Utah Fishing Reports

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What's New

At Lake Powell, there are new restrictions on launching boats. Here is a quote from this news release: "Effective June 29, 2009, self-certification of watercraft will no longer be an option at all major launch ramps and screening for the invasive mussels by trained personnel will be mandatory for all vessels."

Whirling disease has been a big concern on the Madison River, but trout there have now made a remarkable, unexplainable recover. Read details. If they can figure out why, it could bring a major boost to fisheries.

Grave robbers have been busted in SE Utah. A major undercover operation has results in charges against some 24 people for looting ancient American Indian sites. See the news headlines at left for several articles.

My Plans
It will be rainy again this weekend, but hopefully next week will bring improved conditions.

Until then I'll stick close to home and sneak out for a few hours between showers.

Now is the perfect time to jeep and/or hike into remote lakes on Boulder Mountain. Get off the beaten path and you can find some great fishing. I'd love to get down there next week, but my schedule won't allow it.

All of the reports say Strawberry is slow, but everyone expects it to pick up any day now. The fish are still there, they just haven't been hungry. Still, there are ways to entice fish to bite. I think I'll hit the 'Berry and show people how to catch those big cutts.

I'll also try to find time to fish one of our local streams, now that flows are coming down and bugs are coming out.

Events

Strawberry's Cutthroat Trout, June 13, Fish Trap at Strawberry Reservoir. Come and join us for a cutthroat trout lecture and demo at the Strawberry Reservoir Fish Trap during the annual spawning run. Contact Scott Root at (801) 491-5656 or scottrott@utah.gov for more information. Parking will be available at the Visitor Center.

Catch-a-Cure for Cancer Bass/Walleye Tournament & Benefit for Camp Hobé, Saturday June 20, at Starvation State Park, Duchesne UT. This is Utah's only benefit fishing tournament. Entry fee (per team) $125 for bass, $125 for walleye, $250 for both. Details.

Heber Valley Pow-Wow and Mountain Man Rendezvous, June 26-28, Soldier Hollow. The popular Heber Valley Pow Wow at Soldier Hollow is once again joined by a Mountain Man Rendezvous. In addition to many dance contests, we will again highlight special sessions where Native American dancers and singers (and Mountain Men) bring their history, culture and skills to the audience. Audience participation includes Q and A, stories, and interpretation. Don't miss this fascinating addition. 435-654-2002

See our events calendar

- Good Fishing, Dave Webb

Green River is the exception. Flows there are still very high and the water is cold, so fishing is more difficult. That will change soon, but they have yet to announce when they will ease back releases from Flaming Gorge.

The Provo is still high but is clear and conditions are improving. Flows on the Weber are down and it is a good choice.

Other productive streams include:
- Currant Creek
- Huntington Creek
- Straight Canyon below Joes Valley
- East Fork of the Sevier in Black Canyon and Kingston Canyon
- Antimony Creek

Uinta Mountain lakes accessible by road are now mostly open and fishing well. It will still be weeks before the highest passes are open.

Most of our lakes and reservoirs offer good trout fishing. The best reports are coming from these waters:
- Deer Creek
- Rockport
- Echo
- East Canyon
- Flaming Gorge
- Red Fleet
- Steinaker
- Currant Creek
- Fish Lake
- Otter Creek
- Piute
- Kolob
- Boulder Mountain
- Bear Lake

Strawberry, Scofield and Jordanelle have been slow but should now pick up and offer good action.

Lake Powell is good but spotty. Lots of nice fish are being caught but you've got to work to find them. Success will become more consistent in a couple weeks when the lake leve l stops rising and conditions stabilize.