Utah Fishing & Outdoors Report

The weatherman is already using the term dog days of summer. Normally, dog days don’t show up until August, when we get one oppressively hot day after another. This year we may get 2.5 months of sizzling weather.

Trout and many other fish will be going deeper now, as they seek cooler temperatures. They will be vulnerable during the early morning and late evening hours, when they venture shallow to feed. During the heat of the day anglers will need to use weighted lures, downriggers and other techniques to get down to the fish.

The high country is opening up early. There’s still considerable snow in the highest Uinta Mountain passes, but even that is melting fast and conditions are 2-3 weeks earlier than normal. You’ll be able to roam the Uintas freely by mid-July.

The highest lakes on Boulder Mountain are already open and fishing well. I’ve been working hard to create an on-line guide to the Boulders, complete with interactive maps and descriptions of lakes. It still needs considerable work. I hope people who know and love that area will share their insights and photos, to help me create a valuable service.

Some quality Utah trout streams open for fishing on July 14. Streams like the West Fork of the Duchesne River, Fish Creek above Scofield and the upper Logan River are closed to fishing during the spring to protect spawning cutthroat trout. They open annually on the second week of July.

Green River continues to provide very good fly fishing. Cicadas action will soon be over. PMDs, ants, beetles and other summer bugs are expected to produce well during the coming months.

Interesting Reports from Readers
Scofield is yielding monster trout. Smallest caught was a 16-inch tiger trout. Largest was 4.5 pound rainbow
Upper Provo is almost dry below Woodland Bridge because the stream is being diverted. Fishing was good in that area before the diversion.
Strawberry is good for cutts and kokanee
Pineview Reservoir yields a 51-inch tiger muskie
Currant Creek Reservoir and stream were good for this guy throwing lures
Deer Creek Reservoir has very good bass fishing
Deer Creek walleye are also biting
Echo Reservoir is producing large trout
Mirror Lake fly fishing tips
Utah Lake catfish are easy to catch
Flaming Gorge kokanee and rainbow action is good
Flaming Gorge kokanee photos and tips
Says campers and anglers are trashing our lakes
Outrage because pleasure boaters are harassing fishermen

DWR Hotspots Report
DWR says these waters offer hot fishing
- Pineview Reservoir for crappie, bass and perch
- Weber River for trout and whitefish
- East Canyon Reservoir for trout and bass
- Matt Warner Reservoir for trout
- Steinaker Reservoir for trout, bass and bluegill
- Nine Mile Reservoir for trout
- Mill Meadow Reservoir for trout, tiger trout, splake and perch
- Enterprise Reservoir (Upper) for trout and bass
- Sand Hollow Reservoir for bass and bluegill
- Lake Powell for bass, stripers, walleye, crappie and catfish

New Articles

Exploitation of Natural Resources Causes Decline in Human Well Being
This interesting new study published, today in SCIENCE Magazine, evaluates the ways that mankind has, over time, significantly altered its environment, resulting in increased vulnerability to natural disasters, species extinction, and disease transmission.

CNN
Bald eagle soars off endangered list

Deseret Morning News
High adventure: Ski resorts offer a variety of summer thrills
Utah hunters, fishermen will see changes in fees beginning Sunday
Weber's most majestic mountain, Ben Lomond, is paramount hike
Helitours available in Park City
Hikers urged to keep eye out for snakes
Living in the past — The American West Heritage Center literally brings history alive
Officials mystified by fish kill

Salt Lake Tribune
Wildlife officials probe fish kill along Parleys Creek
Northern, Southern Utah both looking at triple digit temps
Hike of the week: Bowman Trail to Baker Spring - Mill Creek Canyon
Where is it?
Outdoor Notebook: Hunting, fishing license fees change starting Sunday
New life vests let you look good, be safe on the water
Hook shot
Games and puzzles for the outdoors
Tight lines: Utahn leads U.S. fly-fishing team to 6th place at World Championship
Forest Service offers campfire safety tips
Bird sightings
Recreation roundup
Waterskiing season heats up this weekend

KUTV Roughin' It Outdoors
Cutthroat Spawn Helpers
Utah's Favorite Peregrine Falcons Have Returned
Goose Roundup
Riding In The Summer Games, But This Is No Race!

