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Remember: Don't Let It Loose, Don't Ditch a Fish.
What's new
Harmful algal blooms: Some of the lakes and reservoirs in this region may currently have harmful algal blooms that are not mentioned in the report below. Please check this map to see if the waterbody where you plan to fish has an algal bloom advisory or warning.
Annual statewide kokanee closure: Anglers may not keep kokanee salmon caught at any waterbody statewide from Sept. 10 through Nov. 30 to protect kokanee during the spawning season.
Seasonal forecasts
Baker Reservoir:
Fishing forecast (September through November): Catchable-sized rainbow trout are stocked when the water cools off in late October or early November. Brown trout have also been stocked in recent years and can grow to large sizes. We are attempting to establish populations of largemouth bass, black crappie and bluegill in Baker Reservoir, though it will take a few years for the fingerling fish that we have stocked to grow up to catchable size. Some 8-inch wipers were also stocked in 2022. (Aug. 22, 2024)
Beaver River, Lower:
Fishing forecast (September through November): Stream flows are much lower once irrigation releases from Minersville Reservoir end, so walk lightly and work on your stealth skills to avoid spooking fish. Brown trout get aggressive in the fall as they prepare to spawn and can be effectively caught with various flies (streamers and egg patterns), lures (spinners and Rapalas) and jigs (marabou and tubes). Individual fish spawn at various times, so there will always be a few fish in pre-spawn aggression mode or post-spawn feeding mode. (Aug. 20, 2024)
Beaver River, Upper:
Fishing forecast (September through November): Brown and rainbow trout are abundant in the upper Beaver River in Beaver Canyon. Brown trout get aggressive in the fall as they prepare to spawn and can be effectively caught with various flies (streamers and egg patterns), lures (spinners and Rapalas) and jigs (marabou and tubes). Individual fish spawn at various times, so there will always be a few fish in pre-spawn aggression mode or post-spawn feeding mode. Most of the tributaries — including the Beaver forks, Merchant Creek and Three Creeks — also have abundant populations of wild trout.
(Aug. 20, 2024)
Clear Creek (Blue Ribbon):
Fishing forecast (September through November): Fall fishing is good to excellent for Bonneville cutthroat trout throughout the Clear Creek drainage. In addition to Clear Creek, the associated tributaries — Mill Creek, Fish Creek, Shingle Creek and Pole Creek — all have good populations of cutthroat trout. You may also find an occasional tiger trout. A variety of flies, lures and natural baits can produce good to excellent fishing. Note: A portion of Clear Creek and Fish Creek were treated in Fall 2021 with rotenone to remove rainbow trout and rainbow-cutthroat hybrids before they could expand throughout the drainage and threaten the conservation population of Bonneville cutthroat trout. The target area included Clear Creek, from its confluence with Fish Creek downstream two miles to the Narrows, as well as Fish Creek, from its confluence with Clear Creek upstream about five miles. All other stream reaches within the drainage, including Fremont Indian State Park, were unaffected by the treatment and still have abundant numbers of cutthroat trout. The treated area was restocked with more fingerling cutthroat trout fall 2022 and 2023, but it will take a couple years for these fish to grow to catchable sizes. (Aug. 22, 2024)
Duck Creek Pond / Aspen Mirror Lake:
Fishing forecast (September through November): Low water and heavy weed growth make for tough fishing conditions and limited shore space. Luckily, fishing pressure slows down during the fall, so there is less competition for the space. (Aug. 20, 2024)
East Fork Sevier River, Black Canyon (Blue Ribbon):
Fishing forecast (September through November): Brown trout get aggressive in the fall as they prepare to spawn and can be effectively caught with various flies (streamers and egg patterns), lures (spinners and Rapalas) and jigs (marabou and tubes). Individual fish spawn at various times, so there will always be a few fish in pre-spawn aggression mode or post-spawn feeding mode. Visit www.sevierriver.org to see real-time flow. (Aug. 20, 2024)
East Fork Sevier River, Kingston Canyon (Blue Ribbon):
Fishing forecast (September through November): Brown trout get aggressive in the fall as they prepare to spawn and can be effectively caught with various flies (streamers and egg patterns), lures (spinners and Rapalas) and jigs (marabou and tubes). Individual fish spawn at various times, so there will always be a few fish in pre-spawn aggression mode or post-spawn feeding mode. Visit www.sevierriver.org to see real-time flow. There was substantial flooding in Kingston Canyon in the summer of 2024 that may have impacted the fishery. DWR biologists will conduct electrofishing surveys after irrigation releases in mid-to-late fall in order to assess the status of the fishery. (Aug. 20, 2024)
East Fork Sevier River, Upper:
The Left Fork Fire burned heavily through the Kanab Creek drainage in early summer 2022. Summer rainstorms washed large amounts of ash into the stream, killing all fish in Kanab Creek. The upper East Fork Sevier River, from Kanab Creek downstream to Tropic Reservoir, appears to have also suffered large losses of fish due to the ash flow. The East Fork and all tributaries upstream of Kanab Creek were unaffected by the fire and still have abundant trout. Some restoration efforts will continue in the area during the summer and fall of 2024.
