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.
May 15, 2008
May 15, 2008
Congratulations to Roy Hawk of Salt Lake City. He won the FLW Series Western Division bass tournament at Lake Mead last weekend. The first place prize was a cool $100,000. He caught most of his fish on a chartreuse Lucky Craft shad crankbait. The Review Journal has this report.
Fishing Overview
Best bets in Utah this week include Strawberry, Scofield, Flaming Gorge and Lake Powell. Most streams are blown out with runoff. Most of our trout reservoirs offer good fishing right now.Strawberry is ice-free. Reports have been mixed - very good for some and spotty for others. That's typical for early fishing.
Scofield is ice-free and most reports say fishing is good.
Lake Powell has hot fishing for striped bass, smallmouth bass and many other species. For detailed information ready the weekly reports by Wayne Gustaveson.
Provo River flows are high, on both the Middle and Lower portions. They are channeling a lot of water down the river and that makes fishing difficult. Use weighted nymphs to get down to the fish. Be careful wading.
Weber River has good fishing between Rockport and Echo. Below Echo it is high and off-colored.
Green River is fishing well, but anglers need to be cautions because higher flows are coming. Flows, which have been stable at about 800 cfs, are expected to rise to a whopping 4,200 cfs within the next week or so. That is a massive change. Fishing will be difficult while the water is rising. After it stabilizes at the higher level, good fishing will return for anglers who are floating the river. Anglers wading may have trouble because high, fast water makes it difficult to reach productive spots. Talk to the guys in the fly shops for the latest information.
It would sure be nice if DWR would update its weekly fishing reports. They are still saying Strawberry has dangerous ice.
- Utah Lake for catfish, white bass
- Weber River for trout and whitefish
- Yuba Reservoir for perch
- Lake Powell for bass and striped bass
Interesting Post By Anglers
- Bear Lake is ice-free, has nice cutts- Scofield is good for bows and cutts
- Scofield has red hot action
- Pineview offers nice crappie
- Cutler has catfish and who knows what else
- Lake Powell stripers are fat and healthy
- Lake Powell also has crappie, largemouth bass
- Lake Powell is very good for bass
- Strawberry was good at ice-off
- Strawberry was a bit slow
- Flaming Gorge has good kokanee fishing
- Flaming Gorge guided trip produces big lake trout
- Lake Powell was kind to newcomers
- Jordanelle produces mixed reports
- East Canyon has lots of small rainbows
- Quail Lake, Sand Hollow offer good bass fishing
- Utah Lake good for catfish, white bass
News Articles
DWR- Bear safety tips
- Salt Lake Bees and DWR team up
- Longer seasons, new hunts
- Biologists build barrier, remove fish
- Share your fishing ideas
- More antlerless hunting permits
- More rainbow trout for Strawberry
- Loons visit Utah
Deseret Morning News
- Spring is great time to visit desert
- Popular Calder, Crouse reservoirs suffer major winterkill at fisheries
- Outdoor tourism: Utahns differ on preferences but agree public lands are major draw
- Tourism industry pumps $6B into Utah economy
- Outdoor notes
- Opening of Yellowstone's Norris Campground delayed
- Congressional committee: Tighter restrictions on wilderness therapy programs
- Officials say polar bears to be protected species
- Utah gets $850K for imperiled species
- Treasure hunters 'cache' in on the fun
- Home grown — National Tourism Week celebrates power and joy of travel in the U.S.
- Where to go, what to see? Here are some ideas
- Great America
- Travel industry in Utah
- Path cleared for Timp Cave tours
- Irrigators oppose designating Snake River as wild and scenic
Salt Lake Tribune
- Winter takes toll on Utah fish
- Tight lines: A dreamer's dedication pays off
- Flaming Gorge Dam to let loose 3-week torrent
- Wyo. wolf-kill total reaches 16
- Kids Passport to Adventure program at REI starts May 19
- Jordan River users like facilities, but criticize lack of maps, safety, cleanliness
- Novices in nature: Campers find shelter from the swarm
- Kennecott donates $15 milion to Utah Museum of Natural History
- Dry spring reduces runoff flooding danger but large snowpack adds to drowning risks
- U.S. House bill gets tough on residential therapy camps
- Hike of the week: Little Wild Horse and Bell Canyon trail loop
- Environmental groups slam bison hazing plan
- Cedar Breaks, road set to reopen
- Wolf Creek Pass opens
- Where is it?
