Utah Bass Fishing Reports

COMMENTS

Utah Bass Fishing Reports Revised 02-02-12 Hypertext gives a description of the lake and facilities available. Check proclamtion for details on restrictions as some may not be listed here. Bear River Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Bullhead Catfish, Channel Catfish, Crappie, Cutthroat Trout, Green Sunfish, Largemouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Walleye, Whitefish, Yellow Perch No recent reports. Brough Reservoir Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Smallmouth Bass (Jan 21) There are no new reports on fishing conditions. The lake looks frozen but ice conditions unknown. Check the ice carefully before venturing out. The reservoir has special catch-and-release regulations. You must use flies and lures only—bait is not allowed. (Jan 12) Anglers have been out on the reservoir but there are no reports on conditions. Check the ice carefully before venturing out. The reservoir has special catch-and-release regulations. You must use flies and lures only—bait is not allowed. (Jan 7) The lake looks frozen but ice conditions are unknown. Check the ice carefully before venturing out. The reservoir has special catch-and-release regulations. You must use flies and lures only—bait is not allowed. Regulations Bullock Reservoir Largemouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Tiger Musky (hybred) (Jan 21) The reservoir appears frozen, but the ice conditions are unknown. Check the ice carefully before venturing out. (Jan 12) Anglers have been out on the ice but there are no contacts or reports on fishing conditions. Check the ice carefully before venturing out. (Jan 7) The reservoir looks frozen, but ice conditions are unknown. Check the ice carefully before venturing out. (Jan 5) Anglers report slow fishing for everything. Regulations Clinton City Park Pond Bluegill, Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Rainbow Trout No recent reports. Regulations Cottonwood Reservoir Rainbow Trout, Smallmouth Bass (Jan 21) The reservoir has ice, but there are no reports on fishing conditions. Check the ice carefully before venturing out. (Jan 12) The reservoir has ice, but there are no contacts or reports on fishing conditions. Check the ice carefully before venturing out. (Jan 7) The reservoir has ice, but the conditions and thickness are unknown. Check the ice carefully before venturing out. Regulations Cutler Reservoir Bass, Catfish, Crappie, Sunfish (Jan 21) Cutler receives almost no fishing activity during the winter months. (Jan 12) Currents near the access points can create unstable ice. (Jan 7) Cutler Reservoir receives almost no fishing activity in the winter months. River flows at major access points make the ice unstable and unpredictable. Regulations Deer Creek Reservoir Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Largemouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Yellow Perch (Jan 27) The reservoir is a mix of unsafe ice and open water. Fishing success is slow. Anglers have had some success for rainbow trout using yellow PowerBait near the main boat launch and Wallsburg Bay. For current ice conditions, call Deer Creek State Park at 435–654-0171 . (Jan 21) Conservation Officer Orin Neal reports that Deer Creek was starting to ice over, but recent warm temperatures melted much of that ice. Fishing is slow, but yellow PowerBait has been decent for rainbows in the main boat launch area and in Wallsburg Bay. For current ice conditions, call Deer Creek State Park at 435–654-0171. (Jan 7) Bryce of Orem fished the north side with a partner and caught 8 rainbows using peach PowerBait (salmon egg scented). "Caught 8 Rainbows total, including a 21 inch Rainbow. All of the fish were caught between 9 and 11 am." (Jan 5) On January 4, considerable sheets of very thin ice were seen throughout the lake. There is quite a bit of open water as well. Most anglers report fair fishing for rainbow trout. Boat launching is still possible and boat and float tube anglers report good fishing. Shoreline anglers report fair to good fishing. Officer Orin Neal reports that the most consistent place over the last few weeks has been the main boat launch area at Deer Creek. Try using flashy spinners and other lures. Only primitive campsites are available. The fish cleaning station is closed. Regulations East Canyon Reservoir Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Smallmouth Bass, Tiger Trout (hybrid) (Jan 27) Conservation Officer Jonathan Moser reports that the ice at Taylor Hollow area is about eight inches thick. Anglers were having success fishing about ten feet down from the surface of the ice. Some of anglers had success with a wax worm on a lead head jig or ratfinkee. Other anglers did well with a white split tail jig and a wax worm. The fish were up to 18 inches long. (Jan 21) Conservation Officer Jonathan Moser reports that ice at the Taylor Hollow area is about eight inches thick. Anglers were having some success fishing about ten feet down from the surface of the ice. Some anglers had success with a wax worm on a lead head jig or ratfinkee. Other anglers did well with a white split tail jig and a wax worm. The fish were up to 18 inches long. (Jan 7) Volunteer Rick Johnson reports that ice conditions range from three inches on the west side to eight inches on the east. Warmer temperatures have thawed the top layer of ice, leaving water on top. The shoreline ice is getting soft in the late afternoon. Anglers reported some success while fishing on the buoys. There are very few fish on the finders. Echo Reservoir Bass, Brown Trout, Channel Catfish, Crappie, Rainbow Trout (Jan 27) Conservation Officer Rustin Nielsen reports slow fishing. Anglers had the best success using tube jigs tipped with mealworms. The fish seemed to be cruising at about 16-20 feet deep. The ice is 10-12 inches thick. Fishermen should use caution getting onto the ice. The first few feet of ice from the shoreline are soft. (Jan 21) Conservation Officer Rustin Nielsen reports slow fishing this past week. Anglers have been catching a few rainbow trout using white jigs tipped with mealworm or a night crawler. Fishing is the best early in the morning. The ice on the reservoir is up to ten inches thick. (Jan 7) Fishing is slow to fair at Echo. The ice is approximately eight inches thick. Anglers are using various baits and lures, and fishing is fair. Regulations Enterprise Reservoirs Rainbow Trout, Smallmouth Bass FISH CONSUMPTION ADVISORY (Feb 2) There is very little snow in the area and access is excellent. The north end of the reservoir has six to seven inches of ice, but there is some open water on the southwest end. This winter's mild temperatures have caused soft edges and some standing water on top of the ice. Please use caution on the ice. There is also some open water on the lower reservoir. One angler reports good success using flies in the open water of both reservoirs. (Jan 21) Access is excellent, and