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July 17, 2008

Fishing Overview
The moon will be full tomorrow (7-18-08). Does that affect fishing? My experience says yes - fish can feed all night and so they aren't as hungry the next day. I don't think it is as much of an issue on streams as it is on lakes. The new moon will happen on 8-1, so that's when I'm planning my next big trip.

Good fishing reports are coming from the Uintas, Boulder Mountain, Skyline Drive and other high mountain areas. (See our guide to Boulder Mountain lakes.)

Trout are moving deep in our lakes and reservoirs. Get them by trolling with a downrigger or weighted line, or by jigging deep. Trout move toward the surface early and late in the day - those are the best times to fish the flatwaters. Also try fishing near inlets, where streams bring in cool water.

Now's prime time to fish mountain streams. Lots of bugs are out and trout are hitting them aggressively. Flows are down in most areas. Streams coming out of the Uintas are still high but should be fishable. I'm seeing bunches of early hoppers - this could be a good year for hopper fishing.

Green River has very good fishing. Steve Schmidt reports, "Cicadas have for the most part come and passed, but other terrestrials are picking up the slack and PMD's, Caddisflies and Sm. Golden Stoneflies are all providing very good dry fly fishing opportunities. Water levels are excellent and so is the fishing." Read his complete report.

Provo River is also fishing well, with some drakes on the Middle. Steve reports: "As I write it's cloudy, warm with a chance of showers today. It's killing me. Tomorrow is similar. You couldn't have a better couple of days to fish. I jealous that I'm in the shop today and not out hitting it. On both sections of this river you also find very good PMD, Caddis and Stonefly hatches. Over the next seven to ten days these hatches should continue to be strong and provide great fishing." Read his Provo River report.

Lake Powell continues to be a bright spot. Stripers are boiling on the surface and now bass fishing is becoming more consistent. Powell should offer exceptional fishing through September.

Lake Powell's level will soon peak and then it will begin to drop slowly. That will help make bass fishing more consistent. Wayne Gustaveson reports: "Smallmouth bass fishing is much improved this week with small bass now easy to catch along the shallow rocky shoreline. Larger bass are holding at 20-30 feet. Fish grubs and drop shot rigged lures along the 25 foot contour for best success for quality size bass." Read Wayne's full report.

Powell's stripers are boiling regularly on the upper lake, and that means great fishing. Boils on the lower lake are inconsistent right now. The lower lake should improve when the bright moon stats to wane and the shad grow a little bigger.

At Powell, Boats launching at Hite and Halls are required to be clean, drained and dry to prevent movement of invasive mussels into Lake Powell. Wayne says UDWR techs are monitoring both ramps and requiring compliance with NPS invasive mussel certification.

Interesting Post By Anglers
- Lake Powell fishing the boils
- Corn Creek is overgrown and has rattlesnakes
- Jordanelle's level is dropping, bass are moving deep
- Willard Bay wipers are biting
- Uintas Lily Lake has fast action
- Jigging techniques for Strawberry and other trout waters
- Starvation is hot for walleye
- Strawberry good on the Soldier Creek side
- Flaming Gorge success is good for kokanee
- Yuba yields nice pike
- Electric Lake has lots of cutts

News Articles
Deseret Morning News
- Ray Grass: Mountain fishing best — if you can afford gas
- National park leaders dream at Snowbird
- Ogden to host youth archery championship
- Proper training and preparation key to off-highway vehicle safety
- Outdoor notes
- Construction to result in Park City trail closures
- National Park Service launches Web site for visitors with disabilities
- Bear sightings in eastern Utah
- Boy Scout missing in high Uintas found alive
- Hiker says having proper clothing saved him
- Salt Lake level drops despite a wet winter, cool spring
- The pros and cons of a low water level at Great Salt Lake
- Blog: Get out (doors)
- Abandoned horse rescued in desert

