Please e-mail your fishing reports on Southeastern Region waters to BrentStettler@utah.gov.
ATTENTION: Quagga and zebra mussels are a major threat to Utah waterways. Watch this video to learn more about these destructive mussels and how to decontaminate your boat.
ABAJO MOUNTAINS: (May 26) All San Juan County waters are open and
ABAJO MOUNTAINS: (May 26) All San Juan County waters are open and stocked. The most recently stocked waters are Blanding Three and Four. Each were stocked with about 1,400 nine-inch rainbow trout each on May 16. The Rattlesnake ponds were stocked with nearly 2,000 nine-inch rainbows on May 16. Lloyds Lake was stocked with nearly 4,000 eight-inch rainbow trout on April 13. Fishing for pike and bass at Recapture Reservoir is improving as the water temperature rises. Aquatics Biologist Calvin Black suggests fishing with weedless swimbaits in shallow, weedy areas.
BENCHES POND: (May 26) The pond is ice free and is expected to be stocked just before the Memorial Day weekend. Try using traditional baits.
BLUE LAKE: (May 26) The pond will be inaccessible until June or July.
BOULGER RESERVOIR: (May 26) The reservoir is ice free and there are plans to stock eight- to nine-inch rainbow trout just before the Memorial Day weekend.
CARBON COUNTY COMMUNITY FISHING POND: (May 26) For the third time this spring, the pond has been stocked with rainbows that averaged over nine inches. Earlier this month we stocked 55 11-inch wipers. You can catch wipers with silver spinners. Fishing for rainbow trout has been good since the winter thaw. In the past few weeks, anglers have reported great fishing. Recently, the best trout bait has been worms. PowerBait, salmon eggs and artificial lures and flies work well too.
CLEVELAND RESERVOIR: (May 26) The reservoir is completely ice free. Angler reports range from slow to hot. Weather systems moving through the area play a big role in success. Rainbows are typically large 16–20 inches and weigh two to four pounds. Tube jigs and gold spoons work well.
DUCK FORK RESERVOIR: (May 26) Snowdrifts are blocking road access.
ELECTRIC LAKE: (May 26) The lake is ice free and the road to the boat ramp is dry. Angler access is good on the north and south ends of the lake. The best bait is a redside shiner that inhabits the lake. Chub meat, worms, jigs, tube jigs and spoons can also be effective.
EMERALD LAKE: (May 26) This pond is inaccessible.
FAIRVIEW LAKES: (May 26) Both lakes are open and the road is accessible.
FERRON RESERVOIR: (May 26) Snowdrifts are blocking access.
GIGLIOTTI POND: (May 26) Fishing is good in the morning and evening. Try worms, PowerBait or salmon eggs. Some anglers have had good success with a variety of spinners and spoons. The pond should be restocked before the holiday weekend. The pond had already been stocked twice this spring, so the fish population will be more than adequate for a lot of fishing pressure during the upcoming weekend.
GOOSEBERRY RESERVOIR: (May 26) The U.S. Forest Service hopes to have the gate opened by Memorial Day weekend, but the decision to open the gate will depend on the weather and road conditions prior to the weekend.
GRASSY LAKE: (May 26) The lake is now accessible, but 4-wheel-drive is recommended.
HUNTINGTON CREEK: (May 26) The best fishing is within a mile of the dam. You won’t find many fish below South Hughes Canyon because of last year’s flash floods. Fly fishing success is fair to good. Anglers have hooked into brown trout up to 17 inches in the fly-only zone. Good fly choices include leeches, woolly buggers, prince nymphs, stoneflies, beadhead uglies, caddis larvae, hare’s ear and the serendipity. Last year, 770 seven-inch cutthroat trout were stocked at the Forks of the Huntington campground, so anglers may find some of these planters in that vicinity or further up the left fork.
HUNTINGTON NORTH RESERVOIR: (May 26) Anglers report fair fishing for 16- to 19-inch rainbow trout. Fly anglers should use size 6–8 beadhead olive or brown woolly buggers. Anglers hoping to catch wipers should try crankbaits, rattle traps, jigs, tube jigs and spoons. The reservoir holds a fair number of four- to six-pound wipers according to recent survey results by the fisheries staff. So far this spring, we’ve stocked the reservoir twice with nine- to 10-inch rainbow trout. Try fishing at daylight for the best results.
