The 4th annual Heber Valley Fly Fishing Festival is being held Aug. 10 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Midway Mountain Village Park, 100 S. Johnston's Mill Road, in Midway
The festival, sponsored by Four Seasons Fly Fishers, is free. Activities include clinics, equipment demonstrations, vendor and non-profit booths and the Provo River Kids Fly Fishing Derby. The catch-and-release derby is open to youth ages 15 and under and will run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Prizes will be awarded in each groups. Pre-registration for the derby is available at Four Seasons Fly Fishers or at the Utah Trout Unlimited booth Saturday morning.
Other sponsors of the event include High County Fly Fishers, Fall Ri...

Here's the Utah State Parks reservoir conditions report for the week of August 5:

Bear Lake State Park Marina: Launch Ramp OPEN/68 degrees
Bear Lake First Point: Launch Ramp OPEN/68 degrees
Bear Lake Rainbow Cove: Launch Ramp OPEN/68 degrees
Bear Lake Rendezvous Beach: Launch Ramp CLOSED FOR SEASON- LOW WATER
Deer Creek State Park: Launch Ramp OPEN/73 degrees
East Canyon State Park: Launch Ramp OPEN/69 degrees 55% full
Wide Hollow at Escalante State Park: Launch Ramp OPEN/69 degrees 75% full
Great Salt Lake State Marina: Launch Ramp OPEN/81 degrees
Gunlock State Park: Launch Ramp: OPEN/75 degrees
Huntington State Park: Launch Ramp OPEN/68 degr...

Lake Powell Fish Report – July 30, 2013
Lake Elevation: 3594
Water Temperature 78-82 F
By: Wayne Gustaveson of Wayne's Words

My plan for the weekly fishing report trip was to go uplake and see if striper surface action was happening midlake. We launched at first light and headed out from Stateline Ramp for the long trip through the narrows. Before reaching Main Ramp we were stopped short by young stripers feeding in quick bursts on the surface. My first cast with a ¼ ounce swim bait was rewarded with a 16-inch striper. The striper was on my hook, but I was hooked as well. When stripers are hitting on top it is not my nature to leave surfacing fish to find fish. So ...

Green River Fishing Report for July 30th, 2013 from Ryan Kelly of Green River Fly Fisher

Flows: Around 1000 during the day and 1600 in the evenings.

Hatches: Sparse yellow sallies, few PMD's, few caddis.

After two months of hatches and high pressure on the fish they are becoming disenchanted with the notion of rising to a fly, artificial or real. While the possibility is still there, it has become significantly more difficult in the past week. Subsurface fishing is still producing a sufficient amount of action to catch fish in decent numbers. The average size of the fish being caught has decreased as well. As the summer hatches finish up the fish will turn to ...

The Utah State Parks reservoir conditions report for the week of July 29:

Bear Lake State Park Marina: Launch Ramp OPEN/70 degrees
Bear Lake First Point: Launch Ramp OPEN/70 degrees
Bear Lake Rainbow Cove: Launch Ramp OPEN/70 degrees
Bear Lake Rendezvous Beach: Launch Ramp CLOSED FOR SEASON- LOW WATER
Deer Creek State Park: Launch Ramp OPEN/73 degrees
East Canyon State Park: Launch Ramp OPEN/69 degrees 55% full
Wide Hollow at Escalante State Park: Launch Ramp OPEN/69 degrees 75% full
Great Salt Lake State Marina: Launch Ramp OPEN/82 degrees
Gunlock State Park: Launch Ramp: OPEN/75 degrees
Huntington State Park: Launch Ramp OPEN/68 degrees 85% ...

Lake Powell Fish Report – July 23, 2013
Lake Elevation: 3595
Water Temperature 79-84 F
By: Wayne Gustaveson of Waynes Words

It is full moon during the summer monsoon season on Lake Powell. Monsoon tends to cool off the afternoon heat with a huge cloud buildup that is magnificent to watch and much appreciated. But the accompanying evening wind covers up striper boils which are much more likely to occur in the evening when the moon is full. This week surface feeding action is much quieter than it has been. Stripers are still feeding on top very early in the morning but the boils are more subtle and short lived. Surface feeding occurs randomly when cloudy weather and ca...

Scott Tolentino with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources' Bear Lake Project sent in this report.

