Utah Fishing & Outdoors Report

Spring fishing is now starting, with anglers already plying open water for early-season walleye, in both Utah Lake and Willard Bay. The action is slow right now but will pick up during the next couple weeks as the waters warm.

At both Utah Lake and Willard, success should improve by about the middle of March, and become good in late March and early April.

Walleye will soon spawn over shallow gravel and cobblestone-sized rocks in both waters. When they are in the shallows they are move visible, but they don’t actively feed while spawning. It is best to target pre-spawn fish that are still in deeper water, out from the spawning beds.

Deer Creek and Yuba Reservoir also have walleye and they will probably loose their ice by the end of March. Action here usually starts a couple weeks later than at the lower-elevation waters.

Starvation and Lake Powell offer good walleye fishing in May.

See our extensive library of walleye fishing articles.

Jordanelle, Rockport, East Canyon, Lost Creek and other similar reservoirs will offer good trout fishing as soon as the ice pulls back. Timing depends on weather conditions. If we get warm wind the ice will go in a hurry. Watch the Utah discussion board on this website for current info.

Lake Powell is slow right now but action will pick up by the end of March, as warming water temperatures allow smallmouth, largemouth and striped bass to become more active. Action is usually red hot by mid-April, and it stays hot through May.

DWR biologist Wayne Gustaveson has an excellent website with specific info on how to fish Powell. His latest report describes an early-season bass tournament where experienced anglers were able to coax some mighty nice fish out of the cold water.

Fly fishing is starting to pick up on our trout streams. Some midges are hatching on the Green River and fishing is decent between storms, when the water flow is steady. Insect activity will increase dramatically by the end of March, and fishing will improve proportionally. Tiny Baetis and midge patterns will work on top and standard nymphs will be effective along the bottom. Guide Dennis Breer publishes an excellent report with specific info about fishing the Green. Read it here.

The Middle Provo also has some midge action, with tiny bugs hatching. Larger insects should start to appear soon. Steve Schmidt provides a good current report on this water.

Lees Ferry should fish well during the next few weeks, with delightful spring conditions. This is a stretch of the Colorado River below Glen Canyon Dam. Look for detailed reports here.

Upcoming Major Events
International Sportsmen’s Expo will be March 15-18 in the South Towne Expo Center.
Moab’s Easter Jeep Safari will be March 31 through April 8.
Great Salt Lake Bird Festival will be May 17-22.

See our complete list of events