DWR Southern Region fishing report

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Southern Region fishing report

April 19, 2019

Baker Reservoir: Catchable sized rainbow trout have been stocked. The reservoir is full but murky due to recent storms and runoff. Fishing is slow to fair. (04-19-19)

Barker Reservoirs (North Creek Lakes): The Willow Bottom reservoirs will open to fishing on April 20. Access is still limited by snow. (04-19-19)

Beaver Mountain Lakes: Snow limits access. Ice is starting melt around the edges at Little Res. (04-19-19)

Beaver River, Lower: Step lightly to avoid spooking fish during low flow. (04-19-19)

Beaver River, Upper: Ice has been melting off. Now is a great time to get out and fish before runoff ramps up. Brown and rainbow trout are abundant. Flies and small spinners can be very effective. (04-19-19)

Boulder Mountain: Access is limited by snow to snowmobiles and ATVs with tracks. (04-19-19)

Clear Creek: Flows have been high lately due to rain and runoff. Bonneville cutthroat trout are abundant throughout Clear Creek and its tributaries. (04-19-19)

Corn Creek: No recent reports. (04-19-19)

Duck Creek Pond / Aspen Mirror Lake: Ice has mostly retreated at Duck Creek Pond, but there is a lot of snow in the area so parking and walking around the lake can be difficult. Fair fishing reported. (04-19-19)

East Fork Sevier River in Kingston Canyon: Flow is running just under 30 cfs and has cleared up. Now is a good time to get fish this reach before irrigation releases start. Call the Circle Valley Anglers fly shop at (435) 577-2168 for up to date conditions and fishing reports. (04-19-19)

East Fork Sevier River, Black Canyon: Flow is high and very murky due to runoff and rain. Call the Circle Valley Anglers fly shop at (435) 577-2168 for up to date conditions and fishing reports. (04-19-19)

East Fork Sevier River, Upper: Access is limited by snow. We have begun work to restore native Bonneville cutthroat trout in this drainage. Blubber and Upper Kanab creeks were recently treated with rotenone to remove non native fish. Fishing opportunities will be limited in those streams until cutthroat trout establish over the next 3-4 years. (04-19-19)

Enterprise Reservoir, Upper: Both reservoirs are full for the first time in several years. Water is very murky, which can make for tough fishing. Catchable-size rainbow trout have been stocked in the lower reservoir. A recent netting survey at the upper reservoir found that trout numbers are down a little due to poor water conditions last year. However, the fish stocked this year should grow fast and do well thanks to the full reservoir. (04-19-19)

Fish Lake: Ice fishing pressure has decreased with open water at lower elevations drawing more interest. The ice still measures around two feet thick with edges getting a little soft on warm days. Fishing for trout and perch in the shallows should remain good as long as you can access the ice. Call the Fish Lake Lodge at (435) 638-1000 before you go to check on current conditions and get up-to-date fishing reports. (04-19-19)

Forsyth Reservoir: The ice is off. Low water conditions last year reduced trout numbers, but those that remain have experienced exceptional growth. Fishing is slow, but the fish are quality sized. (04-19-19)

Fremont River: The road from Mill Meadow Reservoir to Johnson Reservoir is not plowed, but some access is possible with four wheel drive. The Quiet Fly Fisher fly shop reports slow to fair fishing using midge patterns. (04-19-19)

Gunlock Reservoir: The boat ramp is open daily from 8 am to 6 pm. The reservoir is full and drawing a lot of visitors to the spillway falls. Water temperature is still in the low 50s, so bass are still a little sluggish. Look for the bass to start moving up to the shallows to find warmer water during the afternoon on sunny days. The fish re-stocked after the 2015 treatment to remove smallmouth bass have experienced exceptional spawning and growth. Look for fishing success, especially for bass, to improve this year. (04-19-19)

Gunnison Bend Reservoir: Fair to good success reported for white bass, yellow perch, catfish, and walleye at the Gunnison Bend and DMAD reservoir outlets. (04-19-19)

Iron County Community Fisheries: Catchable-size rainbow trout and brood brook trout have been stocked at Lake at the Hills in Cedar City. Parowan Pond has also received rainbow trout. (04-19-19)

Johnson Reservoir: Access is still not possible due to snow. Call the Quiet Fly Fisher fly shop at (435) 616-2319 for up to date conditions and fishing reports. (04-19-19)

Kolob Reservoir: The reservoir was mostly drained and treated with rotenone in fall 2018 to remove illegally stocked yellow perch, green sunfish, and bluegill. Trout will be re-stocked as early as possible in spring 2019. Access is not yet possible. (04-19-19)

Koosharem Reservoir: Koosharem reservoir was completely drained in 2018 for irrigation use and dam repairs, but is now mostly full and ice-free. We have started stocking the reservoir, including some catchable-size rainbow trout. These fish should grow fast this year in an empty reservoir free of chubs. (04-19-19)