Bear Lake Fishing Report:
Boats can be launched and the Utah State Park Marina, 1st Point, Cisco Beach, and Rainbow Cove boat ramps. Surface water temperature is 69F. Anglers are catching a few cutthroat trout and lake trout while trolling along the east side along the Cisco Beach area north to the state line. Try using flatfish and Rapalas and fishing in anywhere from 50-90 feet of water using downriggers. Remember, in order to keep a cutthroat trout from Bear Lake it must have a healed fin clip (usually the adipose fin). Cutthroat trout with all fins intact have to be re...

I've visited two reservoirs not far from Salt Lake City in the past week and was discouraged to see the bath tub rings growing at these popular boating and fishing waters. Here's a story I did on the situation across the state that ran in Monday's paper. How has low water impacted your fishing trips this summer?

...

My column in Thursday's Tribune about proposed fishing license fee increases and how angling groups are watching it closely has generated exactly the response I expected: some for it and some against it. No one likes the idea of having to pay more to do what we love, but Utah anglers have to own up that it costs money to manage their sport and the DWR is not getting the help it should be from the Legislature. The current $26 fee for a fishing license is stunningly low, at least to me, for what it provides for 365 days. Raising the standard fishing license to $34 is a good start and long overdue, but I'd support an even higher increase, which I'm sure will earn me some ornery comments and ema...

Ryan Kelly of Green River Fly Fisher sent in this report.

The hatches have started to taper off with a few lingering cicadas, pmd's and quite a few sallies on B. There are sparse cicadas on A section, with a few caddis still around and the occasional yellow sally. It was still good enough to throw dry flies the entire week with some moments of greatness mixed in. Some of the smaller fish are starting to show up which would suggest we are nearing the end of the hatches. When the big guys are away the little guys get to play. As the hatches continue to dissipate look for the fish to key on small ants, beetles, and robber flies. The nymph fishing will soon be attractors trailed by scu...

Lake Powell Fish Report ­ July 17, 2013
Lake Elevation: 3596
Water Temperature 79-84 F
By: Wayne Gustaveson of Wayne's Words

Fishing techniques and results have not changed much in the summer heat. A morning or evening fishing trip still provides a healthy number of fish caught that would make anglers in other lakes jealous. But this is Lake Powell where fishing success is expected with every trip.

Yesterday to check current trends, I sent two young anglers down to the dam and told them to fish for one hour and report back. They eagerly obeyed. Another boat was there when they arrived on the west side of the Glen Canyon Forebay about 100 yards from the bar...

Ryan Kelly of Green River Fly Fisher has been a busy guide this year with great fishing along the entire stretch of river below the dam to the Colorado state line. Thanks Ryan for finding time to send in reports and pictures.

Green River Fishing Report for July 11th

Flows: 1100 during the day up to 1600 in the evening.

Hatches: Caddis, cicadas, yellow sallies, pmd's,

The dry fly fishing has been great over the last few weeks. There are numerous bugs on the water. There are still a few cicadas around and the fish are still eating them, more so on B, but on A some as well. The cicadas that are still out there are a size 2. There are lots of sallies and...

Lake Powell Fish Report – July 10, 2013
Lake Elevation: 3598
Water Temperature 78-83 F
By: Wayne Gustaveson of Wayne's Words

Lake Powell fishing strategy is determined by shad size and abundance. Striped bass are feeding on the surface over the entire lake but where shad numbers are small so are the boils. Where larger shad are numerous fishing success is terrific.

In the southern lake shad are tiny and scarce. Little slurps are seen randomly throughout the day, but stripers feed quickly on a small group of shad and then dive back to the depths. Stripers can be caught if they surface within casting range and anglers respond quickly with accurate casts. Sma...

Efforts by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources to produce a homegrown source of tiger muskie has encountered a number of setbacks throughout the past few years, but none were as substantial as the recent removal of the brood stock source from the Lee Kay warmwater ponds by greedy anglers. This is a crazy story and a shame after all the effort biologists have put into the program.

Much of the criticism about the lack of "no fishing" signs and fencing around the ponds has fallen on the aquatics section of the DWR. While the finger pointing can start with aquatics, it should not be limited to that department. From the start the upper managment levels of the DWR have prov...

