Utah Fishing & Outdoors Report

Spring runoff will impact fishing in northern Utah during the next week or so. With the warm weather, snow is melting quickly and streams are rising. The biggest impact will be on the Green River, where flows will be artificially high because of the annual attempt to benefit the river's native fish. Flows could increase to 4600 cfs and that will change the fishing dynamic on the stream.

Dennis Breer has these comments in his weekly fishing report: "Having dealt with flows of 4600 cfs for many years now, I no longer see them as a bad event. My opinion is actually the opposite, when these flows are steady, higher water is actually good fishing." Dennis has excellent, practical advice about how to fish high flows. Read his weekly report.

Dennis reports that cicadas are now producing hot fly fishing on the Green.

Other northern Utah streams will be high but most will be fishable. The best action may come on sheltered sections below dams: the Provo below Jordanelle and Deer Creek, the Weber below Rockport, the Ogden below Pineview, etc.

In southern Utah runoff will be minimal.

A wide variety of bugs may be found on streams now (cicadas, bwos, drakes, stones, etc). Matching the hatch can be essential so check at a local fly shop for the latest before hitting the water.

Lake Powell is very good right now for all species. Stripers are everywhere and biting well; smallmouth are aggressive and defending nests; walleye are hungry and on the prowl. Below are excerpts from the latest report by Wayne Gustevson. Read the entire report. (The photo above is from Wayne's report).

"Warming water temperatures activate fish. Walleye have finished spawning and get very hungry when their cold-blooded body finally warms up. They respond by eating early and often. The next 3 weeks will be the best time to catch hungry walleye. Fish in low light periods - early and late. Take advantage of boat wakes and windy afternoons to find murky water where walleye shade up to feed. Mudlines along rocky points, muddy coves, and mud-covered brush are prime walleye spots during May.

"Stripers are literally everywhere. They are in the backs of canyons, in mid channel and in deep water. Warming will make them seem even more abundant as the younger plankton-eaters will be caught more often. Troll, cast, or graph and bait fish - your preference. Keep all stripers. The smaller fish are better table fare and the bigger fish are fun to catch. Both sizes are equally caught on bait or lures. Stripers in the back of the canyons and coves are not boiling but they are "looking up" so they will hit a topwater lure early and late. It is possible to create your own boil from dawn to 8 AM."

Boulder Mountain is opening up. Here’s an interesting report from a guy who fished during the past storm (snow down there), with a lively discussion about management on the mountain.

Flaming Gorge continues to fish well. This report includes an attached photo showing a phenomenal lake trout.

Willard Bay recently produced a new state record wiper. Here’s an Ogden Standard Examiner article about it. This link should bring up a photo.

DWR Hotspots Report
DWR Rates the following waters as hot:
East Canyon Reservoir for trout and bass
Steinaker for trout, bass and bluegill
Matt Warner for trout
Navajo Lake for trout
Lower Bowns for trout
Lake Powell for catfish, bass, walleye and striped bass

Many waters are rated as good. See the DWR report.

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