A brand new community fishing pond -- Cove Pond

When these new community ponds open, the fishing is usually fast and furious!

The community ponds also draw a lot of kids and families: with Memorial Day weekend and the high price of gas, we anticipate a big crowd at the pond on Saturday.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at noon.


If you'd like more info. about what should be a fun Memorial Day weekend event, please contact Drew Cushing with the DWR at 230-6119 or Danie Bills with Herriman City at 557-0345.

Directions to the pond:

From I-15, take Bangerter Highway exit 289, and travel west to 13400 S. Head west to 6400 W., turn south and travel on 6400 W. (Rose Canyon Road). Turn west at 13875 S., and continue on Rose Canyon Rd. to about 6900 W. The pond and parking are on the south side of the road.

Big Pike at Recapture Reservoir

Fish Doing Well in Recapture Reservoir

Blanding -- If you’re an angler, what biologists found in Recapture Reservoir recently might grab your attention.

During the week of April 9, Division of Wildlife Resources aquatic biologists Justin Hart and Kenny Breidinger conducted a gillnetting survey at the reservoir about three miles north of Blanding.

They were excited by what they found.

Many of the northern pike they collected measured 18 to 24 inches in length. Several of the pike measured as long as 31 inches and tipped the scale at eight pounds.

Their netting also revealed a number of very robust 11- to 14-inch largemouth bass. They also collected good numbers of black bullheads that weighed in at two pounds each.

Hart offers some advice to help you cash in on the cache of fish at
Recapture:

For largemouth bass, try a chartreuse or pumpkin-colored 3- to 4-inch curly tail grub, hooked into a ¼ oz. white or pink jighead. Fish this rig slowly along the bottom.

Another rig you might try involves using a 6-inch pumpkin-colored rubber worm. Rig the worm weedless on a bass worm hook, and place a single piece of split shot about 15 inches above the worm. This rig should also be fished slowly along the bottom.

Boaters who like to troll for northern pike might try a medium-diving Berkley Frenzy in a crawdad color, or a double-jointed silver Canadian Wiggler. Northern pike and largemouth bass can also be caught by casting crankbaits, spinners or large jigs along the shorelines and near other underwater structure.

As the water warms, topwater lures should also produce fish in the mornings and evenings.

Bullhead anglers should try dropping weighted worms or commercial catfish baits to the bottom of the reservoir.

For more information about fishing at Recapture Reservoir, call the DWR’s Southeastern Region office at (435) 636-0260.

FISHING REPORT FOR THE CENTRAL REGION OF UTAH

CENTRAL REGION

Send your central region fishing tips to: scottroot@utah.gov or to DWR’s new fishing forum at www.wildlife.utah.gov (under the “fishing” category).

STRAWBERRY RESERVOIR - (April 4) Officer Paul Davis and Strawberry Project Leader Alan Ward both report that the mouth of the rivers feeding the reservoir are starting to open up.” The ladders has considerable open water now. Still reports thick ice over 14 inches on much of the reservoir still. Fishing success is fair. ATV’s and snowmobiles not recommended because they may get stuck and the edges will be softening up soon. Wear waterproof boots. Anglers report that early morning hours are best and many different types of bait-tipped jigs are producing fish. Move around to different locations and fish at different depths until you find the schools of fish. Regulations for the reservoir include: Limit 4 trout or kokanee salmon in the aggregate. No more than 2 may be cutthroat trout under 15 inches and no more than 1 may be a cutthroat over 22 inches in length. All cutthroat between 15 and 22 inches must be immediately released (any trout with cutthroat markings is considered a cutthroat). Don't feel compelled to harvest fish on every trip. Please do your part to ensure the future of this heavily utilized fishery by voluntarily releasing fish!

JORDANELLE RESERVOIR (April 4) Open water and boat anglers report good success by trolling with various lures and jigs. Shore anglers report fair to good success with baits. Bass limit is 6. All bass over 12 inches must be immediately released.

DEER CREEK RESERVOIR (April 4) Open water! Officer Paul Davis reports “Deer Creek is crowded and the fishing from boats and float tubes seem to be effective. Shore fishing is slow but they are catching a few.”
Bass limit 6. All bass over 12 inches must be immediately released. Walleye limit has been increased this year to 10 but only one over 24 inches may be kept.

UTAH LAKE - (April 4) Officer Bagley reports “The Lake is open water. White bass fishing and large mouth bass are being caught near Mill Race (SW Provo). Limited success on walleye.” Officer Chad Bettridge reports “The white bass have picked up quite a lot in all of the marinas. They have also caught some big catfish at both the State Park and Lindon. The walleye have started stacking at the reclamation plant and Sandy Beach. Remind anglers of the regulations on the tributaries.” Try twist tail grubs or minnows for best luck on walleye. Lake level is high. tributaries to Utah Lake are closed from March 1st to May 1st Walleye limit has been changed this year to 10 but only one can be over 24 inches. There is no limit on white bass. largemouth and smallmouth bass limit is 6...but... All largemouth and smallmouth bass over 12 inches must be immediately released. For more information on conditions call Utah Lake State Park at (801) 375-0731.

