Central Region report

Information compiled by Scott Root
Central Region Conservation Outreach Manager

ATTENTION: Quagga and zebra mussels are a major threat to Utah waterways. Read how you can help keep them out of Utah.

Updated October 9

Larger lakes & reservoirs

DEER CREEK RESERVOIR: Angling pressure is light. Anglers report fair to good success from both boats and the shoreline. Walleye success is slow to fair. Bass success is fair with various action lures. 50,000 catchable rainbow trout are scheduled to be stocked this month. Please remember that the trout limit is four fish statewide, unless otherwise noted in the 2008 Fishing Guidebook. The yellow perch limit is 10. Remember that the bass limit is six, and you should immediately release all bass over 12 inches long. The walleye limit is 10, but you may keep only one over 24 inches.

JORDANELLE RESERVOIR: Recent angler reports for bass have been favorable. Use action lures and jigs and focus on points, submerged structures or deeper drop-off shoreline areas. Trout success is fair and trout have been biting from both boat and shoreline (mostly by using PowerBait). The bass limit is six fish, and you should immediately release all bass over 12 inches long. Please remember not to fillet bass or remove their heads or tails because of the size restriction (for law enforcement purposes). Perch success is slow, but the perch limit is 50.

STRAWBERRY RESERVOIR: There are a lot of float tubers and boaters using the reservoir. The kokanee salmon spawn is tapering off, but tributaries are still closed to angling at this time. In response to an angler question about catching rainbows, Strawberry Project Leader Alan Ward said that "the best, most consistent method for rainbows is still fishing with bait. Green PowerBait and worms typically provide the best bite. Try fishing in about 20–25 feet of water. We are getting more and more reports of anglers catching the rainbows we stocked this year. So you may also pick up some smaller rainbows, 12 to 14 inches, trolling.

"However, now is the best time to catch big cutthroat. They have moved shallow and are chasing the chubs around. I talked with an angler today who had his line broken off twice by big cutts, and landed several over 22 inches after he switched to heavier line. Most people are fishing shallow and near shore with chub imitating lures (like pointer minnows, rapalas and even frozen minnows). Tube jigs can also work well. Some people are having fun sight–casting at boils. (You will see the large cutts chasing schools of small chubs out of the water.) You could also try drifting with a tube or curly tailed jig tipped with some frozen minnow."

Please help us get the word out to the public about Strawberry's special regulations. The Strawberry Reservoir Brochure lists the special regulations and shows photos and illustrations. Download a PDF of the Strawberry Reservoir Fishing Regulations and Fish Identification brochure at wildlife.utah.gov/strawberry. Special regulations for the reservoir include: An aggregate limit of four trout or kokanee salmon. No more than two of the fish may be cutthroat trout under 15 inches, and no more than one may be a cutthroat over 22 inches. All cutthroat between 15 and 22 inches must be immediately released. (Any trout with cutthroat markings is considered a cutthroat.) Don't feel compelled to harvest fish on every trip. Please do your part to ensure the future of this heavily utilized fishery by voluntarily releasing fish.

UTAH LAKE: Anglers report some success for walleye near Lincoln Beach. There is some white bass success as well. The largemouth and smallmouth bass limit is six, and you should immediately release all largemouth and smallmouth bass over 12 inches long. For more information on conditions, call Utah Lake State Park at (801) 375-0731.

YUBA RESERVOIR: Anglers report slow success for all species. Anglers are still reporting an occasional northern pike success. Please keep the walleye you catch. For more information, call the State Park at (435) 758-2611.

Smaller lakes, reservoirs & ponds

BURRASTON POND: Anglers report fair success. Most anglers are using PowerBait.

MILL HOLLOW: Mill Hollow has been drained. No fishing until 2009.

PAYSON LAKE: The fall colors are awesome here. Anglers report good success with traditional baits, lures and flies.

SALEM POND: Anglers report fair success for trout and catfish using traditional baits. The park closes at 10 p.m. every night. Remember that regulations include a daily bag and possession limit of four fish for all species. For example, you could catch and keep one trout, two channel catfish and one bluegill.

SALT LAKE COMMUNITY WATERS: Most anglers report slow to fair success using traditional baits.

SPANISH OAKS RESERVOIR: Anglers report fair success. Worms and PowerBait work best.

SPRING LAKE: Anglers are having fair success for trout and catfish.

TIBBLE FORK RESERVOIR: The fall colors are pretty at this location. Anglers report fair success from shore or tubes using traditional flies, lures, jigs and baits.

VERNON, GRANTSVILLE & SETTLEMENT CANYON RESERVOIR (TOOELE CO.): Vernon Reservoir was recently drained. Settlement Canyon and Grantsville Reservoir levels are down. Success is considered fair.

Rivers and streams

AMERICAN FORK RIVER: There's light fishing pressure, and fair to good fishing success with worms or small flies.

DIAMOND FORK RIVER: Anglers report fair to good success with small flies or traditional baits.

HOBBLE CREEK & CATCH BASIN: Fishing on the creek is fair to good with traditional baits and spinners.

PROVO RIVER: Anglers continue to report fair to good success with small nymphs or surface flies. The brown trout are starting to get aggressive with the approaching November spawn. Try a spinner for some good success. Read the 2008 Fishing Guidebook to learn more about the different regulations on the river. Some areas allow bait and others do not. And some stretches have size restrictions and reduced limits (like "two brown trout under 15 inches").

THISTLE CREEK: Anglers report good success with flies, lures or worms and grasshopper imitations.

E-mail your fishing reports on Central Region waters to scottroot@utah.gov.