there is very little snow in the area. The north end of the reservoir has six to seven inches of ice, but there is some open water on the southwest end. Mild temperatures have produced soft edges and left some standing water on top of the ice. There is also some open water on the lower reservoir. One angler reports good success in the open water of both reservoirs with flies. Please use caution on the ice. (Jan 7) Access is excellent, and there's very little snow in the area. Most of the reservoir has six or seven inches of ice, but there is a little open water in one of the western arms. Mild temperatures have produced soft edges and left some standing water on top of the ice. Please use caution on the ice. Farmington Pond Bluegill, Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Rainbow Trout No recent reports. Regulations Flaming Gorge Reservoir Brown Trout, Burbot, Channel Catfish, Crayfish, Kokanee Salmon, Mackinaw (Lake Trout), Rainbow Trout, Smallmouth Bass (Jan 27) Safe ice has not been reported in Utah. There is good open-water fishing for the trout species from the shore and boats. Lake trout: Lake trout fishing has been good to excellent with anglers finding fish almost everywhere. Ice anglers fishing the northern arms are doing well for the pups. In Utah, anglers fishing the shore for rainbows in 15 to 20 feet of water have also caught lake trout. Schools of pups have been reported down around 60 to 100 feet. If you can find a school, the hits will be fast but light. A good line (fluorocarbon or braid) helps you feel the strike and get a good hook-set when jigging. You can help the Flaming Gorge fishery by harvesting a limit of smaller lake trout. The limit is eight fish, with one over 28 inches. Kokanee salmon: Not hearing much about kokanee. Water temperatures have cooled down so fish could be anywhere. Although the DWR has stocked millions of kokanee over the last few years, the population remains low due to predation by lake trout and burbot. Anglers need to harvest small lake trout and burbot to reduce their impact on kokanee. Rainbow trout: Anglers report good to excellent fishing from the shoreline and from boats (casting and trolling). A boat is essential to access most of the reservoir; however, there is shore fishing near the visitor center (by the dam) and by the boat ramps. Fish can be anywhere including close to shore. Look for schools near cliffs, points and submerged ridges in about 10 to 60 feet of water. Smallmouth bass: Bass fishing has been slow. It's mostly over until next summer; however, an angler caught one a few weeks ago at 70 feet while jigging for lake trout. Burbot: Anglers are catching burbot through the ice in the northern arms and from shore and boats in Utah. Some of these fish are over eight pounds. Try fishing for a few hours, starting around sunset, along the rocky points and cliffs near the main channel. Burbot hit during the day, but they become more active during the twilight hours. Fish the bottom or just slightly above it in depths from 10 to 50 feet. Use just about anything that glows (spoons, tube jigs, curly-tailed jigs, minnow jigs) and tip it with some type of bait. Place your baits close to the bottom and recharge the glow frequently. It is common to catch a fish immediately after re-glowing and dropping a lure. You'll help the Flaming Gorge fishery by harvesting as many burbot as possible. There is no limit on burbot. The 2012 Burbot Bash has been scheduled for January 25 to 28. (Jan 21) Safe ice has not been reported in Utah. There is good open-water fishing for the trout species from the shore and boats. Lake trout: Lake trout fishing has been good to excellent with anglers finding fish almost everywhere. Ice anglers fishing the northern arms are doing well for the pups. In Utah, anglers fishing the shore for rainbows in 15 to 20 feet of water have also caught lake trout. Schools of pups have been reported down around 60 to 100 feet. If you can find a school, the hits will be fast but light. A good line (fluorocarbon or braid) helps you feel the strike and get a good hook-set when jigging. You can help the Flaming Gorge fishery by harvesting a limit of smaller lake trout. The limit is eight fish, with one over 28 inches. Kokanee salmon: Not hearing much about kokanee. Water temperatures have cooled down so fish could be anywhere. Although the DWR has stocked millions of kokanee over the last few years, the population remains low due to predation by lake trout and burbot. Anglers need to harvest small lake trout and burbot to reduce their impact on kokanee. Rainbow trout: Anglers report good to excellent fishing from the shoreline and from boats (casting and trolling). A boat is essential to access most of the reservoir; however, there is shore fishing near the visitor center (by the dam) and by the boat ramps. Fish can be anywhere including close to shore. Look for schools near cliffs, points and submerged ridges in about 10 to 60 feet of water. Smallmouth bass: Bass fishing has been slow. It's mostly over until next summer; however, an angler caught one a few weeks ago at 70 feet while jigging for lake trout. Burbot: Anglers are catching burbot through the ice in the northern arms and from shore and boats in Utah. Some of these fish are over eight pounds. Try fishing for a few hours, starting around sunset, along the rocky points and cliffs near the main channel. Burbot hit during the day, but they become more active during the twilight hours. Fish the bottom or just slightly above it in depths from 10 to 50 feet. Use just about anything that glows (spoons, tube jigs, curly-tailed jigs, minnow jigs) and tip it with some type of bait. Place your baits close to the bottom and recharge the glow frequently. It is common to catch a fish immediately after re-glowing and dropping a lure. You'll help the Flaming Gorge fishery by harvesting as many burbot as possible. There is no limit on burbot. The 2012 Burbot Bash has been scheduled for January 25 to 28. (Jan 12) Ice in the northern arms can be up to 18 inches thick; however, no safe ice has been reported below the confluence or in Utah. There is good open-water fishing for rainbows and lake trout from the shore and boats. We have also heard of anglers doing well when they target burbot from boats. Lake trout: Lake trout fishing has been good to excellent with anglers finding fish almost everywhere: shore, boats and through the ice. Anglers fishing the shore for rainbows in 15 to 20 feet of water have also caught lake trout. Schools of pups have been reported from near the surface to down around 60 to 100 feet. If you can find a school, the hits will be fast but light. A good line (fluorocarbon or braid) helps you feel the strike and get a good hook-set when jigging. You can help the Flaming Gorge fishery by harvesting a limit of smaller lake trout. The limit is eight fish, with one over 28 inches. Kokanee salmon: Not hearing anything about kokanee, which is the