YUBA RESERVOIR (April 4) Officer Jay Topham report “I have been to yuba several times. Fishing for trout has been good. Use a jakes spin a lure in the gravel beds to catch them spawning. Some are catching them on bait to. The perch are starting to show up. Some people are catching them. You may put in the letter that all perch must me immdiately released.” For more info call the State Park @ 435-758-2611.

PROVO RIVER (April 4) Officer Dave Swenson reports “The middle Provo river is fishing quite well using midge patterns, emergers, and blue wings. Fish midday as the hatches come off.” Two Notices- #1: Just received notice that a Drop Structure will be removed from the middle section of the Provo River located just downstream from Jordanelle Dam beginning on April 9th. Work is expected to last for about one month. The drop structure is a sill placed across the river channel many years ago to back water up so that water could be diverted for irrigation. To try and minimize impacts to anglers, work will not be performed in the river channel from Friday to Sunday during this time. During construction, some muddy water will go down stream during work hours.

Notice #2: tributaries to Utah Lake are closed from March 1st to May 1st (see proclamation for specifics).
Please read the proclamation for regulations since there are different regs on different stretches of the Provo. For example, Between Charleston Bridge and the Legacy Bridge (near Midway) the use of bait is allowed and a standard limit of 4 trout (any trout species and any size). Do your part to prevent the spread of WHIRLING DISEASE by cleaning mud from waders and equipment. DO NOT TRANSPORT any parts of fish caught here to other waters.

Little Dell Reservoir (April 4) Fair to good fishing for the cutts on this “artificial fly and lure only water” Remember that it is also a “Catch and Release only” water!

BURRASTON PONDS - (April 4) Fair to good fishing success.

DIAMOND FORK RIVER - (April 4) Success continues to be reported as “slow to fair” using flies, lures or bait. NOTICE: The DWR treated the stream in September of 2006 with rotenone from Three Forks to it’s headwaters to remove all fish (mostly browns). Over 20,000 Bonneville cutthroat trout fingerlings were stocked on Halloween into this area to help restore this sensitive species and to provide anglers a good sport fishery. The restoration stretch is closed to fishing but the first 10 miles of Diamond Fork (from the turnoff of Hwy 6) is not effected by this treatment and anglers report slow success for brown trout. Remember: that on Diamond Fork...from Springville Crossing to it headwaters is “artificial flies and lures only” and it is closed to the possession of cutthroat trout.

DANIELS CANYON CREEK (April 4) – Clear water and fair to good fishing.

HOBBLE CREEK & CATCH BASIN - (April 4) Slow to fair fishing success.

THISTLE CREEK (April 4) – Officer Shawn Bagley reports light pressure with fair to good success.

SALT LAKE WATERS (April 4) Officer Ray Loken reports “High lakes ( Silver, Red Pine, White Pine, Mary, Twin, etc.) still frozen over and inaccessible.

Mountain Dell Reservoir: Closed to fishing.

Little Dell Reservoir: Special regulations in place (artificial flies and lures only, all cutthroat trout must be immediately released). Little Dell is currently open (ice is gone) and fishing is slow for cutthroat and brook trout.

Mountain Dell Creek (from Little Dell Reservoir water line upstream to headwaters): Special regulations in place (artificial flies and lures only, all cutthroat trout must be immediately released, closed to fishing January 2, 2007 until July 14, 2007).

Mill Creek: Fishing is slow for holdover rainbow trout stocked last summer.

Big Cottonwood Creek: Fishing is slow for brook trout and rainbow trout in the upper reaches of the creek and slow for brown trout in the middle and lower reaches of the stream. Anglers with experience in wintertime stream fishing will have better success than those using bait fishing techniques that are effective in the summer.”

Officer Mike Roach reports “Willow pond is fishing well although the weather has been a little colder. It does not appear that the other Urban ponds have not receive any fish this year. The Jordan river is running very high and you should stay clear of the banks and water. I checked fisher persons on big cottonwood creek and they are catching small brown trout. People are starting to fish Little Del Res. and when the weather is good fishing can be good.”

AMERICAN FORK RIVER - (April 4) Fair success by using flies or worms. Light fishing pressure.

TIBBLE FORK RESERVOIR (April 4) – Open water. Success is reported as fair by using traditional baits.

SPANISH OAKS RES. (April 4) – Officer Bagley reports the lake is now open, stocked and has little pressure!