Ryan Mosley, Flaming Gorge/Green River Project Leader for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, sent in this report. The Green continues to produce great numbers of big fish, but it looks like the hot summer temps are taking an impact on some of those fish caught.

Here's his report sent in Tuesday.

The hatches were pretty intense last night in A-section, mostly composed of caddis, with a few cicadas and yellow sallies mixed in. As a result, the water would occasionally "boil" with surface activity, and a well positioned cast or drift almost guaranteed a strike.

I stuck to a big presentation, flinging a cicada the whole evening. Of the several browns I caug...

Lake Powell Fish Report – July 2, 2013
Lake Elevation: 3599
Water Temperature 78-83 F
By: Wayne Gustaveson of Wayne's Words

Last week the best surface action for boiling stripers was found midlake near Bullfrog. Surface feeding continues from Rincon to Hansen Creek. Look for stripers feeding on top any time of the day but most consistently during morning and evening twilight periods.

While fishing for surface feeding stripers is really good lake wide, it is best at Good Hope Bay where it is possible to catch an incredible number of stripers every morning and evening. The big bay boils as soon as the sun settles near the red buttes in the west. Fishing is grea...

Lake Powell Fish Report — June 26, 2013

Lake Elevation: 3600

Water Temperature 73-77 F

By: Wayne Gustaveson

http://www.wayneswords.com

Shad are taking a beating now as stripers have found the tiny hatchlings close to the surface. Unfortunately, surface feeding stripers are very easy to see but not as easy to catch. In the southern lake striper slurps are common but very subtle. Slurps are quick. Stripers may get done feeding before the boat is in...

Ryan Mosley, Flaming Gorge Project Leader for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, sent in this report. There is, in my opinion, never a bad time to fish the Gorge.

Summer is here and the water temps continue to climb (currently in the mid-60s). As water temps climb, a thermocline develops, offering a thermal refuge for cold water species like kokanee, rainbows, and lake trout. Although these species may spend short periods closer to the surface feeding, much of there time is spent in the deeper, cooler water. Many of the kokanee and even some rainbows we've caught this past week have been in 40-60 ft. Bigger kokanee have been caught on the deeper end of the range.
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Lake Powell Fish Report – June 19, 2013
Lake Elevation: 3601
Water Temperature 75-78 F
By: Wayne Gustaveson of Wayne's Words

Lake Powell water level has topped out at 3,601 feet. That means the Castle Rock Cut is wet but not passable. But fishing is still great making it worthwhile to head upstream from Wahweap or to take a fishing rod along when heading out from Bullfrog or Halls Marina.

Lake location often determines which fish may be caught. While all species are available in each canyon there are some habitats that favor a particular species. For instance, the steep canyon walls in the main channel between Rainbow and the Escalante feature more walleye ...

Here's the Utah State Parks reservoir conditions for the week of June 17:

Bear Lake State Park Marina: Launch Ramp OPEN/56 degrees
Bear Lake First Point: Launch Ramp OPEN/56 degrees
Bear Lake Rainbow Cove: Launch Ramp OPEN/56 degrees
Bear Lake Rendezvous Beach: Launch Ramp CLOSED FOR SEASON- LOW WATER
Deer Creek State Park: Launch Ramp OPEN/57 degrees
East Canyon State Park: Launch Ramp OPEN/55 degrees
Wide Hollow at Escalante State Park: Launch Ramp OPEN/62 degrees
Great Salt Lake State Marina: Launch Ramp OPEN/75 degrees
Gunlock State Park: Launch Ramp: OPEN/71 degrees
Huntington State Park: Launch Ramp OPEN/58 degrees
Hyrum Lake State P...

Lake Powell Fish Report — June 12, 2013

Lake Elevation: 3600

Water Temperature 74-78 F

By: Wayne Gustaveson of www.wayneswords.com

Lake Powell water level is stable at 3600 feet. That means the Castle Rock Cut is wet but not passable. Summer fishing patterns are now in play. The key, regardless of species targeted, is to fish early and late and use shade to your advantage.

Largemouth and smallmouth bass are on rocky slopes. Rocks utilized vary from slick rock slopes to large boulders, down to s...

