Utah Fishing Report

Promote Your Business or Website
Use our fishing wiki to promote your website and/or business.

♣ Read our fishing articles
♣ Listen to FishBytes on KSL Outdoors
♣ Take a SkyCall satellite phone on your next adventure
♣ Follow me on Twitter

What's New

Spring Walleye
I started up my boat yesterday, to make sure it is ready for early walleye. It was nice to hear the motor purr. I'm always a little anxious as I take it on the first trip of the year, hoping the old thing hasn't developed any problems over the winter.

I'll be watching conditions at Utah Lake, and fishing the Lincoln Beach area as soon as ice clears from the launch ramp area. That will probably happen this weekend or early next week.

Walleye fishing is tough just after ice off, at least that has been my experience at Utah Lake. The fish range freely and can be difficult to find.

Willard walleye are more predictable, and can usually be found pretty much any time of the year. I'll be getting up to Willard in a couple weeks, as it opens up. The wipers are also attractive up there, but that action will probably start out slow.

For early spring walleye I like to troll a worm harness just off the bottom. I use a walking sinker so the bait just skims along the top of the rocks. I work it as slowly as possible.

I'll post reports about all my trips. I invite others to also post info, so we can help each other learn to catch more fish and have more enjoyable trips.

Southern Utah
I had intended to hike in southern Utah this weekend, but the darned weatherman predicts snow at my intended destination.

I'll bide my time and get down there when the weather will be nice. We are right on the front end of the spring hiking season, when conditions are very nice in the red rock deserts.

Some years the weather guy schedules nice days mid-week and spring storms every weekend. I had a talk with him and he promised not to do that this season.

Events
Utah's Snow Goose Festival will be Feb 25–27 in the Delta area. Thousands of big, beautiful snow geese past through the area and often land in fields and marshes. DWR biologists will have spotting scopes set up to help people see the unique birds.

- Dave

FishBytes is sponsored by WebbStuf.com, specializing in Utah web development.

Utah Lake is starting to open up and walleye fishing will probably begin next week. In the Lincoln Beach area, on the south end of the lake, most ice blew off last night. I drove by this afternoon as was amazed at the amount of open water. The boat ramp is still encumbered by rotten ice but that will go fast. Boat fishing will probably begin next week. I'm anxious to get out after the walleye.

Northern half of Utah Lake is still mostly ice-covered but the sheets are starting to break up. The entire lake will probably be ice free by the end of February. Willard Bay will probably open up about that same time. Walleye are active now and people will start fishing for them as soon as boats can be launched. The famous walleye spawn happens about the 3rd week in March.

Floating ice can be hazardous so use caution. If wind pushes ice floes around, float tubers can get in trouble in a hurry. Boats can sometimes be cut off from boat ramps.

Good ice fishing reports are coming from Scofield, East Canyon, Panguitch Lake and Pineview. Strawberry anglers are seeing mixed results. Some find very good action, for others success is slow. It is best to get away from the easy access points. Most of the best reports are from people fishing very early in the morning.

Stream conditions are improving and anglers are finding success fishing small nymphs along the bottom of deeper runs. Glo bugs and scuds also work. There is midge activity on the surface during the warmer parts of the day. Fly fishing success will become more consistent as we move into March, and will be very good by late March.

New Invasive Mussel Prevention Requirements on Lake Powell
Effective MARCH 1, 2010, self-certification of watercraft will no longer be an option at Wahweap Main and Bullfrog launch ramps and screening for the invasive mussels by trained personnel will be mandatory for all vessels. Trained personnel will be available daily for screening from 7:00am until 5:00pm (8pm on Friday nights) at Wahweap and Bullfrog. Launching will be prohibited outside of these hours. Violators face a mandatory court appearance, up to 6 months in jail, and a $5000 fine. Antelope Point and Stateline ramp will be closed until spring. Lone Rock will be closed to launching indefinitely. All boaters must launch at Wahweap.

Fishing Reports on Twitter