Southeastern Utah fishing report

By Sun Advocate

•Abajo Mountains. Conservation officer Randall Scheetz reports that Blanding number three has been good for rainbow trout with PowerBait and spinners. Fishing success at Blanding number four has dropped to fair with PowerBait and spinners. Trout fishing at Recapture Reservoir has also slowed to fair.Red PowerBait is recommended for 13 inch rainbow trout. A few pike have been coming out of Recapture, including a reported catch of a 30 inch Northern. Scheetz describes fishing at Monticello and Foy reservoirs as fair to good with salmon eggs, PowerBait or spinners.
•Gigliotti Pond. This new pond in Helper will be filled and stocked by May 25 for its grand opening.
•Huntington Creek. No report. 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 Game Farm Pond. On Saturday, May 4, from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., the DWR and U.S. Forest Service will co-sponsor the annual kids fishing event. The pond will be freshly stocked just before the event. The trout limit is four. The bluegill limit is 10. The bass limit is four, but only one bass larger than 15 inches. Limits are the same for all licensed anglers and unlicensed anglers under 14 years of age. Hot dogs and drinks will be provided for the kids by the forest service.
•Huntington North Reservoir (near the city of Huntington). Conservation officer Kip Draper reports that fishing has generally been slow for trout. He notes that some bass are being caught. He recommends a Jake’s Spin-a-Lure for trout. Jigs have been working well for largemouth bass, where the limit is two. All bass over 12 inches must be immediately released.
•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. Conservation officer Kip Draper reports that fishing has been very slow. 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 to 20 inches must be immediately released.
•Lake Powell. The Lake Powell fishing report home page is: http://www.wayneswords.com. DWR biologist and project leader, Wayne Gustaveson, updates fishing conditions at this website weekly. He provides detailed information on locations, tackle and techniques for each species in the lake. In 2002, an unlimited number of striped bass may be kept. The smallmouth bass limit is 20, and the largemouth bass limit is five.
•Lasal Mountains. Conservation officer Edward Meyers says the roads to Dons, Hidden, and Oowah lakes are now open. The road to Warner will likely be open for the May 4 weekend. Dark Canyon and Medicine lakes are also reachable, but have not been stocked yet. Early morning or late evening fishing at Kens Lake has been fair to good with traditional baits. Fly fishermen using dark leech patterns from a float tube have done well.
•Lower Fish Creek. Angler Tom Ogden reports that fly-fishing has been good for 6 to 14 inch brown trout using a Montana or hare’s ear pattern. Best fishing success can be expected at least one mile below the dam. Access to the middle portion of the stream on DWR property will soon be open. Only artificial flies or lures can be used below the railroad bridge, which is about one mile below the dam.
•Millsite Reservoir. Officer Kip Draper reports that Millsite has been producing limits of fish during the past few days. Draper recommends a worm tipped with marshmallow or PowerBait.
•Scofield Reservoir. Aquatics manager Louis Berg reports that fly, lure and bait fishing is currently poor due to murky water. This is a common phenomenon shortly after ice-out, when wind “turns over” the lake. Fishing should improve as the water clears over the next few weeks. Sergeant Carl Gramlich wishes to remind all anglers that fishing is not allowed in the tributaries until July. Gramlich reports that he and his officers have been writing a lot of tickets. Park ranger Ron Taylor wishes to notify anglers that the boat ramp to Madsen Bay will be closed until May 20, due to paving of the parking area. However, the Mountain View boat ramp remains in operation.
•Wrigley Springs Reservoir. Wrigley Springs has been stocked for the first time this year.