ABAJO MOUNTAINS: (July 12) 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. 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. We haven’t 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: (July 12) 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.
BLUE LAKE: (July 29) Richard Berg reported good fishing for tiger trout. Using wooly buggers, Berg caught three 14 inch tigers in one hour. Aquatics Biologist Calvin Black had good luck with a mosquito pattern. Last weekend, Derrick Keisel reported catching a three to four pound, eight inch tiger trout using worms.
BOULGER RESERVOIR: (July 19) 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: (July 12) 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 the 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: (July 29) On July 22, Tom Ogden fly fished from a kick boat with fast sinking line and a size six leech or wooly bugger pattern. Ogden reported good fishing for trout ranging from 11 to 17 inches in length, with most in the 12 to 14 inch range. He caught most of his fish near the bottom in 16 to 25 feet of water.
DUCK FORK RESERVOIR: (July 29) Mark Matheson reported good fishing. Black recommends a damsel fly pattern.
ELECTRIC LAKE: (July 19) Conservation Officer 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.
EMERALD LAKE: (July 29) Derrick Keisel reported good fishing. He and his father caught four or five rainbow trout using either a Panther Martin spinner or a worm.
FAIRVIEW LAKES: (July 19) 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: (July 29) Mark Matheson reported good fishing.
FERRON RESERVOIR: (July 29) Anglers have sent in mixed reports. Derrick Keisel reported that he and his father caught 20 to 25 fish from 6 to 9 p.m. last weekend using corn-flavored and bright pink PowerBait.
GIGLIOTTI POND: (July 19) 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: (July 19) 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: (July 12) Fishing is usually good at this higher elevation pond in July using a variety of baits, lures and artificial flies.
HUNTINGTON NORTH RESERVOIR: (July 19) 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: (July 19) 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: (July 29) Three anglers reported slow fishing last week.
LA SAL MOUNTAINS: (July 12) 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: (July 12) 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: (July 12) 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: (July 19) Fishing is good. Conservation Officer Christensen recommends casting silver Z-ray lures from the shore.
MILLSITE RESERVOIR & STATE PARK: (July 12) 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. Tje pair 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: (July 12) Traditionally, fishing is good during the summer using baits, lures or artificial flies. Carry an assortment, just in case.
POTTERS PONDS: (July 19) Fishing is far. Try fishing with a worm below a bobber.
SCOFIELD RESERVOIR: (July 29) Fishing is slow, except for early morning or late evening. On July 21, Karen Basso and her husband and daughters fished near the island from 6 to 8 p.m. They caught 36 trout using either a Jake’s lure or a Rooster tail. Her husband, Sonny caught a four pound, 22 inch cutthroat using a Rooster tail. Conservation Officer JD Abbott fished at night on July 22 and in the morning on July 23. He reported slow fishing. The three anglers in his group caught 15 trout in four hours.
SOUP BOWL: (July 12) 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: (July 12) Fly anglers have the best luck in deeper hole and nearby runs.
WILLOW LAKE: (July 12) Fishing is good. Be sure to fish in the early morning for best results.
WRIGLEY SPRINGS RESERVOIR: (July 12) Fishing is fair. Try fishing early or late in the day with worms or PowerBait.