Utah Walleye Fishing Reports

COMMENTS

Utah Walleye Fishing Reports Revised 07-30-10 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. Deer Creek Reservoir Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Largemouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Yellow Perch (Jul 29) Most anglers are having at least fair success from shoreline and boat anglers are doing a bit better. Trolling has been very effective. Power bait or worms from shoreline are working fairly well. (Jul 17) Johnny Willeto of Orem fished the Heber Creeper side in a group of 3 and caught 14 rainbows using Pautzke's Fire Bait Orange creme. Fished in 30 ft. of water with a split shot and 3 ft. of leader. "good fishing at noon." (Jul 5) Johnny Willeto of Orem fished with a partner and caught 15 rainbows using salmon eggs. "Let all of em go except for two for lunch. 3 hours worth. My buddy won't doubt me again." (Jul 5) Dan of Orem fished Rainbow Bay in a group of 5 and caught 7 rainbows using pop gear and worms at 25 ft. "down riggers never fail" (Jul 3) Johnny Willeto of Orem fished Charleston and caught 4 rainbows using salmon eggs. "I left my home in Orem at 5:22 am and I walked in the door at home at 7:08 am. It was so awesome. I am going tomorrow and the next day." (Jul 2) Officer Brandon Olson reports that trout fishing is very good with PowerBait, and long leaders seem to be the key. Bass fishing is good with tube jigs and Mr. Twisters. Officer Paul Davis reports that most anglers are doing very well from boats and from the shoreline. Some anglers have tried to keep more than their limits of fish. The water level is still high. Walleye fishing is slow to fair right now, but a few anglers have reported catching them. Regulations Holmes Creek Reservoir Bluegill, Crappie, Largemouth Bass, Walleye (Jul 29) Anglers report fair fishing for small fish. The water level is starting to go down and more brushy areas are becoming accessible. (Jul 22) No fishing pressure is observed when I check this water during the week, yet there are always fish raising when I check this water. Regulations Jordan River Brown Trout, Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Sunfish, Walleye, White Bass No recent reports. Lake Powell Bluegill, Brown Trout, Channel Catfish, Crappie, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Smallmouth Bass, Striped Bass, Rainbow Trout, Walleye STOP QUAGGAG MUSCLE (Jul 29) Lake elevation: 3,636 feet Water temperatures: 82–87°F It appears that the full moon in July, during the heat of the summer, cools fishing off. Slurps are happening during the night, morning and at midday but fish are finicky and hard to catch. The best feeding period is the last two hours of daylight. On calm evenings, you can catch 10 to 25 surface feeding stripers. When the pesky wind is blowing during the afternoon, then you won't find a lot of fish to catch. Expect to see quick little pods of 5 to 10 stripers busting the surface and going right back down. It's possible to catch more fish if the schools are larger or if the small school comes back up a number of times. The southern lake is pretty quiet. Anglers are only catching a few stripers per day. The catch rate is more respectable in the San Juan and at Red Canyon in Good Hope Bay. You can find a resting school of stripers that will respond to bait. Stripers favor a few deep resting spots. You can catch them in good numbers at depths of 30 to 70 feet. Find stripers on the graph, chum heartily and then drop your bait to the appropriate depth. This action will be spotty; stripers prefer shad. The stripers may rest in a deep holding area one day and then be three miles up the channel the next. Expect the real boils to begin in mid-August—after shad have grown larger. Bass fishing follows the same pattern. Fish are deep and not very cooperative. Little smallmouth are shallow and will provide consistent action, but the larger fish are as deep as 35 to 50 feet. This will change as the surface temperature declines a few degrees and the full moon wanes. You will find this week's best fishing on calm evenings during the last two hours of daylight. Catfish and sunfish are not affected by the full moon. They should still provide fast action for kids of all ages on live worms near camp. (Jul 22) Lake elevation: 3,637 feet Water temperatures: 82–87° F Lake elevation has stabilized and water temperature is at its peak for the summer. It was 84 degrees F this morning at sunrise. These factors allow sport fish to settle into a pattern without responding to water level changes. Occasional monsoon cloud bursts are taken in stride without lasting impact. The water is warmer than most fish prefer sending most deeper during the heat of the day. Young shad take advantage of this and hang out at the surface hoping for separation from lake predators. Striped bass hang out at cooler depth strata but look up for a chance at an easy meal from the tiny bait fish. Stripers rise quickly as a