Southeastern Region report

Information compiled by Brent Stettler
DWR Southeast Region 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 July 15

ABAJO MOUNTAINS: At Lloyds Lake, Conservation Officer Paul Washburn reported good bluegill fishing with a worm or fly in shallow water. Trout fishing there was fair. Flies and spinners are producing the most action at Lloyds. A week ago, Sergeant J. Shirley reported good fishing at both Foy and Monticello lakes. He suggested fishing near the surface with bait and a bubble to stay above the moss. Fishing at Blanding #4 was fair. Some anglers are catching fish there with marshmallows and PowerBait. Due to the heat, trout will be in deeper water. Fishing from a boat or tube will produce more fish than fishing from the bank.

BENCHES RESERVOIR: Last week, Volunteer Services Coordinator Randall Stilson reported fair fishing and recommended nightcrawlers.

BLUE LAKE: Last weekend, Robert Bell of Emery County landed a three-pound tiger trout with a fly.

BOULGERS RESERVOIR: Two weeks ago, Todd Munford of King's Outdoor World described fishing at Boulgers as very good for planted rainbows. He recommended a nightcrawler/marshmallow combination or an olive crystal bugger pattern, fished from a pontoon or tube. Todd also suggested using sinking line and stripping the fly slowly.

CLEVELAND RESERVOIR: There haven't been any recent reports.

Orangeville resident David Robertson and his grandchildren fished Grassy Lake over the July 4 holiday weekend.

Photo by Randall Stilson

DUCK FORK RESERVOIR: Fishing continues to slow down, according to Conservation Officer Casey Mickelsen, who suggests experimenting with a wide variety of flies. Last weekend, Tom Ogden fished for five hours and caught 43 tiger trout, ranging from 12–19 inches. Tom used sinking line with a variety of woolly bugger and leech patterns. He also tied black, green, red and purple flies on size 8 and 10 hooks. Tom's most effective method was casting the line about 50 feet, trolling a short time, and then picking up the line in short quick strips. Fish activity seemed fairly close to shore. A week ago, Volunteer Coordinator Randall Stilson recommended a gold Jake's Spin-a-Lure. Special regulations include artificial flies and lures only. The reservoir is closed to the possession of cutthroat trout. The tiger trout limit is two fish.

ELECTRIC LAKE: A week ago, Wildlife Program Manager Bill Bates reported good fishing with nymph patterns, and a yellow or trout-imitating Panther Martin or chartreuse PowerBait. Bill's catch ranged from 6–16 inches. Most trout were cutts, although he hooked a few tigers too. Last week, DWR Aquatics Biologist Kenny Breidinger and his girlfriend fished one of the tributaries and caught "numerous fish between 4 and 14 inches." Kenny said most fish were 10 inches or less. They used caddis flies.

FERRON RESERVOIR: Conservation Officer Casey Mickelsen reported good fishing with traditional baits off the dam and at the mouth of the primary tributary. The south end is very mossy and isn't a productive place to fish.

GOOSEBERRY RESERVOIR: A week ago, Todd Munford of King's Outdoor World reported fair to good fishing from shore, where the best baits were nightcrawlers or PowerBait in rainbow or orange. Baitcasters should fish just east of the campground or along the dam side of the reservoir. Fly-fishing was very good with wet flies on sinking line. Try fast-stripping a red crystal bugger in the channel.

GRASSY LAKE: Lieutenant Carl Gramlich rated fishing as good this past weekend. Some anglers used PowerBait with a bubble. Others used flies. Both approaches worked well.

GREEN RIVER: Last weekend, Desert Lake Superintendent Roy Marchant fished the Green River just above Swasey's Launch with his boys. They caught 20 catfish in two hours. The biggest cat was 15 inches, but most were pan-sized. Roy and his boys fished from the bank with nightcrawlers.

HUNTINGTON CREEK: A week ago, Bill Bates fished Scad Valley and reported fair fishing for cutts or brown trout with an elk hair caddis or grasshopper pattern. On the right fork, Todd Munford reported fair to good fly fishing with a #18 blue-winged olive or #18 elk hair caddis. The water is clear and fairly low, so a stealthy approach is important. The catch usually consists of 11- to 14-inch browns.

HUNTINGTON RESERVOIR (MAMMOTH RESERVOIR): Fishing was slow, but is definitely better in the very early morning or at sundown. The DWR received an unconfirmed report of a 10-lb. tiger trout that was creeled two weeks ago. Todd Munford of King's Outdoor World suggests using a straight nightcrawler, three feet of leader and a full bubble in the early morning. Move the crawler slightly every once in a while to attract attention. Tom Ogden recommended a #10 beadhead green/black scud or a #10 Canada blood leech. Huntington Reservoir is closed to the possession of cutthroat trout or trout with cutthroat markings.

