Southeastern Utah fishing report

By Sun Advocate

Except for high elevation lakes and reservoirs, the ice fishing season is over. With few exceptions, ice fishing is hazardous.
•Abajo Mountains. All Blanding area lakes and reservoirs are thawing or have thawed. Blanding City has speeded up the pre-reconstruction draining of the Blanding Reservoir number four reservoir, where fishing is over for the year. Fish stocking will occur at Blanding Reservoir number three in late April or early May. Anglers can expect more crowded conditions this year, while Blanding four is out of use. However, fishing should be good because fish scheduled for stocking in Blanding Reservoir four will be added to the quota for Blanding Reservoir three. Louis Berg, aquatics manager explains, “early spring is one of the best times for northern pike fishing, and northern pike are becoming more common in Recapture Reservoir. Shoreline anglers can expect good results if they use appropriate lures, attach them to a wire leader, and use heavy (at least 10-lb. test) line. Good lure types include spoons, stickbaits, and crankbaits.”
•Cleveland Reservoir. Little fishing pressure. The reservoir is still ice-covered.
•Electric Lake. No report. Bait is not allowed at this lake, where the trout limit is two.
•Huntington Creek. Aquatics manager Louis Berg reports that ice has left Huntington Creek along most of its length. Excellent fly fishing is expected. Berg suggests that now is the time to visit this stream, before spring run-off increases flows and muddies the water. Be sure to park in designated areas. Harvest of brown trout on the left fork is encouraged, where the limit is four fish. On the left fork, fish must be taken with artificial flies or lures. On the right fork, from Flood and Engineer’s Canyon upstream to Electric Lake dam, only two trout may be taken and artificial flies must be used. No bait or lures are allowed in this section.
•Huntington Game Farm Pond. The pond will soon be stocked with some albino trout and two to three pound regular rainbows.
•Huntington North Reservoir. (near the city of Huntington). The shoreline is entirely open. Ron Taylor, park superintendent reports that shoreline fishing has been pretty good. Traditional baits are recommended.
•Huntington Reservoir. (near the top of Huntington Canyon). The reservoir is still ice-covered. Very little fishing pressure. Release of tiger trout is encouraged so that fish can grow larger. Any brown trout caught should be harvested. The reservoir is closed to the possession of cutthroat trout and trout with cutthroat markings.
•Joes Valley Reservoir. “The ice at Joes Valley Reservoir is no longer safe,” warns Louis Berg. Good shoreline angling is just days away. Most fish are 13-15 inches in length. Anglers are encouraged to release all larger splake for control of the abundant Utah chub population. The splake limit is two fish. All splake between 15-20 inches must be immediately released.
•Lasal Mountains. Ken’s Lake is ice-free and has been heavily stocked. Shoreline angling for rainbow trout has been good with traditional baits, lures and flies.
•Lower Fish Creek. Access to the middle portion of the stream on DWR property is closed until late spring. Only artificial flies or lures can be used below the railroad bridge, which is about one mile below the dam.
•Millsite Reservoir. The reservoir is ice-free. Conservation officer Carl Gramlich reports good shoreline fishing with worms and cheese.
•Scofield Reservoir. Fishing continues to be slow to fair. Fishing pressure is low. Try a Swedish pimple or pearl jig tipped with a meal worm. Release of trout is encouraged, so they can be caught multiple times and grow larger.