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NORTHERN REGION Updated May 11
BIRCH CREEK RESERVOIR - Fishing was poor. Anglers have been using PowerBait™ and spinners with very little success.
BOUNTIFUL POND - Fishing is fair for trout.
ECHO RESERVOIR - Fishing from the bank is slow. There are some fish being caught from boats using pop gear and a worm. Echo Resort is open on Weekends only.
EAST CANYON RESERVOIR - Fishing is fair for rainbow trout. Anglers have been having success using rainbow PowerBait™, marshmallow and a worm, spinners (try spoons different color Daredevils), and carter lures or triple teasers.
FARMINGTON POND - Fishing is fair for trout.
HYRUM RESERVOIR - Fishing is fair for rainbow by trolling and a few from the shore. Anglers are having success using PowerBait™.
LITTLE CREEK RESERVOIR - Fishing was good for anglers using PowerBait™ and spinners.
MABEY (CLEARFIELD CITY) POND - Fishing is slow to fair for catfish.
MANTUA - Fishing was slow for bass and bluegill. Some boaters are having luck catching bass near the shore.
OGDEN RIVER - Flows will be variable because of irrigation releases from Pineview Reservoir. Fishing for brown trout can be good depending on flows.
ROCKPORT RESERVOIR - Fishing is good from shore or boats. Anglers are having success catching rainbows 10-12 inches using marshmallow and a worm, PowerBait™, or spinners (try different color DareDevils and Jakes Spinnalures).
WEBER RIVER - Fishing is fair. Anglers are having success drifting a worm or using spinners like blue fox's or Panther Martins . Fly fisherman having success using a Renegade fly or Parachute Adams. Warm weather has increased runoff, making portions of the Weber River high and off color. Best places to fish the Weber right now are Morgan through Taggart and between Rockport and Echo Reservoirs. Fishing in these areas is good for brown trout and mountain whitefish using small (#12–#16) nymphs. Lighter color nymphs like hares ears seem to work the best, however pheasant tails, prince, zug bugs, and scuds work as well.
WILLARD BAY - Fishing from the dike for wipers and small mouth bass was slow. Fishing pressure for crappie in the north marina is still high, but not much was getting caught.
WOODRUFF RESERVOIR - Fishing has been fair for trolling anglers; however, shore fishermen have had poor success.
CENTRAL REGION Updated April 29
NOTICE: Fish Health Advisory has been lifted from Am. Fork Creek!
STRAWBERRY RESERVOIR - (April 29) Open water. Fishing is reported as fair to good using all techniques. Best fly success is coming from dark wooly bugger patterns. Dark tube jigs are also working well. Regulations for the reservoir include an aggregate limit of 4 trout or kokanee salmon. No more than two may be cutthroat trout under 15 inches, and no more than one may be a cutthroat over 22 inches long. Immediately release all cutthroat between 15 and 22 inches (any trout with cutthroat markings is considered 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!
JORDANELLE RESERVOIR (April 29) Open water. Fair success for trout and small perch with standard techniques and baits. Smallmouth bass aren't too active yet. Note: Anticipate paying $5.00 to park in plowed areas at Hailstone and $4.00 on the Rock Cliff side. No parking along the highway. Perch limit is 50 fish. For updated conditions call (435) 649-9540. Bass limit is six. Immediately release all bass over 12 inches. Do your part to prevent the spread of whirling disease by cleaning mud from waders and equipment. Do not transport any parts of fish caught here to other waters.
PROVO RIVER (above Olmstead Diversion Dam) (April 29) Fewer anglers today with the rainy weather, but fishing will be good once the storms pass. Special regulations apply to much of this stretch of the river. (Please read the proclamation for details.) The exception is between Charleston Bridge and the Legacy Bridge (near Midway) which allows the use of bait and a standard limit of four trout (any trout species and any size). Standard Provo River nymphs (size 18 and smaller) such as gold-ribbed hares ear, scuds, pheasant tails and other small nymphs will work best on the "artificial-fly-&-lure only" stretches. Do your part to prevent the spread of whirling disease by cleaning mud from waders and equipment. Do not transport any parts of fish caught here to other waters.
