Southeastern Utah fishing report

By Sun Advocate

Despite the cool fall temperatures, fishing is usually best in the morning and evening. Brown trout are spawning, making them more willing to hit lures and spinners. All game fish are feeding actively in preparation for winter. Cool water temperatures have attracted fish to shallower water, where they are available to shoreline anglers. Angler pressure is very low, giving die-hard anglers a lot of elbow room. When in the high country, be prepared for possible winter storms.
•Gigliotti Pond. Lieutenant Alan Green reports fast fishing for rainbow trout with PowerBait. On September 22, 1,500 catchable-size rainbow trout were stocked. These fish averaged 13 to 14 inches and three quarter pounds. Aquatics Manager, Paul Birdsey reminds anglers that the daily limit is four trout. The possession limit is also four trout. This limit includes the fish that may already be in the freezer at home. Largemouth bass and bluegill need to be released immediately unharmed.
•Huntington Reservoir. No report. In previous years, angler Tom Ogden has used a number 10 beadhead black/green wooly bugger or number eight to 10 beadhead black leech successfully in late October.
•Joes Valley Reservoir. The reservoir closes to fishing from November 1 through December 10 to protect splake which are attempting to spawn.
•LaSal Mountains. Conservation officer, Joe Nicholson reports slow fishing at Ken’s Lake. Anglers reported good success on trout up to 12 inches using wooly buggers at Oowah and Medicine lakes. Nicholson suggests that anglers fish Dons and Hidden lakes with wooly worms, Mepp’s, Panther Martin spinners or spoons. Try the pond at the Miner’s Basin trailhead for lots of brook trout. Nicholson adds that the trail to Miner’s Basin provides a good opportunity to see wildlife.
•Scofield Reservoir. Conservation officer, Mike Milburn recommends that anglers use minnow-imitating Rapalas, such as a size number five silver/black Husky Jerk. Alternately, Milburn suggests using crawfish-imitating tube jigs, such as a one-eighth ounce Gitzit in greenish brown or pumpkin seed.
Fly fisherman Tom Ogden has used a number of wet flies successfully. These include the number eight green sparkle leech, number eight beadhead black leech with rib, and the number eight beadhead black/yellow wooly bugger.
Investigator Roger Kerstetter watched a float tuber catching a lot of fish with a red leech last weekend.