Utah Outdoors, June/July 1999

See our Flaming Gorge fishing articles

LAKE TROUT, RAINBOW, SMALLMOUTH BASS, KOKANEE

Note: Including information from DWR Biologists Roger Schneidervin and Steve Brayton

TRADITIONALLY, rainbow trout have been the most sought-after game fish at Flaming Gorge, However, in recent years the number of people targeting kokanee salmon has increased to the point that kokanee and rainbows are now virtually tied in terms of popularity. Rainbows are stocked regularly in the big reservoir. Kokanee and smallmouth bass were stocked during the mid 1960s and have since developed naturally reproducing populations.

Lake trout, or “mackinaw,” provide excitement at the reservoir. They drifted into Flaming Gorge from the upper Green River drainage and have also become established as a wild population. Lake trout are managed as a trophy fishery. Regulations are designed to keep lake trout numbers in balance with kokanee, which serve as the primary forage for the big macks.

Smallmouth bass are very abundant in the reservoir, and are quite easy to catch. They also reproduce successfully and so stocking is not necessary. Brown trout and channel catfish are occasionally stocked in the reservoir.

Lake Trout

Flaming Gorge offers world-class fishing for trophy lake trout. Fish over 30 pounds are taken regularly; the Utah record is a 51-pound, 8-ounce fish caught in 1988 by Curt Bilbey. It was 45 1/8 inches long and had a girth of 31 3/4 inches. A 50-pound fish caught in 1995 by Randy Calkins tied the Wyoming record. It was 48 inches long and had a girth of 32 inches. Lake trout are difficult to catch, and the average angler can expect to put in many hours between fish. During the early spring and late fall, cool water temperatures allow lake trout to venture anywhere in the water column. At these times, a good technique that doesn’t require specialized equipment is longlining a #9-#13 Rapala, Shad Rap, T-SO Flatfish, or similar lure behind a boat. Shoreline areas including points and shallow dropoffs, as well as open water over traditional lake trout runs, may hold fish. Popular lure colors include perch-scale, frog, white, chartreuse, and black/silver or black/gold combinations.

During the summer months lake trout can be found at 70 -120’ depths and tend to stay near structure, which might include points, river channels, ridges, or other dropoffs. One popular summer technique is dragging the bottom with steel line using a Flatfish or flasher-and-minnow combination. This requires saltwater sized rods and high capacity reels.

Downrigger fishers do well with the above-mentioned lures trailing 50-100’ behind the weight, with the depth adjusted to keep the lure just off the bottom. Another popular downrigger method is a plastic squid placed 18 inches behind a large dodger or flasher, with the flasher 3-4 feet behind the weight. This distance should be adjusted so it combines with boat speed for good flasher action. A depth finder is critical to keep the weight from snagging bottom. Good areas to try for lake trout include Mustang Ridge, Jarvies Canyon, Hideout, Linwood Bay, Antelope Flats, Stateline, Anvil Draw, and Big Bend. A final lake trout technique is vertical jigging, both from boats and through the ice. Large 3/4 to 1-1/2 ounce leadhead jigs with marabou, bucktail or plastic skirts or tails, such as Mac Attacks or Mister Twisters, are popular. The jig is often tipped with a dead minnow or sucker meat, which is especially effective during winter. Large spoons, BuzzBombs and Kastmasters can work, but remember with any jig to keep the lure bouncing right on the bottom.

Jigging through the ice is very effective and doesn’t require specialized equipment. Ice forms at the Confluence area by early January, and hot fishing often results from following the formation of ice south as winter progresses.

During winter, there is a movement of lake trout as far north as the Confluence, while late summer finds most fish south of Anvil Draw. Because of this migration, Currant Creek and Big Bend provide good fishing early in the spring, while Linwood Bay continues to get better as the summer progresses.

