Southeastern Fishing Report

Duane Swasey holds the 10.74-lb., 31-inch splake he caught at Joes Valley Reservoir on May 23.

Photo by Brian Berggren

ABAJO MOUNTAINS: (May 26) Sergeant J. Shirley reports that poor weather and high winds have kept most anglers indoors. The three anglers who were checked had good success at Blanding #3 and Foy Reservoir.


CLEVELAND RESERVOIR: (May 26) The reservoir is mostly ice-free. Sergeant Stacey Jones reports slow fishing in the reservoir, but good fishing in the creek. Flies and lures were the most productive, and baits were not effective at all.


ELECTRIC LAKE: (May 26) The lake is now ice-free. Sergeant Stacey Jones reports fair fishing for all trout species. Try worms, spoons, chubs or chub meat. Aquatics Technician Bob Olson says the north tributary is receiving a lot of angler pressure. The road to the boat ramp is still snow-covered, but is expected to dry out in the next week or so.


GIGLIOTTI POND: (May 14) Try worms, marshmallows and PowerBait. The pond was restocked on Wednesday, April 14 with 2,000 catchable-sized rainbow trout. The limit is two fish.


HUNTINGTON CREEK: (May 20) On May 10, Tom Ogden flyfished below the forks with a floating line and a size 10 beadhead Montana. He had a split shot about a foot above the fly. Tom caught one cutthroat and several 6- to 13-inch browns. Flyfishing with nymphs should be good until the creek is muddied by runoff.


HUNTINGTON NORTH RESERVOIR: (May 20) On May 8, Aquatics Program Manager Paul Birdsey fished with two friends. Fishing was slow. Water temperatures ranged from 51 to 54 degrees. Birdsey caught a 16-inch largemouth using a green pumpkin seed tube jig on a light-action spinning rod. Other bites were too light to detect in time. Birdsey recommends light tackle. Anglers should look for the warmest water they can find. Fish will be moving into these areas to feed and to begin spawning.

The DWR stocked the reservoir with 350,000 wiper fry, which are less than one half-inch in size, on May 13. Biologists hope that a fraction of the fry will survive, grow to adult size, and contribute to the productive warmwater fishery in the years to come.


HUNTINGTON RESERVOIR: (May 26) The reservoir is still covered with ice.


JOES VALLEY RESERVOIR: (May 26) On May 21, Aquatics Biologist Darek Elverud caught between 50 and 60 fish from daylight to 10 a.m. After 10, fishing slowed significantly. Elverud mostly caught splake, with a few cutthroats and tiger trout. Most of the fish ranged from 12 to 14 inches, and the biggest was 18 inches. Elverud used chub meat, silver spoons, Rapalas and tube jigs.

On May 21, Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator Dan Keller fished the reservoir with several friends. They had their best success with Berkley white and gray Gulps—a minnow imitator. The Gulps outfished chub meat, Rapalas and everything else they tried. As a group, they caught 8 to 10 fish per hour in the 14- to 17-inch range.

On May 23, Division Lead Maintenance Specialist Duane Swasey took a 10.74-pound, 31-inch splake on a black and silver Cotton Cordell Walley Diver. Swasey use chub meat and caught 14 other splake and one tiger trout in the 14- to 16-inch range.


LA SAL MOUNTAINS: (May 26) Conservation Officer TJ Robertson reports that Hidden and Dons lakes are now accessible and have been stocked. Fishing is fair at both lakes. The water has been murky at both lakes, but lures that make a slight sound have been working. Bright colored baits are also popular. One angler reported good success with a small, bright-colored fly pattern.

Officer Robertson reports improved fishing at Kens Lake. The water level is still rising. The inlet is one of the best places to fish during the day. The west side of the lake has been fair to good in the evenings. Anglers have done well with small spinners and Jakes lures in float tubes and small crafts (battery-powered only). Fly anglers have done best with small nymphs and may fly imitators. Numerous aquatic insects are hatching. Try to match the hatch to have your best success.

Rattlesnake Ranch has recently been added to the angler access program. Anglers can drive to the lake, but most of the lake lies within private property. Please respect the rights of the property owner. Fishing is good because the lake was stocked a few weeks ago. All types of baits and lures have been working, including all colors of PowerBait, Jakes Spin-A-Lures and other spoons.


MILLSITE RESERVOIR & STATE PARK: (May 26) Due to the wind and poor weather, fishing is slow.


SCOFIELD RESERVOIR: (May 26) Last week, Roger Kerstetter and two companions caught 539 trout in five days. They fished the southend in 6 to 12 feet of water and trolled with the wind. The party fished from 7:30 a.m. until 7 p.m. each day. Trout ranged from 14 to 21 inches. Try fishing with silver or gold Kastmasters, Krocodiles or other spoons. The weather has been windy and rainy. Kerstetter said his secret is to fish just after ice-off, when the water temperature is in the 50s and the trout are in shallow water. Scofield has special regulations. Make sure you read the Utah Fishing Guidebook before you head to the reservoir.


WRIGLEY SPRINGS RESERVOIR: (May 26) The reservoir may have winter-killed. Sargent Stacey Jones didn't find any anglers who had caught fish on her last check.