Ryan Kelly with Flaming Gorge Resort sent in this report for June 13, 2013:

Hatches: Cicadas, Mondo Cicadas

Flows: 2400 during the day, dropping each day until 950 on the 16th.

It’s big dry time! There are three different species of cicadas out right now. They range in size from a #2 down to a #8. The water has dropped far enough that the fish have started to eat them with regularity. In the last three days I have floated all three sections and there were cicadas in varying amounts all the way down the river. Time to put on some 2x or 3x and have some fun.

State fisheries officials have confirmed that the 27-pound northern pike caught at Yuba Reservoir is the new Utah angling record for the species. Vladan Zoranovic of Salt Lake caught the 45-inch pike, shattering the pervious record of 25 pounds, also caught at Yuba.

Again, for the record, the longest - and likely heaviest - northern pike documented in Utah was the 49 3/4 inch monster caught at Lake Powell in 1998. That fish is the current catch and release record.

...

Another batch of tiger muskie were recently released in Pineview Reservoir. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources released 500 muskie hatched at the Lee Kay warmwater rearing ponds this spring in an effort to supplement a popular tiger muskie population at the reservoir....

Western Rivers Flyfisher is holding its annual Fly Fishing Fair Saturday at the shop, 1071 East 900 South, in Salt Lake City.

The WR staff and representatives from Hatch, Waterworks, Lamson Reels, Patagonia, Simms, Sage, Scott, Winston, Smith, Rio and SA fly lines.

The fair runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free clinics will run throughout the day and demo rods will be available for casting.
As part of the fair, Western Rivers will pay the sales tax on all purchases or give customers a girft certificate for 10 percent off.

...

Lake Powell Fish Report – June 4, 2013
Lake Elevation: 3599
Water Temperature 69-74 F
By: Wayne Gustaveson of Wayne's Words

Big Changes!

Lake level is slowly rising but that is not as important as the rise in water temperature. During May the surface temperature was consistently in the 60s which was great for bass fishing. During June lake temperature will be in the 70s which means young shad will be growing large enough to draw interest from lake predators. The immediate result of new shad presence is a dramatic change in sport fish behavior.

Last week’s report was all about stationary schools of striped bass that were easy to catch. Just go to t...

When I created the original list of more than 100 items for The Utah Bucket List show, there were a couple of them I knew would make the final cut. The Green River below Flaming Gorge Dam was one of those items. The Green holds a special place in my heart and soul, which apparently includes the river all the way to its confluence with the Colorado. During my awesome mountain bike trip on the White Rim Trail in Canyonlands National Park a couple of weeks ago I think my biggest smile came when we turned west and started heading north providing me with my first glimpse of the Green. I love that river. Here's my Utah Bucket List story about the Green. Make sure you check out Francisco Kjolseth's...

Here's the Utah State Parks reservoir conditions report for the week of June 3:

Bear Lake State Park Marina: Launch Ramp OPEN/54 degrees
Bear Lake First Point: Launch Ramp OPEN/54 degrees
Bear Lake Rainbow Cove: Launch Ramp OPEN/54 degrees
Bear Lake Rendezvous Beach: Launch Ramp CLOSED FOR SEASON- LOW WATER
Deer Creek State Park: Launch Ramp OPEN/55 degrees - 85% full
East Canyon State Park: Launch Ramp OPEN/52 degrees
Wide Hollow at Escalante State Park: Launch Ramp OPEN/58 degrees
Great Salt Lake State Marina: Launch Ramp OPEN/70 degrees
Gunlock State Park: Launch Ramp: OPEN/62 degrees
Huntington State Park: Launch Ramp OPEN/51 degrees
Hy...

Ryan of Flaming Gorge Resort sent in his weekly report for fishing on the Green River below Flaming Gorge Dam. Check out his website for more info about fishing the Green.

Green River Fishing Report for May 28th, 2013

Flows will be increasing to 2600 cfs on the 29th, and 4600 cfs on the 30th.
High Flows are expected to last about a week.

Hatches: Cicadas, sparse BWO's, midges

The cicada fishing has been good this past week, but not great as many folks have experienced in the past. There are a number of cicadas in the trees and a good number on the water. The fish are still not real confident in eating the naturals. I have watched several live c...

