Northeastern Region report
Information compiled by Ron Steward
Northeastern Region Conservation Outreach Manager
WaterbodyReport Big Sandwich Reservior
2010-09-29
GoodAnglers continue to report fair to good fishing from boats and along the shoreline. They're catching rainbows and both species of bass. If you're after bass, try flipping jigs into the rocks and any submerged vegetation. Trout baits and either small fish/crawfish-colored lures or brightly colored, flashy lures are working for trout. The best times to fish for trout are early morning and later in the evening. You can access the reservoir from the boat ramp and from a new public-access point on the northeast corner.Brough Reservoir
2010-09-29
FairFishing has improved a bit with cooler temperatures. You'll find fair fishing along the shoreline and from float tubes and small boats. Try fishing in the morning and late in the afternoon/evening until the fall weather cools the lake down. With the warm water, proper catch-and-release techniques are critical. Use a strong-enough pole, line and leader to bring the fish in quickly, and then keep the entire fish in the water while removing the hook. Barbless hooks and rubber nets make it much easier to remove flies and lures. Fish that you can land, disengage and release quickly are much more likely to survive. Tired fish and fish exposed to the air may swim away, but they are much more likely to die a few days after release.Browne Lake
2010-09-29
GoodAnglers reported fair to good fishing again this week, a welcome change from the slower fishing earlier this summer. Try brightly colored lures, match flies to the latest insect hatches or use trout baits such as a worm-and-marshmallow combination or some of the new commercial baits. Watch out for storms — the weather can change very quickly in the Uinta Mountains.Bullock Reservoir
2010-09-29
FairAnglers report fair fishing for bass and bullheads. They're also catching the occasional tiger muskie.Calder Reservoir
2010-09-29
GoodAnglers report fair to good catch rates from the shore and slightly better fishing from float tubes and small boats. Try using large terrestrial flies, minnow/leech imitations or small brightly colored spoons. The reservoir has special catch-and-release regulations. You must use flies and lures only — bait is not allowed. With the warm water, proper catch-and-release techniques are critical. Use a strong-enough pole, line and leader to bring the fish in quickly, and then keep the entire fish in the water while removing the hook. Barbless hooks and rubber nets make it much easier to remove flies and lures. Fish that you can land, disengage and release quickly are much more likely to survive. Tired fish and fish exposed to the air may swim away, but they are much more likely to die a few days after release.Cotton Reservoir
2010-09-29
FairAnglers report catching a few tiger muskie but not any keepers. Anglers have also caught some smallmouth bass. Fishing is fair to good for black bullhead, which are large enough to provide a nice meal.Crouse Reservoir
2010-09-29
SlowThe water level is low, and fishing has been slow. The reservoir has been stocked with catchable-sized fish.Currant Creek Reservoir
2010-09-29
GoodAnglers report fair to good fishing for both tiger and cutthroat trout. The tiger trout (a hybrid of brown and brook trout) that were stocked last year are now about 12 inches long. The area has received rain, so watch for muddy conditions that could limit access.East Park Reservoir
2010-09-29
GoodYou'll find fair to good fishing for rainbows and brook trout. The reservoir is accessible, although the road was somewhat muddy after recent storms. The boat ramp is open, and it's easy to launch small boats.Flaming Gorge
2010-09-29
GoodYou'll find good fishing for most species:
Lake trout: Lake trout fishing has been good. Anglers report finding schools of smaller trout at around 60 to 90 feet. There have also been a few reports of fish much higher in the water column. Larger fish appear to be getting more active. Anglers recommend various techniques; some have success jigging while others prefer trolling. Everyone agrees that if you can find a school, the hits will be fast and light. A good line (fluorocarbon or braid) helps you feel the strike and get a good hook-set when jigging. You can help the Flaming Gorge fishery by harvesting a limit of smaller lake trout. The limit is eight fish, with one over 28 inches.
Kokanee salmon: Kokanee fishing is good, if you can locate a school. However, all kokanee caught between Sept. 10 and Nov. 30 must be immediately released. Water temperatures at the surface are warm, so fish about 60 feet down. Although the DWR has stocked millions of kokanee over the last few years, the population remains low due to predation by lake trout and burbot. Anglers need to harvest small lake trout and burbot to reduce their impact on kokanee.
Rainbow trout: Anglers report good fishing from the shoreline and from boats. A boat is essential to access most of the reservoir; however, there is shore fishing near the visitors center (by the dam) and by the boat ramps. Fish are mostly deeper but can still be found close to the shoreline. Fishing is usually better during the cooler hours of the day. Look for schools near cliffs, points and submerged ridges.