Fishing forecast (September through November): Brown trout get aggressive in the fall as they prepare to spawn and can be effectively caught with various flies (streamers and egg patterns), lures (spinners and Rapalas) and jigs (marabou and tubes). Individual fish spawn at various times, so there will always be a few fish in pre-spawn aggression mode or post-spawn feeding mode. (Aug. 20, 2024)
Enterprise Reservoirs:
Fishing forecast (September through November): Algae blooms should die off and settle out with cooling temperatures. Trout fishing will also improve as the water temperature drops. Smallmouth bass are abundant and should provide good fishing from early-to-mid fall. (Aug. 22, 2024)
Fish Lake (Blue Ribbon):
Fishing forecast (September through November): Fish Lake is closed to the possession of kokanee salmon from Sept. 10 through Nov. 30 during the annual statewide kokanee closure. Possession means harvest such as keeping fish on a stringer, in a cooler, in a live well or taking home. It is not illegal to catch and immediately release Kokanee salmon during this closure. However, intentional snagging, catching fish by hand and fishing in Twin Creek are always prohibited. Fishing for other species improves in the fall as fish feed more actively. Rainbow trout are caught while trolling, jigging or bait fishing from boats. Fishing for perch is good to excellent if you anchor just outside the weed line. Use small jigs, jigging spoons and ice flies tipped with nightcrawler or perch meat. For splake, move a little farther out (40-60 feet of depth) and increase your jig/lure and bait size. Lake trout can often be observed in the shallows as they spawn, but are tough to catch since they're more focused on spawning than eating. Contact Fish Lake Resorts before you go to check on current conditions and get up-to-date fishing reports. Consult the Fish Lake entry on the Fish Utah map for more fall fishing tips. Yellow perch: There is no limit for yellow perch at Fish Lake and you are encouraged to harvest as many perch as you catch. You are also allowed to waste perch at Fish Lake so if you don't want to take them all home, just kill the fish and drop them back in the lake. Puncturing the air bladder is key to leaving those nutrients in the lake, otherwise the seagulls will just pick them up off the surface. (Sept. 4, 2024)
Forsyth Reservoir:
Fishing forecast (September through November): Forsyth Reservoir is frequently drained for irrigation use. Although it was not completely drained this year, water levels were low and an algae bloom was present throughout the summer and into the fall. We continue to restock the reservoir and have seen impressive growth on the tiger trout. Splake and cutthroat are also present in healthy populations. In our spring 2024 survey, fish numbers looked good and things are rebounding well. (Sept. 4, 2024)
Gunlock Reservoir (Blue Ribbon):
Fishing forecast (September through November): Consult the Utah State Parks website for boat ramp hours. Fishing for all species improves as the summer heat backs off and water temperatures cool. You'll also find less competition with pleasure boat traffic dwindling. Bass will become more active during daylight hours as the water cools. Look for schools of bluegill suspended in 20-40 feet of water, typically near the mouths of coves or at points. Crappie are found suspended over deep water across much of the middle of the reservoir. (Aug. 22, 2024)
Gunnison Bend and DMAD Reservoirs:
Fishing forecast (September through November): These reservoirs near Delta don't see a lot of fishing pressure, regardless of season. But there are surprisingly good numbers of sportfish to target. Channel catfish are stocked annually. Try any standard catfish bait (cut bait, liver or nightcrawlers). White crappie and white bass are the most abundant species (other than carp). They can provide fun fishing with small jigs. Numerous other species (largemouth bass, northern pike, walleye, yellow perch and green sunfish) are present and can also be caught at just about any time. Many anglers also fish the reservoir outlets, as well as the Sevier River and local canals. (Aug. 22, 2024)
Johnson Reservoir:
Dam repairs and fish stocking: Johnson Reservoir was drained in 2022 so that repair work could be conducted on the dam outlet. Construction could not be completed in 2023 or 2024 and will have to wait until we have another really low water year. Tiger muskie were stocked in 2024.