It appears that Yuba Reservoir has produced another record northern pike. State wildlife officials are waiting for the paperwork and an official weight, but a 45-inch pike caught by Vladan Zoranovic of Salt Lake landed over the weekend is expected to shatter the exisiting angling record of 25 pounds landed in 2002 at Yuba.

The fish unofficially weighed in at 27 pounds. It may have lost some weight before Zoranovic got it to the scales, but should still beat the record. Yuba State Park officials report that a 26-pound pike was also caught at Yuba last week.

For the record, the longest - and likely heaviest - northern pike documented in Utah was the 49 3/4 inch monster caught ...

Lake Powell Fish Report – May 28, 2013
Lake Elevation: 3598
Water Temperature 67-72 F
By: Wayne Gustaveson of Wayne's Words

Lake Powell came up another foot in the last week and surface water temperature rose to 67 degrees first thing in the morning. These conditions are perfect for all warm water fish in the lake. Expect the incredibly good fishing to continue another week.

Striped bass are still hungry and looking for food. While the main channel areas from the dam to the back of Navajo Canyon are still productive, there are better fishing areas in Padre Bay. Let me rephrase that. You might only to catch 30-50 fish at the dam, Buoy 3, Power Plant intak...

Here's the Utah State Parks reservoir conditions report for the week of May 27:

Bear Lake State Park Marina: Launch Ramp OPEN/54 degrees
Bear Lake First Point: Launch Ramp OPEN/54 degrees
Bear Lake Rainbow Cove: Launch Ramp OPEN/54 degrees
Bear Lake Rendezvous Beach: Launch Ramp CLOSED FOR SEASON- LOW WATER
Deer Creek State Park: Launch Ramp OPEN/54 degrees
East Canyon State Park: Launch Ramp OPEN/50 degrees
Wide Hollow at Escalante State Park: Launch Ramp OPEN/58 degrees
Great Salt Lake State Marina: Launch Ramp OPEN/70 degrees
Gunlock State Park: Launch Ramp: OPEN/62 degrees
Huntington State Park: Launch Ramp OPEN/51 degrees
Hyrum Lake St...

Ryan Mosley, Flaming Gorge Project leader for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, sent in this report Monday.

We started our summer creel survey last week, which requires us to interview anglers on the water to collect catch information. One of benefits of performing this sampling effort is it allows us to talk to anglers and see what, where, and how they are catching fish. The first couple of surveys last week, fishing was high but catching was slow. On Saturday, most anglers were having success and it was very apparent the catch rates were increasing. I went out on Sunday to verif...

Calvin Black, fisheries biologist with the DWR in Southeast Region, sent in this report of Joe's Valley Reservoir. Joes is place I've been wanting to visit for years. Looks like now may be the time.

Joes Valley Reservoir Trend Net Survey – May 16, 2013

The annual trend net survey by the Division of Wildlife Resources occurred on Joes Valley Reservoir today with a mixture of fish in the nets. The splake were real healthy with most of the fish measuring 10-17 inches, with several large 5-7 pound splake caught, that were quickly released. A dozen tiger muskellunge were collected with the largest being 36 inches and...

Ryan Kelly with Flaming Gorge Resort sent in this report of fishing on the Green River. Check out more of his tales of

Green River Fishing Report for May 16th, 2013

Hatches: Midges, Small BWO's, Few Cicadas and Pine Beetles.

Flows: 800, but could change any day now.

The warm weather has brought a transition time here on the Green. The smaller bugs are less prevalent and bigger bugs are starting to show. A few cicadas have been out, along with a fair amount of pine beetles. The terrestrial fishing has been spotty, but has had its moments. This can be a good time to use a dry/dropper rig to fill in the times when the fish aren't looking up. The BWO...

Calvin Black, fisheries biologist with the DWR in Southeast Region, sent in this report from trend net survey sampling at Scofield Reservoir earlier this week. Thanks Calvin.

During the annual trend net survey at Scofield Reservoir the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources found good numbers of cutthroat and tiger trout. The two largest fish of the day were a 29-inch 8.5 pound tiger trout and a 24.5-inch 6 pound cutthroat trout. Eighteen to 22-inch cutthroat trout were abundant in the nets with numerous smaller trout in the ten to 15-inch size class being collected. Anglers have had great luck of the shore this spring for large tiger trout. Numerous 24...

