The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources has released the following fishing report for many popular fishing waters throughout the state:
LAKE POWELL: Stripers are feeding quickly during their prime feeding times. At first and last light there is a brief flurry of feeding. At this time, these fish are as susceptible to angling as all stripers are when they decide to eat. They grab anything close to their mouths when in feeding mode. The fishing window lasts for about 20 minutes. Those that have been successful are camped near the action and waiting when the sky lightens in the morning. Once a feeding location is known, an angler could be waiting at the right spot to get five quick fish. Find them one day and return to the same spot the next for consistent action. During daylight, fishing is tough with only a random boil that could happen anytime, any place and then not repeat. For this week the best bet is to fish for bass around shad schools located in the backs of many brushy coves. Surface lures tossed near brush (with shad) are being whacked with regularity both morning and evening. During the day plastic tubes and drop-shot shad baits are working on the deep water side of brushy shad coves. Fish 25 feet for best action on keeper-sized fish.
Northern Region
BEAR LAKE: Lake trout are coming close to shore in order to spawn, and some anglers have received citations for trying to catch the fish. Fishing action is fair. Biologist Scott Tolentino says the fish are getting aggressive, which improves fishing.
DAVIS COUNTY URBAN PONDS: Conservation Officer Keith Fullenkamp reports urban pond fishing is fast and furious right now for the fall-stocked rainbow trout. Anglers report phenomenal success at Farmington and Kaysville Ponds using PowerBait. Please remember the daily bag and possession limits and report any observed poaching to the UTIP hotline at 1-800-662-DEER.
EAST CANYON RESERVOIR: Two anglers reported catching about 20 fish on flatfish run (of which they kept six) with about ten colors on weighted line.
LOST CREEK RESERVOIR: Conservation Officer Keith Fullenkamp reports that anglers are catching their limit of nice rainbows and cutthroats by trolling with pop gear.
ROCKPORT STATE PARK: Joseph Donnell reports that fishing continues to be really good for trout, including some nice tigers. Most anglers are trolling with pop gear and worms, Rapalas or other favorite lures. He spoke with one group that quickly limited out after going 20 feet down. The small mouth bass are still active even with the cold water temperatures. The water temperature is around 51 degrees. Anglers also report that bank fishing continues to be fair. Day use fees have been reduced to $5.
WEBER RIVER: Biologist Paul Thompson reports that flows are excellent for fishing, and that fishing is fair overall. Try using spinners/Rapalas or typical nymphs. Brown trout are beginning to spawn, so please watch where you walk in streams and avoid redds.
Central Region
DEER CREEK RESERVOIR: Anglers report fair to good success from both boats and the shoreline. Walleye success is slow to fair. Bass success is fair with various action lures. 50,000 catchable rainbow trout are scheduled to be stocked this month. Please remember that the trout limit is four fish statewide, unless otherwise noted in the 2008 Fishing Guidebook. The yellow perch limit is 10. Remember that the bass limit is six, and you should immediately release all bass over 12 inches long. The walleye limit is 10, but you may keep only one over 24 inches.
JORDANELLE RESERVOIR: Anglers report that smallmouth bass success is fair. Use action lures and jigs and focus on points, submerged structures or deeper drop-off shoreline areas. Trout success is fair and trout have been biting from both boat and shoreline (mostly by using PowerBait). The bass limit is six fish, and you should immediately release all bass over 12 inches long. Please remember not to fillet bass or remove their heads or tails because of the size restriction (for law enforcement purposes). Perch success is slow, but the perch limit is 50.
STRAWBERRY RESERVOIR: Anglers report fair to good success for trout. Lots of float tubers and boaters are using the reservoir. Kokanee salmon spawn is tapering off, but the tributaries are still closed to angling. In response to an angler question about catching rainbows, Strawberry Project Leader Alan Ward said that "the best, most consistent method for rainbows is still fishing with bait. Green PowerBait and worms typically provide the best bite. Try fishing in about 20-25 feet of water. We are getting more and more reports of anglers catching the rainbows we stocked this year. So you may also pick up some smaller rainbows, 12 to 14 inches, trolling.
"However, now is the best time to catch big cutthroat. They have moved shallow and are chasing the chubs around. I talked with an angler today who had his line broken off twice by big cutts, and landed several over 22 inches after he switched to heavier line. Most people are fishing shallow and near shore with chub imitating lures (like pointer minnows, rapalas and even frozen minnows). Tube jigs can also work well. Some people are having fun sight-casting at boils. (You will see the large cutts chasing schools of small chubs out of the water.) You could also try drifting with a tube or curly tailed jig tipped with some frozen minnow."
UTAH LAKE: Anglers report success for white bass and channel cats in several spots throughout the lake. The largemouth and smallmouth bass limit is six, and you should immediately release all largemouth and smallmouth bass over 12 inches long. For more information on conditions, call 801-375-0731.
YUBA RESERVOIR: Anglers report slow success all species. However anglers report occasional northern pike success with some patience and large spinner lures or minnow-imitating action lures. For more information, call the State Park at 435-758-2611.
PROVO RIVER: Anglers continue to report fair to good success with small nymphs or surface flies. The brown trout are starting to get aggressive with the approaching November spawn. Try a spinner for some good success. Read the 2008 Fishing Guidebook to learn more about the different regulations on the river. Some areas allow bait and others do not. And some stretches have size restrictions and reduced limits (like "two brown trout under 15 inches").