- After 1,000-plus hours of shoveling, Timpanogos Cave trail and tours open
- Recreation roundup
- The outsider: Mountain lion forum; paddle trip for family
- Outdoor notes: Cycle on down and join the fun at UTA's Bike Bonanza
- Novices in nature: Campers find shelter from the swarm
- Hook Shot
- Forest fees program changes
- People paying forest fees
- "Dead Lucky" author to tell S.L. audience of Everest ordeal
- Officials: Summer travel a challenge
- Bustling Bozeman offers new views of the Old West
KUTV
- Travel Guide - San Rafael Swell
- Herriman Youth Fishing Club
- Jackson Hole Antler Run
- Rare Access At Antelope Island
KSL
- New regs proposed for wilderness programs
- DEA wants hikers to be on lookout for marijuana in backcountry
Regional
- Tiny stretch of Colorado water holds some of the planet's biggest, fattest trout
- The Idaho Fishing Trip: Freedom of the Road 2007
- Officials to check on possible damage to bull trout habitat
- Trout Unlimited to study South Fork fishery
- How not to save salmon
- Fish and Game adds Boise wolf hunting meeting
- Reward Offered for Information Regarding Illegal Wolf Kill
- Groups Gather in Idaho Falls to Discuss Bear Issues
- Teton Bear Regulations
- GAO calls for caution in approving sprawling ocean fish farms
- Idaho raptor group: Study confirms lead fragments in venison
- Hunters may face lead-free future
- Books: Once-idyllic Pinedale is ground zero in debate over energy
- Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout Now Endangered Species Candidate
- Sierra lake restocked with trout after effort to kill pike
What's New
Strawberry Articles
We have excellent how-to fishing articles about Strawberry Reservoir.
Hiking Zion
Conditions were superb in Zion Park last weekend. I searched for and found some rock art panels, and got nice photos:
- Deertrap rock art, located near the top of the pass between Deertrap Mountain and East Temple, approached via Pine Creek. About 1 mile from the road, up steep slickrock.
- Petroglyph Canyon rock art, located just north of Hwy 9 on the east side of the park.
- Zion wildflowers. Blooms were approaching their peak when we visited on 5-10. Should be impressive for a few more weeks.
- Pine Creek waterfall photos
The Virgin River was high and muddy. The popular Narrows hike is not yet accessible because of the high water. But most tributaries are now running low and clear. Hot weather is forecast for this weekend and that will quickly melt remaining high country snow. The Narrows and other water hikes will be enjoyable by early June.
New Outdoor Events
Lake Powell SHAD Rally South, May 15-17. Fish and socialize on the south end of the lake.
Nighttime in the Goblins, May 16, 8:30 pm. Goblin Valley State Park, Green River. Join the Park Naturalist for an evening walk through the goblins. Find out how the goblins came to be and who lurks around in the night! Meet at the Observation Point above the Valley of the Goblins.
Scofield State Park Ice Breaker fishing tournament, May 17 from 7:30 am to 3:30 pm. Registration begins May 2 and is limited to 200 participants. The entry fee is $20. Awards and raffle prizes will be provided by Sportsman's Warehouse. To register or for more information, call 435-687-2491 or 435-448-9449.
Great Salt Lake Bird Festival will run May 15-19, at various locations around northern Utah. Special guest speaker is Rosalie Winard, author of the new book Wild Birds of the American Wetlands. The festival offers guided birding field trips, including behind-the-gates tours to several places normally closed to the public. There will also be a dinner, booths with vendors, food, art and youth programs. Get a festival booklet at the Davis County Community and Economic Development office. Some tours fill up so register early.
Bike the Swell, May 16-May 18. San Rafael 22nd annual mountain biking festival geared to a wide-range of mountain biking enthusiasts - from the novice to the seasoned; from the occasional to the frequent; from the single rider to the family of riders; and from the rider(s) whose sole interest is the picturesque surroundings to the rider(s) whose sole interest is in the merits of the bike. Rides vary in degree of difficulty, each offering a different perspective of the beautiful San Rafael Swell. There really is a ride for every interest. Click link for more info.
Backpacking Skill For Youth, May 22, 7 pm. This evening's presentation, designed for the next generation of outdoor enthusiasts, will cover the ins and outs of gear essentials such as packs, tents, sleeping bags, stoves, footwear, and clothing layers and the seven principles of Leave No Trace outdoor ethics. See link for more info.
Homestead Half Marathon and 5K, May 24. Running in the spring in Midway is breathtaking. The mountains and valley are beautiful. Come Join the fun. Click on link for more info.
See our events calendar