HUNTINGTON NORTH STATE PARK: State Park Manager Dan Richards reported fair to good bass fishing with topwater baits in the early morning. Richards suggests switching to a spinnerbait or pig-and-jig by late morning. Bluegills have also been biting. To catch these little sunfish, use a worm and bobber or a small lure in shallow water on the north end of the reservoir.

JOES VALLEY RESERVOIR: Slow fishing continues, except for a very few savvy anglers. Joe Edgehouse of Castle Dale caught a 12-lb. splake two weeks ago. Joe fishes from shore along points and steep drop-offs. He uses a jig tipped with chub meat and then lets the bait settle. Joe jerks the bait occasionally to attract attention. At this reservoir, all trout from 15–22 inches must be immediately released. The trout limit is two fish, with only one over 22 inches.

LAKE POWELL: Visit www.wayneswords.com for the latest fishing report from Wayne Gustaveson, DWR project leader. Please be aware that strict measures are now in place to keep invasive quagga and zebra mussels out of the lake. These mussels are spreading throughout the United States and wreaking havoc wherever they take hold.

LA SAL MOUNTAINS: A week ago, Conservation Officer TJ Robertson provided the following report: Hidden Lake offered good fishing with traditional baits, small spoons and spinners, especially in the morning and evening. Dons Lake was good in the early morning or evening. Small flies or Jakes lures have been working well. Oowah was good, except during the heat of the day. Warner was fair. Fishing was best in the morning or evening with small nymphs, mosquito patterns or small spoons. Dark Canyon was good with a variety of spinners and lures, as well as traditional baits, such as salmon eggs or PowerBait. Medicine Lake has offered good fishing with artificial flies.

LOWER FISH CREEK: Conservation Officer Ben Riley reported good fishing in the morning and evening with stone flies, caddis flies or blue-winged olives.

MILLER FLAT RESERVOIR: Wildlife Program Manager Bill Bates spent three days at Miller Flat Reservoir over the July 4 holiday weekend and reported excellent fishing success. Chartreuse or rainbow PowerBait was the most effective bait. Nymphs worked best for fly fishermen. The best lure was a Panther Martin in yellow or painted like a rainbow trout. Most trout range from 11–14 inches.

MILLSITE STATE PARK: Conservation Officer Casey Mickelsen described fishing as fair to good, depending on time of day. Early morning is always the best. Mickelsen suggested using green, yellow or rainbow PowerBait, or worms tipped with marshmallows.

PETES HOLE: Charla McGregor of Price fished on Sunday from the bank. Her fishing party limited out, using a worm and bubble separated by 18 inches of leader. Charla reported a lot of fish activity close to shore. The catch consisted of rainbows and tiger trout.

POTTERS PONDS: Lieutenant Carl Gramlich reported good fishing with PowerBait or artificial flies. Both albinos and rainbows have been planted. For best success, fish at first light or at dusk.

SCOFIELD RESERVOIR: Chet Andersen of Fairview fished on July 5 near the island. He floated bait just off the bottom and hooked fish after fish from 1.5–2.5 pounds. Chet fished for more than three hours and said he couldn't keep fish off his line. One contributor to the Utah Fishing Forum reported catching lots of one- to two-pound rainbows and cutbows during his eight-day stay at the reservoir, which ended this week. He fished north of the island and off the point at the Boy Scout camp. In 23–28 feet of water, he caught an average of four fish per hour. DWR Biologist Daniel Keller interviewed anglers at Scofield's boat ramp on July 10. He rated fishing as fair; some people got skunked, while others caught their limit. Location seemed to be the key. Daniel spoke with Jeff Harman and Wayne Beegley from Orem, who said they caught 10 nice fish by anchoring in 20–30 feet of water and floating a worm and PowerBait just off the bottom. The pair said that trolling lures and pop gear had produced some nice fish, but not as many as when they still-fished. This past weekend, Conservation Officer Ben Riley described fishing as fair from a boat and poor from shore. DWR Fisheries Technician Bob Olson rated Scofield as slow for the most part. The fish limit at the reservoir is eight trout. Tributaries opened to fishing on July 12.

WILLOW LAKE: Conservation Officer Casey Mickelsen indicated that fishing success ranged from fair to good, depending on the time of day. Early morning tends to produce better fishing. Randall Stilson suggested using nightcrawlers or rainbow PowerBait for trout that get up to 15–16 inches.

WRIGLEY SPRINGS RESERVOIR: There haven't been any recent reports.