DWR Southern Region fishing report

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Southern Region fishing report

May 31, 2019

Beaver River, Upper: ★
Runoff and rain have increased flow to over 150 cubic feet per second. This flow is difficult to fish. (May 28, 2019)

Boulder Mountain Lakes: ★★
Access was possible to many lakes below the rim prior to snow storms last week. Use caution as roads will have new snow and will be muddy once the snow melts. The Boulder Top will not be accessible for a while. (May 28, 2019)

Clear Creek: 
Flow has decreased during the last week, but is still running over 100 cubic feet per second, making fishing difficult. See real-time flow information. (May 28, 2019)

Duck Creek Pond / Aspen Mirror Lake: ★★★
Duck Creek Pond and Aspen-Mirror Lake are accessible, though you may have to deal with recent snow. Fishing pressure has been moderate. (May 28, 2019)

East Fork Sevier River, Black Canyon: ★
Runoff flow has been very high lately. Although cooler temperatures have slowed it down in recent days, fishing is still difficult due to low water clarity. (May 28, 2019)

East Fork Sevier River, Kingston Canyon: ★
Flow is up to 100 cubic feet per second, due to runoff from Black Canyon and releases from Otter Creek Reservoir. Fishing is more difficult at this level. See real-time flow information. (May 28, 2019)

East Fork Sevier River, Upper: ★
Access is possible, though high runoff should make fishing difficult for a while. 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. (May 28, 2019)

Enterprise Reservoirs: ★★
No recent reports on fishing success. Both reservoirs filled this year. (May 28, 2019)

Fish Lake: ★★★★
The ice is off and boats are now allowed on the water. Look for fair to good fishing for all species. Call the Fish Lake Lodge/Lakeside Marina at 435-638-1000 or Bowery Haven Resort at 435-638-1040 before you go to check on current conditions and get up-to-date fishing reports. (May 28, 2019)

Forsyth Reservoir: ★★
The ice is off and the reservoir is full. 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. (May 28, 2019)

Gunlock Reservoir: ★★★
The reservoir is full and drawing a lot of visitors to the spillway falls. Water temperature is reaching the 60s, so look for fair to good fishing for bass. The fish re-stocked after the 2015 treatment to remove smallmouth bass have experienced exceptional spawning and growth. (May 28, 2019)

Gunnison Bend and DMAD Reservoirs: ★★★★
Water level is up and the boat ramp is open at Gunnison Bend Reservoir. Good success reported for white bass, largemouth bass, catfish, crappie, and green sunfish. (May 28, 2019)

Johnson Reservoir: ★★
Ice is coming off and the reservoir is filling. Access is possible from both Fish Lake and Mill Meadow. (May 28, 2019)

Kolob Reservoir: ★
The reservoir was mostly drained and treated with rotenone in fall 2018 to remove illegally stocked yellow perch, green sunfish, and bluegill. Ice is off and the south end of the reservoir is accessible from Virgin. Snow drifts still block the road around the reservoir. Trout stocking has begun. Most of these fish will be fingerlings, though some catchable-sized rainbow and tiger trout have been stocked. The reservoir is filling and stocked fish should grow fast this year. Fishing may be hit and miss as fish are able to spread out in an empty reservoir. (May 28, 2019)

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. (May 28, 2019)

Lower Bowns Reservoir: ★★★★
Access is good. The lake is slowly filling. A recent netting survey found plenty of rainbow and tiger trout measuring 12 to 14 inches, along with a few tiger trout up to 18 inches. Fishing is fair to good with streamers and lures. Call the Quiet Fly Fisher fly shop at 435-616-2319 for up to date conditions and fishing reports. (May 28, 2019)

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. (May 28, 2019)

Mill Meadow Reservoir: ★★★
The reservoir is full and catchable-size rainbow trout have been stocked. Fishing is fair to good for rainbow and brown trout. (May 28, 2019)

Millard County Streams: ★
Access is starting to open up as snow melts, though runoff is making fishing difficult. (May 28, 2019)

Minersville Reservoir: ★★★
The water level continues to rise and the water is a bit murky due to the runoff coming in. Our annual netting survey found good numbers of rainbow trout and very healthy wipers. Fishing for trout is slow to fair with best results in the morning. Try streamers and nymphs. Boats trolling are also finding some success. (May 28, 2019)

Monroe Mountain Lakes: ★★★
The Box Creek reservoirs are accessible and catchable-sized rainbow trout have been stocked in the lower reservoir. (May 28, 2019)