PROVO RIVER (Below Olmstead Diversion) (April 29) (The Olmstead Diversion is located about one mile up the canyon from Bridal Veil Falls). Good fishing success using baits or flies. Water looks good and fish are getting active on the surface. Harvest of trout is encouraged on this stretch as well due to overpopulation of brown trout.
DEER CREEK RESERVOIR (May 6) - Walleye are still biting but success is tapering off. Twist tail grubs or rapalas are the best walleye lures. DWR biologists conducted gillnet surveys recently and didn't find many perch in the nets, so perch fishing will probably be slow. Main boat ramp is now open. Island boat ramp has some water, but many choose to continue launching on the south side of the ramp. Many anglers are using standard baits and are reporting fair success for trout and slow success for perch. Regulations: trout limit is four (statewide); yellow perch limit is 10; walleye limit is six, but only one can be over 20 inches; bass limit is six, but release all bass over 12 inches.
UTAH LAKE - (April 29) State Park Ranger reports seeing good success for most species around the lake. Standard fishing techniques depending on the species. Note to anglers: The tributaries to Utah Lake are closed to angling March 1 through 6 a.m. on May 1. There is no limit on white bass. Largemouth and smallmouth bass limit is six, but all largemouth and smallmouth bass over 12 inches must be immediately released. For more information on conditions call Utah Lake State Park at (801) 375-0731.
YUBA RESERVOIR - (April 29) Open water. Trout fishing is slow to fair. Though the reservoir has been stocked with several thousand rainbow trout and 50,000 perch last year, anglers must release the perch. For more info call the State Park at (435) 758-2611.
BURRASTON PONDS - (April 29) Stocked last week. Fair to good fishing success by using traditional baits.
HOBBLE CREEK & DIAMOND FORK RIVERS - (April 29) The Hobble Creek catch basin was stocked this week. Both rivers are producing "fair" success with baits and flies. No report on lure fishing success. Diamond Fork, from Springville Crossing to it headwaters, is artificial flies and lures only, and is closed to cutthroat trout possession.
SPRING LAKE & SALEM POND - (April 29). Fair to good success. Worms or spinners have been the best techniques. Remember that regulations on both waters include a limit of four fish. (Daily bag and possession limit is an aggregate total of four fish for all species; for example, one trout, two channel catfish and one bluegill.) Bass, bluegill and channel catfish are also in these waters.
CANYON VIEW POND & SPANISH OAKS POND (April 29) - Stocked. Fair fishing success.
PAYSON LAKES - (April 21) Gate is closed and locked by the USFS until about Memorial Day weekend.
WILLOW POND (Murray) - (April 29) Success has been reported as fair using standard fishing techniques and baits.
TIBBLE FORK RESERVOIR - (April 29) Won't be stocked until late May. Open water but slow to fair fishing success.
GRANTSVILLE AND SETTLEMENT CANYON RESERVOIRS - (April 29) Anglers report fair fishing with standard fishing baits.
NORTHEASTERN REGION
May 12
BIG SAND WASH RESERVOIR - Reports of fair to good fishing. The reservoir is filled. The west side access will be closed due to construction work. The boat ramp will remain open and the east side may be accessed from the ramp.
BULLOCK/COTTONWOOD RESERVOIRS - Reports of fair fishing on Bullock. Cottonwood doesn't have much in it because of reports it may be drained. Reservoirs are located approximately 5 miles north of the town of Gusher.
BROUGH RESERVOIR - Reports of good fishing. Fishing from the bank, float tubes or small boats is recommended due to primitive launch conditions and water levels. Note: Special 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 is quite rutted.
BROWNIE / SPIRIT LAKE - No new reports. USFS roads are scheduled to open May 15.
EAST PARK / OAKS PARK Reports of good to excellent fishing. Ice just melting and water levels are low. Expect roads to still have some snow drifts and muddy places.