Ryan Mosley, Flaming Gorge Project Leader for the UDWR, sent in this report of recently completed spring survey gillnetting on the reservoir straddling the Utah/Wyoming border. The video is from a past gillnetting survey.

We just completed two mornings of gillnetting at Sheep Creek Bay. The weather was phenomenal and it's the first time I remember netting in a t-shirt on Flaming Gorge Reservoir in May! With the warmer water temperatures (55F) bass were more active and well represented in the catch. Two of the bass netted today were larger females (~1.5 lbs) and were bulging with eggs in preparation for the spawn. We also caught several rainbow trout (up to 19-inches) and small...

Lake Powell Fish Report – May 14, 2013
Lake Elevation: 3596
Water Temperature 65-72 F
By: Wayne Gustaveson of Wayne's Words

Warmwater fish really respond to changes in water temperature. Lake Powell water temperatures are now ranging from 65-72F meaning that spring fishing responses are on the way out and summer personality traits are setting in.

The most noticeable sign of warming water is the appearance of phytoplankton which gives lake water a green hue. Formerly crystal clear water now has much less visibility. Normally we blame runoff for clouding the water but this year runoff has just barely started and clarity is lessened by plankton.

It...

Ryan Mosley, Flaming Gorge project leader for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, sent in this report Friday:

We just finished two days of gillnetting at Jarvies Bay. We set three nets for trophy lake trout, and three shore sets for other species like rainbow trout, smallmouth bass, and small lake trout. With water temps around 50F, smallmouth bass are starting to get more active. We sampled several smallmouth bass, with a couple up to 1.5 lbs. Rainbow trout were also well represented in the catch, with fish up to 3.5 lbs. The most exciting part of the sampling event was pulling a shore set with four trophy lake trout i...

This was submitted Friday, May 10, 2013, by Ryan Mosley, Flaming Gorge project leader, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources:

Reservoir netting has begun and Wyoming Game and Fish Department has set the standard pretty high this year. Craig Amadio (WGFD biologist) sent me these pics of a 52-lb, 45-inch lake trout the crew netted near the stateline earlier this week. This fish would beat the current Utah record by 1.5 lbs and the current Wyoming record by 2 lbs. The fish was measured, weighed, pumped for stomach contents, and released to taunt anglers for years to come!

Calvin Black, fisheries biologist with the DWR in Southeast Region, sent in this report from the spring survey at Huntington North. Great to hear how well the wipers are doing at this "off the radar" fishery.

Huntington North Reservoir Trend Net Survey – May 9, 2013
The Utah Division of Wildlife Southeast Region Aquatics staff completed the annual trend net survey for Huntington North Reservoir. Biologists found good numbers of rainbow trout, largemouth bass and wipers, but the surprise of the day were the size of the wipers. Two wipers were collected that measured over 20 inches and 5 pounds. Overall the wipers collected ranged from 10.5 to 20.5 inches. Several largemouth...

Ryan Kelly with Flaming Gorge Resort sent in this report. The fish on the Green are in the best shape I've ever seen them. Get over there and create some lasting memories.

Green River Fishing Report for May 9th, 2013

Flows: 800, current outlook is for high flows to begin around the 20th (this is always subject to change).

Hatches: Midges and BWO's

With the inclement weather the last few days there has been large BWO hatches out. True to form, the BWO's have gotten smaller as the hatch has progressed. Most of the bugs are 16-20 with the majority being 18's. There has been opportunities for good dry fly fishing, but not river wide. The darker skies made fo...

Lake Powell Fish Report – May 8, 2013
Lake Elevation: 3596
Water Temperature 59-65 F
By: Wayne Gustaveson of Wayne's Words

One week after the spring fishing peak and fishing is still good. A lingering cold front has slowed fishing for bass slightly, but stripers continue to eat bait in the southern lake. One disturbing note is that lake level is still going down making it uncertain that the lake will raise much during the normal runoff period. There is still time, but the runoff is slow to start. A lower lake leaves brush out of the water and causes access problems at some ramps. Hite ramp is closed, but other ramps at main access areas are in full operation.
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Michael Hadley, a fisheries biologist with the UDWR, sent in this net survey report from Panguitch Lake.

