July 4 fishing report for southeastern Utah waters

By Sun Advocate

A fish kill occurred during the past week at Cleveland Reservoir. More than a week earlier, Petes Hole had a similar problem.
The Division of Wildlife Resources encourages all anglers to immediately report sick and dying fish by calling the Price dispatcher center at 637-0893.
In most cases, a fish must be analyzed at a lab within 24 hours of its death to identify the causative agent.
In southeastern Utah, all popular lakes, reservoirs and streams have been stocked. Most waters have already received their total annual allotment of fish from the hatcheries, due to concerns about drought and reservoir dewatering later this summer.
Presently, fishing conditions are good and water levels are satisfactory.
The July 4 holiday weekend may be the best time this summer to wet a line!
•Benches Reservoir. This past weekend, very few anglers were out. No report on fishing success.
This reservoir has been planted with its total summer allotment of 4,800 catchable-size rainbow trout
•Blue Mountains. Conservation officer Randall Scheetz reports that fishing at Blanding number three has been good in the evening with bait and spinners, and fair during the middle of the day with bait.
The reservoir was stocked with a total of 3,000 rainbow trout this spring, but won’t be restocked again this summer due to concerns about the reservoir drying up.
Recapture Reservoir continues to be good for northern pike from a boat trolling crankbaits and is fair from shore with spinners.
Foy Reservoir continues to provide good fishing with bait and spinners. Fly fishing has been excellent using nymph patterns.
Both Foy and Monticello reservoirs were planted with 4,500 catchable-size rainbow trout early this month.
Lloyds Lake has been good near the inlet for anglers using salmon eggs.
•Boulgers Reservoir. No recent report. The reservoir’s full annual allotment of 4,800, nine to 10 inch fish has been planted.
•Cleveland Reservoir. A fish kill at the reservoir claimed more than 400 trout this past week. The cause of the fish kill remains under investigation.The water level has dropped considerably from a week ago.
The reservoir has been planted with 4,000 catchable-size rainbow trout. No further stocking will occur this year, due to concerns about the reservoir drying up. Grasshopper fly patterns and gold or silver Panther Martin lures have been effective this past week.
•Duck Fork Reservoir. Duck Fork will be replanted with Colorado River cutthroat trout and fingerling tiger trout. The tiger trout are expected to be large enough to catch in 2004.
Duck Fork regulations will protect the Colorado River cutthroat population for future egg collection and fish transplant operations. The DWR hopes that this measure will help keep the Colorado cut from being listed as threatened or endangered.
•Electric Lake. The water level remains stable. Outflow is six cubic feet per second and will remain so through the summer.
The boat ramp on the north end is about a half mile away from the reservoir pool. However, a dirt road from the boat launch area leads to areas where small craft can be hand-carried to the water.
Bank anglers have had fair to good success on the north end with worm rigs and Jake’s Spin-a-Lures.
This year, the limit on fish at Electric Lake is four trout which may be taken on any type of bait, lure or fly.
Tributaries are closed until July 12. When tributaries open, the limit will be two trout, but artificial flies and lures must be used.
•Ferron Reservoir. The water level has dropped significantly, due to dam repair work. Fishing was slow over the weekend.
The reservoir has been stocked with 3,000, nine to 10 inch rainbow trout. There are also carry-over trout from last year and an abundant population of brook trout.
The trout limit is four. However, anglers may take a bonus limit of four brook trout in addition to the normal trout limit. All tributaries are closed until July 12.
•Gilgliotti Pond. The pond water level continues to drop. The DWR is working on a water flow through agreement, which could refill the pond. However, the agreement process could take several months.
The Castle Country Bass Masters and DWR are concerned about the widespread hooking mortality of bass and bluegill evident along the shoreline. This has compromised the success of the recent transplant operation from Red Fleet Reservoir.
The pond is catch-and-release only for both bass and bluegill. If a bass or bluegill is caught, see that the removal of the hook will not cause excessive bleeding and tissue injury. please cut the line and immediately release the fish. The fish will survive with the embedded hook, which will eventually dissolve.
The trout limit is four fish, although trout fishing success has been poor.
•Gooseberry Reservoir. Fishing was slow this past weekend. The reservoir’s summer allotment of 6,400, nine to 10 inch rainbow trout has already been planted.
All tributaries are closed until July 12.
•Grassy Trail Reservoir. The reservoir is closed to fishing in 2003.
•Green River Golf Course Ponds. The limit is four fish in the aggregate for all species.
•Huntington Creek. The water is running low and clear from Electric Lake dam to the Forks of the Huntington, where the water becomes turbid and increases in volume.
Fishing in the upper reaches has been tough. Trout are wary and have been holding in deeper pools. There have been a variety of stone fly hatches and a lot of insects along the banks. Try to match the hatch.
On the lower right fork, angler Tom Ogden has reported good success using a number eight Montana nymph.
On the right fork (from Flood and Engineer’s Canyon upstream to Electric Lake) only artificial flies may be used and the trout limit is two.
