Site description: This is a productive tail-water fishery, downstream from Otter Creek Reservoir. Trout do very well when irrigation water is being released from the reservoir, but have more limited habitat during low water periods in late fall and winter.
There is public access on a section of Kingston Canyon midway through the canyon that was purchased through the Blue Ribbon Program. Look for the signs. Most of the remainder of the canyon is private and posted, so ask permission first.
Acquisition of property by the State Division of Wildlife Resources in 2004 not only secured public access on one of the best sections of river in Kingston Canyon, but allowed habitat improvement work to be conducted. Natural stream meanders, riparian vegetation, flood plains and trout habitat have been restored in this Wildlife Management Area. Restoration work should increase the trout numbers and survival during the winter when water levels are low.
State Wildlife lands and BLM lands amount to about four continuous miles of stream open to the public. Much of this area was closed to public access for over 30 years prior to the recent purchase. The remaining 10 miles of stream between Otter Creek Reservoir and the mouth of the canyon at the town of Kingston is on private lands, much of which is posted closed to trespass. Anglers should pay close attention to signs and ask for permission to fish on private property.
Areas open to angling are stocked annually with brown trout fingerlings and, on an experimental basis, native Bonneville cutthroat trout. Some catchable-sized rainbow trout are stocked, while others migrate downstream from Otter Creek Reservoir. This section of stream has produced some lunker-size trout, and contains good numbers of 10- to 17-inch trout. Floods, drought and reservoir-water releases can cause the trout population fluctuations from year to year.
Other fish found in the stream include native leatherside chubs, Utah chubs, Utah suckers, mountain suckers, redside shiners, speckled dace, and mottled sculpin. Wildlife Resources' Wildlife Management Areas in Kingston Canyon also helps support mule deer, elk, wild turkeys, chukars, a variety of waterfowl, and many other birds and small mammals. Fishing can be good at any time of year.
Expect high water during the irrigation season and low water at other times. Ice cover in winter can make fishing difficult. The river can be muddy after rainstorms or with high releases from Tropic Reservoir. Water released from Otter Creek Reservoir is generally clear. Flies, lures and natural baits are the best bet for catching brown trout.
Other nearby fishable waters include Otter Creek Reservoir, Piute Reservoir, the Monroe Mountain lakes (Box Creek reservoirs, Manning Meadow Reservoir, and Barney Reservoir), Antimony Creek and the East Fork Sevier River in Black Canyon.