CALDER /CROUSE RESERVOIRS - Calder joined Crouse as a drought victim. DWR biologists have determined Calder had a complete winterkill just prior to ice melt.
CURRANT CREEK RESERVOIR - Reports of good fishing. Angler reported reservoir was mostly ice-free, they stopped and fished near dam due to the weather. The road around the reservoir likely still too muddy or blocked by drifts.
FLAMING GORGE RESERVOIR (May 11) - All ramps except Anvil Draw are accessible. Surface water temperature is currently 54#deg; F. Rainbow trout fishing is good along shoreline areas using PowerBait™, a marshmallow/worm combo, or a nightcrawler under a bobber. Boat fishermen are doing well casting small jigs or lures, especially on rocky points in the Canyon area. Lake trout fishing is good with large fish reported at Antelope, Sheep Creek, Anvil Draw, Stateline and Jarvies. Action for small lake trout is very good from Squaw Hollow to Buckboard. Concentrate in 30 to 50 feet of water along the river channel. Good techniques include trolling bottom structure using down riggers or steel line and large flatfish or crank baits; or vertical jigging using tube or bucktail jigs with or without a minnow or sucker meat. Another effective spring technique is long-lining a rapala or crankbait on monofilament along shoreline areas and bays early or late in the day. This technique also is effective for nicer rainbows and an occasional brown trout. There are many small- and medium-sized lake trout in Flaming Gorge, so please take advantage of the new six-fish lake trout regulation (one over 28 inches) and harvest a limit. Some smallmouth bass are being caught along rocky shorelines, however action for this species and kokanee salmon will improve later this month as water temperature increases.
GREEN RIVER (upper) (May 11) - Base flows increased this week to match peak flows from the Yampa River and were 4400 cfs May 11–12. Flows will begin decreasing 400 cfs per day on May 13 and are scheduled to reach 1200 cfs by May 20. For the duration of the summer, flows should average approximately 1000 cfs. Dry fly fishing was improving with some cicadas making an appearance to compliment midge and BWO hatches. The blue wing olives are especially prevalent on cool, cloudy days. Try cicada imitations, size 8–12, as well as various attractor patterns and small BWO patterns, size 18–22. Nymph fishing is still effective using olive, tan or pink scuds, size 10–16; San Juan Worms, size 12–14; bead head midge, size 16–22; and RS-II, WD-40, or pheasant tails, size 16–20. For streamer fishing, try brown, tan or olive wooly buggers, size 2–6, and light-colored minnow imitations. Spin fishermen have been doing well using small rapalas; spinners; black, brown or olive marabou jigs; and tube jigs. New Zealand Mudsnail densities have dramatically increased in several localized areas near and downstream of Little Hole. Please thoroughly clean mud and vegetation from waders, boats and fishing gear, and if possible, completely dry equipment before leaving the area.
GREEN RIVER (lower) - No new reports from anglers. Water levels remain low.
GREEN RIVER (lower) - No new reports from anglers. Water levels remain low.
MATT WARNER RESERVOIR - Reports of good fishing. Roads are in good shape except for after storms.
MOON LAKE - Reports of good fishing. Road accessible to the lake. A few ice sheets in the northern and eastern portions of the lake at the time of the report. These are melting quickly.
PELICAN LAKE - Reports of slow fishing. High winds and cold weather have kept the lake from warming up, catch rates should pick up as the water warms. Watch out for the wind, it's making fishing a real adventure.
RED FLEET RESERVOIR - Anglers report good to excellent fishing for rainbow trout. Haven't heard much about bass or bluegill yet. Cold winds are keeping the lake from warming up.
STARVATION RESERVOIR - Anglers reporting good fishing for trout and slow to fair for other fish. Bass, walleye and yellow perch catch rates should pick up as water warms.
STEINAKER RESERVOIR - Reports range from fair to excellent fishing for trout. Anglers indicate its mostly weather related, the best fishing has been on warmer days.