Outdoor recreation became front-page news this week, after a black bear killed a child in American Fork Canyon. Wildlife officials are taking heat and are evaluating bear management polices. Two campgrounds have been closed because of bear incidents. You'll find links below to a large number of news articles about these issues.

Newsweek reports that participation in hunting and fishing activities is down nationwide. Wildlife officials in Utah and across the nation are concerned about that trend and are trying various schemes to interest young people in wildlife-related recreational activities. Read the Newsweek article.

Meanwhile, there is great fishing all around Utah right now. Kokanee are coming on strong at Flaming Gorge, smallmouth bass fishing is hot on local waters and trout fishing is good almost everywhere.

Lake Powell summer patterns are settling in. Stripers are slurping small shad on the surface and can also be caught fishing bait deep along the main channel. Bass, catfish and sunfish are also cooperating.

Middle Provo offers very good action using Stoneflies, Drakes, PMD's and Caddisflies.

Lower Provo has good action using PMDs and other dry flies. Talk to the guys in the fly shops to find out what will work during the time you want to fish.

Green River has great action. Cicadas are still working well but their effectiveness will start to taper off during the next couple weeks. Other terrestrials, PMDs and Stoneflies will become more important on the surface. Minnow imitations will work deep.

Interesting posts from fishermen
Strawberry tips for jig fishing and trolling
Scofield is good for rainbows Also an interesting discussion about whether rainbows fight harder than tiger trout)
Jordanelle is hot for bass and big trout (nice photos)
Jordanelle, fish early for trout and bass
Utah Lake catfish from float tubes at Lincoln Beach
Flaming Gorge jig fishing for lake trout
Flaming Gorge good for kokanee (also interesting narrative about RVers stuck in the sand and boats coming off trailers)
Flaming Gorge more about kokanee
Flaming Gorge smallmouth
Deer Creek good for smallmouth and walleye
Deer Creek perch population low
Yuba walleye are making a strong comeback
Willard Bay: How to find "The Island" and other key spots
Otter Creek is good for rainbows
Pine Lake, Tropic Res and the stream above Tropic
Logan River has great fly fishing
Upper Provo is good with low water
Mantua bluegill are easy for kids to catch
Salem Pond has fast fishing (and produced an albino catfish)
Jig fishing tips, with extensive info in an attached pdf document
Fun discussion about cleaning up our streams and reservoirs

DWR Hotspots Report
DWR says these waters have hot fishing
- Pineview for bass, crappie and perch
- East Canyon for bass and trout
- Weber River for trout and whitefish
- Matt Warner for trout
- Steinaker for bass, trout and bluegill
- Ninemile Reservoir for trout
- Mill Meadow for trout, tiger trout, splake and perch
- Enterprise Reservoir (Upper) for trout and bass
- Lake Powell for bass, striped bass, walleye, catfish and sunfish
- Sand Hollow Reservoir for bass and bluegill

New Articles
Salt Lake Tribune
Boy's mauling death triggers bear-policy review as new scares close two Utah campgrounds
Proposed Mount Holly Resort draws ire from neighbors
They're back: Peregrine pair return to Salt Lake City
Hike of the week: Great Western Trail to Big Mountain - East Canyon
Outdoor Notebook: Second annual Wildflower Festival blooms at Cedar Breaks, etc.
Wharton: Tragedy can't force us to stop venturing out into the wilds
Bearproof sense
Boat launching tips
Utah trophies recognized by Boone & Crockett
Time to hit the slopes ... on your mountain bike
Lantern hummingbird feeder
Hook shot
Recreation roundup
The Outsider: Bats, sailing for women
Bird sighting
Where is it?

