Utah Fishing Report 3/3/11

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What's New

Let's Go Fishing
Weather should be nice Saturday, for a change. So I'll be in my boat on Utah Lake, trying to find a walleye. Walleye action has been slow to date, but that is to be expected. Success will pick up steadily now as the weather warms.

White bass are always a good target at Utah Lake. They stay in schools and action can be very fast when you find an active bunch. Some big channel catfish and big largemouth bass can also be caught at Utah Lake this time of year. I've found catfish in shallow bays where the water is warming, and bass right in the reeds.

It is still early in the season. I'll be happy if I catch a fish or two.

Plan For Adventure
There is now opportunity for great adventure, hiking and fishing in southern Utah. Here's my tentative schedule.
- Anasazi hunting in SE Utah in late March
- Fish and hike in the St George/Zion area in early April
- Lake Powell striper fishing in late April
- Green River fly fishing in early May

Events
International Sportsmen's Expo will be Mar. 17-20, at South Towne Expo Center. It is a good show, worth visiting.

Utah Wildlife Board will discuss deer hunting at its work session on March 16. (See agenda.) No action will be taken at the meeting. The public is invited, but public comments will not be taken. Items the board discusses might be taken to the public for comment and input at upcoming Regional Advisory Council meetings.

Utah Lake Lincoln Beach area is ice-free and boats can be launched. Willard Bay North Marina boat ramp is open. Walleye fishing has been slow at both waters, but will pick up as temperatures warm. Some catfish are also being pulled from both waters. At Utah Lake, big largemouth bass are occasionally caught at this time of year.

Ice conditions are now becoming scary at mid-elevation waters. Some guys broke through at Deer Creek Reservoir. Many reservoirs now have slush on top of ice.

Strawberry, Scofield, Fish Lake and other high-elevation waters have solid ice, but may also have slush. Ice fishing will be possible on those waters for several more weeks.

Lake Powell striped bass fishing continues to be better than expected, and will steadily improve now as the lake water starts to warm. Largemouth and walleye will also provide some good action in March.

DWR Lake Powell Project Leader Wayne Gustaveson offers this tidbit: "March is the best month to catch a trophy largemouth bass. These 4-7 pound bass have spent the winter in submerged brush ringing the sandy shoreline. They move up and down depending on weather conditions but essentially bass will be in brush and seldom deeper than 20 feet. Use weedless fishing tackle that can be fished slowly within, around and through tree branches. The tried and true standard bait remains pork rind on a weedless jig head with brush guard." More details.

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