08-14-2008, 11:10 AM
Larger lakes & reservoirs
DEER CREEK RESERVOIR: Water level still down a bit but no problems reported for launching. Many recreational boaters on the weekend after about 9:00 a.m. due to the continued warm weather. Once school begins and the weather cools over the next few weeks, the reservoir should be less crowded and fishing will pick up. Most trout anglers report at least fair success from both boat and shoreline in the early and late hours of the day. Pop-gear and a worm work well for boaters. Shoreline anglers are mostly using powerbait with slow to fair success. Bass success remains "fair" to "good." Please remember that the trout limit is four fish statewide, unless otherwise noted in the 2008 Fishing Guidebook. The yellow perch limit is 10. Remember that the bass limit is six, and you should immediately release all bass over 12 inches long. The walleye limit is 10, but you may keep only one over 24 inches.
JORDANELLE RESERVOIR: Bass anglers still reporting good success along brushy or rocky shoreline by casting jigs or other minnow-imitating lures. Trout anglers report "fair" success from both shoreline and boat. The bass limit is six fish, and you should immediately release all bass over 12 inches long. Please remember not to fillet bass or remove their heads or tails because of the size restriction (for law enforcement purposes). Perch success is slow, but the perch limit is 50.
STRAWBERRY RESERVOIR: Still receiving mixed reports of success for trout. Fair success for kokanee by those that find the school and jig for the kokes in about 30 to 50 feet of water. The narrows or the Soldier Creek side of the reservoir are good places to look for the salmon. Downriggers are a good help in trolling for kokanee. They help get your kokanee lures deep enough for these soft-mouthed fish reel them in carefully or they will get off elastic-like "rubber snubbers" are good to have on your line to help your odds of losing kokanee. Pink, Silver or white are good colors for kokanee lures. Many different lures, flies and baits are working for the trout. Try white tube jigs or dark wooly patterns (flies) from pontoon boat or float tube. Power Bait or a worm/marshmallow combo or dead minnow for the bait anglers. If success is not found go to another location. Regulations for the reservoir include: an aggregate limit of four trout or kokanee salmon. No more than two of the fish may be cutthroat trout under 15 inches, and no more than one may be a cutthroat over 22 inches. Immediately release all cutthroat between 15 and 22 inches long. (Consider any trout with cutthroat markings to be a cutthroat). Don't feel compelled to harvest fish on every trip. Please do your part to ensure the future of this heavily utilized fishery by voluntarily releasing fish.
UTAH LAKE: Fair success for white bass using action lures, good success for channel cats by using stink baits or worms. Walleye fishing is slow. The largemouth and smallmouth bass limit is six, and you should immediately release all largemouth and smallmouth bass over 12 inches long. For more information on conditions, call Utah Lake State Park at (801) 375-0731.
YUBA RESERVOIR: Anglers report slow success all species. Please keep the walleye you catch. For more information, call the State Park at (435) 758-2611.
Smaller lakes, reservoirs & ponds
Notice: Fish Parasite problem at Highland Glen Pond in Utah County. The parasite known as ich - short for ichthyophthirius multifiliis - is a fast-moving, fast-killing ailment commonly associated with fish in aquariums. Chris Penne, who monitors community fishing ponds throughout the state for the Division of Wildlife Resources, could only speculate on how it got to Highland Glen Park. "It could have been a wild fish or someone might have dumped their fish from an aquarium in it," he said. "We know it was not from the fish we stocked in the spring because they are monitored very closely." The parasite causes "white spot disease," attacking the outer skin of the fish so it can't get enough oxygen. "It is like they are sprinkled with salt," Penne said. The parasite does well in warmer waters and can quickly wipe out a population. "The only way to get rid of it is to let it run its course," Penne said. "Its average life span is three or four days. Right now the pond is the ideal temperature for the fungus to thrive, from 65° to 70°. When the water cools off it will go away." Though the parasite is lethal to fish, it isn't harmful to people who eat them. Signs have been posted at the pond about the parasite. The DWR usually stocks the Highland Glen pond several times a year with trout in cold months and catfish in warmer weather. The pond wasn't stocked this summer because any new fish would have been susceptible to the parasite. The pond will be stocked again next year.
BURRASTON POND: The pond is stocked, and fishing success is fair. Most anglers are using PowerBait.
MILL HOLLOW: Drained! No fishing until 2009. Went up yesterday to check on conditions heavy equipment was working on the dam so progress is being made!