group surround shad, eat quickly and then go back to cooler water. Sometimes the whole process takes a few seconds. At other times a bigger shad school makes it worth working up a sweat to eat more fish and the boil may continue for a few minutes. Catching fish focused entirely on eating three-quarter inch long larval shad is challenging, especially when the predators have to dive quickly for personal comfort. Here are some tricks to even the playing field a bit until shad have time to grow large enough to be bigger targets. When a boil is observed try to determine direction of travel so the boat can be in position to cast when fish resurface. The most vulnerable time for slurping stripers is the first time they break surface in attack. Almost any lure cast to a fish as it breaks surface will be eaten. More likely the boat will be in casting range when the school is headed for deep water. Follow the diving fish with a small diving lure like a Lucky Craft pointer or rattletrap. The most versatile lure is one that will descend quickly to the fish holding depth. Spoons and swim baits can be fished on top, at mid depth and in the deeper cool zone. Vary speed of retrieve until it is apparent that fish want it fast or slow. That speed preference seems to change throughout the day. Catching slurpers is challenging. This activity is found lake wide and seeing slurps morning and evening is assured. Boiling fish are found more often uplake when cooler water is closer to the surface because of the recent heavy runoff. Best boils and highest catches are coming from Good Hope bay to Hite. Don t forget bass with all the surface striper chasing going on. Casting a plastic grub in smoke or watermelon color at fist light in the morning is almost a sure thing. Again the northern lake is best. Ten-inch smallmouth are ever present over the length of the lake. Little bass and sunfish provide great sport for kids learning how to fish. Take some time out form water sports to teach a youngster the joy of fishing. He or she will be forever grateful. Small hooks and live worms are all that is needed. The same goes for catfish. Fish cats in the evening at supper time and bass in the early morning or under the shade of the houseboat. Can it be that easy? Try it and see. (Jul 14) Lake elevation: 3,638 feet Water temperatures: 80–85°F This is what to expect on a typical summer morning. We launched at Wahweap Stateline Ramp at 5 a.m. After the mussel prevention boat inspection we headed toward Castle Rock Cut. We saw single fish splashing along the way but no striper slurps or boils. That's not surprising; predators need sunlight on the water to see the tiny larval prey fish they are eating. Headed to the back of Warm Creek, we stopped to see if any of those single surfacing fish would hit a lure. The fish ignored all of our offerings. We saw an occasional yellow flash, which indicates most of these fish were carp. Near the mouth of Crosby Canyon, jumping fish were still scatted but some were in close proximity. We eased the boat in the middle of the loose congregation of fish and deployed various surface lures, flies, spoons and rattle traps toward each splash. Small, 8- to 12-inch yearling stripers were quite cooperative. They hit flies and small spoons, but their favorite was a blue rattletrap. In the next hour, We put 21 of the best eating fish in the lake on ice. Then we headed across Warm Creek on the way to Padre Bay. It was slow going. We would stop every 200 yards to cast at a 10 fish pod of slurping stripers. Some days, you can catch a fish from each pod. Not this time. We could only catch one striper out of every 5 pods of fish. Not a single fish hit a lure until we headed up the main channel. The rattletrap was preferred here again. In Padre Bay, the slurps were a bit larger. We caught an occasional fish when we placed the lure perfectly in front of the lead fish. I can't explain the lack of respect for many of the casts that I thought were perfect, yet my casts were ignored for some undiscovered reason. On the return trip, we saw pods of fish continuing to work in the same vicinity in which we saw them an hour earlier on the trip uplake. There were more fish in each pod but perhaps less aggression. They were totally focused on larval shad and not on artificial lures. At the fish cleaning station, we had 21 small stripers, eight 3-pounders and one walleye that ate a spoon that got too close to the bottom. Bass and walleye fishing should remain good for the dog days of mid-summer. Casting deep-diving crankbaits into the tree line will consistently produce fish, but you'll lose a few lures in the process. To catch walleye, troll over tree tops. Walleye numbers are at a level that I have not seen since the 1980s. Largemouth bass in the 4- to 6-pound range continue to provide great sport for those hoping to catch their personal best bass. Smallmouth fishing is good but larger fish are deeper on rock structure. Try fishing 25- to 