Utah Fishing & Outdoors Report

Fall colors are starting to show on northern Utah mountains. When will colors be prime? That varies from year to year. I'll go out on a limb and predict the last week of September in northern Utah, and late October in southern Utah. This webpage describes drives offering good views of fall colors.

Strawberry Valley Wildlife Festival will be Sept 14-15 at the U.S. Forest Service visitor center. The Strawberry River flows past and it should offer good views of fluorescent red spawning kokanee salmon. The festival offers clinics, information and fun. DWR biologists will be there to talk to the public.

DWR has terminated the discussion forums offered on its website. The forums were successful in generating discussion and providing an opportunity for fishers and hunters to share information. However, like most Internet forums, inappropriate, rude and offensive posts sometimes caused problems. With DWR out of the game, the Big Fish Tackle Utah forum is the best I'm aware of.

Lake Powell continues to offer hot fishing. Wayne Gustaveson reports: Summer is over. Lake Powell is quiet. Air and water temperature will now begin cooling to a more comfortable temperature for fish and anglers. September is the peak month for bass and striper feeding. Forage is at the season high in abundance and size. With the passing of Labor Day all is in order for serious fishing to begin. Read his complete report.

Green River fishing is good now and should improve during the coming weeks. Dennis Breer says fishing pressure is down a little, even though success remains high. Recent storms have muddied the water on the lower river. Water quality is excellent from the Dam down to Red Creek, which is located below Little Hole. Hoppers and other terrestrials are working well, but other bugs may also be productive. Dennis posts an excellent weekly report on his website.

Most other streams are also fishing well. Hoppers are important almost everywhere. In addition, Steve Schmidt gives these recommendations: "As you head out, have a good assortment of Terrestrials in your box, Caddis patterns in several sizes, Little Yellow Sallies and some PMD's. We have Trico on several of our waters. These little buggers can really be productive if enough of them are on the water."

DWR Hotspots Report
DWR says these waters offer hot fishing
- Pelican Lake for bluegill and largemouth bass
- Calder Reservoir for rainbows
- Pineview Reservoir for crappie, bass and perch
- Weber River for trout and whitefish
- Fish Lake for splake, rainbows, perch
- Sand Hollow Reservoir for bass and bluegill
- Lake Powell for bass, stripers, walleye, crappie and catfish

Interesting Angler Posts
Jordanelle yields huge smallmouth
Utah Lake is great for channel catfish
Pelican Lake is very good for bluegill and largemouth
Strawberry: Interesting discussion about fish dying after being released

New Articles
DWR
Cattle deliberately shot with arrowsUpland game hunting a mixed bag this yearFishing tournaments: Should Utah's rules change?See thousands of kokanee salmon

Salt Lake Tribune
Vile mussels vanish; fear of invasion lingers
Visitation to park up by nearly 10 percent
Fair catch
Outdoor Notebook: Scale up to the Strawberry Valley fest, get a video preview of a Kokanee run Wharton: Wildlife management process is rigged in favor of hunters
Tight Lines: New fishing tournament rules may have a negative net effect
Swing high, ride low from Millsite to Green River park
Hike of the week: Timpooneke Trail to Emerald Lake - Utah County
Where is it?
Recreation roundup
The Outsider: Climb for Life, bird watching
Money flows in for rangeland purchase along Green River
Hook Shot
Keep your line wet and your camera dry
Bird sighting

Deseret Morning News
For the good of wildlife — Projects benefit elk, support hunting
Logan to Jackson — Cyclists eager to tackle grueling LOTOJA Classic
Utah upland game hunts viewed as a 'mixed bag'
Ray Grass: Tournament law for fish in for some changing
New Mexico's San Juan River gains some attention for its trout fishing
Book review: Grand book spotlights legendary canyon hiker
Outdoor notes
Utah County adding link to Utah Lake trail
Wilderness group challenging approval of proposed Emery coal mine
High-altitude hikers cope with loss of privy privileges
Who needs Sundance? Summer shows off another side to Park City
Acid spill contaminates Parley's Creek
Utah 'Coastal Cleanup'

KUTV
Utah Field Guide: Mountain Lions
State Parks: Soldier Hollow, Utah's Olympic Park
Outdoor Tip: Packing Llamas
Roughin' It On Llama-Back
Bow Hunting For Big Bucks