Southern Region report

Information compiled by Mike Hadley
DWR Southern Region Aquatics Biologist

ATTENTION: Quagga and zebra mussels are a major threat to Utah waterways. Read how you can help keep them out of Utah.

Updated May 8

NOTE: For more in-depth information on the history and management of these Southern Utah waters, check out the Hotspots page.

BAKER RESERVOIR: Catchable-sized rainbow trout have been stocked and fishing should be fair to good using bait, lures, and flies.

BARKER RESERVOIRS, NORTH CREEK LAKES: All lakes are now open to fishing except Dougherty Basin, which is closed until July 12. Access is still limited, but should open up by June. Special regulations on many of the Boulder Mountain waters include a trout limit of four of which only two may be over 14 inches.

BEAVER MOUNTAIN LAKES: Access on the mountain is still restricted to Little Reservoir. Fishing is slow. There are still snowdrifts blocking the Kent's Lake Road about two miles below Kent's Lake, so access is probably still a week or two away. All other lakes will be longer.

BEAVER RIVER, LOWER: Irrigation releases from Minersville Res. have begun. Flows should still be fishable, though turbidity can be a problem. Much of the river is on private property, so please treat the area with respect. Much of the private land is open to walk-in access, but some is closed to trespass so watch for signs.

BEAVER RIVER, UPPER: Flows are low and clear. Not much pressure. Please prevent the spread of whirling disease by cleaning mud from waders and equipment. Do not transport any parts of fish caught here to other waters.

BOULDER MTN LAKES: All Boulder Mtn. lakes are now open to fishing. Access on most of the mountain is still limited, but should open up by June. Access to the Boulder Top will be later. Most lakes are still frozen. Special regulations on many of the Boulder Mountain waters include a trout limit of four of which only two may be over 14 inches.

CHALK CREEK: Expect high spring flows. Wild rainbows are abundant and can be caught with spinners and flies. Best fishing is away from the campground and more heavily fished spots. The North Fork provides a good spot for those willing to hike. Meadow Creek and Pioneer Creek are other small streams in the area that contain populations of small, wild trout.

CLEAR CREEK: Flows have increased and water has a little color to it but is still very fishable. Reports of fair to good fishing for small rainbows and browns.

CORN CREEK: Flows are high and turbid. Wild brown trout are abundant and can be caught with spinners and flies.

DUCK CREEK SPRINGS/ASPEN MIRROR LAKE: Now open to fishing. Catchable-sized rainbows will be stocked soon.

EAST FORK SEVIER RIVER KINGSTON CANYON: Flows are low and only slightly turbid. A fair amount of pressure lately, but fishing was slow to fair. Recent sampling found that trout numbers are down from recent years. Irrigation releases from Otter Creek Res. could begin at any time, making flows high and turbid. There is public access on a section of Kingston Canyon midway through the canyon that was purchased through the Blue Ribbon Program. Look for the signs. Most of the remainder of the canyon is private and posted, so ask permission first.

EAST FORK SEVIER RIVER BLACK CANYON: Flow and turbidity can vary with runoff from higher elevations. Fishing action should pick up whenever the water is clear. For the section of river from the BLM property boundary (about four miles south of Antimony) upstream to the confluence with Deer Creek, special regulations include the use of artificial flies and lures only and a limit of two trout. Some private land is closed to trespass, so watch for the signs.

EAST FORK SEVIER RIVER ABOVE TROPIC RES: No word on access or fishing conditions.

ENTERPRISE RESERVOIR: (Upper and Lower): The upper reservoir will not be stocked this year. The reservoir will not be filled past its current level because work on the dam will not be finished until later this summer. Irrigation needs will drain the reservoir again by summer. The lower reservoir is full and was stocked with catchable-sized rainbow trout. Extra fish have been stocked in the lower reservoir to help compensate for the loss of the upper reservoir this year.

A fish consumption advisory was issued for rainbow trout in Upper Enterprise Reservoir due to elevated levels of mercury. It is recommended that adults limit their consumption to one 8-oz portion per month. Women who may become pregnant, pregnant women, nursing mothers, and children should limit their consumption to one 2-oz portion per month. For further details, visit www.fishadvisories.utah.gov.

FISH LAKE: 20 to 50 feet of open water around most of the lake, with a little more at Twin Creek and on the south end. Fishing was slow to fair at the mouth of Twin Creek, but should pick up soon. The lake will probably not be ice-free for a couple more weeks. Remember, no boats are allowed on the lake until ALL of the ice has melted. Very little pressure. When the ice melts a little more it can be a good time to catch splake from shore. Try jigs tipped with sucker or perch meat. Note: A few tiger muskies have moved up from Johnson Reservoir. The general statewide limits on tiger muskie apply here - 1 fish, which must be over 40 inches.