35-feet deep for the best chance to catch a quality smallmouth bass. Catfishing is exceptional in the evening and after dark. Now that the lake has quit rising, good fishing spots will continue to produce fish each trip. Find a good spot and it will continue to pay off for the next month. (Jul 7) Lake elevation: 3,638 feet Water temperatures: 79–84°F Bullfrog is boiling! The main channel upstream from Bullfrog has erupted with significant, sustained striper boils. Bullfrog is the place to be right now. Cruise the main channel from Bullfrog to Good Hope Bay early in the morning or in the evening to find cooperative striped bass on the surface chasing shad. There are still slurping boils every day in the main channel near Wahweap, but fishing near Bullfrog and upstream is much more rewarding. Boils are seen more often in the main channel than in the backs of canyons. Shad migrate into the channel in search of plankton. That's where the shad are found by stripers. Stripers have recently completed spawning in main channel areas. Later, as shad grow larger, they leave the channels and bays to seek shelter in brush ringed coves. For now, search for hungry striped bass in the channels and bays in the morning and evening. The next step in the boil progression will be at Hite. The water is now clearing rapidly as runoff has subsided to normal summer flow patterns. With increased visibility, shad will migrate into the channels, as they have done down lake, and stripers will find them. There are more shad in the productive inflow areas. Expect boils to be bigger and stronger each day in the Hite area. That is where you should fish from mid-July to the end of the month. Walleye fishing remains strong from Bullfrog to Hite. There were record numbers of walleye in last year's northern lake sampling. Walleye are hungry and willing to hit live worms, plastic baits and trolled crankbaits. Morning, evening and night are the best times to fish for these light sensitive fish. You can catch them at midday and in the afternoon in areas where the wind or waves create a shady mudline for these ambush feeders. Muddy coves along the main channel are also great walleye spots. For bass, try fishing with plastic baits, live worms and spinnerbaits. Largemouth will be inside dense, brushy shelter. Weedless, rigged baits that you can work through and retrieve from brush are the most effective. Anglers are catching four-pound largemouth every week. Smallmouth bass are on rock structure. You are more likely to find them in the backs of canyons and coves than in open bays. Try trailing a single tail plastic grub rigged Carolina-style or fishing a drop-shot rigged plastic bait directly under your boat at 25 feet. Catfish fishing is awesome on sandy beaches near camp in the evenings and just after dark. It's the dog days of summer but Lake Powell fish don't care. They are still being caught in good numbers and exciting fashion. Regulations Provo River Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout, Walleye (Jul 30) Lower: There weren't any reports from anglers this week, but try a size 20 or smaller midge imitation. Sow bugs or small dark nymphs should also work fairly well. Middle: The parking lot is a bit crowded on weekends. Anglers are doing well on this stretch of the river with small nymphs or dry flies. There are special regulations on much of the Provo River — please review them in the Utah Fishing Guidebook before you begin fishing. (Jul 22) Lower: Size 20 or smaller midge imitations above I-15 and up to Deer Creek Dam are still working well. Sow bugs or any small dark nymphs should work fairly well. Anglers are having fair success for white bass on the lower stretches of the river near Utah Lake. Middle: Anglers are doing well on this stretch of the river by using both small nymphs or dry flies. Pressure is at least moderate on weekends in several of the popular stretches. Special regulations on much of the Provo River. Please review the Utah Fishing Guidebook before heading out on a trip. (Jul 2) Lower: Anglers report success using small (size 20 or smaller) midge imitations above I-15 and up to Deer Creek Dam. Sow bugs are a good pattern as well. The river is running a little high. Anglers are still catching quite a few white bass on the lower stretches of the river near Utah Lake. Middle: Warning: The Upper Provo (above Jordanelle) is running extremely high and muddy — don't try to fish there. Officer Brandon Olson reports that fishing on the Middle Provo is fair if you use nymphs, streamers, spinners and Rapalas. There are special regulations on much of the Provo River, so please review the Utah Fishing Guidebook before heading out on a trip. Regulations Starvation Reservoir Brown Trout, Crayfish, Smouthmouth Bass, Walleye (Jul 25) Weston Brierley of Orem with a partner and caught 4 walleye, 4 smallmouth, 3 rainbows and 3 perch trolling immitation minnows. "caught walleye fishing from shore" (Jul 14) Anglers report