Deseret Morning News
Huntsman, DWR look at updating bear policy
Students take aim at title in trap shooting competition
Net results: Biologists study fish population at Strawberry
Bald eagles find Utah a pretty, great place to nest
Ray Grass: Controlling ORV abuse takes give and take
Bike notes: Thrills and spills are at cyclists' heaven
Outdoor notes
Bear attack: Why no warning at campground?
Experts find no odd factors in bear attack
Reward offered in 2 eaglets' death
Ferocious wolverine may get federal protection
Learn more about Clearfield Canal Trail
Boy killed by bearChina plans highway on Mount Everest
Ways to help avoid problems with bears
Tips to help survive family summer road trip

DWR
Peregrine falcons: they're back!
Low water levels at Willard Bay
Is it safe to camp in Utah?
Black bear confirmed
Wildlife officers kill bear involved in fatal attack

If you have ever wanted to learn to catch smallmouth bass, now is the time because action is great all around Utah. Bass waters that are hot right now include Lake Powell and Sand Hollow in southern Utah, Flaming Gorge and Starvation out east, and Jordanelle, East Canyon and Pineview along the Wasatch Front.

At Lake Powell, "Bass and walleye are feeding along the breaking edge of main channel tamarisk flats," says Wayne Gustaveson. "Fish the break where the lake quickly drops from 20-30 feet for best results. Trolling the edge of reefs along that same breaking edge is a sure thing, but stops to unhook fish are frequent." Read Wayne's full report.

Also at Powell, striped bass are slurping shad larva on the surface. Anglers who find the surface slurps enjoy good fishing now and that action will get better as summer progresses. Bigger stripers are being caught fishing anchovies deep.

The Green River offers good fly fishing. Steve Schmidt gives this report: "With the fish getting bombarded by cicadas over the past three weeks, they are starting to get gun shy. Try ants and beetles to improve your success, especially if your larger terrestrial patterns are getting the once over. Tungsten droppers off your big dries are working very well, but the dry fly fishing is so good we haven't bothered much with fishing droppers." He continues: "PMD's and caddis are a little way out yet. Historically we see these other insects hatch towards the end of June. For right not you'll just have to be satisfied with the big terrestrials." Read his full report.

About the Middle Provo, Steve reports: "Stoneflies, Drakes and PMDs all got going over the weekend. There are also Caddis around, and streamers continue to be productive. Over the next few weeks we should experience some tremendous fishing on the Middle with all of these bugs out."

On the Lower Provo, nymphs are working well while anglers wait for PMDs and Stoneflies to begin hatching. Steve recommends fishing within a few feet of the bank because that's where most of the natural food is found.

Interesting Reports From Anglers
Boulder Mountain very good for brookies (beautiful photos)
Flaming Gorge is hot for smallmouth bass
Scofield has good trout fishing early in the morning
Navajo Lake is hot, Panguitch Creek is good and Panguitch Lake is slow
Pineview is good for small tiger muskie (good photos)
Deer Creek Reservoir is good for rainbows
Joes Valley and the stream below were good for small trout (good photos)
Utah Lake's Lincoln Beach very good for bluegill, ok for white bass, catfish
Willard Bay is good for walleye and wipers
Willard rocks are dinging props out of the channel from the south marina
Jordanelle good for smallmouth, including some bigger fish
Jordanelle, also good for browns and bows
Jordan River yields big walleye (fun photo)
East Canyon is good for smallmouth (nice photos)
Sand Hollow specific tips for bass

DWR Hotspots Report
DWR lists these waters as hot
- Pineview for bass, crappie and perch
- Weber River for trout and whitefish
- East Canyon for trout and bass
- Steinaker for trout, bass and bluegill
- Matt Warner for trout
- Nine Mile Reservoir for trout
- Lower Bowns for trout
- Lake Powell for bass, striped bass, walleye, catfish and panfish
- Sand Hollow for bass and bluegill

Recent Articles

DWR
Deer and elk permit fees will change July 1
View nesting bald eagles

Deseret Morning News
Big-game hunters are in for some changes this year
Colorado cutthroat fails to make U.S. list
Challenging Lotoja: Cyclists gear up for what may be the toughest race around
World's best mountain bikers to compete in Deer Valley event
Another record season for Utah's 13 ski resorts
Ray Grass: Help stop pollution of Utah waters
Another record season for Utah's 13 ski resorts