pattern for Flaming Gorge in the winter. Water temperatures have cooled down so fish could be anywhere. Although the DWR has stocked millions of kokanee over the last few years, the population remains low due to predation by lake trout and burbot. Anglers need to harvest small lake trout and burbot to reduce their impact on kokanee. Rainbow trout: Anglers report good to excellent fishing from the shoreline and from boats (casting and trolling). A boat is essential to access most of the reservoir; however, there is shore fishing near the visitor center (by the dam) and by the boat ramps. Fish can be anywhere including close to shore. Look for schools near cliffs, points and submerged ridges in about 10 to 60 feet of water. Smallmouth bass: Bass fishing has been slow. It's mostly over until next summer; however, an angler caught one a few weeks ago at 70 feet while jigging for lake trout. Burbot: We've had several reports of anglers catching burbot through the ice in the northern arms and from shore and boats in Utah. Some of these fish are over eight pounds. Try fishing for a few hours, starting around sunset, along the rocky points and cliffs near the main channel. Burbot hit during the day, but they become more active during the twilight hours. Fish the bottom or just slightly above it in depths from 10 to 50 feet. Use just about anything that glows (spoons, tube jigs, curly-tailed jigs, minnow jigs) and tip it with some type of bait. Place your baits close to the bottom and recharge the glow frequently. It is common to catch a fish immediately after re-glowing and dropping a lure. You'll help the Flaming Gorge fishery by harvesting as many burbot as possible. There is no limit on burbot. The 2012 Burbot Bash has been scheduled for January 25 to 28. See article on home page. (Jan 7) Ice is forming in the northern arms but there isn't safe ice in Utah yet. Open-water fishing for trout is good from the shore and boats. Lake trout: Lake trout fishing has been good to excellent with anglers finding fish almost everywhere. Anglers fishing the shore for rainbows in 15 to 20 feet of water have also caught lake trout. Schools of pups have been reported down around 60 to 100 feet. If you can find a school, the hits will be fast but light. A good line (fluorocarbon or braid) helps you feel the strike and get a good hook-set when jigging. You can help the Flaming Gorge fishery by harvesting a limit of smaller lake trout. The limit is eight fish, with one over 28 inches. Kokanee salmon: Not hearing much about kokanee. Water temperatures have cooled down so fish could be anywhere. Although the DWR has stocked millions of kokanee over the last few years, the population remains low due to predation by lake trout and burbot. Anglers need to harvest small lake trout and burbot to reduce their impact on kokanee. Rainbow trout: Anglers report good to excellent fishing from the shoreline and from boats (casting and trolling). A boat is essential to access most of the reservoir; however, there is shore fishing near the visitor center (by the dam) and by the boat ramps. Fish can be anywhere including close to shore. Look for schools near cliffs, points and submerged ridges in about 10 to 60 feet of water. Smallmouth bass: Bass fishing has been slow. It's mostly over until next summer; however, an angler caught one a few weeks ago at 70 feet while jigging for lake trout. Burbot: We've had several reports of anglers catching burbot through the ice in the northern arms from shore and boats in Utah. Some of these fish are over eight pounds. Try fishing for a few hours, starting around sunset, along the rocky points and cliffs near the main channel. Burbot hit during the day, but they become more active during the twilight hours. Fish the bottom or just slightly above it in depths from 10 to 50 feet. Use just about anything that glows (spoons, tube jigs, curly-tailed jigs, minnow jigs) and tip it with some type of bait. Place your baits close to the bottom and recharge the glow frequently. It is common to catch a fish immediately after re-glowing and dropping a lure. You'll help the Flaming Gorge fishery by harvesting as many burbot as possible. There is no limit on burbot. The 2012 Burbot Bash has been scheduled for January 25th to the 28th. Regulations Gigliotti Pond Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, Rainbow Trout (Jan 27) Casey Olsen and Mike Bolinski fished last Saturday after dark. Their catch was nonstop with glow-in-the-dark jigs or plain jigs tipped with a piece of worm. The ice was five inches thick. Warm weather may have thinned the ice. Use extra caution. Rainbow trout ranged from 8 –12 inches. (Jan 7) The pond is frozen, and there haven't been any recent fishing reports. Regulations Glassman's Pond Bluegill, Black Crappie, Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Rainbow Trout No recent reports. Regulations Gunlock Reservoir Bluegill, Channel Catfish, Crappie, Green Sunfish, Largemouth Bass FISH CONSUMPTION ADVISORY (Feb 2) Fishing success should be slow. The boat ramp is closed until March. Regulations Gunnison Bend Reservoir Catfish, Largemouth Bass, White Bass (Feb 2) Gunnison Bend has little ice, and DMAD is mostly covered but has a lot of soft spots. There is little fishing pressure at either reservoir. (Jan 7) There haven't been any recent reports. The reservoir is unlikely to have safe ice with the recent mild weather. Holmes Creek Reservoir Bluegill, Crappie, Largemouth Bass, Walleye (Jan 27) Two inches of slush sits atop seven inches of solid ice. Fishing is good for small rainbows. Use caution—if warmer weather persists, the ice will quickly deteriorate. The edges are showing some signs of weakening as water is being held in the reservoir. (Jan 21) Two inches of slush sits atop seven inches of solid ice. Fishing is good for small rainbows. Use caution—if warmer weather persists, the ice will quickly deteriorate. The edges are showing some signs of weakening as water is being held in the reservoir. (Jan 14) Brian of Farmington caught 3 rainbows using small red jigs. "Lots of nibbles but few real hits. Nothing of real size, about 8 to 10 inches" (Jan 7) Conservation Officer Brandon Baron observed one party of anglers over the weekend. Use caution as periods of warmer weather may cause changes in the ice conditions. Regulations Huntington North Reservoir Crayfish, Largemouth Bass, Rainbow Trout (Jan 27) State Park Manager Dan Richards reports fair fishing toward the middle of the lake with crawdad-imitating jigs tipped with chub meat. (Jan 21) State Park Manager Dan Richards reports fair fishing toward the middle of the lake with crawdad-imitating jigs tipped with chub meat. (Jan 12) State Park Manager Dan Richards reports that fishing is slow during the day but picks up in the evening. On Jan. 2, his party caught mostly 12- to 14-inch rainbow trout. The best lure was a 1/8-ounce jig that resembled a crawdad. They tipped the jig with a minnow or chub