Updated fishing report for southeastern Utah lakes, reservoirs

By Sun Advocate

ABAJO MOUNTAINS Aquatic biologists Justin Hart and Craig Walker fished Recapture Reservoir this past weekend. They caught several small pike and a 12-inch largemouth bass. Craig hooked a 3-4 lb. pike but lost it. They had most luck with large, chartreuse, skirted, double-bladed spinnerbaits. Blanding #4 Reservoir has been stocked with 3,500 10-inch rainbow trout. Blanding #3 has been stocked with 1,500 10-inch trout.
BENCHES RESERVOIR The reservoir is open near the spillway. The icepack is mushy. Ice-off is expected within a week. The reservoir’s tributary is closed to fishing until July 9th.
BOULGER RESERVOIR The reservoir is open near the inlet, and the ice is soft elsewhere. Access by snowshoe or snow machine only. The tributary is closed until July 9th.
CLEVELAND RESERVOIR Ice-off is expected within a week, pending fair weather and rising temperatures. Todd Munford of Big Pine Sports in Fairview recommends using a nightcrawler with split shot; or a black (or olive) 1/32 oz. jig with a piece of nightcrawler, suspended by a floating bubble.
ELECTRIC LAKE The north end is open, and the ice is getting slushy and soft elsewhere. The ice fishing season is over. Todd Munford reports that cutthroat trout are stacking near the inlet for the spring spawn. A nightcrawler/salmon egg combination has been the best bet. The best lures have been tan or rust Roostertails or 1/8 oz. brown marabou jigs. Tributaries are closed to fishing until July 9th to protect spawning cutthroat trout..
FAIRVIEW LAKES Restocking is expected to occur as soon as the hatchery truck can gain access. This may not occur by Memorial Day.
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 The water is rising and becoming turbid. Todd Munford advises anglers in the fly-only zone to use large attractor patterns, trailed by small nymphs, such as the RS 2, WD-40, or Lil Brassie. Brown trout are generally within the 10-12 inch size class. Below the fly fishing zone, Munford recommends 1/16 oz. black marabou jigs, drifted in deeper riffles. Nightcrawlers and red worms are proving effective on the right fork, below the fly-only zone.
HUNTINGTON RESERVOIR (on the Wasatch Plateau, Sanpete County) The reservoir’s shoreline opens a little during warm spells and closes back up when temperatures drop. Ice fishing season is over, but anglers will have to wait a week or two before shoreline fishing becomes available.
JOES VALLEY RESERVOIR The reservoir is open. Angler Tom Ogden recently fished near Seely Cove from a pontoon boat using a #6 green leech. He caught a number of splake below or in the slot, and hooked one above the slot, which was lost. Brad Crompton, DWR wildlife biologist hooked a number of smaller splake this past weekend using chub meat. More than a week ago, one angler reported catching a 4-5 lb. splake, while fishing from a pontoon boat with sinking line and a large streamer. Special regulations apply. The limit is two trout, only one over 22 inches. All trout between 15-22 inches must be immediately released.
LASAL MOUNTAINS Sergeant Edward Meyers reports that Hidden Lake is now accessible. Don’s Lake should be accessible in the very near future. Catfishing on the Colorado River has been fair with traditional baits. Oowah has open water, although the gate remains closed. For anglers willing to hike the three miles beyond the gate, fishing has been good for 10-12 inch trout with salmon eggs and spinners. Ken’s Lake has been stocked with 7,000 catchable-size rainbow trout. Officer Nicholson reports good fishing at Kens for 10-13 inch rainbows and an occasional brown trout. Fishermen have done well with spinners and PowerBait. 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 on warm days, 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.
SCOFIELD RESERVOIR The reservoir is ice-free, and angler pressure is high on weekends. Best fishing occurs in early morning. The best bait is trout egg sacs. Remember that it’s illegal to harvest eggs from a female trout and then release the fish back into the water. Also, be advised that many trout die when hooked with egg sacs. Please harvest the fish which are injured by hooks.
The reservoir level has begun to rise, flooding dry, weedy ground. An abundance of worms, grubs and aquatic insects are being picked up by trout, cruising the shoreline. Please remember that all tributaries to Scofield Reservoir are closed to fishing until July 9th to protect spawning cutthroat trout.