Smallmouth bass: Bass fishing has been slower than normal, but it picked up a few weeks ago. The fish are deeper this year due to some spring and summer rains that added a few feet of water. Most anglers are jigging around or below the 20-foot range. A few have also done well by casting surface plugs or fishing with spoons or minnow imitations and casting parallel to rocks and cliff faces.
Burbot: Try fishing for a few hours, starting around sunset. Focus on the rocky points and cliffs near the main channel. Burbot hit during the day, but they become more active during the twilight hours. Fish the bottom (or just slightly above it) in depths from 10–50 feet. Use just about anything that glows (e.g., spoons, tube jigs, curly-tailed jigs or minnow jigs) and tip your lure with some type of bait. Place your baits close to the bottom and recharge the glow frequently. It is common to catch a fish immediately after re-glowing and dropping a lure. You'll help the Flaming Gorge fishery by harvesting as many burbot as possible. There is no limit on burbot.Green River below Flaming Gorge dam
2010-09-29
GoodAnglers are doing well with large terrestrial imitations such as grasshoppers and black ants that have a scud or shrimp trailer. Often, the fish are attracted to the larger presentation and then hit the smaller scud. On windy days, anglers who use lures have been more successful because it's easier for them to cast. Try Rapalas (floating, countdown and husky jerk); spinners; spoons; black, brown or olive marabou jigs; and plastic jigs. As always, watch for hatches and change your flies and lures accordingly.Long Park reservoir
2010-09-29
GoodFishing from shore and boats has been good, especially near the inlet. A worm-and-marshmallow combination has been anglers' preferred bait, followed by bright shiny lures and a variety of dry flies.Matt Warner
2010-09-29
GoodAnglers report fair to good fishing, which varies depending on the time of day and weather conditions. You'll find the best fishing during the cooler hours. Just about everything has been working, including common trout baits, flies and lures. Fishing is good from the shore, small boats and float tubes.Moose Pond
2010-09-29
GoodAnglers report good fishing. The pond is stocked with catchable-sized fish from Utah hatcheries.Pelican Lake
2010-09-29
GoodFishing has been good, especially when the wind is calm. Anglers may find some bass and bluegill in the shallows, but most have moved into deeper water. Note: The DWR is monitoring this lake for the presence of invasive mussels. Before and after boating, be sure to clean, drain and dry boats, fishing gear or other equipment exposed to water (like decoys, waders, rubber boots and fish finders).Red Fleet Reservoir
2010-09-29
GoodAnglers report fair to good fishing for rainbows, bass and bluegill. Some anglers who specifically targeted walleye have done well; however, most of the walleye catch has been accidental. Spring surveys showed an abundance of illegally introduced walleye in the nets. These fish represented several age classes, with some over six pounds. Red Fleet has no limit on walleye, and all walleye must be killed and removed — do not release them back into the reservoir. Note: The new washing station is up and running. Be sure to clean, drain and dry any equipment or gear used in the water, including boats, jet skis, pull-behind floats, skis, kneeboards, fishing gear and other damp equipment.Sheep Creek Lake
2010-09-29
SlowFishing has been slow. As the summer progresses, it's getting more difficult to find places to cast without interference from weeds. Float tubes and small boats (like a canoe or float tube) make it easier to locate weed-free areas.Spirit Lake
2010-09-29
GoodFishing for rainbows and small tiger trout has been fair to good from shore, small boats (like canoes) and float tubes. Fishing is better during the cooler hours. Commercial trout baits, worm-and-marshmallow combinations and a wide variety of small flashy lures and flies are all working well. Remember that the fish in high-mountain lakes can often be finicky. If one bait, lure or fly doesn't work, just switch to another.Starvation Reservoir
2010-09-29
FairAnglers report good fishing for rainbows and perch, and fair fishing for bass and walleye. Check out the rocky points, inlets and shallow bays. Try fishing parallel and close to the shoreline in the early morning and late evening. Big fish often cruise the shore looking for newly hatched fry and terrestrial insects washed in by the waves.Steinaker Reservoir
2010-09-29
GoodAnglers report good fishing for rainbows, bass and bluegill. You'll do equally well fishing with baits and lures from the shoreline or from boats. Bass and bluegill may be in the shallows or in water up to 25 feet deep. The Family Fishing Event is over for 2010. Anglers turned in 136 tags, and the grand prize went to a four-year-old. Also, approximately 13,000 albino rainbows were stocked last fall, so do not be surprised if you catch a very pale fish with pink eyes.