meat. Ice thickness was about 5-6 inches. (Jan 7) State Park Manager Dan Richards reports that fishing is slow during the day but picks up in the evening. On Jan. 2, his party caught mostly 12- to 14-inch rainbow trout. The best lure was a 1/8-ounce jig that resembled a crawdad. They tipped the jig with a minnow or chub meat. Ice thickness was about 5–6 inches. Regulations Hyrum Reservoir Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Tiger Trout (hybrid), Yellow Perch STOP WHIRLING DISEASE (Jan 30) S. Bradley of Howell fished past the buoys on the west side with a partner and caught 6 rainbows using nightcrawlers. "We fished from about 11:00am to 6:00pm. First fish was around 1:00pm on a tip-up set just 4 feet under the ice. We had dozens of bites and alot of fish on the line but had a hard time getting solid hook-sets. 5 of the 6 rainbows were caught on my tip-up. make sure you use sharp hooks and fish just a few feet under the ice." (Jan 27) Park Ranger Steve Bullock reports recent rain, warmer temperatures and flooding in Cache Valley have caused ice around the edge of Hyrum Reservoir to melt. Colder temperatures have begun to re-freeze the edges. Access to the ice sheet is more difficult, but possible. Use caution when accessing the ice. Fishing has slowed due to muddy runoff, but is expected to get better as temperatures drop and the water clears. (Jan 21) Volunteer Ty Anderson reports good fishing for 9- to 11-inch trout. Try using jigs tipped with mealworms or night crawlers. The ice is ten inches thick. There is open water at the inlet. (Jan 7) Park Ranger Steve Bullock reports that the reservoir has six to eight inches of ice. Anglers report good fishing for rainbow trout. Jordan River Brown Trout, Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Sunfish, Walleye, White Bass No recent reports. Jordanelle Reservoir Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Smallmouth Bass, Yellow Perch STOP WHIRLING DISEASE (Jan 27) Conservation Officer Orin Neal reports slow fishing success. One ice anglers caught a decent-sized rainbow trout using a jig and mealworm combination near Rock Cliff Bay. As of January 26, there is roughly seven to 10 inches of ice in the first bay, and some ice covering much of the back bay area. (Jan 21) Conservation Officer Orin Neal reports that fishing continues to be very slow. The ice is pretty thin in Rock Cliff Bay, but it has spread past the boat ramp, so launching a boat would be tricky. Regulations Kaysville Ponds Black bullhead, Bluegill, Channel Catfish, Green Sunfish, Largemouth Bass, Rainbow Trout (Jan 27) Warmer weather and rain could make any existing ice unstable. (Jan 21) Warmer weather and rain could make any existing ice unstable. (Jan 7) Conservation Officer Brandon Baron reports the ice is not safe. The anglers that have been fishing report doing well. Regulations Lake Powell Bluegill, Brown Trout, Channel Catfish, Crappie, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Smallmouth Bass, Striped Bass, Rainbow Trout, Walleye STOP QUAGGAG MUSCLE No recent reports. Regulations LaSal Mountains Albino Trout, Bluegill, Grayling, Largemouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Splake (hybrid) (Jan 27) Because of winter conditions, the mountain lakes and reservoirs are very difficult to access. (Jan 21) Because of winter conditions, the mountain lakes and reservoirs are very difficult to access. (Jan 12) Because of winter conditions, the mountain lakes and reservoirs are very difficult to access. (Jan 7) Because of winter conditions, the mountain lakes and reservoirs are very difficult to access. Locomotive Springs Largemouth Bass, Rainbow Trout No recent reports. Mabey Pond Crappie, Catfish, Largemouth Bass No recent reports. Regulations Mantua Reservoir Bluegill, Cutthroat Trout, Largemouth Bass, Rainbow Trout (Jan 27) Sergeant Mitch Lane reports that fishing has slowed down at Mantua. Anglers are catching a few small perch. Try a yellow or pink jig with a wax worm. One group fishing near the new parking lot at the northeast side caught a bunch of bluegill, a few rainbow trout and a couple of bass. There are some soft spots around the edges of the ice. Some snowmobiles and ATVs have gone through while trying to get on the ice. (Jan 21) Anglers report that fishing success has slowed down. Lightweight line and spring bobbers are very helpful when fish go into light bite mode. (Jan 16) Spencer Dom fished the SE side in a group of 3 and caught 5 rainbows and 5 bluegill using white and green jigs with wax worm. "was a slow day but the trout were nice ranging from 16-18 inches and a pound to two pounds. the guy next to us was just in the right spot for sunfish because he and his boys were pulling them out left and right" (Jan 12) Dedicated Hunter Jed Opheikens reports great ice conditions: a solid 10 to 12 inches of clear ice. Snowmobiles were driving on the lake without any problems. The fishing was slow near the boat ramp with a few people catching 12-inch rainbow trout and a few bluegills. Most of the people were congregated near the point and seemed to be doing better in that location. (Jan 9) Spencer of Draper fished the SE end just off the top of the weeds and caught 9 bluegill, 2 perch and 2 rainbows using green jig with nightcrawler or wax worm. (Jan 7) Anglers report good fishing for smaller bluegills. The ice is nearly 10 inches thick, and it's very slick—ice cleats are a good idea. Biologist Clint Brunson reports some success for rainbows, perch and bluegill in 8 to 18 feet of water. The ice is still clear, and warmer temperatures have produced some water on top of the ice. The fish are biting light. Regulations Minersville Reservoir Rainbow Trout, Smallmouth Bass STOP WHIRLING DISEASE (Feb 2) Conservation officer Brent Farnsworth reports that the reservoir is less than a foot below full pool. Although there is ice on most of the lake, three stretches of open water have appeared during the past two weeks. The main ice pack is still four to five inches thick, but the ice is becoming soft and is thinning daily. The lake is rising, so the ice around the edges is thin and weak. There are only a few places that you can access the thicker ice without taking the risk of breaking through and falling into the water. Ice fishing is NOT recommended right now. Fishing success has been slow for the few anglers who have ventured onto the ice. If you decide to ice fish, use extreme caution! (Jan 21) Conservation officer Brent Farnsworth reports that the reservoir is only about four feet below full pool. There is ice cover on the entire lake, but many places are thin and weak. There have been a few ice anglers on the thickest ice. The ice is about four inches in the thickest spots. The lake is rising daily, so ice around the shoreline is especially thin. Fishing has been slow for the few anglers who have ventured onto the ice. Use caution when fishing this lake at this time. (Jan 7) Conservation Officer Brent