Fishing forecast (September through November): Fishing is typically poor due to low water level and muddy conditions. (Sept. 4, 2024)
Kolob Reservoir (Blue Ribbon):
Fishing forecast (September through November): Kolob Reservoir is closed to bait fishing from Sept. 13, 2024 until the third Saturday in May 2025. Fishing improves in the fall as the water cools down and trout actively feed in preparation for winter. Look for fair to good success with a variety of flies and lures. Remember that the trout limit is two fish under 15 inches or over 22 inches. Recreation use at Kolob Reservoir is administered by the Washington County Water Conservancy District and dramatic increases in visitors during recent years has prompted the district to employ new regulations to allow them to properly maintain the surrounding land and mitigate abuse. Camping fees are required and boats are limited to 10-horsepower motors. Please respect these regulations so that recreational access can be maintained at Kolob Reservoir. Note: The tributaries (from Kolob Reservoir upstream to the headwaters) are closed to fishing until July 13. Fishing from Sept. 14 through Dec. 31, 2024 is artificial flies and lures only. (Aug. 20, 2024)
Koosharem Reservoir:
Fishing forecast (September through November): Water levels have struggled with drought conditions in recent years and in 2024 Koosharem Reservoir again experienced low water. However, it wasn't completely drained and some fish made it through the summer. Fishing should pick up as temperatures decrease and the reservoir fills back up. Throughout this summer tiger, splake, cutthroat and rainbow trout were all stocked. Good numbers of rainbow trout, tiger trout and splake were observed in our spring 2024 netting survey. (Sept. 4, 2024)
Lake Powell (Blue Ribbon):
Fishing forecast (September through October): Boat launching and access remains good until water reaches 3,525 feet. Water elevation has just reached 3,581 feet. You can check water levels and boat ramp status at the Lake Powell water data site. The moderate runoff reaching Lake Powell in 2024 ensured that much of the brush flooded the previous year will continue to provide refuge and habitat for a variety of Lake Powell fish, including young threadfin shad, largemouth bass and black crappie. Largemouth bass: Bass seek out and reside in cover. This can take the form of brush, tumbleweed piles and trees. If largemouth bass is your quarry, be on the lookout for brush piles and focus fishing near any type of flooded vegetation. By doing so you will be positioned well to catch lots of bass. Chatter baits with a shad-colored trailer, spinner baits and soft plastics such as Yamamoto Senkos all work well for largemouth bass. Largemouth bass had great recruitment during 2023 and 2024, so expect to catch lots of younger bass mixed in with some older fish. Crappie: Similar to largemouth, crappie really like to live near flooded vegetation and cover. When brush is absent, crappie tend to seek a certain water depth, hover over a ledge or drop-off or find colored water where they can eat small fish. There is no shortage of flooded vegetation in the back of canyons, simply look for vegetation growing along sandy shorelines with moderate slopes and follow that line of vegetation down to the water line where you can see the submerged vegetation in the clear water. You can also use sonar to detect underwater cover. We recommend a slip bobber rig. Adjusting the bobber stop allows anglers to suspend the jig right over the brush maximizing the jigs time in the strike zone and avoiding snagging up in the cover. Smallmouth bass: Smallmouth bass can be targeted in deeper water with crayfish jigs, ned rigs and curly tail grubs. A drop shot rig works well to fish the 30-40 foot depth where many smallmouth are holding this time of year. Smallmouth prefer rock structure for cover, so it is easier to locate them with plastic grubs fished on rocky shelves, in boulder fields or at the edge of drop-offs and other shallow areas (from 30 feet deep to the shallow shoreline). During late summer and early fall, bass will feed more at first and last light. Use poppers and walking lures at dawn and dusk. As surface temperatures begin to cool, topwater fishing can be fantastic. Some proven topwater lures to try are Rebel Pop-R, Heddon Super Spook Jr., Strike King Sexy Dawg, Whopper Plopper or Berkley Choppo. As water temperatures drop in late September and early October, bass will again move to more shallow water and feed throughout the day providing high catch rates. Striped bass (stripers): During the heat of summer, striped bass have been difficult to find, especially on the south end of the lake. However, as water begins to cool striped bass will be able to