Hunters can take advantage of good fishing prospects while they are out in the field this fall. Pack the fishing tackle for the general season deer hunt. Spend afternoons catching fish for dinner. October fishing is traditionally very good. Trout feed hungrily in preparation for winter. They are much more active, accessible and concentrated than during summer months.
•Abajo Mountains. Conservation Officer Randall Scheetz reports fair fishing at both Blanding numbers three and four with traditional baits, such as PowerBait, marshmallows, salmon eggs, and worms. Scheetz says Foy and Monticello reservoirs have been good with traditional baits and fair with spinners or flies. Lloyds Lake continues to be fair with traditional baits.
•Benches Reservoir. Fly fishermen have been using small dry flies in the morning or evening. Bait fishermen should try a nightcrawler with salmon egg, suspended under a floating bubble.
•Cleveland Reservoir. Fishing has been slow. Try trolling Panther Martin or Blue Fox Vibrax spinners on monofilament. Some bank fishermen have had luck with Wildfire Power Nuggets or with a nightcrawler and marshmallow.
•Duck Fork Reservoir. Tiger trout are catchable-sized and offer good sport-fishing. Aquatics Biologist Justin Hart reminds anglers that the reservoir is closed to the possession of cutthroat trout. Only tiger trout may be harvested. Only artificial flies or lures may be used.
•Electric Lake. The water level is extremely low. Fishing has been fair. Some nice-sized trout are being caught with a nightcrawler/salmon egg combination or rainbow PowerBait. Fish off points for best results. Fly fishing has been fair from pontoons and tubes, trolling olive or black leech patterns.
•Fairview Lakes. The lake level is very low. The best fishing has been in the east lake from tubes or non-motorized craft. Bank fishermen have done well in the southwest portion of the smaller lake with rainbow PowerBait or red marshmallows. Fly fishing has been good from a tube or pontoon. Dark leeches or olive or chartreuse crystal buggers fast-stripped on sinking line are the best bet.
•Ferron Reservoir. Fishing continues to be good for rainbow, cutthroat and brook trout. A variety of flies, lures and baits have been used successfully. The trout limit is 4, but anglers may take a bonus limit of 4 brookies.
•Gooseberry Reservoir. The water level is extremely low. Fishing has been fair from shore. Nightcrawler and salmon egg combos have worked best.
•Huntington Creek. In the fly fishing-only zone, try small dry flies, such as the number 16 para-Adams, number16 yellow humpies or number16 royal wulff. Below the forks, anglers have had success with nightcrawlers drifted through deeper runs and eddies. Brown trout, up to 14 inches, have been taken.
•Huntington Reservoir. (on the mountain) The lake level is low and fishing pressure has dropped off. North and east shorelines have been productive with a straight nightcrawler behind a full bubble. Tiger trout go up to 16 inches. The reservoir is closed to the possession of cutthroat trout and trout with cutthroat markings.
•Huntington North Reservoir. Try trolling with pop gear and a nightcrawler.
•Joes Valley Reservoir. The boat ramp is out of the water. Very little fishing pressure. November is a good month to resume fishing at Joes Valley. The trout limit is two–only one over 22 inches. All trout from 15-22 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.
•Lasal Mountains. Angler interest has dropped off with the big game hunting seasons in progress. Good fishing at all LaSal Mountain lakes is expected.
•Miller Flat Reservoir. The reservoir is very low. Fishing is best off the dam. Anglers continue to do well with rainbow PowerBait or red salmon eggs. Fly fishermen should try slow-stripping black leech patterns.
•Potters Ponds. Fishing has been good at tributary inlets with rainbow or chartreuse PowerBait.
•Scofield Reservoir. The lake level is very low. Conservation Officer Stacey Jones cautions anglers to stick with small water craft or tubes or pontoon boats. Orange sparkle PowerBait or a nightcrawler/marshmallow combination have been effective along the east shoreline. Trollers have done well with pop gear and a nightcrawler. Bait fishing from a boat has been good north of the island in 9-15 feet of water with orange sparkle PowerBait or rainbow Power Nuggets and a salmon egg.
Mid-October Southeastern Utah fishing report
