Utah Fishing Reports

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Recreational Property

Here's one I wish I could afford.
30 Acres on the wild Strawberry River, below Strawberry Reservoir.
950 feet of private river frontage.
The river offers excellent fly fishing for browns and cutthroat trout, and the mountains are home to deer, elk, moose and bear.
Just $295,000.00

What's New

Where to Fish
Fishermen are eagerly awaiting open water at Strawberry, but that won't happen for a few more weeks. Last year Strawberry started to open up in late April. It will probably be early May this year.

But there is plenty of opportunity to fish now, with more becoming available every week. Best action for trout right now is probably at Flaming Gorge. I hope to get there soon.

Lake Powell is the best bet for bass, crappie and striped bass, and also some walleye. I'll be heading down there in early May.

Some Advocate Stop Buying Fishing Licenses
Reacting to passage of H.B. 141, some like this guy advocate: Let's stop buying fishing licenses. That would be a disaster. License fees provide a big part of funds used to manage Utah wildlife. If there is a significant cutback in those funds, there could be irresistible damage to wildlife programs. Besides that, why would we want to give up the sports we love? Let's just work to fix the problem through the legislative system. DWR has this good info on what the new law means.

National Park Week
America's 392 national parks will waive entrance fees April 17-25 as part of National Park Week, which also includes extra family-friendly activities and special offers on tours, lodging, food and souvenirs.

- Dave

Up north, Deer Creek and Hyrum have open water and good action for rainbows. Ice has pulled back at Echo and Rockport, and some people are shore fishing. Flaming Gorge offers very good rainbow fishing right now.

Fly fishermen report good blue wing olive hatches on the Provo. BWO hatches on the Green have been stalled but are starting now. There is also some midge action on the surface and standard nymphs are working deep. Weber River also has good fly fishing, but not as many BWOs. There are a few Skwalas Stoneflies on the Provo and Weber. We have great articles on Green River spring fly fishing.

Stream fishing will probably be good in northern Utah for a couple more weeks, until runoff sets in. Southern Utah streams will now be coloring up and running high, with this nice weather.

Lake Powell largemouth and crappie are starting to spawn, and smallmouth will soon follow. Fishing will be very good at the big lake during the next several weeks. Read Wayne Gustaveson's report for strategy.

Sand Hollow largemouth fishing should also be good during the next few weeks.

Willard Bay walleye and wipers will get going, now that the weather is warming up. Utah Lake is still producing some walleye but you've got to work hard for each fish.