Utah Fishing & Outdoors Report

The best fishing is now found in the high mountains, away from this oppressive heat. The Uintas are particularly attractive, and will provide great opportunity for fishing, hiking and camping through the rest of the summer.

Streams in the Uintas provide remarkably consistent fishing, often giving novice fly fishers their best-ever experience. Lakes in the Uintas can be fickle - hot one minute and slow the next. Luckily, there are plenty of lakes so if one isn’t producing then try another nearby. Action can be incredibly fast when you catch a lake just right.

Scofield offers very good action right, as do other high-elevation lakes and streams along the Skyline Drive. The Boulders are a great destination and so are the Wind Rivers across the border.

The Middle Provo is crowded now because the drake hatch is producing good action. Steve Schmidt gives this advice: “If you want to avoid the crowds, fish early and late. Most of the people have either not arrived early on or they disperse after fishing the Drake hatch.” Bring an assortment of flies because good PMD, PED and Caddis action often continues after the drakes are off the water.

I was on the Lower Provo Saturday and was amazed at the number of people tubing and rafting. Weekends and holidays are a joke there lately, with kids smashing through the holes. Even on weekdays you have to fish early and late to find casting room. Still, Caddis and PMDs are producing well, and nymphs almost always work.

The Green River continues to fish well with a variety of bugs available. Talk to the guys in the fly shops to learn about the latest hot patterns.

At Lake Powell, night fishing for stripers is good. Stripers and smallmouth can also be caught during the day if you fish deep. Some surface boils have been reported near the Colorado and San Juan inlets, and that action will soon spread throughout the lake. Wayne Gustaveson reports: “The surface action is very early and very late in the day. But 50-100 stripers can be caught quickly on topwater lures during prime time.” Expect incredibly surface fishing at Powell in early August.

Interesting Posts By Anglers
Wind Rivers – Interesting info and great photos about catching lake trout in high mountain lakes using a fly rod.
Scofield is hot, with big fish
Scofield from a pontoon boat
Weber River in the canyon is good using lures
Smith & Morehouse Creek has good fly fishing
Strawberry is good trolling for cutts and kokanee
Gooseberry Reservoir has good action
Willard Bay is good for wipers (nice photo of a big wiper)
Bear Lake is good for cutts trolling deep
Electric Lake is good trolling for cutthroat
Deer Creek is still good for bass, walleye and trout
How does a full moon affect fishing?

DWR Hotspots Report
DWR says these waters offer hot fishing
- Long Park Reservoir (Uintas) – for trout
- Pineview Reservoir for crappie, bass and perch
- Weber River for trout and whitefish
- Nine Mile Reservoir for trout
- Sand Hollow Reservoir for bass and bluegill
- Lake Powell for bass, stripers, walleye, crappie and catfish

New Articles

DWR
Summer fire restrictions
New Rules for Utah Hunting Licenses
Hunting age lowered
Trapping and cougar hunting discussions

Deseret Morning News
Anglers are moving to the mountains for summer fishing
Public comment sought on trout restoration projects
Hunting and fishing essential to economy
Supervolcano boils beneath Yellowstone
Bicyclists gather to tackle King of the Mountain ride
Bicycle trail in Parleys?
Waterfowl roundup — The country goose and the city goose
Outdoor notes

Salt Lake Tribune
Tight lines: Streamside sleuthing solves the mystery of the displaced trout
Wharton: Polarization might pose the biggest threat to conservation
Now's your chance to speak out on snares
Wipe out bug bites conveniently
Together on the river
Outdoor Notebook: Shotgun Showdown, Explore series, more
Bird sighting
The Outsider: Trail repair, boat float
Hook shot
Where is it?