Utah Fishing & Outdoors Report

Bytes 8-21

Labor Day weekend is fast approaching and people always ask, "Where should I fish?" There will be crowds, but it is still worth getting out. These locations are good bets for fast action:
- Lake Powell
- Green River
- Flaming Gorge
- Uinta Mountain lakes and streams
- Provo, Weber and other rivers
- Fish Lake
- Utah Lake for catfish
- Virtually all high country lakes and streams

Strawberry, Otter Creek and other major reservoirs will be spotty - good if you are in the right place with the right bait. Many other reservoirs will offer decent fishing. Check DWR's weekly fishing reports for more ideas.

Lake Powell now offers very good fishing lake-wide. Striper boils have been consistent on the upper lake, and have now spread to other areas. Wayne Gustaveson reports: "Topwater striper fishing will be the big news on the lake from now until the end of September. Most boils in the lower lake are in the channel but there will be many boils in coves as well. Most boils will happen at dusk and dawn but daytime boils will become more common with time." Read his complete report.

From Anglers
- Middle Provo browns hit lures
- Willard yields big catfish
- East Canyon Family Fishing
- Currant Creek offers cutthroats
- Flaming Gorge is good for kokanee and smallmouth
- Flaming Gorge stocked with tiger trout
- Rockport smallmouth are small
- Bear River catfish all night long
- Uinta lakes offer fast family fishing
- Strawberry was good drifting worms
- Strawberry was slow for this angler
- Huntington tiger trout are finicky
- Lake Powell striper boil by the dam

Deseret News
- Utah hikers scrambled to escape flash floods
- Outdoor Retailers: Everything you need to get out
- Mountain Bikers ready to hit trails at Brian Head for Mountain Classic
- Utah ski resort says it's cutting prices
- Fishing secrets for summertime anglers
- Outdoor notes
- National parks are offering podcasts
- Lee Benson: Fall of Wall revives an old debate
- Donations sought for Bridal Veil project
- Rescuers retrieve shoeless, stranded hiker

Salt Lake Tribune
- From hybrid hammocks to morphing jackets, great outdoor gear on the way
- Wharton: Outdoors news will travel to Sunday
- Yellowstone: Back from the Ashes
- Man who fed bear may be charged
- Where is it?
- Hook Shot: Gorging at the Gorge
- Outtakes: Eagle on the Sound
- Hike of the week: Bells Canyon waterfalls - Wasatch Mountains
- Finds: Ogden Paddle Festival
- Fall hunts begin with dove opener
- Bird sighting
- Utah hiker, friends escape Grand Canyon flood by a hair
- New wildlife rules: Effects remain unclear
- Tram line to Bridal Veil Falls cut down
- Hike of the Week: Murdock Peak
- Yellowstone moose suffered the most among park's large mammals
- Yellowstone: Succession stages
- Wildland firefighting changed after 1988 Yellowstone fire

KUTV
- Arctic Grayling
- Uinta Fish
- Deer And Elk Archery Hunt Begins
- Group From Springville Stranded In Grand Canyon Flooding
- Over 600 Mink Let Loose From South Jordan Farm

Daily Herald
- Change gears when fishing is slow
- Monday Close-Up: Finding the fish

Regional
- It's prime time to see salmon and nature up close
- State advises anglers to limit bass consumption
- Ask Fish & Game: Muzzleloader hunting
- Williams to speak tonight on Idaho's hiking trails
- Sockeye numbers reach highest level in decades
- Boise River becoming more of a precious resource
- Exploring Idaho's underground wilderness
- Jump into action at Idaho's Lake Cascade
- Planted perch found in Ashton Reservoir
- Buck fever
- Burning Down the House to Keep Warm
- Glendo catfish offer tussle, good meal
- Embracing outdoorsiness in the Colorado Rockies
- If you go: Summer in northern Colorado
- Colorado holiday a respite of a different color
- Volunteers sought for Sylvan Lake trail-building project
- Fishing hot spot: White River
- Bush administration goes too far on Endangered Species Act
- Feds watch as Nevada wilderness burns unchecked for 12 days
- American Pika -- The Rabbit Cousin That Hates Global Warming
- Trout may be removed from 7 lakes to help out frogs
- Mountain water supply is sinking

Lake Powell has strong striper boils
Best bets for Labor Day Weekend fishing
Flaming Gorge continues to offer fast action

Xanthe Webb, with her energetic buddies, decided it would be fun to backpack from Maple Canyon (above Mapleton), over the mountains to Diamond Fork, then over the mountains to Strawberry. And, for kicks, they decided to mountain bike from Strawberry home. She wrote this article focusing on the biking part. Also see her photos.

Bytes 8-14

Outdoor Journalists End Careers: Ray Grass has retired from the Deseret Morning News and Reece Stein's KUTV outdoors program is being discontinued. We will miss the articles/stories from these excellent journalists and serious outdoorsmen. The Trib's Tom Wharton pays his respects in this column: Best of luck to two fine outdoor journalists.

DWR has a good new article on fishing during hot weather: "It basically comes down to three things: the species of fish you’re after, and where and when you decide to fish." Read the article.