Farnsworth reports that the reservoir is only about four feet below full pool. There is ice cover on the entire lake, but many places are thin and weak. There have been a few ice anglers on the thickest ice. The ice is about four inches in the thickest spots. The lake is rising daily, so the ice around the shoreline is especially thin. Success has been slow for the few anglers who ventured onto the ice. Use caution when fishing this lake at this time. Regulations Newcastle Reservoir Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Wiper (hybrid) FISH CONSUMPTION ADVISORY (Feb 2) More than half of the reservoir has open water. One angler reports fair success for rainbow trout in the open water using a wooly bugger. Bait fishing is slower. (Jan 27) Warm weather has produced open water areas on Newcastle. These open areas freeze over with thin ice when temperatures drop, and following storms (like we experienced yesterday), they will be covered with snow. Ice anglers should be very cautious. There's no fishing pressure. (Jan 21) Ice is about six inches thick near the dam, but the upper lake has open water. Continued mild temperatures could destabilize the ice. There's no fishing pressure. (Jan 7) The ice is about six inches thick near the dam, but the upper lake has open water. Continued mild temperatures could destabilize the ice. There's no fishing pressure. Regulations Newton Reservoir Bass, Bluegill, Channel Catfish, Rainbow Trout, Tiger Musky (hybrid), Yellow Perch (Jan 27) Biologist Chris Penne reports the edges are soft and even questionable after all the rain and warm temperatures. Anglers would be well advised to bring a plank and exercise caution if they are looking to ice-fish Newton. (Jan 21) Conservation Officer Matt Burgess reports Newton Reservoir has good ice. Anglers are catching perch by the dam area. Anglers report that success has been spotty, overall. (Jan 12) Conservation Officer Matt Burgess reports unsafe ice conditions due to warm temperatures. (Jan 7) Biologist Chris Penne reports that Newton has eight or nine inches of ice. As of last weekend, the edges were getting a bit soft around midday. With the warm weather, anglers should exercise caution on the ice. Fishing is fair to good for perch using ice jigs and wax worms. Biologist Kent Sorensen fished Newton on Jan. 2 but reported that fishing was slow. Regulations Pelican Lake Bluegill, Green Sunfish, Largemouth Bass (Jan 27) Fishing shut down a couple of weeks ago and has been slow ever since. Reports indicate that the west and north sides are a bit better fishing while traditionally the east shore is faster. The area beyond the reeds froze in uneven patterns due to severe winds, which left numerous small cracks and some impressive force fractures, ice heaves and long piles of ice up to a foot or two tall. (Jan 21) Fishing shut down a couple of weeks ago and has been slow ever since. Reports indicate that the west and north sides are a bit better fishing while traditionally the east shore is faster. The area beyond the reeds froze in uneven patterns due to severe winds, which left numerous small cracks and some impressive force fractures, ice heaves and long piles of ice up to a foot or two tall. (Jan 12) Fishing was steady until two weeks ago when it shut down. Reports indicate the west side has been a bit better fishing while traditionally the east shore is faster. The lake is frozen and most areas have well over a foot of ice. Most of the lake was frozen during a period marked with severe winds so the surface ice has numerous small cracks and some impressive force fractures leaving long piles of ice up to a foot or two tall. (Jan 7) Fishing was steady until last Thursday when it shut down. Reports indicate the west side has been a bit better fishing while traditionally the east shore is faster. In response, the fishing clinic for January 7 will move from the east side to the main boat ramp in the southwest corner of the lake. The ice is frozen and most areas have 8 to 12 inches of thickness; however, there are areas beyond the reeds where the lake froze in uneven patterns. Most of the lake was frozen during a period marked with severe winds. This left cloudy ice, numerous small cracks, some impressive force fractures, ice heaves and long piles of ice up to a foot or two tall. Regulations Pineview Reservoir Bluegill, Bullhead Catfish, Crappie, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Tiger Musky (hybrid), Trout, Yellow Perch (Feb 2) Greg of Centerville fished the north side of Cemetery Point with a partner without catching anything. "ice is good, fishing not so good" (Jan 27) Fishing success has been spotty. One group reported good success for crappie and perch before sunrise. (Jan 21) There is finally good access at the narrows, although caution is still advised. Three inches of slush sit atop five inches of solid ice. If the weather remains warm, this can create unsafe ice conditions. Fishing has been good for crappie and perch in deeper water. Crappies are suspended between three and 15 feet off the bottom. The fish are taking standard ice and crappie jigs tipped with night crawlers or mealworms. There were four groups of anglers at the narrows at noon on January 19 and four at Cemetery Point. (Jan 12) On January 10, ice was supporting some anglers at Browning Point and Cemetery Point. The ice has snow on it, which may be covering some weak or thin spots. Use extreme caution when venturing onto the ice. Before recent snow storms, there were large puddles of water on the ice; this weakened it from the top and created many dangerous spots along the shore, especially in the narrows. Ice thickness ranges from two inches in the narrows (personally by Phil Douglass on December 30) to six inches off Browning Point (checked on January 8 by Kent 'Sorno' Sorenson). There have been reports of people going through the ice at Cemetery Point. Dedicated Hunter Jed Opheikens reports there is still open water in the narrows and by the spillway. There is good ice south of Cemetery Point with eight inches of clear ice. Use extreme caution when venturing out onto the ice. The fishing has been slow to fair for small to medium size yellow perch. The crappie fishing should be good once anglers can get to deeper water. (Jan 7) The ice is generally unsafe. Due to the warmer weather, the ice has melted at Browning Point and at the narrows. There are anglers out on the Anderson cove side and Gertsen. On Jan. 5, two anglers were seen on the north side of the narrows, fishing with lights after dark. Access can be dangerous because puddles of water have weakened the ice along the shoreline, especially in the narrows. Anglers who have fished Pineview over the past week report that the fish haven't been interested in any of the baits used. Regulations Pioneer Park Pond Black Bullhead, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish, Green Sunfish, Largemouth Bass, Rainbow Trout No recent reports. Regulations