Salt Lake Tribune
Time to hit the slopes ...on a mountain bike
Outdoor Notebook: Stargazing at Bryce Astronomy Fest and more
The Outsider: Moonlight bike ride, bird watching tours
Limit changes at Enterprise Reservoir
Where is it?
Hook shot
Outdoors Bookshelf
A chance to see bald eagles
Bird sighting
'Toolbox' for tips on safe boating
Tight lines: Well worth fishing for a cancer cure
Wharton: Parleys Trail is a dream whose time is coming

There’s so much good fishing going on right now, it is hard to know where to start. I’ve seen reports of great action from all around the state. The famous waters - including Lake Powell, Strawberry, Green River and the Provo River - are fishing very well but so are most other reservoirs and streams. To show the diversity, reports of very good action are coming from Pineview for tiger muskie, Deer Creek for walleye, and Electric Lake and the Duchesne River for various species of trout.

Lake Powell continues to fish very well for all species. See the report by Wayne Gustaveson.

Green River is good right now. Here’s how Dennis Breer summarizes conditions: "...there are lots of fish being caught. With the weather headed towards warmer, we should climb right back on the cicada train. Actually, some folks never got off and have been enjoying it cold weather or not." Read Dennis’s full report.

Provo River is fishing well on both the Middle and Lower sections. Here’s a quote from Steve Schmitd’s latest report: "If you are headed to the Middle, make sure and have a handful of good Stonefly, PMD & Drake patterns, both nymphs and dries. I seined the river again, and they are on the verge of hatching. Should be any day. Stoneflies will be best on the lower sections of this river, with the highest concentration of Drakes above River Road. With the cold front that is upon us, I would expect to see the Drakes get going first." Read Steve’s complete report.

Below are links to reports I found interesting:

Flaming Gorge action was slow until the anglers talked to guys who showed them where to fish and what to use, then they had great action for kokanee.
Flaming Gorge, very good for kokanee
Green River and Flaming Gorge, fast with flies and Rapalas on the river, slow for kokanee and lake trout

Jordanelle, good for smallmouth

Pineview, photo of a monster tiger muskie
Pineview tiger muskie, great photos
Pineview tiger muskie, good info and photos.
Pineview tigers casting from shore

Willard Bay has low water; many boats are hitting rocks

Strawberry - should it be stocked with lake trout?

Electric Lake, good trolling for rainbows and cutts; nice photos

Duchesne River, good for trout

Deer Creek, very good for walleye

Kolob Reservoir, slow until 6 pm and then fast fishing

Scofield, fair to good trolling

Mirror Lake, good fishing spinners from a canoe

Provo River in town, good fishing with a Rapala

Blue Mesa Reservoir in CO has the hottest lake trout fishing in the West

DWR Hotspots Report
- DWR rates these waters as hot
- Pineview for bass, crappie and perch
- Weber River for trout and whitefish
- East Canyon Reservoir for trout and bass
- Matt Warner Reservoir for trout
- Steinaker Reservoir for trout, bass and bluegill
- Nine Mile Reservoir for trout
- Lake Powell for striped bass, bass, walleye, catfish and panfish
- Lower Bowns Reservoir for trout
- Sand Hollow Reservoir for bass and bluegill

Recent News Articles
DWR
Panguitch Lake—It's back!
View nesting bald eagles June 21 and 23
Buy buck deer permits starting June 14
Fish for free on June 9

Deseret Morning News
Year-round season is one of many changes in Utah over the years
Lots of great fishing in Utah
Ray Grass: Enjoyment comes from more than skill
Urban fishing's popularity on rise in Utah
Panguitch Lake rebounds as a trout haven
Reel in some tips on 'catch and release'
2 Utah trails added to national system
Bear activity rises in Grand Teton Park

Salt Lake Tribune
Free Fishing Day events across Utah on Saturday
Tight lines: Nothing wrong with setting your sights on a record fish
How to make sure your trophy fish makes it into DWR's record books
Top five places to take the kids fishing
Hooking a record
Hike of the week: Battle Creek, Grove Creek Loop - Utah County
The Outsider: Fly-fishing for science, get a guide
Mill Hollow closed to camping, fishing
Hook shot
Fish license plate is a keeper
Recreation roundup