fish are excellent eating. Fishing is typically best during periods of stable weather and high pressure or just before a front moves in. The current surface temperature in the canyon is 41 to 43° F.<br />
A recent report of ice fishing for burbot in upper Wyoming is fishing has been good and some fish are in the 27- to 30-inch range. Try fishing off the points at night, especially first few hours after sunset as the fish move in from deeper waters. Try working the bottom with jigs tipped with sucker meet or other scented baits. Burbot, or ling cod, were illegally introduced into the upper Green River drainage and have made their way to Flaming Gorge Reservoir. The daily and possession limit for burbot is 25 fish, and all burbot caught must be killed. Please familiarize yourself with the appearance of these fish in case you catch one. Although the fish are quite odd looking in appearance, they are very good to eat with white flesh similar to walleye or perch. These fish are moving south in the reservoir and are now being caught frequently in Utah's waters. Numerous burbot were caught on the Linwood Bay lake trout spawning area with jigs and spoons.<br />
GREEN RIVER: (upper) The flows on the river are currently 800 cfs. Due to low inflows into the reservoir in 2007, flows should remain steady at 800 cfs throughout the winter to conserve water. From Dec 10 to 17, equipment maintenance will require use of the bypass tubes. Water levels should remain close to 800 cfs.<br />
Fishing on the river may slow a bit as the Bureau of Reclamation uses the bypass tubes while doing maintenance on the dam. Dry fly fishing is typically slow during the winter. Nymphing action has been good to excellent. The slot limit size range has changed from 13-20-inch to 15-22 inches to make regulations more consistent statewide. Nymphing with glo-bugs and San Juan worms with smaller nymphs trailering has been the workhorse. Small midge patterns work some days. Streamers are working well and have been extremely good some days. Size 2-4 buggers such as Goldilox and patterns in olive, pink and white.<br />
Spin fishermen should try small rapalas (floating, countdown and husky jerk); small spinners; black, brown or olive marabou jigs; and small jigs. Please check to see that your tube jigs contain no fish attracting scents as they are illegal to use in the river.<br />
New Zealand mudsnail densities have dramatically increased in several localized areas near Little Hole, and have been documented in most areas of the river. Please thoroughly clean mud and vegetation from waders, boats and fishing gear; and if possible, completely dry equipment before leaving the area. A hot water bath (120° F) will kill mudsnails, and spraying equipment with 409 or a similar soap solution before drying will increase effectiveness.<br />
GREEN RIVER: (lower) Water level is low. No new reports from anglers. Some stretches are beginning to freeze.<br />
MATT WARNER RESERVOIR: No new reports. Iced over and should be good fishing. Last snow storm dropped an additional foot or more snow blocking access from Hwy 191. Likely southern access is closed as well from recent snowfall and deep drifts.<br />
MOON LAKE: No new reports. Should be iced over as observed at lakes at similar elevations.<br />
PELICAN LAKE: New ice about four to six inches thick on areas close to shore. Waterfowl were keeping the middle ice-free but it looks like it has frozen in the last night or so. Anglers reported great fishing on Thursday for bluegill and a few bass.<br />
RED FLEET RESERVOIR: Reservoir is almost completely open water. Some ice forming but only in the shallowest bays. Park personnel were working to plow roads to the boat ramp on Friday.<br />
STARVATION RESERVOIR: No signs of ice yet or reports from anglers.<br />
STEINAKER RESERVOIR: Ice forming only on the shallowest edge of the northern bay, the rest is all open water. Park personnel were working to clear ice and snow from roads.<br />
UINTA MOUNTAIN LAKES AND STREAMS: No new reports. Lakes and streams have ice but check it carefully before venturing out. Area has received several snowstorms. Early ice fishing on lakes and reservoirs is also almost always good. Fishing success on mountain lakes and streams can be spotty so if one isn't producing try moving to another. With over 400 managed fisheries on the South Slope alone, it's easy to find a new place to fish. Always go prepared for serious weather, as the Uinta Mountains are well known for frequent unexpected storms and high winds. Note: The Uinta Mountains have a four-trout limit with a bonus of four more brook trout - see proclamation for details. [/size]
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