SALEM POND - (April 4) Fishing success is considered “fair” for trout by using worms or powerbait. Keep your eyes open and you might be lucky enough to watch the local osprey (fish hawk) diving for trout!…He has been active on the pond this week. Officer Bagley reminds anglers that the pond is closed to angling at 10:00 p.m. each night. Remember that regulations include: Limit 4 fish (Daily bag and possession limit is a total of 4 fish in the aggregate for all species, for example: 1 trout, 2 channel catfish and 1 bluegill.) Bass, bluegill and channel catfish are also in these waters.

SPRING LAKE - (April 4) Officer Shawn Bagley reports light fishing pressure and “some” success.

PAYSON LAKES – (April 4) Officer Bagley reports Gate is still locked.

Vernon, Granstville & Settlement Canyon Reservoirs (Tooele Co.) (April 4) -
No report this week. Last week’s report indicated reports of fair success. Angler Ken Broadhead reports “My brother caught a 42 inch 17.8 lb brown in Grantsville Reservoir. His name is Robert Broadhead. He caught the brown on a bubble and fly and on 4 lb test line.”

MILL HOLLOW - Drained! No fish until 2009!

SANPETE CO. WATERS (April 4) – Ice is off Palisade, Nine Mile and Gunnison. Officer Bradley reports slow to fair success.

Email your fishing reports on central region waters to scottroot@utah.gov

FISHING REPORT FOR THE CENTRAL REGION OF UTAH

STRAWBERRY RESERVOIR - (April 4) Officer Paul Davis and Strawberry Project Leader Alan Ward both report that the mouth of the rivers feeding the reservoir are starting to open up.” The ladders has considerable open water now. Still reports thick ice over 14 inches on much of the reservoir still. Fishing success is fair. ATV’s and snowmobiles not recommended because they may get stuck and the edges will be softening up soon. Wear waterproof boots. Anglers report that early morning hours are best and many different types of bait-tipped jigs are producing fish. Move around to different locations and fish at different depths until you find the schools of fish. Regulations for the reservoir include: Limit 4 trout or kokanee salmon in the aggregate. No more than 2 may be cutthroat trout under 15 inches and no more than 1 may be a cutthroat over 22 inches in length. All cutthroat between 15 and 22 inches must be immediately released (any trout with cutthroat markings is considered a cutthroat). Don't feel compelled to harvest fish on every trip. Please do your part to ensure the future of this heavily utilized fishery by voluntarily releasing fish!

JORDANELLE RESERVOIR (April 4) Open water and boat anglers report good success by trolling with various lures and jigs. Shore anglers report fair to good success with baits. Bass limit is 6. All bass over 12 inches must be immediately released.

DEER CREEK RESERVOIR (April 4) Open water! Officer Paul Davis reports “Deer Creek is crowded and the fishing from boats and float tubes seem to be effective. Shore fishing is slow but they are catching a few.”
Bass limit 6. All bass over 12 inches must be immediately released. Walleye limit has been increased this year to 10 but only one over 24 inches may be kept.

UTAH LAKE - (April 4) Officer Bagley reports “The Lake is open water. White bass fishing and large mouth bass are being caught near Mill Race (SW Provo). Limited success on walleye.” Officer Chad Bettridge reports “The white bass have picked up quite a lot in all of the marinas. They have also caught some big catfish at both the State Park and Lindon. The walleye have started stacking at the reclamation plant and Sandy Beach. Remind anglers of the regulations on the tributaries.” Try twist tail grubs or minnows for best luck on walleye. Lake level is high. tributaries to Utah Lake are closed from March 1st to May 1st Walleye limit has been changed this year to 10 but only one can be over 24 inches. There is no limit on white bass. largemouth and smallmouth bass limit is 6...but... All largemouth and smallmouth bass over 12 inches must be immediately released. For more information on conditions call Utah Lake State Park at (801) 375-0731.

YUBA RESERVOIR (April 4) Officer Jay Topham report “I have been to yuba several times. Fishing for trout has been good. Use a jakes spin a lure in the gravel beds to catch them spawning. Some are catching them on bait to. The perch are starting to show up. Some people are catching them. You may put in the letter that all perch must me immdiately released.” For more info call the State Park @ 435-758-2611.

PROVO RIVER (April 4) Officer Dave Swenson reports “The middle Provo river is fishing quite well using midge patterns, emergers, and blue wings. Fish midday as the hatches come off.” Two Notices- #1: Just received notice that a Drop Structure will be removed from the middle section of the Provo River located just downstream from Jordanelle Dam beginning on April 9th. Work is expected to last for about one month. The drop structure is a sill placed across the river channel many years ago to back water up so that water could be diverted for irrigation. To try and minimize impacts to anglers, work will not be performed in the river channel from Friday to Sunday during this time. During construction, some muddy water will go down stream during work hours.