Piute Reservoir Rainbow Trout, Smallmouth Bass (Feb 2) Ice is covering most of the lake, but the ice is not safe. (Jan 27) Warm weather has produced open water areas on the reservoir. These open areas freeze over with thin ice when temperatures drop, and following storms (like we experienced yesterday), they will be covered with snow. Ice anglers should be very cautious. (Jan 7) The reservoir is full and has very little ice. Shore fishing might be worth a try until it ices over. Quail Creek Reservoir Bluegill, Crappie, Largemouth Bass, Rainbow Trout (Feb 2) Rainbow trout have been stocked and should provide fair to good fishing. (Jan 21) Rainbow trout have been stocked and should provide fair to good fishing. (Jan 7) Rainbow trout have been stocked and should provide fair to good fishing. Regulations Red Fleet Reservoir Bluegill, Brown Trout, Largemouth Bass, Rainbow Trout (Jan 27) The ice is still forming and there are some unstable areas. Some anglers have been out near the dam and near the boat ramp, while others checked the ice and left. Some reports indicate fair to good fishing for rainbows and walleye. The ice conditions are not absolute so proceed with caution and check the ice carefully before venturing out. (Jan 21) The ice is still forming and there are some unstable areas. Some anglers have been out near the dam and near the boat ramp, while others checked the ice and left. Some reports indicate fair to good fishing for rainbows and walleye. The ice conditions are not absolute so proceed with caution and check the ice carefully before venturing out. (Jan 12) The ice is just forming. As of the weekend, there were still areas of open water. Ice conditions are mixed and not absolute so proceed with caution and check it carefully before venturing out. Anglers report good fishing for rainbows. At least one angler caught walleye through the ice this winter. (Jan 7) The ice is just forming. There were still large areas of open water as of the weekend. Ice conditions are unstable and aren't absolute, so proceed with caution and check the ice carefully before venturing out. Regulations Redmond Reservoir Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike No recent reports. Rockport Reservoir Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Tiger Trout (hybrid), Smallmouth Bass, Yellow Perch STOP WHIRLING DISEASE (Dec 30) T Mak of Ogden fished the boat ramp area in a group of 4 and caught 9 rainbows using ping/white paddle bug 2 ft. off the bottom in 15 ft. of water. (Jan 29) Richard T. of West Jordan fished by the boat ramp in a group of 6 and caught 5 rainbows using green and pink paddle bugs tipped with wax worms in 6 to 35 ft. of water. "started by the boat ramp caught 2 as the sun came up than slowed way down we had to move around alot to catch them and we starting to wonder if there any tagged fish in there no one still hasnt caught any of them" (Jan 29) Craig Rigby of West Valley fished in a group of 14 and caught 4 rainbows using jigs under flashers. "Lake has been over fished and still no tagged fish" (Jan 27) Joseph Hamby reports that fishing has been good. A variety of ice flies tipped with wax worms, night crawlers and PowerBait seem to be working best. The fish are suspended at the 15- to 25-foot level. If the fishing seems slow, move around and ask around. The ice is nine to 12 inches thick but use caution around the edges. It has been thawing and freezing in the afternoon and evenings. There are now 40 tagged fish in the lake with prizes up to $2,500 cash. Park staff went out and caught about 15 trout with several over two pounds. They tagged seven more fish. See the State Parks website for more details. Due to safety concerns, do not park on the west side of Hwy 32. Please park in the pullouts on the east side of Hwy 32. The marina is plowed to allow easy access to the ice. (Jan 21) Chris R. of West Jordan fished the NE side in a group of 3. "Slow fishing most people reporting catching one or two all day. Fished for two days and nothing poor conditions Ice shelter is a must have but Fishing is always a great time!" (Jan 21) C. Monson and Dad fished near the boat ramp and caught 5 rainbows using white paddle jig with wax worm. "got there about 8:30 and caught three within half an hour then it was pretty slow after that." (Jan 21) Joseph Hamby reports that the fishing at Rockport has been good. The ice is in good condition with the recent cold weather. Anglers are reporting good success with ice flies and wax worms. PowerBait and night crawlers have also worked well. The fish seem to be suspended at the 15- to 20-foot level. If your success is slow try a different spot. The fish seem to be moving around. The tagged fish challenge is underway and there are 28 tagged fish with more tags coming. (Jan 20) Roger F. of Sandy fished the west side with a partner and caught 10 rainbows using tube jigs and glowing ice jig. "We started about noon. We started having success right away. I got a Marcum flasher and wanted to try it out. We ended up fishing in about 15 - 25' of water, about 100' off the bank. We have been using 1/8 - 1/16oz ice jigs tipped with meal worms and Gulp maggots both at Rockport and Strawberry with great success. Yes, we release some and did not exceed our limits. Even with the warmer temps, the ice was still about 12 inches thick where we were at. That $2500 fish is still out there somewhere!!" (Jan 16) Greg of Magma fished the boat ramp in a group of 3. "Heavy fishing pressure. Spoke with the people who run the mini market right below the dam. He was out of bait and said that the weekend was very busy and lots of fishing pressure. He said that no one has brought in a tagged fish yet. Rockport is my favorite place to ice fish and I did not get a single fish. I moved around several times, Got 2 light bites and that was it. Weather wise, it was a nice day, cold and overcast." (Jan 12) Biologist Wes Pearce reports that fishing pressure has increased dramatically with the fishing contest. Fishing success can be hit or miss. Try using ratfinkies and other small jigs tipped with waxies. Fish in 10-20 feet of water for trout. Some anglers caught perch fishing in 45 feet of water. If you're looking for perch, try moving around until you locate a school. Most perch caught have been in the 9-10 feet range. (Jan 9) Eric Lalliss of West Jordan fished near the dam and caught 4 rainbows using jig tipped with wax worm. "Fish didnt bite until about eleven, but when they started I caught my limit very quickly." (Jan 8) Nate of West Jordan fished 100 yards off the ramp in a group of 4 and caught 1 rainbow using paddle bug tipped with waxworm. "slow all day, no one was catching much at all." (Jan 7) Jay of Magma fished at the 1st bathroom past turnoff to marina and caught 1 rainbow using white tube jig tipped with meal/wax worms. "Ice about 8" thick, lots of bites but could only hook 1. A few fish caught by people around me. Only fished from 8-11 am then headed