Utah Fishing Reports

US National Parks will offer free entrance on 3 weekends this summer, to encourage travel during these tough economic times. Details.

A rattlesnake bit a St George-area girl and doctors say the venom was surprisingly strong. She is recovering. Watch where you put your feet and hands. Read the article.

An Oregon fly fisherman saved 3 from a swollen river by casting to them and then reeling them in. "Elder's first cast was to the woman... She grabbed the line and he lowered his rod, 'stripping' her in a bit -- making short tugs on the line -- as she held on and the current drew her toward the shoreline." Read the article.

My Plans
I'm watching the weather. If I find a few decent hours I'll put my boat on Electric Lake. It's not far away, offers good fishing, but doesn't attract the crowds. If it is too windy or rainy I'll still go there but fish from shore.

Next weekend, if the weather is nice, I hope to make a pilgrimage to Flaming Gorge for some serious fishing.

Events

Utah's Free Fishing Day activities will be held Saturday around the state. Details.

Utah Outdoor Adventure Expo, June 5-6, 2009 at the Utah State Fairpark, 155 N 1000 W, Salt Lake City. Information, demonstrations and products related to all kinds of outdoor recreation.

Utah Lake Festival: 2 fishing contests, games, food and fun for everyone! Saturday, June 6, 2009, from 10 am to 2 pm, at Utah Lake State Park.

Utah Rivers Council Paddle Festival, June 6-7, at Oquirrh Lake at Daybreak (10400 South and 4700 West, South Jordan). Learn to paddle or try out the newest and hottest kayaks, canoes, hobies, dories and sculls. Beginner paddling and sculling instruction will be offered. Festival goers can also enjoy paddle races, fly-fishing instruction, children’s events, great food, beverage and live music. Proceed from the event support the Utah Rivers Council.

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.

See our events calendar

- Good Fishing, Dave Webb

Many waters will be crowded, unless the weekend storm is bad enough to scare people away. Community ponds and put-and-take trout waters will be stocked heavily.

Get away from the Wasatch Front to find less crowded conditions and good action for bigger fish. The weather will be stormy so take care. But it won't rain all day. Bide your time and fish when you can.

Many streams are still dangerously high, with difficult conditions. Fishing should improve significantly as flows come down and the water clears a bit - and that should happen soon. Mid to late June will probably bring very good stream fishing.

Green River flows are still high and fluctuating. Cicadas are hatching but not in consistently good numbers. As flows recede and the water warms a bit, cicadas will be the hot pattern but there will also be other bugs out. Talk to the guys in the fly shops for the latest details.

Provo, Weber and many other streams are also high, with difficult fishing. All should be fishing well by mid or late June.

Strawberry, Jordanelle and Scofield continue to be slow - a few nice fish are being caught but you've got to work at it. All should improve in a couple weeks.

Lake Powell smallmouth and catfish action is steady but stripers are unpredictable. The striper spawn is pretty much over and so fish are ranging freely throughout the lake. Striper fishing will pick up in early July, when the predator fish key on newly hatched shad. Stripers will provide great action in late July and August, as they boil on the surface.

Duck Fork Reservoir and other Skyline Drive waters are now accessible and offer good fishing. Duck Fork has special regs.

My best-bet predictions for the coming week:
- Flaming Gorge
- Fish Lake
- Bear Lake
- Red Fleet
- Steinaker
- Pelican Lake
- Currant Creek Reservoir
- Starvation Reservoir
- Otter Creek Reservoir
- Piute Reservoir
- Newcastle Reservoir
- Enterprise Reservoirs
- Kolob Reservoir
- Lake Powell

Boulder Mountain lakes will be good for people with vehicles than can go up rough roads.

Hwy 150 in the Uintas is drivable but lakes there are just becoming fishable. I doubt they will be stocked by this weekend. Some have a few holdover fish, but action will not be fast.