ABAJO MOUNTAINS: Conservation Officer Dennis Shumway reports that fishing in San Juan County has been slowing down because of summer heat. The water level at Recapture Reservoir is dropping and so is the number of anglers on the reservoir. Foy and Monticello are the best places to fish because of their higher elevations. The water level at Monticello Lake is falling and anglers have reported moss build-up. Try fishing from the dam. Foy Reservoir is also becoming mossy, but fly anglers using a dry fly and bubble report good fishing. Wildlife officers have not received any fishing reports for Loyds Lake, which rarely sees many anglers. Blanding number three is holding water and anglers are getting some action with bass by casting tube jigs into the willows. Blanding number four is fishing slower than number three, but most baits are seeing some action. This week, one angler caught a four pound largemouth bass off the dam by slowly reeling in a worm.
BENCHES POND: Because of the hot weather, anglers need to be on the water before the sun rises or after it sets. Try bait combinations like a worm and marshmallow or a worm with rainbow-sparkle PowerBait.
BOULGER RESERVOIR: Conservation Officer Devin Christensen reports good fishing with red salmon eggs. During the week, Christensen interviewed one group of anglers that had caught and released 43 trout in four hours.
CARBON COUNTY COMMUNITY FISHING POND: On July 3, Lt. J Shirley took his daughter and her friend fishing. Shirley reported excellent fishing. They caught 10 rainbow trout in 45 minutes using rainbow PowerBait and small silver Jakes. Because of high summer temperatures and an absence of shade, it’s always best to fish in the early morning or late evening. Target deeper waters and suspend bait just off the bottom. Anglers can also try a worm and marshmallow or a worm with PowerBait. Chartreuse or rainbow sparkle are the best PowerBait colors.
CLEVELAND RESERVOIR: Officer Christensen reports slow fishing. On July 15 however, Tom Ogden emailed a report indicating good fishing. Ogden fly fished from a tube with fast-sinking line and a size six bead head wooly bugger or a size four bead head soft hackle fly. In just over two hours, he caught 27 rainbow trout that ranged in size from 11 to 18 inches.
DUCK FORK RESERVOIR: Aquatics Biologist Calvin Black recommends that anglers use a scud pattern, nymph or black leech with a strike indicator. For those fishing with lures, Calvin recommends a Jakes or Panther Martin in silver.
ELECTRIC LAKE: Christensen reports good fishing from the shoreline using redside shiners. One angler had caught three or four trout per hour with this method. Aquatics Technician Tyrel Mills recommends fishing from an anchored boat and jigging with a soft plastic grub tipped with a worm. White or chartreuse have been good colors.
FAIRVIEW LAKES: Safety work on the dam will require that the lakes be almost completely drained. Because of the work, the limit on trout has been doubled to allow anglers to take advantage of the remaining trout. The eight trout limit will stay in effect until January 2014.
FERRON CREEK: Fishing is good below the reservoir using mosquito or nymph patterns.
FERRON RESERVOIR: Fishing is fair to good for anglers using worms and PowerBait or worms with marshmallows. For best results, fish during the cool of the day.
GIGLIOTTI POND: On July 13, Gerald Lloyd of Price caught and released 40 trout from 7 to 9 p.m. using a fly and bubble. His best patterns were the double renegade and Scofield Special. Lloyd described the action as incredibly fast once the sun left the water. A week earlier, Lloyd fished from 8 to 10 a.m. and had good success using a mosquito or wooly bugger pattern.
GOOSEBERRY RESERVOIR: A Boy Scout troop reported good fishing using PowerBait in a variety of colors. They found the best places to fish were along the dam and on the south end.
GRASSY LAKE: Fishing is usually good at this higher-elevation pond in July using a variety of baits, lures and artificial flies.
HUNTINGTON GAME FARM POND: Restocking occurred in May, but there hasn’t been much fishing pressure. Fishing should be fair to good if you’re out on the water near sunrise.
HUNTINGTON NORTH RESERVOIR: On July 12, Ogden and Perry Bunderson fly fished from a tube. In three hours, they caught seven bluegill, two bass and one rainbow trout. They used fast sinking line with bead head olive leeches in sizes four to six or a leprechaun in size six. The fish were in 18 to 22 feet of water.
HUNTINGTON RESERVOIR: Fishing was rather poor during the week according to shoreline anglers using flies or bait. On July 15 however, Ogden reported good fishing from a tube at the upper end. In four and a half hours, he caught 15 tiger trout that ranged from 12 to 16 inches. Ogden used fast sinking line and bead head soft hackle flies or wooly buggers in sizes four and six, respectively. This reservoir is also known as Mammoth Reservoir.
JOES VALLEY RESERVOIR: Expect slow fishing. We had no reports about any techniques, locations or bait that were effective last week.
LA SAL MOUNTAINS: High elevation lakes are generally productive throughout summer months. The best waters include Dark Canyon and Medicine Lake, followed by Oowah and Warner. Hidden and Dons are good waters to fish in the summer too. Try using nightcrawlers and PowerBait or nightcrawlers and marshmallows. During insect hatches, try a dry fly and bubble with an imitation of one of the insects present on the water.
LOWER FISH CREEK: On July 9, Walt Maldonado reported good fishing with a Panther Martin spinner. The best color pattern had a yellow body with red spots and a gold blade. Fly anglers should try using a green wooly bugger drifted under over-hanging banks.
LOWER GREEN RIVER: On July 9, Maldonado reported good fishing for catfish with chicken liver. He extends the usability of the chicken liver by wrapping it in a piece of nylon stocking and tying it to the hook. The water level is low. Try fishing around the pump house for best results. Maldonado reported that some anglers have caught walleye in the geyser area using nightcrawlers.
MILLER FLAT RESERVOIR: Fishing is good. Officer Christensen recommends casting silver Z-ray lures from the shore.
MILLSITE RESERVOIR & STATE PARK: On July 7, Ogden and Bunderson fly-fished from kick boats in the upper part of the reservoir from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. They caught nine rainbow, eight cutthroat and two splake trout; all in the 14 to 17 inch size range. They used fast-sinking line with size six bead head wooly buggers and leprechauns. Ogden watched several other anglers trolling or fishing from anchored boats. None appeared to be catching fish. Because of the recreational boat traffic, anglers should fish at dawn or stay at the upper end of the reservoir.
PETES HOLE: Traditionally, fishing is good during the summer using baits, lures or artificial flies. Carry an assortment just in case.
POTTERS PONDS: Fishing is fair. Try fishing with a worm below a bobber.
SCOFIELD RESERVOIR: Christensen reports slow fishing. Anglers should have slightly more success trolling with pop gear and a night crawler than with other methods. Trout have been 10 to 12 inches generally.
SOUP BOWL: Try using traditional baits, then move on to artificial flies if the baits fail. Spincasters will have to reel in quickly to avoid hooking aquatic vegetation.
STRAIGHT CANYON CREEK: Fly anglers have the best luck in deeper hole and nearby runs.
WILLOW LAKE: Fishing is good. Be sure to fish in the early morning for best results.
WRIGLEY SPRINGS RESERVOIR: Fishing is fair. Try fishing early or late in the day with worms or PowerBait.