for weber river" (Jan 7) The ice fishing at Rockport has been good. Anglers report good fishing with ice flies and wax worms. Worms, PowerBait and other traditional baits have also worked well. The fish are suspended at depths of around 15 to 25 feet. Anglers have also been doing well at the south end in shallow waters. Joseph Hamby reports that although there's ice on Rockport, it's thinning in some spots. Use extreme caution on the ice with the warmer weather. Tagged fish were planted in the reservoir on Dec. 28, and the contest will continue through the winter. (Jan 6) Spencer of Draper fished the dam in a group of 3 and caught 12 rainbows using tube jigs and wax worm. "fish in 40+ feet of water but put jig 12-24 feet down trout suspended" Regulations Sand Cove Reservoirs Green Sunfish, Largemouth Bass, Rainbow Trout No recent reports. Sand Hollow Reservoir Bluegill, Largemouth Bass STOP QUAGGAG MUSCLE (Feb 2) Bass activity slows down during winter, so you need to adjust your fishing techniques. The primary key to cold water bass fishing is slowing down the presentation, or even to use the dead-stick technique. Try using plastics (like senkos), swimbaits, hula grubs and drop-shots with the right presentation. A drop-shot rig is one of the more popular cold weather techniques because of its natural slow presentation. Concentrate on deeper water at 20 to 30 feet. Crankbaits and spinnerbaits can also be effective during the warmest part of the day. Quagga mussels are present in Sand Hollow, so plan extra time to have your boat washed before leaving. (Jan 21) Bass activity slows down during the winter, so you must adjust your fishing techniques. The primary key to coldwater bass fishing is to slow down the presentation, even employing dead-sticking, if necessary. A variety of plastics, including senkos, swimbaits, hula grubs and drop-shots, are all effective with the right presentation. A drop-shot rig is one of the more popular cold-weather techniques, due to its natural slow presentation. Concentrate on deeper water at 20 to 30 feet. Crankbaits and spinnerbaits can also be effective during the warmest part of the day. Quagga mussels are present in Sand Hollow, so plan extra time to have your boat washed before leaving. (Jan 7) Bass activity slows down during the winter, so you must adjust your fishing techniques. The primary key to coldwater bass fishing is to slow down the presentation, even employing dead-sticking, if necessary. A variety of plastics, including senkos, swimbaits, hula grubs and drop-shots, are all effective with the right presentation. A drop-shot rig is one of the more popular cold-weather techniques, due to its natural slow presentation. Concentrate on deeper water at 20 to 30 feet. Crankbaits and spinnerbaits can also be effective during the warmest part of the day. Quagga mussels are present in Sand Hollow, so plan extra time to have your boat washed before leaving. Regulations Starvation Reservoir Brown Trout, Crayfish, Smouthmouth Bass, Walleye (Jan 27) Anglers report good to excellent fishing for rainbows and yellow perch and fair for browns. The ice froze in irregular patterns so thickness varies considerably. As ice conditions in most areas aren't absolute, proceed with caution and check the ice carefully before venturing out. (Jan 21) Anglers report good to excellent fishing for rainbows and yellow perch and fair for browns. The ice froze in irregular patterns so thickness varies considerably. As ice conditions in most areas aren't absolute, proceed with caution and check the ice carefully before venturing out. (Jan 12) Anglers report good to excellent fishing for rainbows and yellow perch and fair for browns. The ice froze in irregular patterns so the thickness varies considerably and can change from safe to unsafe in one or two steps. As ice safety is questionable and ice conditions in most areas aren't absolute, proceed with caution and check the ice carefully before venturing out. (Jan 7) Anglers report good to excellent fishing for rainbows and yellow perch and fair for browns. The ice froze in irregular patterns so thickness varies considerably and can change from safe to unsafe in one or two steps. As ice safety is questionable and ice conditions in most areas aren't absolute, proceed with caution and check the ice carefully before venturing out. Regulations Steinaker Reservoir Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, Rainbow Trout (Jan 27) There is ice forming on most of the reservoir. As of the weekend, there are still some extensive areas of open water, especially near the north end. Some anglers have been out on the ice near the boat ramp and close to the dam. They have reported good fishing for rainbows with a couple of nice browns as well. The ice conditions are unstable and most areas are likely unsafe so proceed with caution and check the ice carefully before venturing out. (Jan 21) There is ice forming on most of the reservoir. As of the weekend, there are still some extensive areas of open water, especially near the north end. Some anglers have been out on the ice near the boat ramp and close to the dam. They have reported good fishing for rainbows with a couple of nice browns as well. The ice conditions are unstable and most areas are likely unsafe so proceed with caution and check the ice carefully before venturing out. (Jan 12) There is ice forming on most of the reservoir. There are still some extensive areas of open water. Some anglers fishing near the dam and out from the boat ramp have reported good fishing for rainbows. They have also iced a few nice brown trout. Ice conditions are questionable and unstable in most areas, so proceed with caution and check the ice carefully before venturing out. The ice fishing tournament, scheduled for January 21, has been postponed until February 18 due to the unstable ice. (Jan 7) There is ice forming on most of the reservoir. There are still some extensive areas of open water. The ice conditions are unstable and most areas are likely unsafe, so proceed with caution and check the ice carefully before venturing out. Regulations Strawberry Reservoir Crayfish, Cutthroat Trout, Kokanee Salmon, Rainbow Trout, Smallmouth Bass (Jan 29) Cody Kennington fished Chicken Creek East with a partner and caught 4 rainbows and 2 cutts jigging charteuse glow-in-the-dark ice flies and glow-in-the-dark Paddle Bugs tipped with meal worms in 31 ft. of water. "Most fish (and bites) were right off the bottom (all Paddle Bug). Caught one (and a few bites) about 2-4 feet below the ice (Ice Fly). Started at 6:40 am and didn't get the first bites until about 8. Last fish (biggest of the day, Cutt) was caught just after noon. There were a lot of other fishermen on the ice. Weather was perfect. There was about 2-4 inches of snow on the ice, depending on where the wind drifts blew it. The ice was about 10 inches thick and popping a lot." (Jan 29) Rajen of Magna fished Chicken Creek in a group of 3 and