If you like to fish, pay attention — something is happening in Utah right now that hasn’t happened for a long time. Record rain and snow, coupled with cold temperatures that lasted well into June, have pushed some of the best fishing in the state back this year.
Typically, some of the best fishing happens in the spring.В Not this year, though.В Instead, a month that’s typically one of the slowest to fish — August — should be one of the best. Drew Cushing, sport fisheries coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources, says reservoirs and lakes across Utah have plenty of water. And the cool water temperatures are perfect for all species of fish.
“Years like this are rare,” he says. “They just don’t happen. All of the stars are lining up. Anglers need to get out and take advantage of it. We’re going to have a great late summer and fall bite.”
When you visit your favorite water to fish, plenty of fish should be waiting for you. “The water that rushed into the reservoirs a few weeks ago made the water cloudy, covered many of the shoreline areas and delayed spawning for a lot of the fish,” he says. “Those conditions meant anglers couldn’t get to or attract many of the fish. But the waiting game is over.”
What about rivers and streams?
Water levels have been high on rivers and streams across Utah this year. But the water levels are starting to go down. And that means you now have access to lots of hungry fish.
Cushing says fall usually isn’t the best time to fish rivers and streams because the water level is so low.“Not this year,” he says. “The fish will be hungry, and the water levels will be good. Get out and take advantage of it.”
Fishing water of the week
To stay updated on which waters are producing the best fishing, read the DWR’s weekly fishing reports at www.wildlife.utah.gov/hotspots.
Over the next few weeks, the DWR will also post a news release at its website each week that focuses on one of the best waters to fish in the state.
You can read the news releases at www.wildlife.utah.gov/news.
You can also receive the fishing reports and the news releases via email. To subscribe to the reports and the news stories, visit https://go.usa.gov/BRz to sign up.
The fishing reports and the news releases are free.