Utah Fishing & Outdoors Report

Ice fishing is still in full swing in Utah, with many waters offering good action. This has been the coldest winter in several years and ice is safe and solid on most of our trout and perch reservoirs.

The ice fishing season usually starts to wind down in late February and early March, as ice conditions begin to deteriorate on low-elevation waters. High elevation waters usually have safe ice into April, but fishing pressure slows there because many anglers are turning their attention to the lower waters as they open up.

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.

Bear Lake has good ice fishing for cutthroat trout and whitefish. A few lake trout are also caught there through the ice.

Strawberry has good but spotty fishing. Action can be very good when you find the right spot, but can be slow just a few feet away. So move around. Tube jigs and ice flies tipped with bait are effective.

Otter Creek Reservoir has been very good for nice rainbows. Reports say the ice is very thick (up to 18 inches).

Joes Valley been very good for splake, and a few tiger trout are being caught.

Fish Lake is good for splake, rainbows and perch.

Grantsville has been good for trout. DWR reports 3 big browns were caught there recently, including one that weighed 8 pounds.

Yuba Lake has been good for nice perch. All perch must be released at Yuba this year, to help the population rebuild. There are also rainbows in the reservoir but that action has been slow.

Mill Meadow and Forsyth (small reservoirs near Fish Lake) have very good fishing for trout, including tiger trout. Forsyth also offers good splake fishing while Mill Meadow also has good action for perch.

Flaming Gorge has safe ice down into the Sheep Creek area. Check ice carefully from there south because it may be unsafe. Rainbows and some kokanee are commonly caught. At the Gorge there is always a chance you will tie into a nice lake trout.

Quail Lake has good open-water fishing for rainbows, including a few nice sized fish. Trout action has been good from both shore and boat. Bass fishing is slow.

Stream conditions will improve tremendously during the next few weeks. Get out on a warm afternoon and work the deeper holes using Prince nymphs, pheasant tails or copper Johns. Streamers and leech patterns also work, particularly on streams where there are good numbers of brown trout.

Stream sections just below dams often have better conditions (less ice) than other sections. Try the Green, Provo, Ogden, Weber and Straight Canyon Creek below Joes Valley.

The Colorado at Lees Ferry is fishing well, with spring-like conditions.

Good fishing.
- Dave Webb

Check DWR's weekly fishing reports for up-to-date info.