Updated fishing report for southeastern Utah

By Sun Advocate

ABAJO MOUNTAINS Blanding #4 Reservoir has been stocked with 3,500 10-inch rainbow trout. Blanding #3 was planted with 1,500 10-inchers. Conservation Officer Joe Nicholson says that fishing at Recapture Reservoir continues to be slow, but adds that persistent fishermen have been rewarded with some nice pike. Nicholson recommends large jigs in white and pumpkin seed colors, or crawfish imitating crankbaits.
BENCHES RESERVOIR The reservoir is starting to open up near the spillway. Ice-off is expected within a week or so. The reservoir’s tributary is closed to fishing until July 9th.
BOULGER RESERVOIR The reservoir is opening up near the inlet. Access by snowshoe or snow machine only. The tributary is closed until July 9th.
CLEVELAND RESERVOIR The spring thaw is imminent. When things open up, try fishing near the inlet on the north side with a nightcrawler below 1/8 oz. split shot.
ELECTRIC LAKE The north end is open, but remains accessible only by snow machine. Please do not attempt to ice fish the south part of the lake due to safety concerns. Todd Munford of Big Pine Sports in Fairview reports good fishing near the inlet for staging cutthroat trout. Try a nightcrawler in combination with either a salmon egg or marshmallow. Fly fishermen should try sinking line with a Canadian brown leech pattern. Tributaries are closed to fishing until July 9 to protect spawning cutthroat trout.
FAIRVIEW LAKES The lakes remain ice-bound. Most fish winter-killed. Lakes will hopefully be restocked by Memorial Day weekend.
GOOSEBERRY RESERVOIR The reservoir is mostly frozen, depending on the weather. Water along the east shoreline opens up on warm days. Access by snow machine only. Tributaries are closed to fishing until July 9th.
HUNTINGTON CREEK Todd Munford advises anglers in the fly-only zone to be stealthy and keep a low profile. Brown trout can be enticed with a gentle presentation of brown leeches drifted into deeper pools. Glo bugs and tan San Juan worms have been effective in the middle and lower sections of the creek. Bait fishing has been fair below the forks with � nightcrawler or red salmon eggs drifted from riffles to pools. Trout have been 8-10 inches in size. Water in the lower creek is becoming a little cloudy on warmer days.
HUNTINGTON RESERVOIR (on the Wasatch Plateau, Sanpete County) The reservoir shoreline is beginning to open up. The DWR advises against further ice fishing this year.
JOES VALLEY RESERVOIR The reservoir is open. Tom Ogden recommends a #8 beadhead green sparkle leech. Special regulations apply. The limit is two trout, only one over 22 inches. All trout between 15-22 inches must be immediately released.
LAKE POWELL The Lake Powell fishing report home page is: http://www. wayneswords.com
LASAL MOUNTAINS Conservation Officer Joe Nicholson indicates that fishing is starting to pick up on the Colorado River. Channel cats are being taken on worms. LaSal Mountain lakes remain inaccessible, except by snow machine. Ken’s Lake was stocked with 7,000 9-10 inch rainbow trout in early April. Sergeant Edward Meyers described fishing as fair at Kens for 9-13 inch rainbows and an occasional brown trout. Bait fishermen have done well on worm/marshmallow combinations. Spinners are also working. A few bass and catfish are also being caught. Anglers are reminded that the trout limit is 4.
MILLER FLAT RESERVOIR Access by snow machine only. The reservoir is starting to open up, and fishing is expected to be good with salmon eggs or chartreuse PowerBait.
MILLSITE RESERVOIR Aquatics Biologist Craig Walker recommends that anglers fish the deep drop-offs with a jig, spinner or leech pattern. Bait fishermen should try eggs on the bottom with a slip sinker. Walker cautions that the shoreline is muddy, so bring your boots.
SCOFIELD RESERVOIR The reservoir is virtually ice-free, although some freezing and thawing occurs each day. Angling success has been sporadic. Last Saturday, Sgt. Carl Gramlich observed slow fishing conditions. On Sunday, Officer Stacey Jones reported fair to good success for bait and spincasters.
Sgt. Gramlich suggests that anglers try a variety of baits. Several weeks ago, egg sacs or worms were the most effective baits. The Jake’s Spin-a-Lure was the best spinner. Fly fishermen had the best luck with brown and olive wooly buggers, or with green and black beadhead leeches. Aquatics Biologist Justin Hart recommends worms, PowerBait, salmon eggs with marshmallows, jigs or Roostertail spinners. Trout range from 1-2 lbs. with 1 lb. bows being the most common.
Conservation Officer Stacey Jones cautions anglers against throwing back fish hooked by bait or egg sacs. “Hooking mortality is very high this time of year.” states Officer Jones. She issues one other advisory: “It is illegal to harvest eggs from a female trout and then release the fish back into the water.” Keep in mind that all tributaries to Scofield Reservoir are closed to fishing until July 9th to protect spawning cutthroat trout.
STRAIGHT CANYON (below Joes Valley Reservoir) The creek is fishable and offers good fishing for brown trout.