UINTA MOUNTAIN LAKES AND STREAMS - Ice on the streams is melting out. High elevation lakes and ponds still have ice and snow but they are melting out. New snow from last set of storms at higher elevations. Be prepared for any kind of weather. Note: four-trout limit with a bonus of four more brook trout — see proclamation for details.
SOUTHEASTERN REGION
Updated May 12
ATTENTION CASTLE COUNTRY KIDS! - On May 15, the Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) will host its annual Kids' Fishing Event at the Huntington Game Farm Pond north of the town of Huntington. The gate opens at 8:00 a.m. Kids under 14 need no license. The limit is an aggregate of four fish (bass, bluegill, and trout). There will be a lot of prizes furnished by area retailers and fishing tackle manufacturers! The DWR will have rods, reels and bait for public use. The event is free! Dedicated hunters and volunteers will be on-hand to help the kids fish more successfully. For more information, call: (435) 636-0260.
GENERAL - Utah's fish hatcheries are getting ready for their annual pre-Memorial Day stocking of lakes, reservoirs and streams. By Memorial Day weekend, most popular waters will be freshly planted.
BENCHES AND BOULGER RESERVOIRS Both are ice-free. Fishing was good for carryover fish. Stocking is expected before month's end.
CLEVELAND RESERVOIR The reservoir is ice-free. The north inlet and west shoreline have been the best bets, according to Todd Munford of Big Pine Sports in Fairview. He suggests that anglers use corn-flavored PowerBait™, wildfire Power Nuggets, or a straight nightcrawler for carry-over 16-inch rainbow trout. Conservation Officer Mike Milburn reports fair fishing for 10- to 13-inch rainbows. Mike recommends salmon eggs and PowerBait™.
ELECTRIC LAKE - The Lake is open. Mud and snow continue to be a problem, however. Biologist Justin Hart reported good fishing with dead minnows below the dam. Fishing was good near the inlet with Panther Martin lures or chrome Jake's Spin-a-Lures. Sergeant Carl Gramlich says fishing with nightcrawlers was good for 12- to 15-inch cutthroat trout. Tributaries (inflowing water sources) are closed to fishing until July 10 to protect spawning cutthroats.
FAIRVIEW LAKES - lakes are ice-free. Access is limited in shady areas. No stocking has occurred.
GIGLIOTTI POND The DWR is currently putting a bottom liner in the pond to prevent future leaking. After work is completed, the pond will be refilled. The DWR hopes to have this fishery in operation in June or July. A special Kids' Fishing Event will take place in early September.
GOOSEBERRY RESERVOIR - The U.S. Forest Service gate remains closed, but the reservoir is ice-free. HUNTINGTON CREEK Flows are low and clear below the dam. Try small dry flies with light leader at midday, or a large attractor pattern with a small midge dropper. Fishing in the fly-only zone was fair.
HUNTINGTON RESERVOIR - The reservoir is ice-free. Todd Munford says that fishing was fair with a straight nightcrawler off the east and north shorelines. Fly fishermen will start picking up tigers 30–40 yards out from the shore with pontoon boats or float tubes. Todd recommends that fly anglers slowly troll parallel to the shoreline with rust-colored wooly buggers or brown leech patterns. Conservation Officer Mike Milburn reported moderate pressure and good fishing last weekend for 12- to 17-inch tiger trout. Nightcrawlers were working best.
JOES VALLEY RESERVOIR - No recent report. The trout limit is two; only one over 22 inches. Immediately release all trout from 15–22 inches.
LASAL MOUNTAINS - Conservation Officer Vance Mumford says that Hidden and Don's lakes are the only mountain lakes, which are accessible. One angler reported good luck with dry flies at Hidden. Mumford says fishing at Don's for holdover splake and tiger trout was fair. POTTERS PONDS - remain inaccessible.