spend more time chasing shad near the surface increasing the odds of observing surface feeding frenzies (also known as "boils"). Trolling diving crank baits has also been effective for some. Finding striped bass is similar to finding shad. If you wish to target striped bass on the south end, try fishing Navajo or Warm Creek. If you can manage it, keep going up-lake and fish Last Chance or Rock Creek. We expect striper boils to pick up as water cools down in mid-to-late September, so be on the lookout anytime you're on the water and have at least one fishing rod rigged with shallow running lures ready to quickly cast to striped bass. September and October is a fantastic time of year to be on Lake Powell so come enjoy fishing this fall. (Aug. 20, 2024)
Mill Meadow Reservoir:
Fishing forecast (September through November): Rainbow trout were stocked in the spring and should have grown to decent sizes through the summer. Wild brown trout provide fair to good fishing throughout the fall with popular baits, lures and flies. Perch can also provide good fall fishing. Utah sucker numbers observed in the spring 2024 netting survey were very high. A handful of tiger muskie were stocked in spring of 2024 to help control sucker and perch populations. Wipers are also available and anglers report catching 14-to-15-inch wipers by casting spoons and crankbaits near the inlets.
(Sept. 4, 2024)
Millard County Streams:
Fishing forecast (September through November): All streams have abundant wild trout, while some are also stocked with catchable-sized rainbow or tiger trout. Brown trout get aggressive in the fall as they prepare to spawn and can be effectively caught with various flies (streamers and egg patterns), lures (spinners and Rapalas) and jigs (marabou and tubes). Individual fish spawn at various times, so there will always be a few fish in pre-spawn aggression mode or post-spawn feeding mode. (Aug. 22, 2024)
Minersville Reservoir (Blue Ribbon):
Fishing forecast (September through November): Fishing should be fair to good for trout once the water cools off. Our spring netting survey showed that the rainbow trout fishery is close to fully recovering following the extreme drought conditions and necessary emergency regulation changes in 2021 and 2022. Now anglers can catch one of the many 14-to-18-inch trout and have a good chance at a larger fish over 20 inches. The smallmouth bass and trophy wiper fisheries are also in good shape. With the good water conditions so far in 2024, the sport fishery at Minersville Reservoir should continue to thrive. (Aug. 20, 2024)
Monroe Mountain Lakes:
Fishing forecast (September through November): Catchable-sized rainbow trout are stocked in the Box Creek reservoirs and north end lakes in the spring and can provide fair to good fishing throughout the fall months. Upper Box Creek Reservoir has abundant rainbow trout populations, while the Lower Box has good tiger trout. Don't ignore the streams — most have wild trout that don't see much fishing pressure. (Sept. 4, 2024)
Navajo Lake:
Fishing forecast (September through November): Lots of catchable-sized (10-inch) rainbow and tiger trout were stocked throughout the summer and will continue to provide good fishing through the fall. You may also catch a 10-inch cutthroat trout or brood rainbow. Splake trout are stocked at a small size and some may be catchable in small sizes and won't be catchable until future years. We introduced some adult tiger muskies in summer 2022 to prey on the chub that survived the treatment. If you catch a tiger muskie, remember that the harvest limit is just one fish and it must be over 40 inches in length. However, we request that you release any tiger muskies you catch in 2024, so that they can keep the chubs in check while we work on establishing the fishery. Arctic grayling have not been stocked in Navajo Lake yet, due to hatchery production limits. (Aug. 22, 2024)
Newcastle Reservoir:
Fishing forecast (September through November): The water level is low, but boat launching is still possible. An algae bloom was present for most of the summer months. Smallmouth bass have provided good to excellent fishing in 2024 and should stay active through mid-fall. Look for improved trout fishing as the water cools off. Wipers are abundant but can be tough to catch. Rainbow trout have not survived as well in recent years due to competition with shiners and drought conditions. Rainbows will be stocked in the fall of 2024 and should provide good fishing. We are also trying to establish a population of black crappie in Newcastle Reservoir this year. A small number will be stocked in 2024, with plans to add more in 2025. (Aug. 22, 2024)
Otter Creek Reservoir (Blue Ribbon):