good fishing for rainbows and perch, fair for bass and a bit slow for walleye. Check out the rocky points, inlets and shallow bays. Try fishing parallel and close to the shoreline in the early morning and evening as big fish often cruise the shore looking for newly hatched fry and terrestrial insects, etc. washed in by the waves. Regulations Utah Lake Bluegill, Bullhead Catfish, Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Smouthmouth Bass, Walleye, White Bass FISH CONSUMPTION ADVISORY (Jul 30) There have been several reports from anglers who are reeling in catfish! Try fishing with chub or carp meat. You can even use white bass meat, if you catch bass at the lake. Put the bait about two feet below a bubble, and then fish near structure (rocks and banks) or in the bullrushes. It's best to fish from a boat and cast into these areas. (Jul 22) Most anglers report good success for catfish and fair success for white bass. Central Region Aquatics Manager Mike Slater reports that catfish are still biting, but will probably be slowing down soon. Fish with cutbait (chub, carp meat or even use white bass meat that you may catch while fishing this way). He put the bait about two feet below a bubble and fish near structure (rocks, banks) or in the bull rushes. He likes to fish from a boat and cast into these areas. (Jul 5) Dante Lazo fished next to rentals house in a group of 3 and caught 12 crappie, 8 white bass, 6 bluegills and 1 walleye using tubed jigs yellow and black on a bobber in 2 ft. of water. "one more good day for me my friends...dinner was goooood..." (Jul 2) Officer Shawn Bagley reports that white bass fishing is excellent on the Provo River, right by the lake. Anglers are also catching some catfish. Please be aware that June suckers are spawning in area. If you hook one, you must release it immediately. Regulations Willard Bay Bullhead Catfish, Channel Catfish, Crappie, Largemouth Bass, Perch, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Wipers (hybrid), Yellow Perch (Jul 29) Phil Tuttle reports good fishing for wipers in the morning and in the evening just before dark. Anglers report boiling wipers between 8 p.m. and dark in the middle and along the west edge of the lake. Try fishing with Rapalas, shad raps, and flies like Clouser minnows or Zonkers. During the day, fish in 12 to 20 feet of water to catch an occasional wiper. For catfish, drift with nightcrawlers from a boat or fish from the shore at and just after dark. Walleye fishing is inconsistent, but you can try bottom bouncing with worm harnesses. Target crappie by finding shade and fishing with jigs near and under structures in the afternoon. (Jul 23) Riley P. of Farmington fished in a group of 3 and caught 3 smallmouth, 3 channel cats, 2 wipers and a perch using Rapalas and a worm under a bobber. "Fished from 7 am - 2:45 pm. Fishing was ok. A very rude conservation officer gave us a ticket for a very dumb reason, other than that it was a pretty good day." (Jul 23) Jen of Ogden fished in a group of 3. "We went out at 6 a.m. and trolled until 12 o'clock noon and did not even get a bite. We found lots of fishing using a fish finder, but we tried several things and we could not get a single bite. What a waste of time and energy." (Jul 22) Trolling rapallas in the evenings seems to be the ticket. Check out the Hooked On Utah television program featuring Gary Winterton and his recent outing to Willard Bay to chase Wipers at: http://www.youtube.com/user/HookedOnUtah#p/p/BD2A0588F69DB3AF/1/hkuf13eAo_U (Jul 9) Sergeant Mitch Lane reports that fishing has been fair to good at Willard. Shore anglers are catching catfish, along with some wipers and walleye, by using worms on the bottom. Wiper fishing seems to be best in the early morning and late evening. Biologist Ben Nadolski notes that fishing at Willard Bay continues to improve. Anglers are reporting better catch rates for wipers, walleye and catfish compared to last week. The surface temperature is approximately 72 degrees. Anglers have had success catching wipers in Freeway Bay by trolling Rattletraps and Kastmasters. Walleye fishing has picked up too, and anglers have had good luck when trolling worm harnesses and bottom bouncers. Catfish anglers report the best success during the evening hours, but those who fish during the day have had some luck, too. Various baits have worked well for catfish, including chicken liver, stink baits and hot dogs. Regulations Yuba Reservoir Channel Catfish, Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Walleye, Yellow Perch (Jul 30) Anglers Jim, Ray, George and Eljay caught northern pike and walleye with spinner blades (in chartreuse and orange). They also caught some perch. The water temperature was in the 70s. The walleye looked fat and healthy, but the perch they caught were a bit skinny. (Jul 22) Still receiving reports of slow to fair success for walleye and pike. (Jul 2) Anglers report slow to fair success for walleye and pike. Regulations