SAN JUAN COUNTY - Conservation Officer Randall Scheetz reports good fishing at Blanding #3 and Blanding #4 reservoirs with traditional baits such as marshmallows, PowerBait™ or salmon eggs. Pike fishing at Recapture Reservoir was fair for northern pike. Anglers should try spinners from shore or use Rapalas while trolling. Lloyd's Lake was fair from shore for rainbow trout near the inlet. Foy Reservoir is good with baits and spinners for brook and rainbow trout. Fishing at Ken's Lake was good for 10- to 12-inch rainbows and an occasional brown trout or largemouth bass, says Conservation Officer Vance Mumford. Mumford recommends that bass anglers keep nightcrawlers, plastic worms or tube jigs moving along the bottom.
SCOFIELD RESERVOIR - Sergeant Carl Gramlich reports generally slow fishing. Success was better on the west side with worms and marshmallows. Anglers are reminded that tributaries are closed to fishing until July 10.
LAKE POWELL
Updated May 12
Lake elevation: 3,583 ft., Water temperature: 62–67° F.
Runoff has started. The lake is beginning to rise which is good news for those waiting for launch ramps to get back into full operation. Expect all launch ramps to have enough flooded concrete for great access by Memorial Day or before.
Rising water spells the end to sight fishing for spawning bass. As water marches higher the shoreline moves away from stationary bass nests leaving them far from shore. While male bass still linger the nest is no longer readily visible and sight fishing is no more. You just have to fish for bass again. Females move to feeding stations near rock structure. The breaking edge of rocks will become better bass-catching habitat and shallow sand will decline in importance. This will be a gradual transition over the next two weeks.
I really like fishing this time of year as many species of fish are moving and searching for food in the same areas. It is often possible to catch bass, stripers, sunfish, crappie, walleye and catfish using the same lure on a single stretch of shoreline. Single or double-tail plastic grubs, and/or shad imitating crank baits are extremely effective for very aggressive game fish.
During this year of abundant shad perhaps the most important key is the shad spawn. All game fish are searching for shad, which spawn at first light in the backs of canyons and coves around floating debris and shoreline vegetation. Shad eggs are adhesive and stick to the first object touched after fertilization. The shad spawn dominates all other variables and is the best key for finding game fish. Target the ends of canyons that contain off-colored water and show rooted brush or wind-rowed tumbleweeds. Be there at first light and enjoy the spectacle for the first two hours of daylight. Be prepared for a decline in activity from 7–10 a.m.. Normally productive fishing hours find game fish finished chasing shad and quite dormant. It may be afternoon or evening before shad-eating fish become active again.
Striped bass are the ultimate shad-seekers. Expect to find stripers herding shad as the predawn morning sky lightens. Top water and shallow running shad baits are very effective early on adults. Stripers feed quickly and efficiently on spawning shad. Big stripers will be obvious as they roll, splash and chase from 5–7 a.m. (MST) and almost invisible after that time. They become active again at dusk especially on warm calm nights when striper spawning may occur.
Young stripers have become active and will save the day. They can be caught all day long in the same shallow murky water where shad spawn. Find them by trolling and casting vibrating shad baits like rattletraps. Once located a school is quite stationary and multiple stripers can be caught from each school. While yearlings are only 12 inches long they are perhaps the most voracious predators of young shad. They eat thousands of shad larvae and may even boil on small shad during the next two weeks. Catch and keep as many young stripers as possible. That will allow newly hatched shad to grow larger and provide more forage for the many adult bass and stripers that comprise the majority of game fish this spring.
SOUTHERN REGION
Updated May 11
BAKER RESERVOIR: Reservoir level is good. The lake was stocked with catchable-sized rainbow trout. Fishing was fair. Try PowerBait™ or worms from shore. Trolling about anything will also work.
BEAVER MOUNTAIN LAKES: Access is possible as far as Kents Lake in the South Fork drainage, but not to Anderson Meadow or Labaron yet. The ice is off Puffer. Fishing was fair at Little Reservoir with a few nice brown trout taken. Most of the lakes will be stocked by around the end of the month.
