Utah Fishing & Outdoors Report

Ice is pulling back at Strawberry and Scofield. If you catch it just right, trout fishing can be excellent on the edge of the ice as it pulls away from shore on these reservoirs. That experience may be possible this weekend and into next week. At Strawberry, the Ladders has open water now and the Soldier Creek side is expected to open up quickly. Floating ice can be dangerous, especially if the wind comes up, so use caution.

Get out in a pontoon boat or float tube and position yourself so you can cast onto the ice, then hop your lure or bait until it falls into the water. Dark leeches and woolly buggers usually work at this time of year.

Lake Powell will have red-hot fishing during the next few weeks. Striped bass are now biting near the dam and at other traditional spring hot spots. Largemouth action is good and smallmouth fishing is picking up. Work a jig or lure into rocks or brush near the back of a canyon and you might catch stripers, largemouth, smallmouth, walleye, crappie or bluegill. Watch this report for specific info and tips: http://www.wayneswords.com/lpfish.htm

Sand Hollow near St George also has good bass fishing. Largmouth are also starting to bite in Mantua.

Deer Creek and East Canyon reservoirs have been very good for trout. Reports I’ve seen say active fish are being caught on lures down 20-30 feet. There are probably plenty of fish closer to the surface if you fish earlier or later in the day.

Rockport, Otter Creek, Piute, Minersville and other trout reservoirs also offer good fishing.

Utah Lake is hot for catfish. Lincoln Beach, Bird Island, Lindon, all over. Don’t worry about getting out into deep water. The best action may be in bays where water is fairly shallow, where the sun is warming things up. Traditional smelly bait works well: nightcrawlers, shrimp, carp meat, chicken liver, that kind of stuff.

Fly fishing is good now on most streams. Many are running a little high and a little muddy, but that hasn’t hampered success much. The Green River below Red Creek is the exception. Some days Red Creek pumps in serious mud, ruining conditions downstream. The Green has been good from the dam to Red Creek. Blue Wing Olives (BWOs) are coming on strong.

There’s good fly fishing on the Provo and other northern Utah streams. BWOs are the key hatch now, particularly on cloudy days. Midges are still hatching, but they should start dwindling in numbers. Some bigger stoneflies may show up during the next week or two, adding more topwater action. Nymphs always work down near the bottom. Stop by a fly shop to get the latest on patterns and sizes.

The Weber blow Echo may be muddy at times, but should still be fishable.

The popular streams are crowded on weekends. Fish mid-week, or try smaller streams. Every area in Utah has lesser-known streams that provide good fishing with little pressure. Inquire at a local fly shop for details.

See DWR's weekly fishing reports for additional ideas.

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Outdoor notes

Upcoming Events
Rocky Mountain Goat Viewing, April 14, Salt Lake City. Viewing will begin at the Park and Ride lot at the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon. This is a free field trip offered by Utah's Division of Wildlife Resources and no pre-registration is required. Scopes and binoculars will be available.

Moab Photography Symposium, May 3-6. This is a terrific opportunity for aspiring photographers. Come hear the pros and participate in seminars and workshops. Also enjoy solo time to work on your personal photography. Classes deal with lighting, composition and photographic subjects. This year's theme is "Perspectives of People and Place."

Four Corners Indian Art Market, May 5-6. Participate in Art demonstrations, food, and music all weekend long. Celebrating beautiful cultures and the world of art. Call Rebecca Stoneman at (435) 678-2238

Wedding of the Rails 137th Anniversary, May 10, Golden Spike National Historic Site. This is the anniversary of the driving of the Golden Spike, completing the first transcontinental railroad. Special programs, food, souvenirs, music, and locomotive demonstrations.