Southeastern Utah late February fishing report

By Sun Advocate

•Abajo Mountains. There has been little or no fishing activity at San Juan County waters. A temporary daily bag limit is in place at Blanding #4 Reservoir. The daily bag and possession limits of trout are 16 fish, because of plans to drain the reservoir. This change will remain in effect until March 15.
•Electric Lake. No report. Bait is not allowed at this lake, where the trout limit is two.
•Huntington Creek. Trout continue to be taken with #12 Montana nymphs. Harvest of brown trout on the left fork is encouraged, where the limit is four fish. On the left fork, fish must be taken with artificial flies or lures. On the Right Fork, from Flood and Engineer’s Canyon upstream to Electric Lake dam, only two trout may be taken and artificial flies must be used. No bait or lures are allowed in this section.
•Huntington North Reservoir (near the city of Huntington). Fishing has been fair with meal worms. The ice is six to eight inches at the middle of the reservoir. Open water occurs along the edges.
•Huntington Reservoir(near the top of Huntington Canyon). No report. Release of tiger trout is encouraged so that fish can grow larger. Any brown trout caught should be harvested. The reservoir is closed to the possession of cutthroat trout and trout with cutthroat markings.
•Joes Valley Reservoir. DWR Aquatics Biologist Mike Slater fished over the weekend on the west side.He reported that a white jig or Swedish pimple tipped with chub, minnow or sucker meat consistently caught fish. Slater fished in 8-12 feet of water and about two feet off the bottom. Anglers are encouraged to release all larger splake for control of the abundant Utah chub population. The splake limit is two fish. All splake between 15-20 inches must be immediately released.
•Lasal Mountains. No report.
•Lower Fish Creek. Access to the middle portion of the stream on DWR property is closed until late spring. Only artificial flies or lures can be used below the railroad bridge, which is about 1 mile below the dam.
•Millsite Reservoir. Fishing has been fair for small trout, using Velveta cheese. The ice is six inches thick. Open water along the edges may be expected.
•Scofield Reservoir. Fishing has been fair to good. Release of trout is encouraged, so they can be caught multiple times and grow larger.
•Lake Powell. Report updated Feb. 14. Wayne Gustaveson, DWR Lake Powell project leader, provides the following report.
The lake elevation is 3,651 feet and the water temperature is 46 – 49 F. We have reached the starting point. A new fishing season is about to be launched. Put another way, we are also at the absolute low point in the fishing cycle. Fishing doesn’t get any tougher than it is right now. Cold temperature, low forage, and short days mean fishing success is more about enjoying the lake and the scenery than about catching fish.
Stripers in the backs of canyons are not schooled, scattered and slow to respond to bait. They are even less inclined to chase lures. They are waiting for day length to increase before moving to current in anticipation of spawning.
Bass are waiting for the first warming to occur before moving shallow. Watch for surface temperatures above 50 degrees before largemouth move and above 55 before smallmouth begin to respond.
Perhaps the best chance for success would be walleye fishing out of Hite. Walleye are a cool water species presently about three weeks away from spawning. Prespawn females are actively searching for food and may be taken during low light periods. Fish spoons, grubs, and live bait (night crawlers) on the bottom for best success.
The key to catching a fish now would be to find a warm afternoon where the water temperature spikes above 52 degrees and remains there over night. Spring time is right around the corner and fishing will warm with the weather.