FORSYTH RESERVOIR: Recent sampling found that tiger trout and splake are abundant and in good condition. Good numbers of 20-inch tigers are present. Fishing is fair to good from shore with lures and streamers. Please prevent the spread of whirling disease. Do not transport any parts of fish caught here to other waters.

FREMONT RIVER: Flows are a little high and turbid above Mill Meadow Res. The lower sections of the stream can be good at any time of year if the water is not turbid. Much of the lower stream is on private land. Ask for permission before fishing on private land. Please prevent the spread of whirling disease by cleaning mud from waders and equipment. Do not transport any parts of fish caught here to other waters.

GUNLOCK RESERVOIR: Fishing was slow lately, but could pick up as the water temperature warms. Remember special regulations for bass: four bass under 10 inches and two over 20 inches. A fish consumption advisory was issued for largemouth bass from Gunlock due to elevated levels of mercury. It is recommended that adults limit their consumption of largemouth bass to two 8-oz portions per month. Women who may become pregnant, pregnant women, nursing mothers, and children should limit their consumption to one 4-oz portion per month. For further details, visit www.fishadvisories.utah.gov.

JOHNSON RESERVOIR: Musky fishing will be nonexistent until late May or early June. The reservoir contains an abundance of suckers, Utah chubs, and small yellow perch. Special regulations: Whole fish and amphibians are not allowed as bait. Cut bait must be no longer than one inch in any dimension and only one piece per hook. Limit one tiger musky over 40 inches all tiger muskies less than 40 inches must be immediately released.

KOLOB RESERVOIR: One angler reports that the road is open through Zion National Park. No word on ice conditions. Special regulations include artificial flies and lures only, with a limit of one trout, which must be over 18 inches. Scented jigs are not allowed. Tributary streams are closed to fishing until July 12. Please call the poaching hotline (1-800-662-DEER) to report violations.

KOOSHAREM RESERVOIR: Moderate pressure, even on weekdays. Bait fishing from shore is slow. Recent sampling found that medium-sized cutthroat trout are abundant. Fishing is fair for these fish and the best method for targeting cutthroat will be trolling or casting chub-imitating lures or streamers. A few large 4- to 5-lb fish are present.

LOWER BOWNS RESERVOIR: The lake is now accessible. Fishing should be good for rainbows using bait, lures, and flies.

MAMMOTH CREEK: Flows are high and often muddy, especially from Hatch Meadow down. Public access is possible on some of Mammoth Creek west of Highway 89 please watch for and respect private property postings. Special regulations apply to a section of Mammoth Creek check the proclamation for details. Please prevent the spread of whirling disease. Do not transport any parts of fish caught here to other waters.

MILL MEADOW RESERVOIR: Recent sampling found that medium-sized brown trout are abundant. These brown trout are wild fish spawned in the Fremont River. It is very unique to find such a dense population of wild brown trout in a reservoir. Best techniques for the browns are flashy lures, streamers, and natural baits like night crawlers and minnows. Good-sized perch up to 10 inches are semi-abundant. Please prevent the spread of whirling disease. Do not transport any parts of fish caught here to other waters.

MINERSVILLE RESERVOIR: Fishing is slow and pressure has dropped off. Water clarity is low, with visibility only about one foot. Irrigation release have begun, so the water level has started to drop. Special regulations include artificial flies and lures only, with a limit of one trout, which must be over 22 inches. Scented jigs are not allowed. Please call the poaching hotline (1-800-662-DEER) to report violations. Please prevent the spread of whirling disease. Do not transport any parts of fish caught here to other waters.

MONROE MOUNTAIN LAKES: Access still limited by snow. The Box Creek reservoirs may be accessible in a couple of weeks. Manning Meadow Reservoir is closed to fishing until July 12.

NAVAJO LAKE: The gate is open, but the road is still snowed over. The lake is still ice-capped, though it is getting thin. A little open water may show up in the next week, but it's still probably a few weeks away from ice-off.

NEWCASTLE RESERVOIR: Catchable-sized rainbows have been stocked. Sampling in April found that 3- to 4-pound wipers are abundant and spread out through various depths. Try trolling minnow-imitating lures for wipers. Experiment with various speeds and depths. Fishing may still be tough with the abundance of shiners. A fish consumption advisory was issued for rainbow trout in Newcastle Reservoir due to elevated levels of mercury. It is recommended that adults limit their consumption to two 8-oz portions per month. Women who may become pregnant, pregnant women, nursing mothers, and children should limit their consumption to one 4-oz portion per month. For further details, visit www.fishadvisories.utah.gov.

OTTER CREEK RESERVOIR: Shore fishing has slowed down, though a few 1- to 2-pound fish are still being caught. Trolling has not yet picked up. Please prevent the spread of whirling disease. Do not transport any parts of fish caught here to other waters.