Rainbow Trout

Utah’s record rainbow is a 26 pound 2 ounce fish, caught at Flaming Gorge in 1979 by Del Canty. Rainbows are found throughout the reservoir. During spring, rainbows are readily caught from shore using various flies, baits and lures. Popular baits include a worm/ marshmallow combination, cheese or Powerbait; lures include medium-sized spinners, spoons, or Rapalas; and 1/8 - 1/4 oz. brown or black marabou jigs. On the south end of the reservoir, try fishing a worm 3 - 4’ under a bobber (a great technique for kids). Fly fishermen do well with woolly bugger, leech, shrimp (scud), or renegade patterns fished with a sinking tip, sinking line, or 5 - 6' behind a clear plastic bubble on spinning gear.

Good places to try include Flaming Gorge Visitor Center, Mustang Ridge, Sheep Creek, Linwood Bay, Antelope Flats, Anvil Draw, South Buckboard, Breeze Hill, Sage Creek and the Confluence. Boat fishermen do well during the spring by trolling along the shoreline in these areas. A flasher and worm combination long-lined on monofilament is the most popular terminal tackle, but Jake’s Spin-A-Lures, size F6 flatfish, #5 - #7 Rapalas, Shad Raps, Super Dupers, and other medium-sized spinners and lures can be deadly.

Warm water temperatures drive rainbows into deeper water during summer and early fall months, making shore fishing less productive. Boat anglers still catch rainbows on the same lures using leadcore line, downriggers or extra weight on their monofilament line.

Fishing picks up again in the fall, when some areas, like Jarvies Canyon, Carter Creek, Sheep Creek, Linwood Bay, Squaw Hollow, Big Bend, Halfway Hollow and Firehole, may provide their best rainbow fishing of the year. Boat fishermen on the north end of the reservoir will have their best action working the mouths of bays with Rapalas and Shad Raps. As Flaming Gorge freezes, rainbow trout fishing may be good in 10’ to 30’ of water. Try small jigs, spoons or ice flies tipped with a salmon egg or a piece of worm. Powerbait and night crawlers also work well.

Kokanee Salmon

Kokanee salmon spend their four-year lifetime feeding on zooplankton that average one millimeter in length. They don’t strike a lure because it resembles food, but rather for its action and color. Effective lures at Flaming Gorge are 1 - 2 inches in length in fluorescent orange, Chartreuse, pink, silver, gold or white. Popular styles include Needlefish, Super Dupers, Krocodiles, Triple Teasers, and Kokanee Kings. The most popular method is trolling these lures using a downrigger. If kokanee are aggressive, fish the lure 12 - 18” behind popgear or one of the smaller-sized flashers or dodgers. If the fish seem finicky, trail the lure farther behind the downrigger weight without an attractor. Either way, kokanee at Flaming Gorge like the lure traveling fast, so keep boat speed at 2 - 3 mph. Another technique that works is vertical jigging with Kastmasters, BuzzBombs, Crippled Herrings, or leadhead jigs in the described colors.

The main trick to catching kokanee is locating them and fishing at the proper depth. By May or early June, kokanee action picks up with the fish suspended 25 - 30’ over deep open water or "pelagic” areas. As the summer progresses, kokanee move deeper, and by August they may be at 60 - 70' depths.

A depthfinder or “graph” is invaluable for locating fish, and either lead-core line or a downrigger is necessary to hold the lure at proper depth. Without a graph, work deeper intervals until fish are located. Kokanee travel in schools, so it pays to make several passes through an area where one fish is caught.

Kokanee concentrate in different specific locations every year, but consistent producers include Cedar Springs, Jarvies Canyon, Hideout, Red Cliffs, Horseshoe Canyon, Pipeline, Wildhorse, Squaw Hollow, Lowe Canyon, and Big Bend. As the fall spawning season approaches, mature kokanee concentrate or “stage" adjacent to spawning areas, which include Sheep Creek, Wildhorse, Squaw Hollow and Lowe Canyon.