Fishing forecast (September through November): Water levels were consistent all summer in the reservoir which made for good conditions for anglers. Reports of fishing success have been good throughout the year. As the water cools off in the fall, look for rainbow trout to get more active and move back toward the shore. Fishing will continue to be good, especially in the late fall. Seven-inch rainbow trout are stocked in November; catches of smaller fish will increase after that. Consult the Otter Creek Reservoir entry on the Fish Utah map for more details on fall fishing. Our spring netting survey found that rainbow trout did surprisingly well through the last few years of drought conditions. Trout stocked last fall at 7 inches in length survived the winter very well and have grown to 9-12 inches. Larger rainbow trout (16-22 inches) are just as abundant as in previous years and are in great condition. Wiper catch was inconsistent in the survey, but we saw a few very healthy fish in the 10-pound range. Utah chub density is low, likely thanks to wiper predation. We also caught a few brown trout. Overall, Otter Creek Reservoir is in great shape, especially considering the drought years we just went through. (Sept. 4, 2024)
Panguitch Lake (Blue Ribbon):
Fishing forecast (September through November): So far, Panguitch Lake has not suffered from the heavy algae blooms that can be a problem during the hottest months of the year. As the temperatures begin to cool, expect good to excellent shore fishing. Trout will cruise the shorelines, feeding actively to bulk up before winter. Check out the Panguitch Lake entry on the Fish Utah map for fishing techniques and tips for successful fall fishing. Reminder: All cutthroat and tiger trout between 15 and 22 inches in length must be released, so look carefully at the fish you catch. If you're not sure of what you caught, it's best to release the fish. Maintaining good numbers of large cutthroat and tiger trout is essential to controlling the density of Utah chub in Panguitch Lake and preserving good trout fishing into the future. Fish numbers at Panguitch Lake looked great in our nets this year. Rainbow, brook and cutthroat trout are doing very well. Tiger trout are very abundant and looked really healthy. Utah chub appeared to be abundant early this summer as large schools could be seen along shorelines. However, many Utah chub died from the stress of unfavorable water conditions in the shallows just after finishing spawning (while there was also some trout mortality this summer, it was not significant). Wipers have been stocked to help control Utah chub numbers. (Aug. 20, 2024)
Paragonah (Red Creek) Reservoir:
Fishing forecast (September through November): Paragonah Reservoir has a conservation pool, so it has fared better through the drought than other reservoirs, but it still got pretty low. An algae bloom was present for a few months in the summer. As the water cools in the fall, expect summer algae to die off and settle out. Once that happens, trout will begin feeding actively to bulk up before winter. Look for fair to good fishing for tiger, rainbow and cutthroat trout using various flies, lures and natural baits. Splake were stocked in 2023 and should have grown to catchable sizes through the summer. In our spring netting surveys we found a number of redside shiners. You'll now see schools of these swimming around the lake. These fish were illegally introduced to the reservoir within the last few years. The good news is that the tiger trout should be big enough to prey on these fish and help keep their numbers down. We've also stocked a number of splake to help control shiner numbers. Remember: Introducing fish into Utah's waters is illegal. (Sept. 12, 2024)
Pine Lake:
Fishing forecast (September through November): Rainbow and tiger trout are abundant and should provide good to excellent fishing, especially as the water cools off. Popular baits, lures and flies should all catch fish. (Aug. 22, 2024)
Pine Valley Reservoir:
Fishing forecast (September through November): Summer crowds begin to dissipate after Labor Day. There will still be plenty of rainbow trout and an occasional tiger trout left over, and they'll get even more active with cooling temperatures and less fishing pressure. Note: The Pine Valley campground and recreation area will be closed from Sept. 10 through Nov. 30, 2024 for road work project completion. Please contact the Dixie National Forest for more information. (Aug. 22, 2024)
Piute Reservoir:
Fishing forecast (September through November): The fishery at Piute Reservoir has struggled due to drought conditions and water fluctuation in recent years. An algae bloom was present for several weeks throughout the summer and resulted in a small fish kill. Fishing for rainbow trout has been good through the early spring and summer. Trout should become more active as the water temperatures decrease. Several introductions of white crappie, black crappie, bluegill and smallmouth bass have either happened or are scheduled to improve the fishery. (Sept. 4, 2024)