PANGUITCH LAKE: Fishing from shore varies from slow to very good, depending on technique and weather. Worm and marshmallow combo is the best bait for rainbows. Cutthroats are being caught on lures. Fly anglers have done well fishing against the shoreline in the wind with olive wooly buggers and nymphs drifted below a strike indicator. Boat fishing is still slow as most fish are in very close to shore.

Special Regulations: Limit is four trout, which must be less than 15 inches or over 22 inches. All trout 15 to 22 inches must be released. Trout caught at Panguitch Lake cannot be filleted, or the head or tail removed, until you get home. Some tributaries are closed until July 12 check the Utah Fishing Guide for which streams are closed. TIPS FOR RELEASING FISH IN THE SLOT (15-22"): If a fish swallows the hook, please cut the line to avoid mortality. A fish can pass a swallowed hook and survive, while digging the hook out will almost certainly kill the fish. Also try fishing with single hooks instead of treble hooks.

PARAGONAH (RED CREEK) RESERVOIR: The road is open and dry. The water is a little turbid. Mixed reports on fishing, with slower fishing on windy days. Remember that the rainbows here are wild fish, so bait usually doesn't produce as well as flies and lures. Tributary streams are closed to fishing until July 12. Lots of rainbows run up Red Creek to spawn. Take some time to walk along the creek and observe the fish, but please do not harass or chase the fish. Rainbows are very abundant. Harvest is encouraged to allow fish to stay in balance with the food base.

PINE LAKE: The ice is off and access is good. Catchable-sized rainbows have been stocked, so fishing should pick up. The lake had a small winterkill, so you will notice a few dead fish.

PINE VALLEY RESERVOIR: Catchable rainbows will be stocked soon.

PIUTE RESERVOIR: Shore fishing is still good and has recently been better than Otter Creek. Lots of wind every day.

QUAIL LAKE: Bass fishing should pick up at any time. Remember the special regulations for bass: four bass under 10 inches and two over 20 inches.

SAND COVE RESERVOIRS: Catchable rainbows have been stocked in the upper reservoir. Both reservoirs were drawn low this winter while Pacificorp made repairs to the canals. No fish kills were ever reported, however, and it is likely that the bass and bluegill populations made it through just fine. Both reservoirs have been refilled.

SAND HOLLOW RESERVOIR: Water temperature is approaching 60 F and bass should be on nests soon. Fishing was fair to good for smaller fish with the standard popular baits in dark colors. New regulations bass limit is six, with one over 12 inches. Public access to the reservoir is available only through the State Park.

CHANGE IN ACCESS: Access to Sand Hollow State Park changed on Friday, April 4, 2008. The new access is at 3700 West (Sand Hollow Road). The road that previously accessed the park, 4300 west (Turfsod) was closed. The new road is a half-mile east on SR 9 from the old entrance.

SEVIER RIVER (UPPER), ASAY CREEK: Turbidity was up lately. Most of the trout water on the upper Sevier is located upstream (south) from the town of Hatch. Intermittent sections of good habitat are present above Hatch and easily accessible from Highway 89. Asay Creek west of Highway 89 is on private land and access is restricted.

SEVIER RIVER MARYSVALE CANYON: Water is now being released from Piute Res. and flows are very high. No fishing pressure.

THOUSAND LAKES MTN: Solomon Basin is accessible from Emery County. Snowdrifts still block the road from Forsyth, just past Riley Spring.

TROPIC RESERVOIR: Should be ice-free. Be cautious with spring road conditions. There may be a few catchable rainbows left, though most would not have survived the previous low water levels. Catchable rainbows will be stocked soon. Spring is a good time to target large brown trout. The local favorite technique is a dead minnow fished on the bottom.

URBAN PONDS: Washington County ponds: Catchable rainbows have been stocked. Lots of pressure on the weekends, moderate on weekdays. Fishing is good with any technique, though adults are encouraged to use flies or lures. Iron County: Catchable rainbows have been stocked in Parowan Pond.

WIDE HOLLOW RESERVOIR: Catchable rainbows have been stocked. Lots of wind lately and fishing was slow. Action for bluegill and bass could pick up anytime.

YANKEE MEADOW RESERVOIR: The road is completely open and the reservoir is ice-free. Pressure has increased. Rainbows are very close to shore, so don't cast out too far. Bait fishing varies from slow to fair. Best bait fishing success is with nightcrawlers early in the morning. PowerBait is not producing as much. Lure fishermen are doing well with Jake's and Kastmasters. Fly anglers are having good success with beadhead nymphs drifted below a strike indicator. Most hookups are within a few feet of shore. Most fish caught are 12- to 17-inch rainbows in very good condition. A few nice brook trout have also been caught.