Panguitch Lake Trend Net Survey – May 7, 2013

During the annual trend net survey at Panguitch Lake the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources found good numbers of rainbow and cutthroat trout, as well as a few tiger trout. Thirteen to 18-inch trout were abundant in the catch, while a number of larger fish were also observed. Big fish for the day included a 25-inch, 5.6-pound cutthroat trout and a 28-inch, 7.7-pound tiger trout. This whopper was the largest fish seen in the netting surveys since the fishery restoration project of...

UDWR fisheries biologist Michael Hadley sent in another excellent report about fishing in southern Utah. If Navajo Lake is not on you must-fish list it should be. Here's his report.

The ice has come off Navajo Lake east of Cedar City in southern Utah. Access is good and, yes, there is some water left. In fact, the water level is rising about two inches per day thanks to snow melt. Over the weekend Richard Hepworth, Stan Beckstrom, and others reported fast fishing for splake. Lots of fish in the 16- to 20-inch range are being caught, as well as a few exceeding 5 pounds. This is the simplest form of fishing you can do. All you need is a rod, a hook, and a few night crawlers. Fir...

Water in many Utah reservoirs is starting to warm. Time to start looking for water skeirs.

Here's the Utah State Parks reservoir conditions report for the week of May 6:

Bear Lake State Park Marina: Launch Ramp OPEN/41 degrees
Bear Lake First Point: Launch Ramp OPEN/41 degrees
Bear Lake Rainbow Cove: Launch Ramp OPEN/41 degrees
Bear Lake Rendezvous Beach: Launch Ramp CLOSED FOR SEASON- LOW WATER
Deer Creek State Park: Launch Ramp OPEN/46 degrees
East Canyon State Park: Launch Ramp OPEN/48 degrees
Wide Hollow at Escalante State Park: Launch Ramp OPEN/51 degrees
Great Salt Lake State Marina: Launch Ramp OPEN/63 degrees
Gunlock State Park: L...

I doubt you need an excuse to get out and fish more, but just in case you do Cabela's has kicked off its annual Fish For Millions national contest.
It's easy. You go online and register and if you catch a tagged fish you win money or prizes. If you download the Cabela's app and are lucky enough to catch the $1 million tagged fish you automatically win $2 million.
I had to register myself to find out which waters were eligible, so I guess I will be paying attention to the fish I land when visiting the following Utah waters: Utah Lake; Starvation Reservoir; Joes Valley Reservoir; East Canyon Reservoir; Lake Powell; Paragonah Lake; Gunnison Bend Reservoir (really?); Rockport Reservoir;...

Shaping up to be a great year at Lake Powell. Find a way to get there and enjoy some tight lines.

Lake Powell Fish Report – April 30, 2013
Lake Elevation: 3596
Water Temperature 58-67 F
By Wayne Gustaveson of Wayne's Words

Spring Fishing Peak! Now is the time to catch any of the Big Six sport fish in Lake Powell.
In Alphabetical order:

Catfish: Hitting bait at night on the sandy beach near camp where the boat is parked.

Crappie: These schooling fish are a bit lost without brush. While males are making nests in the dirty water at the backs of canyons and coves, many more crappie are schooling in open water in the back of canyons. ...

I spent three days on the Green River below Flaming Gorge Reservoir filming a segment for the KUED production I'm doing called "The Utah Bucket List". The show will air in August on KUED-Channel 7. We floated all 30 or so miles from the dam to the Colorado state line. It was an awesome trip with a lot of big fish landed, a ton of wildlife to see and some great company along the way. You can see some of the great shots by Tribune photographer Francisco Kjolseth on the new "The Utah Bucket List" page on Facebook. I caught most of my fish on a Sex Dungeon streamer while floating the B and C sections. Picked up a couple on dries on the A section. Among the man highlights was watching Steve Schmi...

Catfish tend to get little respect here in Utah. Personally, some of my earliest memories of fishing involve whiskerfish at Utah Lake and later some big cats on the Bear River. Maybe the state's new catch and release record will earn catfish some respect, but I doubt it.
In mid-April John Konzelman landed a 36-inch channel catfish at Cutler Reservoir. His catch beat the existing record by 2 inches.
For comparison's sake, the Utah caught-and-kept record was 39 3/4 inches long and weighed 32 pounds and 8 ounces.
Now that's a big kitty....