BEAVER RIVER: Flows and turbidity may be up on warmer afternoons in the canyon area. Try spinners or nymph patterns. There may be some caddis or mayfly hatches on warmer days. Releases have begun from Minersville Reservoir so flows in the lower river are up. Please prevent the spread of whirling disease by cleaning mud from waders and equipment. Do not transport any parts of fish caught here to other waters.
BOULDER MTN LAKES: All waters on the Boulder Mountain are now open to fishing except Dougherty Basin Lake. Snow still limits access to higher lakes, but snow levels are decreasing rapidly. Ice is gone on some of the lower lakes but higher lakes still have some ice. The road to the top generally remains closed until some time in June. Ice out is a popular time to catch some nice brook trout. A black marabou jig is a standard lure to try.
CHALK CREEK: Small stream east of Fillmore. Little fishing pressure. Good fishing for small wild rainbow trout and rainbow/cutthroat hybrids. Best fishing is away from the campground and more heavily fished spots. The North Fork provides a good spot for those willing to hike. Meadow Creek and Pioneer Creek are other small streams in the area that contain populations of small, wild trout.
CLEAR CREEK: Small stream along I-70 by Fremont Indian State Park. The stream is up and has had some turbidity due to runoff. Your ability to fish here will depend on weather and the amount of runoff. Good fishing for browns and rainbows up to 14 inches. The tributaries also contain populations of small, wild trout. Little pressure.
CORN CREEK: Fair fishing for brown trout. Little pressure. Fishing can be a challenge here with thick riparian vegetation.
DUCK CREEK/ASPEN MIRROR: These lakes are now open to fishing. Fishing will be slow until normal summer stocking begins later in May.
EAST FORK OF THE SEVIER RIVER: The river in Black Canyon was high and turbid. Releases from Tropic Reservoir have ended so conditions could improve depending upon runoff from other tributaries. Some trout are present in the area near Osiris Mill and above. There are few trout in the lower portion. Improvement in the fishery in the lower portion will depend on the recovery of the watershed following the impacts of flooding last year following fires. For the section of river from the BLM property boundary (about four miles south of Antimony) upstream to the confluence with Deer Creek, special regulations include the use of artificial flies and lures only and a limit of two trout. Releases have begun low below Otter Creek Reservoir so the river is high and turbid through the Kingston Canyon area.
ENTERPRISE RESERVOIR (Upper and Lower): The reservoirs are gaining some water but are still low. Catchable size rainbow trout have been stocked in the lower reservoir. Fishing was good with trout taken up to 15 inches. Try PowerBait™ and worms. Some adult smallmouth bass have been transplanted to reestablish the bass fishery. If you catch a bass, please release it so we can get the smallmouth fishery going again. Smaller trout will also be stocked at the upper reservoir this spring if conditions are suitable.
FISH LAKE: The ice is gone. Now is a good time to try for splake, rainbows and lake trout. Best fishing is by boat. For splake, try anchoring near the weed line in 20–30 feet of water. Jig with a spoon or plastic jig tipped with sucker or perch meat. You can catch rainbows still-fishing with bait or trolling spinners or pop gear with a worm. Troll deeper for lake trout. Shore fishing is best near Twin Creek using worms or wet flies/streamers, but remember, the stream itself is closed to fishing. Shore anglers can also have success for splake using whole dead minnows or cut bait from shore at night. Special regulations for Fish Lake include no more than two of your four trout limit may be lake trout and only one may be a lake trout larger than 20 inches.
FORSYTH RESERVOIR: The ice is off. Fair fishing for some nice splake and tiger trout. Try casting jigs or spinners from shore or trolling. Please prevent the spread of whirling disease. Do not transport any parts of fish caught here to other waters.
FREMONT RIVER: Flows in the section between Johnson Reservoir and Mill Meadow Reservoir are up with some runoff. Brown trout are abundant in the section between Mamoit Springs and Mill Meadow. Private property along much of the lower section, obtain permission before fishing. Please prevent the spread of whirling disease by cleaning mud from waders and equipment. Do not transport any parts of fish caught here to other waters.
