Utah Fishing & Outdoors Report

This is the heart of the ice fishing season and action is good at most Utah trout and perch waters. There are still a few waters that have some open water or unsafe ice, so use caution.

We’ve heard particularly good reports about the waters listed below. Many others should also offer good fishing. Check DWR’s weekly reports for more information.

Panguitch Lake has very good ice fishing. New regulations there require the release of all trout from 15 to 22 inches long. The lake was treated in spring, 2006, to remove problem rough fish. It was restocked with hundreds of thousands of trout, including rainbows, Bear Lake cutts and tiger trout. Some rainbows were 10 inches when stocked and are now about 14 inches long. DWR has complete details.

Fish Lake has had some ice and some open water. The rest of the lake should freeze quickly now but use caution. Meanwhile, there is fishable ice on the north end and action has been good for splake, rainbows and perch. A jig or ice fly tipped with a mealworm might take any fish in the lake. You can target splake and lake trout by using a larger jig tipped with perch meat (although you’ll still get bites from other species and smaller fish).

Strawberry should be completely frozen now but there may be thin spots or spots with open water. Fishing has been finicky – very good at times and slow other times. Move around to find active fish.

Flaming Gorge has ice on the north end, with good rainbow fishing. Spotty for kokanee and always spotty for lake trout.

Pineview has good ice fishing for perch and a few crappie. Always the chance to catch a nice tiger muskie here.

Pelican Lake is providing very good ice fishing for bluegill and some bass.

Bear Lake has good open-water fishing. The cisco will spawn about mid-January. Until then, whitefish, cutthroat and lake trout can be caught from boat or shore. DWR has this report.

Locomotive Springs has open water and fair to good fishing for recently stocked trout. Located in Box Elder County northwest of Promontory Point.

Trout and whitefish can usually be caught on our streams during winter by dedicated fly fishers. Whitefish action can be particularly good on the Weber River. However, this year ice and snow limit stream access, and cold temperatures make fishing difficult. It is certainly worth a try if we get a warm spell.

The Green River offers good cold-weather action for rainbows and browns. Temperatures here get very cold but you don’t have to deal with much snow. Trout Creek Flies offers good info and reports.

Lees Ferry (on the Colorado below Glen Canyon Dam) has good fly fishing for nice rainbows. Temperatures often climb into the 40s or even 50s during the day. Some water is accessible to walk-in anglers but you need a boat to fish most of the river. The Lees Ferry Anglers website has good info.

The San Juan River below Navajo Dam in NW New Mexico also offers good winter fly fishing. Access to the river is easy in multiple spots. San Juan River Fly Fishing Site has good info.