Full moon will occur Saturday, Aug 16. Many anglers feel a bright moon slows fishing, particularly during the morning hours, because fish can feed all night. Evening is often the best time to fish when the moon is bright.

Lake Powell DWR Project Leader Wayne Gustaveson expects the full moon to make boils uncommon during the usually consistent morning hours. At Powell, striper fishing is hot at Hite and good in other areas. Bass fishing is also good. Expect fishing to become excellent across the lake during late August and early September. Read Wayne's complete report.

Green River fishing continues to be very good. Steve Schmidt recommends PMDs, Terrestrials, small Stoneflies and Caddisflies. Read his complete report.

Provo and Weber are also fishing well. Steve says there are prolific Caddis hatches on the Weber.

Best bets for the next couple weeks include Lake Powell, Flaming Gorge for kokanee, the Uintas and other high mountain areas for trout, the Green, Provo and other streams for trout. Oh, those ugly catfish will continue to bite well in Utah Lake, Willard Bay and other waters.

Posts by anglers
- Tips on night fishing for catfish
- Flaming Gorge kokanee fishing tips
- Flaming Gorge kokanee and lake trout
- Jordanelle is great for bass
- Starvation is good for walleye
- Starvation - more about walleye
- Management of Utah perch waters
- Bear River Bird Refuge access road closed
- Mantua good for bluegill
- Fishing the high country
- Fish Lake has fast fishing for perch, rainbows
- Hebgen Lake Montana good for rainbows, browns
- Middle Provo River browns hit Pointer Minnows
- Scofield is good after sunset
- Strawberry yields big cutthroat
- Green River good on the surface and down deep
- Green River fishing the Caddis hatch
- Lake Powell trip yields some 350 fish
- Lake Powell striper boils around Good Hope

DWR
Utah Wildlife News
- Quagga mussel update
- Dove hunt preview
- Catching fish when it’s hot
- Special upland game hunts

Salt Lake Tribune
- Youth invited to participate in upland game hunts
- Novices in Nature: Reel women
- Hike of the Week: Murdock Peak
- Where Is It?: An outhouse, a lot, a view of the hills . . .
- Bird sighting
- Outtakes: Warning splash
- Hook shot
- Boat safety courses available
- Outdoor notebook: Up, up and away at annual balloon festival
- Recreation roundup
- Tight Lines: Wyoming's Cutt-Slam a worthy challenge
- Cutthroat comeback: Restoration project paying off - in big way - for state fish (with video)
- The sandstone tells its stories
- Wharton: Best of luck to two fine outdoor journalists
- Outdoor notebook: Up, up and away at annual balloon festival
- Utah State to study Great Salt Lake bacteria
- Utah's famous Wall Arch collapses; no visitor injuries

KUTV
- Tram line to Bridal Veil Falls cut down
- Uinta Fish
- Flygirls
- Hell Fire

Deseret Morning News
- Plenty of bucks await Utah archers
- Cougar population rebounding after hunting reduced
- Sailboat racing — Yacht club takes on Great Salt Lake
- Roads meant to be shared civilly
- DWR seeking input on light-goose hunt
- Xterra Mountain Championship information
- Outdoor Notes
- Tour of Utah has a tough reputation
- New fires burning in Box Elder, Zion
- Powell's water levels at highest in 6 years
- How will oil-shale development affect Utah's parks and recreation areas?
- Eagle Mountain trail will be constructed
- Iconic arch collapses in southern Utah
- 3 groups are suing to protect petroglyphs
- 52 Utah entities awarded $2.3M to promote tourism

Other
- Passage Opens Habitat for Endangered Species
- Stinky, fishy competition in Saratoga Springs
- Utah Hunters Might Have More Shots at Wild Turkeys

Regional
- Two Georgians Say They Have Bigfoot’s Body
- Lahontan cutthroats trying for comeback
- Fishing report: Fryingpan 'at its best'
- Fish and Game sets bird-hunting seasons
- Cougar Attacks Pet in Idaho
- Don't equate strong sockeye return with recovery
- BLM sets grouse protection zone
- Non-native catch from Golden Ponds has teeth
- Wild bear interrupts Pueblo family's fishing trip
- Fun on the fly in Colorado
- Bear tales: Ursine mysteries that grow into urban legends

Have we moved past the hottest part of summer? I hope so. Cooler temperatures will bring better fishing and make recreational activities more enjoyable.

Lake Powell striper fishing is excellent on the upper lake, and the fast action is spreading down around the Bullfrog area. Wayne Gustaveson reports, "Things are 'looking up' for fishing all over the lake. Last week's report indicated dismal prospects for the main lake and those predictions were confirmed. Now the corner has been turned and fishing success will build each week until a grand peak is reached in late September."

Lake Powell smallmouth, catfish and bluegill are relatively easy to catch all around the lake. Read Wayne's complete report.

Flaming Gorge is yielding big kokanee, and that action should stay good for the next few weeks. Nice kokanee are also being caught at Strawberry and Causey Reservoir.