Lower Bowns Reservoir: The ice is off and the remaining snow drifts have been cleared from the road. Fishing should be fair to good. Call the Quiet Fly Fisher fly shop at (435) 616-2319 for up to date conditions and fishing reports. (04-19-19)

Mammoth Creek: Be aware that private land in Hatch Meadow has been posted closed to trespassing, so Mammoth Creek is not accessible there. Expect high flow due to rain and runoff on lower Mammoth Creek, lower Asay Creek, and the upper Sevier River near Hatch. (04-19-19)

Mill Meadow Reservoir: The ice off and catchable-size rainbow trout have been stocked. Fishing is fair to good for rainbow and brown trout. Call the Quiet Fly Fisher fly shop at (435) 616-2319 for up to date conditions and fishing reports. (04-19-19)

Minersville Reservoir: The water level is slowly rising. Our annual netting survey found good numbers of rainbow trout and very healthy wipers. Fishing for trout is fair from shore, slower the farther out you fish. Midge (chironomid) patterns are still providing the best success. Fishing pressure is often high, even during the week. (04-19-19)

Monroe Mountain Lakes: Access is not maintained during winter. (04-19-19)

Navajo Lake: Access is limited to snowmobiles. Very little fishing pressure due to several feet of snow and thick ice. (04-19-19)

Newcastle Reservoir: Runoff has filled the reservoir, but the water is very murky. Slow fishing reported. (04-19-19)

Otter Creek Reservoir & State Park: The reservoir is rising steadily and is up to 66% of capacity. The high level of runoff has made the water fairly murky, especially on the south end. Our annual netting survey found a lot of healthy rainbow trout from two to four pounds, with the largest coming in at six pounds. We also found a handful of healthy wipers up to eight pounds. Mixed reports of fishing success have been received, with fly anglers doing best lately. Rainbows are cruising very close to shore right now, so you don't need to cast very far. Fishing also tends to be better in the morning. April typically provides the best fishing of the year, so look for success to pick up as the water warms over the next few weeks. (04-19-19)

Panguitch Lake: The ice fishing season is officially over at Panguitch Lake. Runoff has begun and the water level is starting to rise. This has created a ring of open water 10 to 15 feet wide around much of the lake. This ring can freeze on cold mornings, but thaws again by afternoon. Believe it or not, but you can find fish in this narrow stretch of open water as long as the depth is at least a few feet. The main ice sheet is still fairly thick, so it could take a few weeks for the ice to come off. This is good news, however, as ice-off fishing should steadily improve through the rest of April and should continue through most of May. (04-19-19)

Paragonah Reservoir: No recent reports on access, however the snow pack is much higher than in recent years. Starting Jan 1, the trout limit has been reduced to four – same as the statewide limit. The tiger trout stocked after the fire have survived very well, however, so feel free to take a limit to help cut down on competition and improve growth. (04-19-19)

Pine Lake: The last mile or so of road is still blocked by snow. (04-19-19)

Piute Reservoir: The reservoir was mostly drained in 2018 for irrigation needs. Sport fish numbers are very low. (04-19-19)

Quail Lake: Good Catchable-sized rainbow trout are providing fair to good fishing from shore and boats. Water temperature is warming into the mid 50s on sunny days. Look for bass to start moving up to the shallows on warm afternoons. Otherwise, cold water techniques are still your best bet. (04-19-19)

Sand Hollow Reservoir: Welcome to spring transition time at Sand Hollow. The water temperature is getting into the upper 50s on sunny days, meaning that bass are starting to wake up but are not yet as active as they will be once it passes 60 degrees in the next couple of weeks. Right now, you can find some bass moving up to the shallows on sunny afternoons looking for warm water, but most are still going to be in the transition zone of 20-30 feet. Stormy days can shut the whole process down, however, and keep fish deep until it's calm and warm for a couple days in a row. Target the nice weather days and start out with cold water techniques (i.e. slow presentation). Adjust your approach according to water temperature. (04-19-19)

Sevier River in Marysvale Canyon: Releases from Piute Reservoir have been shut off, so flow is back down to the low winter level. Now is a good time to get out before irrigation releases start. (04-19-19)

Thousand Lake Mountain: Snow limits access. Call the Quiet Fly Fisher fly shop at (435) 616-2319 for up to date conditions and fishing reports. (04-19-19)

Tropic Reservoir: Access is limited by snow. Ice should be deteriorating. Rainbow trout often don't overwinter well, but there are a few nice brown trout that can be caught. (04-19-19)

Washington County Community Fisheries: Trout are stocked periodically through the cold months and provide fair to good fishing. Brood size rainbow trout have been stocked in all ponds and are providing some exciting action. (04-19-19)

Wide Hollow Reservoir: The reservoir is nearly full and catchable-sized rainbow trout have been stocked. Fishing is good for trout. (04-19-19)

Yankee Meadow Reservoir: Access is still limited by snow. (04-19-19)

MORE INFORMATION FROM THE DWR


Please email your fishing reports on Southern Region waters to Mike Hadley.

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