PAYSON LAKE: Very good success! Angler Ryan states, "I fished Big East Lake at the Payson Lakes campground area yesterday from about 7 to 10 a.m., and again from about 1 to 4:30 p.m.. They must have just stocked it because the fishing was incredible. I fished from a raft in the middle of the lake and totaled 35 fish for the day - all rainbows. A few were very fat and good-sized, and all were very energetic fighters. Although I came prepared with many different lures and flies, the best method was to keep it simple. During the morning I caught 13 fish with a worm a couple feet under a bobber. Later in the day they stayed down deep, and I found that fishing a combo of a worm and a salmon egg with a slow retrieve off the bottom was the ticket for the other 22 fish. There were periods where I caught fish on every cast. Because I released so many, I used a small barbless hook. Shore fishermen had fair success. If you want to catch fish, doing it from a raft, float tube, or other small boat is really the best way to go. From the shoreline and good success for anglers out on the lake in boats or rafts."
SALEM POND: Fair success for trout and catfish by using traditional baits. The park closes at 10 each night. Remember that regulations include a daily bag and possession limit of four fish for all species. (For example, you could catch and keep one trout, two channel catfish and one bluegill.)
SALT LAKE COMMUNITY WATERS: Community ponds are stocked on a regular basis, and fishing success is fair to good.
SPANISH OAKS RESERVOIR: Anglers report fair success. Please don't fish too close to the swimmers along the western beach area. Worms and PowerBait work best.
SPRING LAKE: The lake is stocked. Anglers are having fair success for trout and catfish.
TIBBLE FORK RESERVOIR: Saw several anglers catching fish this week by using traditional baits and lures. Early morning hours are best time to catch the fish from shoreline once weather gets hot, fish tend to go to the deeper water in the center of the reservoir.
SILVER LAKE FLAT RESERVOIR: Anglers are having good success for rainbows and brook trout by using traditional baits, flies and lures.
VERNON, GRANTSVILLE & SETTLEMENT CANYON RESERVOIRS: Officer Hammond reports that anglers are having fair success at all three waters this week. Water levels are all getting a bit low.
Rivers and streams
AMERICAN FORK RIVER: Light fishing pressure and fair to good fishing success with worms or small flies.
DIAMOND FORK RIVER: "Fair success" most anglers are using flies. The water is fairly clear. Bait is allowed on this river.
HOBBLE CREEK & CATCH BASIN: Fishing on the creek is fair to good with traditional baits and spinners.
PROVO RIVER: Fly anglers are reporting good success. Hare's ear, sow bugs, and other small surface flies and bottom-bouncing nymphs are producing fair to good success in pools and feeding zones. Read the 2008 Fishing Guidebook to learn more about the different regulations on the river. Some areas allow bait and others do not. Size restrictions and reduced limits ("two brown trout under 15 inches") are in place in some stretches.
THISTLE CREEK: Anglers report good success with flies, lures or worms.
DEER CREEK RESERVOIR: Water level still down a bit but no problems reported for launching. Many recreational boaters on the weekend after about 9:00 a.m. due to the continued warm weather. Once school begins and the weather cools over the next few weeks, the reservoir should be less crowded and fishing will pick up. Most trout anglers report at least fair success from both boat and shoreline in the early and late hours of the day. Pop-gear and a worm work well for boaters. Shoreline anglers are mostly using powerbait with slow to fair success. Bass success remains "fair" to "good." Please remember that the trout limit is four fish statewide, unless otherwise noted in the 2008 Fishing Guidebook. The yellow perch limit is 10. Remember that the bass limit is six, and you should immediately release all bass over 12 inches long. The walleye limit is 10, but you may keep only one over 24 inches.
JORDANELLE RESERVOIR: Bass anglers still reporting good success along brushy or rocky shoreline by casting jigs or other minnow-imitating lures. Trout anglers report "fair" success from both shoreline and boat. The bass limit is six fish, and you should immediately release all bass over 12 inches long. Please remember not to fillet bass or remove their heads or tails because of the size restriction (for law enforcement purposes). Perch success is slow, but the perch limit is 50.
STRAWBERRY RESERVOIR: Still receiving mixed reports of success for trout. Fair success for kokanee by those that find the school and jig for the kokes in about 30 to 50 feet of water. The narrows or the Soldier Creek side of the reservoir are good places to look for the salmon. Downriggers are a good help in trolling for kokanee. They help get your kokanee lures deep enough for these soft-mouthed fish reel them in carefully or they will get off elastic-like "rubber snubbers" are good to have on your line to help your odds of losing kokanee. Pink, Silver or white are good colors for kokanee lures. Many different lures, flies and baits are working for the trout. Try white tube jigs or dark wooly patterns (flies) from pontoon boat or float tube. Power Bait or a worm/marshmallow combo or dead minnow for the bait anglers. If success is not found go to another location. Regulations for the reservoir include: an aggregate limit of four trout or kokanee salmon. No more than two of the fish may be cutthroat trout under 15 inches, and no more than one may be a cutthroat over 22 inches. Immediately release all cutthroat between 15 and 22 inches long. (Consider any trout with cutthroat markings to be a cutthroat). Don't feel compelled to harvest fish on every trip. Please do your part to ensure the future of this heavily utilized fishery by voluntarily releasing fish.