Quail Creek Reservoir (Blue Ribbon):
Fishing forecast (September through November): Consult the Utah State Parks website for boat ramp hours. Fishing for all species improves as the summer heat backs off and water temperatures cool. You'll also find less competition with pleasure boat traffic dwindling. Bass will become more active during daylight hours as the water cools. Look for schools of bluegill suspended in 20-40 feet of water, typically near the mouths of coves or at points. Rainbow trout will be stocked in late October or early November. (Aug. 22, 2024)
Sand Hollow Reservoir (Blue Ribbon):
Fishing forecast (September through November): Consult the Utah State Parks website for boat ramp hours. Fishing for all species improves as the summer heat backs off and water temperatures cool. You'll also find less competition with pleasure boat traffic dwindling. Bass will become more active during daylight hours as the water cools. Look for schools of bluegill suspended in 20-40 feet of water. (Aug. 22, 2024)
Sevier River in Marysvale Canyon:
Fishing forecast (September through November): After irrigation releases from Piute Reservoir are reduced, the flow in Marysvale Canyon is perfect for fall fishing. Check www.sevierriver.org for real-time flows — anything less than 200 cfs is fishable. Brown trout get aggressive in the fall as they prepare to spawn and can be effectively caught with various flies (streamers and egg patterns), lures (spinners and Rapalas) and jigs (marabou and tubes). Individual fish spawn at various times, so there will always be a few fish in pre-spawn aggression mode or post-spawn feeding mode. (Aug. 20, 2024)
Thousand Lake Mountain:
Fishing forecast (September through November): Cooling water temperatures lead to improved fishing in the fall. Consult the Thousand Lake Mountain entry on the Fish Utah map for fishing tips. (Aug. 22, 2024)
Tropic Reservoir:
Fishing forecast (September through November): The reservoir was drawn low this summer, but still has some water left. Catchable-sized rainbow and tiger trout were stocked in spring and early summer and should provide some fishing opportunities this fall. (Aug. 22, 2024)
Tushar (Beaver) Mountain Lakes:
Fishing forecast (September through November): Fall brings relief to the lakes with cooling temperatures, the die-off of algal blooms and lessening crowds. You can often find good to excellent fishing while having a lake mostly to yourself. Consult the Tushar Mountain lakes entry on the Fish Utah map for more information about individual lakes. Note: A broken gate in the dam at Anderson Meadow Reservoir led to the rapid draining of the reservoir in fall 2022. The reservoir gate was open most of the summer, until it was repaired in fall 2023. Because of this, no fish were stocked in 2023. Tiger trout were stocked in June 2024 and should provide great fall fishing. (Aug. 22, 2024)
Upper Fremont River:
Fishing forecast (September through November): Brown trout get aggressive in the fall as they prepare to spawn and can be effectively caught with various flies (streamers and egg patterns), lures (spinners and Rapalas) and jigs (marabou and tubes). Individual fish spawn at various times, so there will always be a few fish in pre-spawn aggression mode or post-spawn feeding mode. (Aug. 20, 2024)
Wide Hollow Reservoir:
Fishing forecast (September through November): Rainbow trout will be stocked in late October or early November and will provide fair to good fishing throughout the colder months. Fishing for largemouth bass and bluegill will continue to be good through the fall. (Aug. 22, 2024)
Yankee Meadow Reservoir:
Fishing forecast (September through November): Yankee Meadow Reservoir has a conservation pool, so it is faring better through the hot summer months than other southern Utah waters. Fishing success will improve with cooling water temperatures. Good success is reported for rainbow and cutthroat trout, with a few brook trout mixed in (use nightcrawlers and spinners). Jigs and streamers should also produce well. Look for good to excellent fishing to continue through the rest of the fall. (Aug. 22, 2024)
The Fish Utah website offers an in-depth, interactive map that will help you find a place to fish near you! You can also rate waters based on your most recent fishing trips. Your ratings will help us improve the management of Utah's fisheries. Visit Fish Utah to plan your next trip or leave a rating.
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