Navajo Lake: ★★
Drive-in access is still not possible due to deep snow and may not be possible for a month. The lake is starting to fill, however, and has already topped over the dike. Ice is melting around the edges as the lake fills. (May 28, 2019)

Newcastle Reservoir: ★★★
The reservoir is full and a little murky from runoff. Fair fishing reported for trout, smallmouth bass, and wipers. (May 28, 2019)

Otter Creek Reservoir: ★★★
The reservoir is at 98% capacity. The high level of runoff has made the water fairly murky, especially on the south end. Fishing from shore has been slow to fair. Trolling Rapalas early and late in the day is producing the best results currently. 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. (May 31, 2019)

Panguitch Lake: ★★★★
The lake is full for the first time in eight years. Runoff from the fire scar has been rapid, meaning that the water has been murky to muddy. Fishing has been affected by water clarity at times. Currently, the lake is still a little murky, but less so than it has been. Fishing is good to excellent for rainbow trout using popular baits, lures, and flies. We conducted our annual netting survey recently and found good numbers of healthy rainbow, cutthroat, and tiger trout. Rainbow trout stocked last fall have grown to 10-12 inches and are very abundant around the shoreline right now. Some larger rainbows up to 16 inches are also available. (May 31, 2019)

Paragonah (Red Creek) Reservoir: ★★★★
Access is good, the ice is off, and the reservoir is full. Water is somewhat murky. Small tiger trout are abundant and hungry. Fishing is good with streamers, jigs, and lures. Bait anglers should use natural baits like night crawlers. 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. (May 28, 2019)

Pine Lake: ★★★
The lake is accessible and the ice is off. Ten-inch rainbow and tiger trout have been stocked and should provide fair to good fishing. (May 28, 2019)

Pine Valley Reservoir: ★★★
Summer Forecast: Catchable-sized (10 inches) rainbow trout are stocked regularly and should provide fair to good fishing. Expect heavy fishing pressure on the weekends. (May 28, 2019)

Piute Reservoir: 
2019 Forecast: The reservoir was mostly drained in 2018 for irrigation needs. Sport fish numbers are very low. (May 28, 2019)

Quail Creek Reservoir: ★★★★
Catchable-sized rainbow trout are still providing fair to good fishing from shore and boats. Water temperature is reaching the upper 60s and bass are active. Bass fishing isn't as fast as it can be at Sand Hollow, but some very nice fish have been caught lately. (May 28, 2019)

Sand Hollow Reservoir: ★★★★★
Largemouth bass are spawning and fishing is good to excellent. Males are guarding nests in the shallows and will attack anything that comes nearby. Bigger females are hanging out a little deeper as they wait for a male to come find them. They don't bite as readily and may take a little more effort to entice. Anglers are finding success with a wide variety of techniques - it's probably best just to use what you're comfortable with. Bass can be found on just about any shoreline, but the north and west dikes, as well as brush on the southeast shore are particularly popular. Stormy weather has been common lately and can slow the fishing down, so focus on warm, sunny days. (May 28, 2019)

Sevier River In Marysvale Canyon: ★★
Releases from Piute Reservoir are running about 200 cubic feet per second, which will make fishing a little difficult. See real-time flow information. (May 28, 2019)

Thousand Lake Mountain: ★★★
The road over the pass from Forsyth Reservoir is passable, but recent snow has made it slick. The Solomon Basin lakes should be accessible by the Last Chance Road, though the road can get very slippery across the desert. Call the Quiet Fly Fisher fly shop at 435-616-2319 for up to date conditions and fishing reports. (May 28, 2019)

Tropic Reservoir: ★★★
Summer Forecast: Ten-inch rainbow trout have been stocked and should provide fair to good fishing. A few nice brown and tiger trout are also available. (May 28, 2019)

Tushar (Beaver) Mountain Lakes: ★★
Access was possible as far as Kent's Lake last week, though recent snow will make that a little more difficult. Little Res, Lower Kent's Lake, and Kent's Lake are ice free. Highway 153 is plowed to Puffer Lake, but ice still covers the lake. No reports yet on fishing success. (May 28, 2019)

Wide Hollow Reservoir: ★★★
The reservoir is nearly full and catchable-sized rainbow trout have been stocked. The state park reports good fishing for trout and largemouth bass, which are spawning in the shallows. (May 28, 2019)

Yankee Meadow Reservoir: ★★★
Access is open, the ice is off, and the reservoir is full. The water is somewhat murky due to runoff from the fire scar. Fishing is fair for rainbow, brook, and cutthroat trout. Dark-colored streamers, jigs, and Gulp minnows have worked best lately. (May 28, 2019)

MORE INFORMATION FROM THE DWR


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

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