Information compiled by Ron Steward
Northeastern Region Conservation Outreach Manager
WaterbodyReport Big Sandwich Reservior
2010-09-29
GoodAnglers continue to report fair to good fishing from boats and along the shoreline. They're catching rainbows and both species of bass. If you're after bass, try flipping jigs into the rocks and any submerged vegetation. Trout baits and either small fish/crawfish-colored lures or brightly colored, flashy lures are working for trout. The best times to fish for trout are early morning and later in the evening. You can access the reservoir from the boat ramp and from a new public-access point on the northeast corner.Brough Reservoir
2010-09-29
FairFishing has improved a bit with cooler temperatures. You'll find fair fishing along the shoreline and from float tubes and small boats. Try fishing in the morning and late in the afternoon/evening until the fall weather cools the lake down. With the warm water, proper catch-and-release techniques are critical. Use a strong-enough pole, line and leader to bring the fish in quickly, and then keep the entire fish in the water while removing the hook. Barbless hooks and rubber nets make it much easier to remove flies and lures. Fish that you can land, disengage and release quickly are much more likely to survive. Tired fish and fish exposed to the air may swim away, but they are much more likely to die a few days after release.Browne Lake
2010-09-29
GoodAnglers reported fair to good fishing again this week, a welcome change from the slower fishing earlier this summer. Try brightly colored lures, match flies to the latest insect hatches or use trout baits such as a worm-and-marshmallow combination or some of the new commercial baits. Watch out for storms — the weather can change very quickly in the Uinta Mountains.Bullock Reservoir
2010-09-29
FairAnglers report fair fishing for bass and bullheads. They're also catching the occasional tiger muskie.Calder Reservoir
2010-09-29
GoodAnglers report fair to good catch rates from the shore and slightly better fishing from float tubes and small boats. Try using large terrestrial flies, minnow/leech imitations or small brightly colored spoons. The reservoir has special catch-and-release regulations. You must use flies and lures only — bait is not allowed. With the warm water, proper catch-and-release techniques are critical. Use a strong-enough pole, line and leader to bring the fish in quickly, and then keep the entire fish in the water while removing the hook. Barbless hooks and rubber nets make it much easier to remove flies and lures. Fish that you can land, disengage and release quickly are much more likely to survive. Tired fish and fish exposed to the air may swim away, but they are much more likely to die a few days after release.Cotton Reservoir
2010-09-29
FairAnglers report catching a few tiger muskie but not any keepers. Anglers have also caught some smallmouth bass. Fishing is fair to good for black bullhead, which are large enough to provide a nice meal.Crouse Reservoir
2010-09-29
SlowThe water level is low, and fishing has been slow. The reservoir has been stocked with catchable-sized fish.Currant Creek Reservoir
2010-09-29
GoodAnglers report fair to good fishing for both tiger and cutthroat trout. The tiger trout (a hybrid of brown and brook trout) that were stocked last year are now about 12 inches long. The area has received rain, so watch for muddy conditions that could limit access.East Park Reservoir
2010-09-29
GoodYou'll find fair to good fishing for rainbows and brook trout. The reservoir is accessible, although the road was somewhat muddy after recent storms. The boat ramp is open, and it's easy to launch small boats.Flaming Gorge
2010-09-29
GoodYou'll find good fishing for most species:
Lake trout: Lake trout fishing has been good. Anglers report finding schools of smaller trout at around 60 to 90 feet. There have also been a few reports of fish much higher in the water column. Larger fish appear to be getting more active. Anglers recommend various techniques; some have success jigging while others prefer trolling. Everyone agrees that if you can find a school, the hits will be fast and light. A good line (fluorocarbon or braid) helps you feel the strike and get a good hook-set when jigging. You can help the Flaming Gorge fishery by harvesting a limit of smaller lake trout. The limit is eight fish, with one over 28 inches.
Kokanee salmon: Kokanee fishing is good, if you can locate a school. However, all kokanee caught between Sept. 10 and Nov. 30 must be immediately released. Water temperatures at the surface are warm, so fish about 60 feet down. Although the DWR has stocked millions of kokanee over the last few years, the population remains low due to predation by lake trout and burbot. Anglers need to harvest small lake trout and burbot to reduce their impact on kokanee.
Rainbow trout: Anglers report good fishing from the shoreline and from boats. A boat is essential to access most of the reservoir; however, there is shore fishing near the visitors center (by the dam) and by the boat ramps. Fish are mostly deeper but can still be found close to the shoreline. Fishing is usually better during the cooler hours of the day. Look for schools near cliffs, points and submerged ridges.