Channel Catfish

Channel catfish are found in the north end of Flaming Gorge, generally upstream of the Confluence in the Blacks Fork and Green River arms. Most large catfish are caught on fresh, whole dead minnows fished on the bottom, while worms are a good choice for smaller fish. Ice goes off the Blacks Fork arm first, and this area usually provides good fishing from April to early June. Action in the Green River arm picks up later, but lasts longer into the summer. In either location, a good bet is fishing the transition zone between the flowing river and standing reservoir water. Concentrate angling efforts between sunset and midnight, then again just before sunrise.

Smallmouth Bass

Smallmouth bass are found in rocky shoreline habitat throughout Flaming Gorge Reservoir. A dense population dominated by smaller-sized fish exists from the dam north to Linwood Bay. From Antelope Flats north, fewer bass are found but growth rates are greater.

Smallmouths in Flaming Gorge feed almost exclusively on crayfish, so jigs and lures that imitate crayfish size and color are especially effective. Spinners, spoons, night crawlers, and flies such as leech or streamer patterns also work.

Smallmouths spawn from late May through early July, and during this period mature fish move into shallow water where they are easily reached by lures, jigs and crankbaits. As summer progresses, bass move deeper and are best reached by retrieving a jig slowly along the bottom. Try working points, ledges and rocky slopes by casting toward shore and stepping the jig into deeper water. Smaller bass inhabit shallow water throughout the summer, and can be taken with worms or small lures. Don’t hesitate to harvest these stunted fish; that will help improve growth of the remaining population. Besides, smallmouth are great table fare and kids love catching them.

Crayfish

Like smallmouth bass, crayfish are found in rocky habitat throughout Flaming Gorge, usually at depths less than 20 feet. Crayfish can be caught with a variety of minnow—type traps baited with meat, fish or offal, or simply a strong line with a chunk of bait tied on the end. Throw the bait out into a likely area, wait a couple of minutes, then pull it in smoothly and quickly. In the Utah portion of the reservoir, crayfish must be killed before transporting them from the water. Crayfish, like all shellfish, spoil easily and should be cleaned and iced if not immediately cleaned and cooked. Crayfish are great eating, and can add variety to your Flaming Gorge fishing experience.

Fisheries management

Flaming Gorge fishery: “It’s ok, but it could be better.”

THE FLAMING GORGE FISHERY is in good shape, according to DWR Flaming Gorge Biologist Roger Schneidervin. “It’s ok, but it could be better,” Roger said. Rainbows are doing very well and should provide excellent fishing this year. “We have a good number of holdover fish from last year, and they are providing good action.” Lake trout are also doing well, and that is encouraging, Roger said. The condition of lake trout in the Gorge had been on a decline for several years, prompting concern and a change in regulations. But the decline recently leveled off and the condition of the fish has now improved, Roger said. “It’s important for people to know that we are protecting the trophy lake trout fishery, while encouraging enough harvest to keep the population healthy," Roger said. “We think the increased harvest has helped improve conditions for the lake trout.”

Biologists are involved in a study to determine the number of kokanee in the reservoir, and their overall condition. Roger said it appears the kokanee population cycles, with two strong years followed by two weak years. “We cautiously predict kokanee numbers will be down a bit this year, compared to last year,” Roger said.

Numbers will probably also be low next year. “We are seeing good numbers of small fish, and so we expect very good fishing two years into the future.” He said biologists need more time to gather data to be sure they have a handle on the cycle.

Flaming Gorge has the potential to support a much larger kokanee population, Roger said. There is plenty of spawning habitat, and plenty of room and nutrients in the reservoir. It appears that predation by lake trout is the primary factor depressing the kokanee population. Public meetings will probably be held this summer in Utah and Wyoming to discuss possible ways to tweak regulations to maintain good lake trout fishing while allowing the kokanee population to expand. Also being discussed is the closure of Linwood Bay to night fishing during the lake trout spawn. Lake trout spawn over structure in the bay, and they are vulnerable at that time. Some fishermen have intentionally or unintentionally snagged lake trout while they were spawning. The closure would protect fish when they move shallow to spawn during the night, but allow anglers to pursue them during the day when the fish are back in deeper water in staging areas.