On the left fork, only artificial flies and lures may be used. The harvest of brown trout is encouraged.
Fishing success has been good. Try a royal coachman or renegade pattern.
•Huntington Game Farm Pond. Fishing success is poor. No more trout will be stocked until next May.
•Huntington North Reservoir. Trout fishing continues to be slow. More trout will be stocked in October.
Largemouth bass fishing has been fair to good.
In 2003, the bass limit is two; all largemouth bass over 12 inches must be immediately released.
•Huntington Reservoir (near the top of Huntington Canyon). The water level is holding, although fishing success was slow over the weekend. Some anglers had success with worm rigs.
Fly fishermen did reasonably well with wooly buggers. Jake’s Spin-a-Lures have also been effective.
Tributaries are closed until July 12. The reservoir is closed to the possession of cutthroat trout or trout with cutthroat markings.
•Joes Valley Reservoir. The boat ramp is still open and the water level is good for boating. Both shoreline and boat anglers have had good success this past week jigging or retrieving three to four inch white grubs, tipped with a piece of chub meat.
In 2003, the trout limit is two. No more than one trout may be over 22 inches. All trout 15 to 22 inches must be immediately released.
•Ken’s Lake. Fishing has been fair to good in the mornings and evenings. This lake was planted with 4,000, nine to 10 inch rainbow trout this spring. No further stocking will occur this year.
•Lake Powell. The Lake Powell fishing report home page is 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.
•LaSal Mountains. All lakes are now accessible and most have been stocked. Sgt. Edward Meyers describes fishing at Blue Lake as excellent. Brook and rainbow trout up to 13 inches have been taking flies and lures. Recommended flies include ants, beetles and wooly worms.
Dark Canyon has been stocked with 2,400, nine to 10 inch rainbow trout.
Medicine Lake has been stocked with 800 rainbow trout and Warner has been stocked with 2,000 rainbow trout.
Oowah has received 4,800 catchable-size rainbow trout. Fishing has been good at Oowah for rainbow and brook trout with spinners or salmon eggs.
Fishing at Hidden Lake has been excellent for hold-over and stocked rainbow trout. Salmon eggs, worms and spinners have worked best.
Hidden has already received its summer allotment of 3,200, nine to 10 inch rainbow trout.
Fishing at Dons Lake has been fair for splake and tiger trout with spinners and flies.
•Mary’s Lake. This water has been stocked with its summer allotment of 1,200 rainbow trout.
•Miller Flat Reservoir. The reservoir is full and has been stocked with its total allotment of 3,000 catchable-size rainbow trout. A wide variety of PowerBait has been effective this past week including blue neon, pink lemonade, lemon twist, green sparkle, rainbow sparkle, etc. A dry fly and bubble has also been successful.
•Millsite Reservoir. The reservoir is full. Velveeta cheese or garlic cheese bait have been the most effective fish getters this week.
•Petes Hole. Several weeks ago, a fish kill involving more than 150 fish was observed at Pete’s Hole. If anglers see other fish which may act strangely or appear sick, they are encouraged to call the Price dispatcher at 637-0893.
Pete’s has been stocked with 4,800 catchable rainbow trout. Worms, spinners, or fly and bubble have been effective.
Fly fishermen have been using renegade, royal coachman, beadhead prince nymphs or a roostertail fly with red and gold flashing.
•Potter’s Ponds. Fishing has been good this week for anglers with PowerBait, worm rigs, and Panther Martin or Jake’s spinners.
Fly fishermen have been using renegades, royal coachmen or Scofield special patterns.
Both ponds have been planted with 5,600 rainbow trout apiece.
•Price River/Lower Fish Creek. Flows from the reservoir have increased. From the railroad bridge approximately one mile below the Scofield Reservoir dam downstream to the confluence with the White River only artificial flies and lures may be used.
Brown trout fishing has been good. Silver or gold Jake’s have been good. Caddis flies have also been effective.
•Scofield Reservoir. Conservation officer Stacey Taggart reports that very few anglers were out on Scofield Reservoir this past weekend, due to storms and wind. Boat anglers have had fair to good success, still-fishing around the islands with dead minnows, chartreuse or rainbow PowerBait, or with a worm and marshmallow.
Bank fishermen on the west side have had fair to good success with a floating worm/marshmallow combination.
Shoreline anglers on the east side continue to have luck with orange sparkle PowerBait. Lemonade and lemon twist PowerBait have also been effective. Dead red shiners captured at the reservoir have also been good.
Float tubers have had luck with crystal buggers or by matching the Scofield midge hatch. Trollers have had luck with Super Dupers, orange Triple Teasers, or pop gear and worm.
•Soup Bowl. The pond has been stocked with its annual allotment of 1,500 rainbow trout. No recent report.
•Willow Lake. This lake has been stocked 5,000 catchable rainbow trout. PowerBait, worm rigs, fly and bubble combinations have been effective.
•Wrigley Spring Reservoir. Fishing has been good with dry fly and bubble combinations, worm rigs or spinners. The reservoir has been stocked with 4,800 catchable rainbow trout.