Utah Fishing Reports

Above: Gaylen W shows his appreciation to a Smith/Morehouse rainbow

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What's New

Fishing Smith and Morehouse
Fishing was hot at Smith and Morehouse Reservoir on Monday. We caught a bunch of small rainbows, along with a few decent size fish. Caught one tiger trout. I didn’t know there were tiger trout in there. See my trip report and photos.

We just long-lined lures behind the boat. A little rainbow-colored Rapala proved to be the hottest lure.

Strawberry Reservoir
I hope to fish Strawberry this weekend. I’m going to focus on Strawberry and Flaming Gorge this summer, and see if I can figure them out during every season. I usually have good success at these reservoirs – it has been a long time since I’ve been skunked. But some guys catch more fish there than I do and I want to learn their secrets. I’ll share some of them here.

Hot Weather
After an unusually cold May, I’m happy to see things warm up. 100 degree plus temperatures are forecast for St George this weekend. Lake Powell will finally warm enough to make water sports fun.

When I hike I’ll now shift from the open desert to shaded canyons, and soon start doing canyons where you have to wade or swim. I love those slot canyon water hikes. I want to do The Subway in Zion in a few weeks, after runoff ends and the water warms.

See spawning cutthroat trout
On June 12 the Division of Wildlife Resources will hold its annual cutthroat trout viewing event at Strawberry Reservoir. The free event runs from 9 am to noon at the DWR fish trap behind the U.S. Forest Service visitor center at Strawberry.

- Dave

Entrance fees will be waived at US national parks this weekend, in celebration of the beginning of summer and also because of National Trails Day, which is June 5. Fee details.

The Mirror Lake Highway opened today (June 3, 2010). DWR will now begin stocking lakes along the highway. Most will offer good fishing immediately. There is still deep snow in the High Uintas backcountry.

A boater is missing and presumed drowned at Strawberry. Many waters are very cold right now, and hypothermia sets in quickly. Stream flows are up, and will go higher now that we're finally getting warm weather. Use caution.

Runoff is not bad in most areas. Major northern Utah streams should fish well right through the high water period. Southern Utah streams are still high, but should start coming down within a week or so.

Green River cicada still haven't shown much, but that should change now with warm weather. Fishing the cicada hatch is great fun. You don't have to be a great fly caster, don't have to have be accurate or have a light touch. Smack the big fly onto the surface and you instantly have the attention of all fish in that area. Strikes are often ferocious.

Most Utah lakes and reservoirs offer good fishing now. The best reports for trout have come from Strawberry – that's the place to go for bigger fish. Many small reservoirs offer fast fishing for smaller trout.