GOOSEBERRY AREA: Snow still limits access to the Gooseberry lakes, Seven Mile and U M Creek, but conditions are changing rapidly. Special regulations on U M Creek include artificial flies and lures only and closed to the possession of cutthroat trout.
GUNLOCK RESERVOIR: Bass are in shallow and fishing has improved. Green sunfish, bluegill and crappie are present here too. Remember special regulations for bass — four bass under 10 inches and two over 20 inches.
JOHNSON RESERVOIR: Ice is gone. The lake is accessible from Fish Lake. Abundant chubs, suckers and small perch are a problem here. A limited number of tiger muskies have been stocked in Johnson Reservoir. A number of them have been in the reservoir long enough to produce some large fish. Ice out should be one of the best times to pick up a tiger muskie. Try a large spoon or minnow imitation. If you catch one, please contact the nearest DWR office with some details.
KOLOB RESERVOIR: Access is possible from the south side, still inaccessible from the north. The snow is going fast so access may be possible soon from the north. Fishing has slowed somewhat, but anglers are still taking 14- to 18-inch rainbows. Try the rocky points or any place with some gravel, where the larger rainbows are cruising the shoreline. Spinners, jigs or bugger/leech patterns with work. Special regulations include artificial flies and lures only, with a limit of one trout which must be over 22 inches. Scented jigs are not allowed. Kolob Creek above the reservoir is closed until July.
KOOSHAREM RESERVOIR: The ice is off. The reservoir is full. Slow fishing for some nice cutthroat and rainbows. Best success by trolling.
LOWER BOWNS RESERVOIR: The lake is now accessible by vehicle. Generally some fast fishing early in the season.
MILL MEADOW RESERVOIR: Open water. Some success reported from spinners cast from shore. Best success was trolling. Please prevent the spread of whirling disease. Do not transport any parts of fish caught here to other waters.
MINERSVILLE RESERVOIR: Open water. There are fair numbers of 12- to 13-inch rainbows in the reservoir. Try casting wooly buggers, jigs, or spinners near shore. Special regulations include a trout limit of one fish, which must be over 22 inches; artificial flies and lures only. Scented jigs are not allowed. The park is now administered by Beaver County. Please prevent the spread of whirling disease. Do not transport any parts of fish caught here to other waters.
NAVAJO LAKE: The ice is off. No fishing reports yet. The lake will be stocked with catchable rainbow trout by the end of the month.
NEWCASTLE RESERVOIR: Open water. Slow fishing for rainbow trout. Water temps are in the low sixties and smallmouth have been staged off shore in 10–15 feet of water but should be moving on beds soon. There are a lot of nice smallmouth bass here but they can be difficult to catch since they don't have to work too hard for food with the abundant golden shiner population.
OTTER CREEK RESERVOIR: Fishing has improved with warmer temps. Good for mostly 12-inch rainbows with a few larger fish up to three pounds. Trolling was working best. A worm and marshmallow combination was working well for stillfishers or shore anglers. Please prevent the spread of whirling disease. Do not transport any parts of fish caught here to other waters.
PANGUITCH LAKE: Fishing was slow for mainly rainbows. Special regulations here include the release of all cutthroat trout under 22 inches. Only one cutthroat trout (over 22 inches) may be kept in your daily limit of four trout. Sections of the tributary streams near the lake are closed until July
PARAGONAH (RED CREEK) RESERVOIR: Good fishing for rainbow trout. Try spinners, leech or bugger patterns in the inflow area. Remember that the stream itself is closed to fishing. Most of the fish at Paragonah are the result of spawning and natural recruitment from the section of stream immediately above the lake, so look but don't touch, and stay out of the stream.
PINE LAKE: The lake is accessible by vehicle. The ice is off. The lake is down about four feet. Most of the trout were lost this past winter due to winter kill. The lake will be stocked some time this week with catchable-sized rainbow trout. Try PowerBait™ or worms from shore.