Strawberry and other reservoirs are fickle. Very good if you catch them in the right mood but difficult at other times. Fish in the early morning or go deep.

Utah streams are providing great action. Steve Schmidt reports, "Our fishing continues to be excellent due to great water conditions. Hatches of PMD's, Stoneflies and Caddisflies are prolific as we move into August... Flows on all our waters are more normal for this time of year after continuing to be a little high through July. The fish have benefited significantly as a result of this years water conditions and are in excellent shape. This month won't be tagged with the label; the dull drums of August. Fishing is very good and I don't see any reason why that should change throughout the month." Read his complete report.

Posts by Anglers
- Lake Powell - Is it possible to harvest too many stripers?
- Lake Powell Hite striper fishing report
- Lake Powell - Fly fishing for carp
- Jordanelle bass hit topwater early
- Kokanee - should you tip lures with bait?
- Flaming Gorge kokanee are big this year
- Flaming Gorge for smallmouth bass
- Starvation perch and walleye
- Strawberry success is spotty
- Strawberry drift-fishing with a fly
- Skyline Drive has good fishing with cool temperatures
- Uintas North Slope streams have fast fishing
- Causey Reservoir has good kokanee action
- Green River browns are slamming hoppers
- Huntington Creek is good for small browns

DWR
- More turkey permits in 2009?
- DWR proposes spring goose hunt
- Archery deer hunt preview
- Archery hunt safety
- Upland Game Guidebook available
- Goat viewing in southwestern Utah
- Utah Wildlife News (8-7-08)
- - Swan hunting permits
- - Special upland game hunts
- - Cougar permits approved
- - Spring goose hunt
- - More turkey permits

Salt Lake Tribune
- Novices in Nature: Reel women
- Tight lines: Watching others get hooked on fishing is a joy
- Wharton: Industry should educate gear users
- Outdoor notebook: Finish summer break with a shorelands tour
- Lightweight trailers a noticeable trend at outdoor show
- Wildlife office offers $5K poaching reward
- Hike of the Week: Round Lake - Uinta Mountains
- Where is it?
- Hook shot
- Bird sighting
- Outtakes: Give us your best shot
- Wharton: Industry should educate gear users
- Outdoor notebook: Finish summer break with a shorelands tour
- Recreation roundup
- Mountain lion takes Labrador retriever from house as owners sleep
- Trusting GPS, convoy of visitors get monumentally lost
- Flyball lets dogs do what comes naturally
- Pilot project: Let bicycles, vehicles share lane of road
- Eco groups sue to stop drilling in Nine Mile Canyon
- Stubborn wildfires still burning
- Utah targets $2m at wildland fire prevention efforts
- Mudslide closes 40 miles of Highway 6 for at least 2-3 hours
- Walsh: Utah's senators are too gung-ho about oil shale

Deseret Morning News
- Group files suit over BLM's approval of natural gas wells near rock art
- Mudslide closes road in Spanish Fork Canyon
- White River Rafting
- Outdoor retailers gear up for annual show
- Braving the rapids in Cataract Canyon
- Ray Grass: Reflections on 35 years at best job in the world
- Recalling Ray: Top 10 adventures with a great reporter
- Traveling America in RV
- Outdoor notes
- Wildfire closer to containment
- Lasting love on the rocks for North Ogden couple
- Parkway trail stretch to close for repairs
- U.S. seeks comment on tortoise recovery
- Common parasite is infecting, killing many catfish in Highland Glen Pond

KUTV
- Travel Guide - Topaz Mountain
- Kite Boarding
- New Fish Hatchery
- Bow Hunt Prep

KSL TV
- Utah waterways test positive for prescription drugs

Regional
- It's pelican vs. trout in Idaho predator conflict
- Desert tortoises becoming victims of foreclosures
- Idaho Fish and Game official demoted after letter
- Record returns gives rare glimpse into fish's Idaho return
- Historic salmon season could have been better managed
- Idaho bighorn sheep tag lottery raises $90K
- Fish rap: August is for exploring the high country
- Island Park Trying to Solve Bear Problem Through Education
- Feds to Imprison Idaho Man for Protecting Homes From Flooding
- Officials end search for mountain lion in east Casper
- Board tightens Montana's wolverine-trapping limit
- Wyoming wildfire moving into thinner fuels
- Bear roughs up Yellowstone firefighter
- Mysterious, fatal disease bound for elk feedgrounds
- Wyoming will continue to pay for wolf damage
- Feds finalize habitat for endangered bighorn sheep
- Wildfires could burn hunters this season
- Lahontan boaters told to stay home
- Woman who survived bear attack tells of ordeal
- Fun on the fly in Colorado
- Anglers go with flow to enhance excitement
- Migrating Fish Barrier should protect Colorado River Cutthroat Trout
- Fly-tying by the books

Railroaders' Festival is Saturday (Aug 9) at Golden Spike National Historic Site, 9 am through 5 pm. See steam locomotive demonstrations, re-enactments of the driving of the golden spike, railroad memorabilia, frontier lifestyle activities, games and more. For more information call 435-471-2209.