caught 4 cutts and 1 rainbow using green tube jigs tipped with mealworms. "be careful the mouth of the creek is open water fished in about 18 inches of ice at 12 feet of water" (Jan 27) Strawberry Project Leader Alan Ward reports that ice fishing conditions are good. There is still open water in some areas, like Chicken Creek West, Haws Point and the the main bays in Soldier Creek. The safer areas of the reservoir have up to 12 inches of ice with several inches of snow on top. Be careful of pressure ridges, which can have soft spots and open water. Anglers report fair to good fishing success using bait-tipped white tube and other jigs. If fishing is slow, try a different spot. You will need a four-wheel drive vehicle to reach the Soldier Creek turnoff. Some areas have been plowed for parking. Vehicles cannot go beyond the Strawberry Marina turnoff area on the Strawberry side. Strawberry Reservoir has special regulations. (Jan 21) Craig Rigby of West Valley fished Soldier Creek near Hwy 40 in a group of 5 and caught 26 cutts and 5 rainbows using ice flies and paddle bugs. "My 12yr old son patrick caught the fish of the day. 23" cutt" (Jan 21) Jerry of Bountiful fished Strawberry Bay in a group of 4 and caught 6 cutts and 5 rainbows using red and black ice flys with green sparkle power bait tipped with a wax worm. "we fished all over and got nothing till we went over by the lodge where they keep the boat rentals where the docks are on the shore thats where we had all our success the rainbows were in the smaller range but all the cutts were in the 19 to 20 inches with one hitting 24 inchs my buddy landed off of a white tube jig tipped with white power bait and a wax worm great time fishing with the buddies" (Jan 21) Johnny W. of Orem fished Chicken Creek East and caught 22 rainbows and 16 cutts using jigs with nightcrawler, mealies or waxies in less than 8 ft. of water. "Snowed on us. There is a crack with upheaved ice use caution very thin ice there." (Jan 21) The ice is 5–10 inches thick in most areas. Ice-angling success has varied. Some anglers report very good fishing, while others report slow fishing. Bait-tipped, white tube jigs have been the most popular jig. There are special regulations in effect at Strawberry: the limit is four trout or kokanee salmon in the aggregate. No more than two may be cutthroat trout under 15 inches, and no more than one may be a cutthroat trout over 22 inches. All cutthroat trout from 15 to 22 inches must be immediately released. Trout and salmon may not be filleted, and the heads or tails may not be removed in the field or in transit. (Jan 14) Spencer Dom of Draper fished Chicken Creek West with a partner and caught 8 cutts and 4 rainbows using white tipped with wax worm. (Jan 13) Jonny A. of Eagle Mountain fished Haws Point in a group of 4 and caught 1 rainbow using jigs tipped with worms. "Fished from 2 p.m. to 8 pm. and only caught 1 rainbow. Used the same spot we always go to where we typically have a lot of success but nothing was biting." (Jan 7) Jeff Rasmussen of Murray fished Renegade in a group of 3 and caught 1 cutt using white tube jig and worm or minnow. "5 hours of fishing one trout to show for it. Could see the fish look at our bait then swim off. Fish were not hungry" (Jan 5) Officer Hollie Riddle reports that fishing was good over the weekend. There were lots of rainbows being caught. There is more fishable ice than normal for those without snowmobiles. You can make it all the way to Haws Point in a 4-wheel drive vehicle due to lack of snow; however, the roads to the Soldier Creek Dam and Strawberry marina are icy and slippery. Strawberry Project Leader Alan Ward adds that they have had mixed reports of success, but most have been good. Ice is being reported at five to ten inches in most areas. There is very little, if any, snow on the ice so it's slick. There are a lot of pressure ridges developing to watch out for. Special regulations at Strawberry include limit four trout or kokanee salmon in the aggregate. No more than two may be cutthroat trout under 15 inches, and no more than one may be a cutthroat trout over 22 inches. All cutthroat trout from 15 to 22 inches must be immediately released. Trout and salmon may not be filleted, and the heads or tails may not be removed in the field or in transit. Regulations Utah Lake Bluegill, Bullhead Catfish, Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Smouthmouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass FISH CONSUMPTION ADVISORY (Jan 27) Conservation Officer Shawn Bagley reports that there are few anglers on the ice in the various marinas. The main body is still mostly open water, and the ice that is there is unsafe. Some anglers report good fishing success for white bass near Saratoga Springs. Ice conditions fluctuate, so please use caution. (Jan 21) Conservation Officer Chad Bettridge reports that fishing hasn't changed much from last week. The marinas still have quite a bit of ice, and anglers are still catching bluegill and white bass. A couple of fishermen also caught cutthroats at Sandy Beach. (Jan 5) Officer Chris Rhea reports that anglers have had some success with white bass and other panfish in the American Fork boat harbor area. One angler reports three to four inches of ice, so please use extreme caution on Utah Lake. DWR Aquatics Manager Mike Slater adds that the midday bite is pretty slow ice fishing at Lincoln Point. Regulations Wide Hollow Reservoir Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, Rainbow Trout (Feb 2) The reservoir has about eight inches of ice with some soft edges. Fishing has been fair for rainbow trout with standard ice fishing tackle and bait. (Jan 21) Until recently, the reservoir had safe ice and anglers were catching a few rainbows. The ice can get soft with warmer weather, so use caution. (Jan 7) The ice is thin. Willard Bay Bullhead Catfish, Channel Catfish, Crappie, Largemouth Bass, Perch, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Wipers (hybrid), Yellow Perch (Jan 27) Park Ranger Mert Russo reports that there weren't many anglers this weekend. The bay now has open water mixed with ice, making conditions difficult to access in a boat or on the ice. (Jan 21) Warmer weather and rain could make any existing ice unstable. (Jan 7) Assistant Park Manager Chris Bradshaw reports that although there is ice on Willard Bay, it does not look good after the recent warmer weather and should be considered unsafe. The fishing is slow. One person estimated the catch was one crappie for every eight hours of fishing. Park Ranger Mert Russo reports that anglers are catching some perch and crappie in the north marina, but it is slow. The ice ranges from one to two inches in the marina, and it's not safe to walk on. (Jan 5) Jeremy Bagby fished the south marina past the breakers in a group of 3. "Fished from early morning to mid afternoon. Saw lots of fish on the sonar. Didn't catch a single fish. Ice was 6-8" thick." Regulations