Local Fishing Report

Summer is here and people are hitting the backroads to enjoy the great outdoors around our region including fishing. Here is a sampling of fishing reports from the Division of Wildlife Resources for a few of the local fishing holes popular with locals and visitors alike. The Fish Utah website offers an in-depth, interactive map with updated fishing conditions, detailed location maps, and other information for public fisheries open throughout the state. Check it out at https://wildlife.utah. gov/fishing.

Enterprise Reservoirs: Due to severe drought conditions, water users anticipate Lower Enterprise Reservoir will be drained by late summer, while the upper reservoir will reach its conservation pool very early. In response, emergency changes to daily limits at both reservoirs have been made as follows: 8 trout and 12 Bass. These changes are in effect until October 31, 2021. All other established regulations remain in place. Boat launching conditions are unknown at the upper reservoir - small boats may be able to launch, but larger boats should probably go elsewhere.

Gunlock Reservoir: Due to severe drought conditions, water users anticipate Gunlock Reservoir will be mostly drained by late summer. In response, emergency changes to daily limits have been made as follows: 12 largemouth bass (no size restrictions) and no limit for bluegill or black crappie. These changes are in effect until October 31, 2021. Bass fishing is reported as good to excellent. Bluegill should also be active. surveys found that rainbow and tiger trout are abundant. Many of those fish measure 10-14 inches, though there are some larger fish up to 16 inches. There is also a handful of cutthroat and brook trout. Bait fishing opened on May 15.

Panguitch Lake: Rainbow trout fishing is good to excellent from shore and boat. Anglers are finding good luck with various techniques and tackle. Fishing pressure is high on weekends. DWR’s recent netting surveys confirmed that rainbow trout are abundant in three size classes: 9-10 inches (stocked last fall), 13-14 inches, and 16-18 inches. DWR also found good numbers of tiger trout up to 10 pounds. All fish are healthy and feeding well.

Quail Creek Reservoir: Rainbow trout remain active and provide fair to good fishing from shore, tubes, and boats. Anglers are finding success with a variety of lures, flies, and baits. Largemouth Bass have moved up to the shallows on warm, sunny days looking for warmer water.

Newcastle Reservoir: The water level is low, but boat launching is still possible. The water temperature is near 70 degrees. Fishing is fair to good for fat rainbow trout. Fly anglers have done well with streamers and midge patterns. Trolling and bait fishing are also producing. Wipers have started to get active - a few have been caught on crankbaits and jigs. Target wipers at dawn and dusk during and near the full moon phase. Smallmouth bass are also active.

Sand Hollow Reservoir: Largemouth bass has moved up to the shallows and are active on warm, sunny days.