PINE VALLEY RESERVOIR: The ice is off. You can try for some of the brookies that hold over through the winter but normal stocking of catchable size rainbow trout won't start until later in May.
PIUTE RESERVOIR: The reservoir is low. The ramp and docks are nearly out of the water. Launch at your own risk. Slow fishing. Little fishing pressure. Some small trout are present, but we need a good water year to produce some fishing here.
QUAIL LAKE: The lake is low but rising. Bass are now in shallow and success has improved. Try plastic baits, crayfish crankbaits or spinner baits. Some success for rainbow trout reported. Remember the special regulations for bass: four bass under 10 inches and two over 20 inches.
REDMOND LAKE: Little pressure. Slow fishing.
REX RESERVOIR: Accessible by truck. Fishing is good. Try worms or PowerBait™ from shore.
SAND COVE RESERVOIRS: Two small reservoirs by the town of Veyo. Catchable-size rainbow trout have been stocked in the upper reservoir. Bluegill were stocked at both reservoirs last year to get populations started. It will likely be a year or so yet before there are many bluegill of any size though. Introductions of largemouth bass are planned for this year.
SAND HOLLOW RESERVOIR: A new reservoir near St. George. The lake is now open to fishing. Public access to the reservoir is available only through the State Park. Surface water temps have been in the 60s. Good fishing for bass up to 14-15 inches as well as bluegill. Try a small plastic bait or spinner bait for bass along the darker lava rock dikes or shallow bays where the water warms in the afternoons on sunny days. Try a small jig or piece of worm below a float near some of the submerged vegetation for bluegill. Special regulations here include a limit of four bass under 10 inches and two over 20 inches.
SEVIER RIVER, ASAY CREEK, MAMMOTH CREEK: Flows and turbidity in the upper tributaries (Asay Creek and Mammoth Creek) will vary from day to day as snow melts. The upper tributaries have been up and colored this past weekend. Most of the trout water on the Sevier is located upstream (south) from the town of Hatch. Intermittent sections of good habitat are present above Hatch and easily accessible from Highway 89. The river contains mainly brown trout and mountain whitefish. Asay Creek west of Highway 89 is on private land and access is restricted. Public access is possible on much of Mammoth Creek west of Highway 89. Special regulations apply to a section of Mammoth Creek, check the proclamation for details. Try nymph patterns or spinners. Whirling disease was documented in the drainage. Please prevent the spread of whirling disease. Do not transport any parts of fish caught here to other waters.
THOUSAND LAKES MTN: No recent reports.
TROPIC RESERVOIR: Reservoir at the head of the East Fork of the Sevier River, west of Bryce Canyon Nat'l Park. The reservoir is now accessible. It was stocked with catchable rainbow trout. There are also some brown trout. Try some PowerBait™ or spinners from shore.
URBAN PONDS: Good fishing for rainbow trout at the two Tawa ponds along the Snow Canyon Parkway and the Skyline Drive Pond in St. George. The trout limit is two at the St. George ponds. Catch and release only for largemouth bass. Anglers 14 years or older need a valid Utah fishing license to fish here. Older anglers are requested to use artificial flies or lures. The St. George ponds were stocked last week for the final time this summer. The Hurricane Pond was stocked with catchable size rainbows and was good fishing with PowerBait™ or worms. Rainbow trout have also been stocked at the Parowan Pond.
WIDE HOLLOW RESERVOIR: Reservoir at Escalante State Park west of the town of Escalante. The reservoir is near full and the boat ramp is usable. Fishing was good for 10- to 12-inch rainbows using spinners from the bank. Bass have been moving in shallow on warmer days.
YANKEE MEADOW RESERVOIR: The reservoir is accessible by truck. The ice is off. A popular spot at ice-out for brook trout and rainbow trout. There are also good numbers of cutthroat present now. Try spinners or bait from shore. The inlet channel is closed to fishing.
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