Utah Fishing Reports

Fishbytes is a weekly outdoors report provided by redrockadventure.com. It is posted on our website and sent as an email newsletter (subscribe or unsubscribe). Please forward it to others you think may be interested. View archived past reports.

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Thursday, April 9

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Within minutes of trophy blue ribbon river fishing

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Wildlife roam the property

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What's New

Walleye fishing seminar, Saturday (4/11/09), 11 am at the Midvale Sportsman's Warehouse. Local walleye enthusiast Jerry Schlief will be the presenter.

Lake Powell Fishing: In a week or so, DWR's Wayne Gustaveson will give a prediction about when spring bass fishing will hit its peak - probably sometime in early May. I'm keeping my schedule flexible so I can dash down to the lake to enjoy that great fishing.

Fly Fishing Trips: Between storms and spring runoff, it is hard to plan fly fishing trips very far in advance. Again, I try to stay flexible so I can fish when conditions are optimum.

Great Salt Lake Bird Festival will be May 14-18. Includes workshops, field trips, presentations, food, games, fun for the entire family. Events are held at various locations around the lake and Antelope Island. This year's keynote Speaker is Scott Weidensaul.

See our events calendar

- Good Fishing, Dave Webb

Runoff will probably become a factor during the next extended warm period. The Green, Provo and other streams protected by dams will not be affected as much - they may have high water but it will be relatively clear and so those streams may fish well right through the spring. We have some great video clips that discuss Green River fishing techniques.

This looks like a normal year for runoff. Free flowing streams will be high and muddy during warm weather, and during rainstorms, but will settle back when the weather cools. From mid May through early June, many streams will be unfishable because of high runoff. So fish now during this window of good fishing before high water.

Lake Powell is on the verge of great spring fishing. Here's how Wayne Gustaveson puts it: "Fish are poised. Anglers are poised. We are all waiting... Put 3 days of warm weather together and surface temperature will quickly hit 60. Then fishing will break loose." Meanwhile, striper fishing has been decent around Good Hope. Read Wayne's full report.

Sand Hollow and Quail Lake, near St George, should also have good bass fishing as soon as the weather warms.

Flaming Gorge rainbow fishing continues to be hot in the Sheep Creek and Hideout areas.

Bear Lake action has slow, mostly because it has been difficult to fish during this storm weather. Cutthroats are willing if you can get out on the water.

East Canyon is ice-free and the ramps are usable. DWR biologist Ben Nadolski: "We have more trout in East Canyon than we've ever had and we really want to encourage people to take advantage of it."

Joes Valley is ice free and has fair to good action. DWR reports: April 6, Ryan Downard of Price fished from shore and landed a 26-inch, 7-8 pound cutbow using Gulp Bait. After taking a picture, Ryan released his trophy.

Piute Reservoir continues to be the hottest spot in southern Utah, with good rainbow fishing.

Willard Bay post-spawn walleye are biting. Willard and Utah Lake offer great catfish action.