UTAH LAKE: Fair success for white bass using action lures, good success for channel cats by using stink baits or worms. Walleye fishing is slow. The largemouth and smallmouth bass limit is six, and you should immediately release all largemouth and smallmouth bass over 12 inches long. For more information on conditions, call Utah Lake State Park at (801) 375-0731.
YUBA RESERVOIR: Anglers report slow success all species. Please keep the walleye you catch. For more information, call the State Park at (435) 758-2611.
Smaller lakes, reservoirs & ponds
Notice: Fish Parasite problem at Highland Glen Pond in Utah County. The parasite known as ich - short for ichthyophthirius multifiliis - is a fast-moving, fast-killing ailment commonly associated with fish in aquariums. Chris Penne, who monitors community fishing ponds throughout the state for the Division of Wildlife Resources, could only speculate on how it got to Highland Glen Park. "It could have been a wild fish or someone might have dumped their fish from an aquarium in it," he said. "We know it was not from the fish we stocked in the spring because they are monitored very closely." The parasite causes "white spot disease," attacking the outer skin of the fish so it can't get enough oxygen. "It is like they are sprinkled with salt," Penne said. The parasite does well in warmer waters and can quickly wipe out a population. "The only way to get rid of it is to let it run its course," Penne said. "Its average life span is three or four days. Right now the pond is the ideal temperature for the fungus to thrive, from 65° to 70°. When the water cools off it will go away." Though the parasite is lethal to fish, it isn't harmful to people who eat them. Signs have been posted at the pond about the parasite. The DWR usually stocks the Highland Glen pond several times a year with trout in cold months and catfish in warmer weather. The pond wasn't stocked this summer because any new fish would have been susceptible to the parasite. The pond will be stocked again next year.
BURRASTON POND: The pond is stocked, and fishing success is fair. Most anglers are using PowerBait.
MILL HOLLOW: Drained! No fishing until 2009. Went up yesterday to check on conditions heavy equipment was working on the dam so progress is being made!
PAYSON LAKE: Very good success! Angler Ryan states, "I fished Big East Lake at the Payson Lakes campground area yesterday from about 7 to 10 a.m., and again from about 1 to 4:30 p.m.. They must have just stocked it because the fishing was incredible. I fished from a raft in the middle of the lake and totaled 35 fish for the day - all rainbows. A few were very fat and good-sized, and all were very energetic fighters. Although I came prepared with many different lures and flies, the best method was to keep it simple. During the morning I caught 13 fish with a worm a couple feet under a bobber. Later in the day they stayed down deep, and I found that fishing a combo of a worm and a salmon egg with a slow retrieve off the bottom was the ticket for the other 22 fish. There were periods where I caught fish on every cast. Because I released so many, I used a small barbless hook. Shore fishermen had fair success. If you want to catch fish, doing it from a raft, float tube, or other small boat is really the best way to go. From the shoreline and good success for anglers out on the lake in boats or rafts."
SALEM POND: Fair success for trout and catfish by using traditional baits. The park closes at 10 each night. Remember that regulations include a daily bag and possession limit of four fish for all species. (For example, you could catch and keep one trout, two channel catfish and one bluegill.)
SALT LAKE COMMUNITY WATERS: Community ponds are stocked on a regular basis, and fishing success is fair to good.
SPANISH OAKS RESERVOIR: Anglers report fair success. Please don't fish too close to the swimmers along the western beach area. Worms and PowerBait work best.
SPRING LAKE: The lake is stocked. Anglers are having fair success for trout and catfish.
TIBBLE FORK RESERVOIR: Saw several anglers catching fish this week by using traditional baits and lures. Early morning hours are best time to catch the fish from shoreline once weather gets hot, fish tend to go to the deeper water in the center of the reservoir.
SILVER LAKE FLAT RESERVOIR: Anglers are having good success for rainbows and brook trout by using traditional baits, flies and lures.
VERNON, GRANTSVILLE & SETTLEMENT CANYON RESERVOIRS: Officer Hammond reports that anglers are having fair success at all three waters this week. Water levels are all getting a bit low.
Rivers and streams
AMERICAN FORK RIVER: Light fishing pressure and fair to good fishing success with worms or small flies.
DIAMOND FORK RIVER: "Fair success" most anglers are using flies. The water is fairly clear. Bait is allowed on this river.
HOBBLE CREEK & CATCH BASIN: Fishing on the creek is fair to good with traditional baits and spinners.
PROVO RIVER: Fly anglers are reporting good success. Hare's ear, sow bugs, and other small surface flies and bottom-bouncing nymphs are producing fair to good success in pools and feeding zones. Read the 2008 Fishing Guidebook to learn more about the different regulations on the river. Some areas allow bait and others do not. Size restrictions and reduced limits ("two brown trout under 15 inches") are in place in some stretches.
THISTLE CREEK: Anglers report good success with flies, lures or worms.