Salt Lake Tribune
- Tight lines: Littlest anglers see the big picture
- Boy Scout missing in Uinta Mountains found, alive and well
- Oregon girl drowns in Bear Lake
- Recreation roundup
- Give us your best shot: Out takes
- Outdoor notebook: Take three days to savor wildflowers
- Hook shot
- Hike of the Week: Dale Peak
- Finds: Grab your board and hit the water
- Bird sighting
- Dam safety: Expand federal inspection program
- U.S. judge to limit grazing on conservation land
- National parks aiming to lure young, old, minorities
- Effort to save prairie dogs from golf course traps fails

KUED
- Fishing At Island Park
- Fishing At Henry’s Lake
- Cycling Hill Climb
- Travel Guide - Blue Mountains
- Bear Attack Forces Closure Of Two Campgrounds
- Boy Scout Missing In Uinta Mountains Found
- Rare Albino Golden Eagle Found In Colorado

Provo Herald
- Just Another Fish Story

Regional
- Salmon fishing to end on upper Salmon River
- ID Fish and Game seeks to restore Portneuf fishery
- Go for gold on the Gore
- Becoming an Outdoor Woman
- Man-made noise bedevils popular national parks
- Idaho rules on 3 recent wolf killings
- After decades-long absence, wolves return to Washington
- Wildlife Impacts Local Economy
- A critical time for Wyoming sage grouse
- Feed grounds OK'd for elk for 20 years
- Feds suspends oil, gas leases on black-footed ferret habitat
- Stripers are being caught everywhere
- "Monster" Lake's Rare Giants Lure Anglers, Biologists
- Another View: A smelt hatchery can save the fish
- Web site keeps Sierra updated on fire hot spots

 
What's New
Canyonlands Photos
For my day job, I drew the assignment to go take photos in Canyonlands National Park. I certainly didn't get everywhere - that would take weeks - but I managed to get some decent images:
   Island In the Sky
   Needles District

It rained hard while I hiked toward Upheaval Dome. Then it started to hail. That lasted about 15 minutes and then it continued to drizzle for another half hour. Southern Utah's summer "monsoon" season is starting. It was beautiful and refreshing where I was. Would have been a different story had I been in a slot canyon. Take care...

Upheaval Dome is a great hike; I really enjoyed it. Same for Chesler Park down in the Needles.

Rock Art
While down that way I stopped and shot the Sego rock art near Green River. I'd never been there before. It includes some fascinating stuff. Sadly, much has been heavily vandalized.

I'm making a concerted effort to shoot all major rock art sites in the region. I've got a pretty good start, and add more regularly. See my galleries.

Events
Llama Fest XIII, Saturday, July 19, beginning at 4 pm, at KHQN Radio, South Main, Spanish Fork, Utah. About 75 llamas will be shown. There will be a obstacle course, races, food, wool demonstrations, live entertainment, dancing and other cultural activities from the Andes region. This event is family friendly. Admission is $3.00 per person or $1.00/ children. For more information call 801-798-3559 or 801-787-1510.

6th Annual Taming the Tetons, July 26. Intermountain Cup Race #11. Starting in Teton Village at 6200 Feet, this deep-forest loop winds through the mountains for about 5.5 miles and 750 vertical feet. This unique and very interesting loop has plenty of tight skill-building single track with periodic service roads for passing. Please click link for registration and schedule.

Star Party, July 26. Come see and learn about the stars on a warm July night. Weather permitting, telescope observing will start at dusk, generally commencing as objects can be seen well enough to aim a telescope. In addition, a 30- to 45-minute program will be given. Click on link.

Park City Arts Festival, Aug 1-3. More than 200 selected artists, live music, wine & beer gardens, and the Kimball Kids' Corner. Park City's historic Main Street is closed to traffic and open to festival goers! The longest running arts festival in the West and the biggest summer event in Park City. The Kimball is a nonprofit community art center.

Bear Lake Raspberry Days, Aug 7-9. The harvest of the delicious raspberry crop during August brings tourists from all across the U.S. and the world to sample these succulent treats. Come join in the festivities with craft booths, parade, rodeo and fireworks.

CAST for Kids, August 9, Rockport Reservoir. C.A.S.T. for Kids is an all-volunteer fishing and boating event for disabled and disadvantaged children and their families.

See our events calendar

- Good Fishing, Dave Webb