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Early October Southeastern Utah recreational fishing report

By Sun Advocate

•Abajo Mountains. Tommi Budd reports that fishing success is improving for the waters around Blanding. Several anglers have told Tommi that they had been catching fish at Blanding #4 and Dry Wash, and that traditional baits and spinners have proven effective. At Dry Wash, limits of fish are being creeled. Bass fishing at Recapture Reservoir ranges from fair to good for anglers using spinners or curly tail grubs. Pike fishermen haven’t done as well.
•Fairview Lakes. Todd Munford of King’s Outdoor World reports that the water level is very low, having dropped rapidly over the past few weeks. The shoreline is muddy, except at the gooseneck between the two lakes. Todd indicates that fishing is very good with orange or rainbow PowerBait. He says that casting over, or at the side of, weed beds is most productive, although you need a tube or pontoon to do so effectively. Todd recommends using a red crystal bugger or Canadian brown leech on sinking line with fast strips. Rainbow trout get up to 14 inches long, have reddish meat and provide excellent table fare.
•Huntington Creek. Anglers report good fishing on the right fork as brown trout have come into spawning condition. Sensitive Species Biologist Tony Wright interviewed several fishermen on the left fork. One reported that fish were easily spooked because of the water clarity. Another commented that he hadn’t caught anything over six inches on that trip, and hadn’t caught anything larger than 14 inches all summer.
•Mammoth Reservoir. According to Officer Ben Riley, fishing is picking up with the tiger trout simulating spawning activity. The trout appear to be feeding constantly. Todd Munford described fishing as fair with a lot of six-inch tiger trout taking your bait close to shore. Try moving around the shoreline until you begin catching larger fish, and fishing straight nightcrawlers slowly behind a full bubble. Tom Ogden reports good luck with a #8 green and black beadhead wooly bugger this time of year.
•Joe’s Valley Reservoir. There are no recent reports. Traditionally, fishing starts to improve with the onset of colder weather, and there is good fishing during October. Remember these special regulations: The trout limit is two. You may only keep one trout over 22 inches. All trout from 15-22 inches must be immediately released. The reservoir is closed from November 1 through December 13.
•Lasal Mountains. A week ago, Conservation Officer TJ Robertson issued the following report.
Dons Lake.The moss problem has past. Fly fishermen report good luck in the morning and late afternoon. Spincasters do well when they keep their lures near the surface.
Hidden Lake. Anglers report that baits and small spinners have been working well.
Kens Lake. The lake was recently stocked with rainbow trout. Anglers report fair to good trout fishing.
Oowah Lake. Traditional baits have been effective, and the access road has been repaired. Aquatics Biologist Darek Elverud fly fished Ken’s Lake a week ago. Darek caught one 15-inch bass and 12 four to eight inch sunfish using poppers in a variety of colors.
•Millsite Reserovoir. A week ago, anglers reported good fishing near the inlet using jigs tipped with worms or with a worm and marshmallow combination.
•North Manit. Conservation Officer Ben Riley reports that fishing has improved across north Manti. The cooler weather has lowered water temperatures and stimulated trout feeding behavior. Brown trout are also becoming more aggressive as they move into spawning mode. Tiger trout, being part brown trout, also simulate this aggressive spawning behavior. Some of the best waters to fish are Scofield and Mammoth reservoirs. Good streams include the Price River, Lower Fish Creek and Huntington Creek.
•Scofield Reservoir. This past week, there were four entries about Scofield Reservoir on the Utah Fishing Forum at bigfishtackle.com. On Sept. 24, one angler reported catching 23 fish with Rapalas, including two 20-inch cutts, eight tigers and 13 rainbows. The fish were about 16 inches on average. On Sept. 25, one angler reported slow fishing. On Sept. 27, an angler reported catching two nice tigers using a dead shiner suspended from a bobber, and a nice rainbow on a worm. On Sept. 29, an angler reported that he caught several rainbows, ranging from 12-15 inches, fishing the south side of the dam cove. He also caught a two-pound rainbow with a worm and marshmallow.

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