Smallmouth bass: Bass fishing has been slower than normal, but it picked up a few weeks ago. The fish are deeper this year due to some spring and summer rains that added a few feet of water. Most anglers are jigging around or below the 20-foot range. A few have also done well by casting surface plugs or fishing with spoons or minnow imitations and casting parallel to rocks and cliff faces.
Burbot: Try fishing for a few hours, starting around sunset. Focus on the rocky points and cliffs near the main channel. Burbot hit during the day, but they become more active during the twilight hours. Fish the bottom (or just slightly above it) in depths from 10–50 feet. Use just about anything that glows (e.g., spoons, tube jigs, curly-tailed jigs or minnow jigs) and tip your lure with some type of bait. Place your baits close to the bottom and recharge the glow frequently. It is common to catch a fish immediately after re-glowing and dropping a lure. You'll help the Flaming Gorge fishery by harvesting as many burbot as possible. There is no limit on burbot.Green River below Flaming Gorge dam
2010-09-29
GoodAnglers are doing well with large terrestrial imitations such as grasshoppers and black ants that have a scud or shrimp trailer. Often, the fish are attracted to the larger presentation and then hit the smaller scud. On windy days, anglers who use lures have been more successful because it's easier for them to cast. Try Rapalas (floating, countdown and husky jerk); spinners; spoons; black, brown or olive marabou jigs; and plastic jigs. As always, watch for hatches and change your flies and lures accordingly.Long Park reservoir
2010-09-29
GoodFishing from shore and boats has been good, especially near the inlet. A worm-and-marshmallow combination has been anglers' preferred bait, followed by bright shiny lures and a variety of dry flies.Matt Warner
2010-09-29
GoodAnglers report fair to good fishing, which varies depending on the time of day and weather conditions. You'll find the best fishing during the cooler hours. Just about everything has been working, including common trout baits, flies and lures. Fishing is good from the shore, small boats and float tubes.Moose Pond
2010-09-29
GoodAnglers report good fishing. The pond is stocked with catchable-sized fish from Utah hatcheries.Pelican Lake
2010-09-29
GoodFishing has been good, especially when the wind is calm. Anglers may find some bass and bluegill in the shallows, but most have moved into deeper water. Note: The DWR is monitoring this lake for the presence of invasive mussels. Before and after boating, be sure to clean, drain and dry boats, fishing gear or other equipment exposed to water (like decoys, waders, rubber boots and fish finders).Red Fleet Reservoir
2010-09-29
GoodAnglers report fair to good fishing for rainbows, bass and bluegill. Some anglers who specifically targeted walleye have done well; however, most of the walleye catch has been accidental. Spring surveys showed an abundance of illegally introduced walleye in the nets. These fish represented several age classes, with some over six pounds. Red Fleet has no limit on walleye, and all walleye must be killed and removed — do not release them back into the reservoir. Note: The new washing station is up and running. Be sure to clean, drain and dry any equipment or gear used in the water, including boats, jet skis, pull-behind floats, skis, kneeboards, fishing gear and other damp equipment.Sheep Creek Lake
2010-09-29
SlowFishing has been slow. As the summer progresses, it's getting more difficult to find places to cast without interference from weeds. Float tubes and small boats (like a canoe or float tube) make it easier to locate weed-free areas.Spirit Lake
2010-09-29
GoodFishing for rainbows and small tiger trout has been fair to good from shore, small boats (like canoes) and float tubes. Fishing is better during the cooler hours. Commercial trout baits, worm-and-marshmallow combinations and a wide variety of small flashy lures and flies are all working well. Remember that the fish in high-mountain lakes can often be finicky. If one bait, lure or fly doesn't work, just switch to another.Starvation Reservoir
2010-09-29
FairAnglers report good fishing for rainbows and perch, and fair fishing for bass and walleye. Check out the rocky points, inlets and shallow bays. Try fishing parallel and close to the shoreline in the early morning and late evening. Big fish often cruise the shore looking for newly hatched fry and terrestrial insects washed in by the waves.Steinaker Reservoir
2010-09-29
GoodAnglers report good fishing for rainbows, bass and bluegill. You'll do equally well fishing with baits and lures from the shoreline or from boats. Bass and bluegill may be in the shallows or in water up to 25 feet deep. The Family Fishing Event is over for 2010. Anglers turned in 136 tags, and the grand prize went to a four-year-old. Also, approximately 13,000 albino rainbows were stocked last fall, so do not be surprised if you catch a very pale fish with pink eyes.