Early September southeastern Utah fishing report

By Sun Advocate

•Abajo Mountains. Sergeant J. Shirley checked anglers at Recapture Reservoir last weekend and described pike and largemouth bass fishing as “pretty good.” Anglers are finding the most success casting toward the shore from boats. Best fishing occurs in the early morning or late evening.
•Benches Pond. Bait fishing was slow. Tom Ogden had fair success with fly tackle, using a number 10 black/green wooly bugger. Tom cast the fly out, let it sink for 10 seconds, and slowly stripped the line in. Trout consisted of rainbows and albinos in the 11 to 13 inch range.
•Boulgers Reservoir. Todd Munford of King’s Outdoor World reported fair fishing from shore with rainbow PowerBait. Fly fishing was very good from tubes and toons with sinking line and olive leech patterns. Tom Ogden reported catching several trout with a worm and marshmallow from shore, and then hooked several more with a number 10 black/green wooly bugger, using fly tackle.
•Cleveland Reservoir. Tom Ogden fished two hours last Friday and caught two 13-inch rainbow trout using a worm and marshmallow.
•Electric Lake. Todd Munford reported that fishing was fair to good on the northend from the bank. He suggested fishing with a dead minnow on the bottom. Fly fishing was fair from a tube or toon, using sinking line and a red crystal bugger. He added that it was best to slow-troll the line with occasional strips. Tom Ogden fished from the bank with a worm and marshmallow, and didn’t have a single bite in an hour of fishing.
•Grassy Lake. Good fishing with an artificial fly was reported.
•Mammoth Reservoir. No report. Huntington Reservoir is closed to the possession of cutthroat trout or trout with cutthroat markings.
•Joes Valley Reservoir. No report. All trout from 15-22 inches must be immediately released. The trout limit is two, and only one can be over 22 inches.
•LaSal Mountains. A week ago, Aquatics Biologist Darek Elverud fished Kens Lake for one and a half hours. He caught seven bass and five sunfish using a greenish plastic worm. Conservation Officer TJ Robertson reported good fishing at Hidden Lake with traditional baits. Some of the moss has cleared up at Dons Lake, where fly fishing was “pretty good” in the mornings and evenings. Dark Canyon has produced good fishing with baits and spinners.
•Petes Hole. Volunteer Services Coordinator Randall Stilson said fishing was good with orange or pink lemonade PowerBait. Restocking occurred three weeks ago.
•Scofield Reservoir. Todd Munford reported that fishing was “a little slow.” From shore, it’s best to fish in the early mornings or late evenings. Todd recommends using a nightcrawler and marshmallow. Boaters are doing well on the north side for rainbows up to three pounds. Todd suggests getting up wind, turning off the motor, and slow-trolling a straight nightcrawler with a one-ounce weight to bounce the worm along the bottom. Department of Wildlife Resources Aquatics Technician Bob Olson indicated that fishing has been slow with only a few exceptions. Boaters continue to have better luck than shoreline anglers. In his opinion, the best bait was nightcrawlers and marshmallows. Tom Ogden and a friend fished the east side from shore last Friday and didn’t have a bite in one and a half hours.
•Soup Bowl. Aquatics Biologist Kenny Breidinger fished for an hour last Friday evening. He caught two tigers and one albino that were all 10 inches or less. He used a fly that imitated a gnat.