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 8, 2008
May 8, 2008
Fishing Overview
Strawberry and Scofield ice is now pulling back and both reservoirs will offer shore fishing this weekend. At this writing, ice has pulled back about 30 feet in many spots at Strawberry. There will still be ice out in the bays this weekend and boating is not recommended. Float tubes can be effective but be careful because floating ice can be dangerous. Fish will be scattered - you may find them anywhere. Most years anglers do well fishing the edge of the ice as it pulls back, and also fishing tight in against the bank. Woolly buggers, Zonkers and other big flies work well, as do jigs and many lures.Lake Powell action is hot, and good fishing will last a few more weeks. Then it will settle into a summer pattern where fishing is good, but not as good as right now. Smallmouth and striped bass are the primary targets; walleye, catfish, bluegill and other species are also being caught. For specific tips, read the weekly report by Wayne Gustaveson.
Provo River fly fishing is good. Flows are high - high enough to make it dangerous to wade. The high water pushes fish into sheltered spots, which can often be reached from shore. Midges and Blue Wing Olives are still the most common dry flies. Weighted nymphs are productive at this time because they can get down to the fish.
The Green and Weber are fishing well below the dams. Most other streams are blown out by runoff.
We've heard good reports from many reservoirs. Jordanelle started slow after ice off, but is picking up now for trout and bass. Pineview has good action for crappie. Flaming Gorge is good for trout, lake trout and kokanee. Smallmouth action at the Gorge will pick up within a couple weeks. East Canyon is good for trout and bass.
- Utah Lake for catfish, white bass
- Weber River for trout and whitefish
- Scofield Reservoir for trout
- Yuba Reservoir for perch
- Lake Powell for bass and striped bass
Interesting Post By Anglers
- Quail Lake Fair, Sand Hollow Better- Utah bass anglers looking good in tournament
- Willard Bay reports mixed for catfish, wipers
- Pineview offers fast crappie fishing
- Pineview good for smallmouth, tiger muskie
- Flaming Gorge good for kokanee
- Flaming Gorge lake trout biting
- Jordanelle trout are close to shore
- Jordanelle good trolling for trout
- East Canyon has open water, Lost Creek is opening up now
- Strawberry ice is starting to come off
- Deer Creek fair with low water
News Articles
DWR- More antlerless hunting permits
- More rainbow trout for Strawberry
- Loons visit Utah
KUTV
- Young Turkey Hunters Receive Great Gifts
- Travel Guide - St. George Animal Museum
- Paddle Clinic
- Wild Turkeys Respond To Calls
Salt Lake Tribune
- Tight lines: Energized effort to protect wildlife
- Kids Passport to Adventure program at REI starts May 19
- Photographer to present images of Bear River Refuge
- Where is it?
- Recreation roundup
- Out takes: Give us your best shot
- The outsider: Cycling film, geocaching in Ogden
- Outdoor notebook: See the Gunlock Meteorite at DNR store
- Hook shot
- Fly-fishing clinics at Western Rivers
- It's the last summer for 102-year-old Grand Canyon shop
- Utah's seven wonders
- Butch Cassidy's mystique enhances jaunt across Utah
- Mesa Verde Bird Festival
- Mormon battalion trek planned as living-history event
- Fishin' With a Mission: Small service, big impact
- Lowly carp at center of scam probe
- Lawsuit: Cedar City prairie dogs endangered by golf course
Deseret Morning News
- Spring skiing: Snowbird sees midwinter snow conditions — in May
- DWR to stock Strawberry with 410,000 larger fish
- Jody Genessy: Triathlon is a great motivator
- Ray Grass: Fishing at Powell constantly changing
- Cycling notes: Cycling season reaches fevered pitch
- Utah resort to offset energy use
- Looking for loons? Birds are making a stop in Utah
- Outdoor notes
- Photo: Geologic park dedicated
- Weigh in on guns in national parks, wildlife refuges
- Gray wolf in Denali park freed from snare on neck
- Weeklong nature camp in Ephraim set for teens in July
- Icebreaker Victory to take travelers to North Pole in June
Regional
- New brown record for Truckee River
- Fishing hot spot: Frying Pan River
- Lake Davis is back
- 3 states head to court to keep control over wolves
- Details of wolf hunt to be set this month
- FWP to intervene in wolf lawsuit
- Plan allows 25 N. Idaho wolf deaths
- Underlying Differences Between Wolves, Coyotes and Dogs
- Federal judge in Montana rejects bid to delay wolf lawsuit
- How many wolves? Lawsuit says original target was too small
- Bush Administration Issues Final Plan to Deal With Endangered Salmon
- The Mystery of the Catastrophic Decline of Chinook Salmon
- Utah residents pay the price for poaching in Arizona
- Feds plan to study prairie dogs for possible endangered status
- Hunter is shot in the neck trying to get his turkey
- Idaho anglers strives for bass tourney success
- Mont. releases swans raised in Wyo
- Sporting club boasts bald eagle increase
- A day for swapping stories, jokes and catching fish
- President signs Platte River recovery measure
- Tahoe boats to get mussel searches
- DENTRY: Nature lovers ride to rescue
- Anglers help with whirling disease study
- Northern Colorado water plans impacting each other
- Oil and gas producers don't appreciate Colorado's outdoors
- Discover Douglas: More than just the home of the jackalope
- Eighty-year-old hunter is one bird away from completing the World Slam of Turkey Hunting
- Archaeologists find first physical link in Idaho to Lewis & Clark
What's New
Hiking/Canyoneering
Guide Service
A friend has retired from his real job and is launching a guide service specializing in hiking/canyoneering adventures in southern Utah. I've helped him put together this website: sandstonetrails.com.
New Outdoor Events
We've posted a bunch of new outdoor events. We list some below. See our complete events listing for more.
Mountain Man Rendezvous, May 9-May 11. Fremont Indian State Park, Sevier, Utah. A gathering of mountain men set up camp in the park. Visitors can watch shooting competitions, purchase hand-crafted items and food, and participate in games. Park entrance fees apply.
Lake Powell SHAD Rally South, May 15-17. Fish and socialize on the south end of the lake.
24 Hour Portfolio, May 14. One day workshop designed to push the envelopes of your creative vision through an intense experience in hands-on field work while exploring Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. Fee charged and advanced registration required.
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.
Wildflower walk, May 16. Utah Field House of Natural History, Vernal, Utah. Tom Elder will take visitors on a walk to view wild flowers in the area. Please meet at the museum at 5:00 PM. Your own transportation is necessary.
Rockin Utah - Connecting Kids in Nature - May 22 - 6:30-8:00 pm. Explore a small rock are site in Snow Canyon, find out about the people that created it and what it means. Then you can make some rock are of your own to take home. Head up Snow Canyon State park and watch for the signs. There is a $5 park entry fee. The event is free. More info: 435-628-2555
See our events calendar