Central Region report

Information compiled by Scott Root
Central Region Conservation Outreach Manager

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Updated May 2

Larger lakes & reservoirs

DEER CREEK RESERVOIR: (May 1) Open Water. Angler Cliff spent all day bottom bouncing for walleye without any luck for walleye (Cliff states that a couple of rainbows were picked up by accident). Angler Gary reports "Water temperature was about 45 to 47 degrees—didn't come up much because the wind kicked in about 10:30. We were on the lake fishing by 7:00 a.m.—caught fish early by trolling leadcore with 100 feet of line out at about 2.2 mph (GPS) with a J-7 Rapala in both Rainbow Trout and Perch in Rainbow Bay and around the corner along the highway and over to the Island. Rainbow trout proved to be the best lure overall. Caught a total of about 12 fish (14 to 18 rainbows) before the wind and cold made the day unpleasant (we quit about noon). Caught fish from 100 to 175 feet of line out. Also picked up several smaller rainbows on downrigger at 20 feet down (35 to 50 feet of setback) using small Perch Rapala Taildancer in the bay where Deer Creek comes into the reservoir. Didn't see others having much success, but we weren't near a bunch of other boats either, so I can't say for sure."

Please remember that the trout limit is four statewide unless otherwise noted in the guidebook. Yellow perch limit is 10 but you must keep all perch you catch from January 1 through April 30. Remember that the bass limit is six, but immediately release all bass over 12 inches long. Walleye limit is 10 but only one over 24 inches may be kept.

JORDANELLE RESERVOIR: (May 1) Open water and success is described as fair to good by using various trolling and jigging techniques from boats and traditional baits from shoreline have produced fair success. Bass limit is six, but immediately release all bass over 12 inches long. Perch limit is 50! Please remember not to fillet bass or remove heads or tails because of the size restriction (for law enforcement purposes).

STRAWBERRY RESERVOIR: (May 1) Ice fishing is not recommended. A recently drilled hole showed several layers of bad ice, slush, water, etc. Only about six to eight inches of the ice was considered somewhat solid but there are several cracks on the ice surface, a lot of slush in places and water level is rising which provides unsafe conditions around the edges. Though yesterday's storm froze up the edges a bit, warmer weather can make ice weak in a short amount of time. A little bit of open water at the ladders and Indian Creek. DWR biologist Justin Robinson guesstimates another two to three weeks before ice off, depending on weather and wind. Regulations for the reservoir include an aggregate limit of four trout or kokanee salmon. No more than two of which may be cutthroat trout under 15 inches and no more than one may be a cutthroat over 22 inches long. All cutthroat between 15 and 22 inches must be immediately released (any trout with cutthroat markings is considered a cutthroat). Don't feel compelled to harvest fish on every trip. Please do your part to ensure the future of this heavily utilized fishery by voluntarily releasing fish!

UTAH LAKE: (May 1) Ice free. Not much walleye success. Angler Danny reports "I caught 25 pre-spawn male white bass at Lincoln Beach yesterday in the strong wind and waves on everything I threw. I also picked up a three-pound channel cat on my second pole "deadstick" on a dead fish." Angler Scott reports "I fished Utah Lake (Provo Boat Harbor) today from about 3 p.m. til 6 p.m. I started off fishing where the river goes into the lake and had no luck. So I moved into the marina where the sailboats dock and immediately started getting hits. I fished in the marina for about two hours and it was non-stop action. I ended up keeping five white bass and had a good-sized cat on but he snapped my line, no problem. I was using a shrimp tipped with a worm off the bottom. All in all a good outing though." Largemouth and smallmouth bass limit is six, but immediately release all largemouth and smallmouth bass over 12 inches long. For more information on conditions call Utah Lake State Park at (801) 375-0731.

YUBA RESERVOIR: (May 1) Open water. Walleye numbers are up but fishing success for perch and walleye is slow to fair. Not too many rainbow trout in the reservoir. Please keep walleye. New regulations on perch began on January 1 which now allow anglers to keep 10 perch. For more info call the State Park at (435) 758-2611.

Smaller lakes, reservoirs & ponds

BURRASTON POND: (May 1) Stocked. Fishing success is fair to good. Most anglers are using PowerBait.

MILL HOLLOW: Drained! No fishing until 2009!

PAYSON LAKE: (May 1) Gate to Payson Lake is locked, therefore no access to the lakes except as reported by Conservation Officer Shawn Bagley...by snowmobile. They anticipate opening gate in mid-May.

SALEM POND: (May 1) Stocked with fair success reported for trout. The park closes at 10:00 p.m. each night. Remember that regulations include: limit of four fish (Daily bag and possession limit is a total of four fish in the aggregate for all species, for example: one trout, two channel catfish and one bluegill.

SALT LAKE COMMUNITY WATERS: (May 1) Most community ponds have been stocked and fishing success is fair to good.

SPANISH OAKS RESERVOIR: (May 1) Open water, stocked and good success. Worms work best.

SPRING LAKE: (May 1) Stocked. Anglers report fair to good success. Catfish success is slow.

TIBBLE FORK RESERVOIR: (May 1) Fair success for trout. Most anglers using traditional baits.

VERNON, GRANSTVILLE & SETTLEMENT CANYON RESERVOIR: (Tooele Co.) (May 1) Vernon is stocked—good fishing success reported. Grantsville & Settlement report fair fishing success.

Rivers & streams

AMERICAN FORK RIVER: (May 1) Fair fishing success reported by using worms or small flies.

DIAMOND FORK RIVER: (May 1) Light fishing pressure and fair success by using flies, worms or lures. Most cutts in the areas above three forks are similar in size (about 10 to 12 inches).

HOBBLE CREEK & CATCH BASIN: (May 1) Stocked! Fair fishing success in the catch basin and creek.

PROVO RIVER: (May 1) Water level was not too high and clarity looks fairly good below both Jordanelle and Deer Creek dams. Hares ear, sow bugs, and other small surface flies and bottom-bouncing nymphs are producing fair to good success. Read the fishing proclamation for the different regulations on the river—some areas allow bait and others do not. Size restrictions and reduced limits ("two brown trout under 15 inches") are in place in some stretches.

THISTLE CREEK: (May 1) Fair success by using flies, lures or worms.

E-mail your fishing reports on central region waters to scottroot@utah.gov