HUNTINGTON RESERVOIR: (May 26) Huntington — also known as Mammoth Reservoir — offers plenty of shoreline fishing opportunities. The reservoir may be entirely ice free by the holiday weekend. Tube jigs, curly tail jigs, streamers, gold spoons and Jakes Spin-a-lures have been effective. One angler recommended a sow bug imitation after seeing trout pick up live bugs near the shoreline. Fishing success has ranged from slow to hot, depending on weather conditions and other factors.
JOES VALLEY RESERVOIR: (May 26) Anglers report fair fishing for splake averaging 16–17 inches and two pounds. Shoreline anglers favor the west side in the general vicinity of the Seeley Creek tributary. Tube jigs, curly tail jigs, chub meat and whole chubs are common baits. Rapalas, Kastmasters and Jakes lures are popular as well.
KNIGHT-IDEAL COMMUNITY FISHING POND: (May 26) June 11 is Free Fishing Day and the Division of Wildlife Resources will provide rods, reels, bait and instruction for anyone who wishes to fish from 8–11 a.m. The pond has been stocked three times this spring and anglers continue to report good fishing success with a variety of baits and lures.
LA SAL MOUNTAINS: (May 26) The U.S. Forest Service hopes to open the gate to Oowah Reservoir before the holiday weekend. Warner Lake will not be accessible by the weekend. Hidden and Dons lakes are accessible and both have been stocked with nine-inch rainbow trout. Fishing has been good at both locations. Dark Canyon is accessible but anglers may encounter some ice along the way. Stocking won’t happen before the holiday weekend. Kens Lake was stocked with nearly 3,000 eight-inch rainbow trout earlier this spring. Conservation Officer Adam Wallerstein recommends chartreuse PowerBait for trout and small crankbaits for bass. Recreation Coordinator Walt Maldonado reports good fishing conditions and recommends fishing around the dam — use Jake’s lures for trout and jerk baits for largemouth bass.
LOWER FISH CREEK: (May 26) Access to the DWR property from Highway 6 is available. Expect fair to good fishing for brown trout.
LOWER GREEN RIVER: (May 26) Catfish fishing is slow to hot, depending on the location, water flow and time of day. Chicken liver or commercial catfish baits work the best. Night fishing is often productive. Anglers are catching fish in the 12- to18-inch range.
MILLSITE RESERVOIR & STATE PARK: (May 26) State Park Manager Jonathan Hunt noted that Ferron Creek is running high and according to local anglers, that slows down the catch rate. Despite the high runoff, Jonathan said anglers have done fairly well from shore with worms or PowerBait. Trout up to 17 inches have been caught in May.
PETES HOLE: (May 26) The road just opened, but you may need a 4-wheel-drive vehicle. Spring stocking likely won’t happen before the holiday weekend.
POTTERS PONDS: (May 26) The ponds are accessible, but spring stocking hasn’t happened yet.
RIGHT FORK OF HUNTINGTON CREEK: (May 26) The creek’s trout population was minimized by flash floods in the drainage in 2015. We’ve stocked some fish, but planters have struggled from the effects of flash flooding. Full restoration of the fishery isn’t possible until the drainage is fully revegetated. The U.S. Forest Service is working on reforestation now.
SCOFIELD RESERVOIR: (May 26) The reservoir is ice free. You can launch a boat at the Madsen Bay or Mountain View units. On May 3, the reservoir was stocked with 12,000 eight-inch cutthroat trout. Fishing has been slow during the month of May. Nets from the gillnet survey earlier this month included tiger trout up to 21 inches and cutthroat trout up to six pounds. Cutthroat trout are the most abundant trout species at the reservoir and are readily caught with chub meat, spoons, spinners or even whole chubs. Commercial cheese baits are not effective.
SOUP BOWL: (May 26) Access is now open, but spring stocking may be a week or more away.
STRAIGHT CANYON CREEK: (May 26) Brown trout average from 10 to 13 inches. One angler recently reported good luck with a red and gold Mepps spinner. The catch rate has been best below the dam.
WILLOW LAKE: (May 26) The lake is now accessible, although spring stocking hasn’t happened yet.
WRIGLEY SPRINGS RESERVOIR: (May 26) The reservoir has been accessible for several weeks. Anglers report fair to good fishing. Try traditional baits.