Notice #2: tributaries to Utah Lake are closed from March 1st to May 1st (see proclamation for specifics).
Please read the proclamation for regulations since there are different regs on different stretches of the Provo. For example, Between Charleston Bridge and the Legacy Bridge (near Midway) the use of bait is allowed and a standard limit of 4 trout (any trout species and any size). Do your part to prevent the spread of WHIRLING DISEASE by cleaning mud from waders and equipment. DO NOT TRANSPORT any parts of fish caught here to other waters.

Little Dell Reservoir (April 4) Fair to good fishing for the cutts on this “artificial fly and lure only water” Remember that it is also a “Catch and Release only” water!

BURRASTON PONDS - (April 4) Fair to good fishing success.

DIAMOND FORK RIVER - (April 4) Success continues to be reported as “slow to fair” using flies, lures or bait. NOTICE: The DWR treated the stream in September of 2006 with rotenone from Three Forks to it’s headwaters to remove all fish (mostly browns). Over 20,000 Bonneville cutthroat trout fingerlings were stocked on Halloween into this area to help restore this sensitive species and to provide anglers a good sport fishery. The restoration stretch is closed to fishing but the first 10 miles of Diamond Fork (from the turnoff of Hwy 6) is not effected by this treatment and anglers report slow success for brown trout. Remember: that on Diamond Fork...from Springville Crossing to it headwaters is “artificial flies and lures only” and it is closed to the possession of cutthroat trout.

DANIELS CANYON CREEK (April 4) – Clear water and fair to good fishing.

HOBBLE CREEK & CATCH BASIN - (April 4) Slow to fair fishing success.

THISTLE CREEK (April 4) – Officer Shawn Bagley reports light pressure with fair to good success.

SALT LAKE WATERS (April 4) Officer Ray Loken reports “High lakes ( Silver, Red Pine, White Pine, Mary, Twin, etc.) still frozen over and inaccessible.

Mountain Dell Reservoir: Closed to fishing.

Little Dell Reservoir: Special regulations in place (artificial flies and lures only, all cutthroat trout must be immediately released). Little Dell is currently open (ice is gone) and fishing is slow for cutthroat and brook trout.

Mountain Dell Creek (from Little Dell Reservoir water line upstream to headwaters): Special regulations in place (artificial flies and lures only, all cutthroat trout must be immediately released, closed to fishing January 2, 2007 until July 14, 2007).

Mill Creek: Fishing is slow for holdover rainbow trout stocked last summer.

Big Cottonwood Creek: Fishing is slow for brook trout and rainbow trout in the upper reaches of the creek and slow for brown trout in the middle and lower reaches of the stream. Anglers with experience in wintertime stream fishing will have better success than those using bait fishing techniques that are effective in the summer.”

Officer Mike Roach reports “Willow pond is fishing well although the weather has been a little colder. It does not appear that the other Urban ponds have not receive any fish this year. The Jordan river is running very high and you should stay clear of the banks and water. I checked fisher persons on big cottonwood creek and they are catching small brown trout. People are starting to fish Little Del Res. and when the weather is good fishing can be good.”

AMERICAN FORK RIVER - (April 4) Fair success by using flies or worms. Light fishing pressure.

TIBBLE FORK RESERVOIR (April 4) – Open water. Success is reported as fair by using traditional baits.

SPANISH OAKS RES. (April 4) – Officer Bagley reports the lake is now open, stocked and has little pressure!

SALEM POND - (April 4) Fishing success is considered “fair” for trout by using worms or powerbait. Keep your eyes open and you might be lucky enough to watch the local osprey (fish hawk) diving for trout!…He has been active on the pond this week. Officer Bagley reminds anglers that the pond is closed to angling at 10:00 p.m. each night. Remember that regulations include: Limit 4 fish (Daily bag and possession limit is a total of 4 fish in the aggregate for all species, for example: 1 trout, 2 channel catfish and 1 bluegill.) Bass, bluegill and channel catfish are also in these waters.

SPRING LAKE - (April 4) Officer Shawn Bagley reports light fishing pressure and “some” success.

PAYSON LAKES – (April 4) Officer Bagley reports Gate is still locked.

Vernon, Granstville & Settlement Canyon Reservoirs (Tooele Co.) (April 4) -
No report this week. Last week’s report indicated reports of fair success. Angler Ken Broadhead reports “My brother caught a 42 inch 17.8 lb brown in Grantsville Reservoir. His name is Robert Broadhead. He caught the brown on a bubble and fly and on 4 lb test line.”

MILL HOLLOW - Drained! No fish until 2009!

SANPETE CO. WATERS (April 4) – Ice is off Palisade, Nine Mile and Gunnison. Officer Bradley reports slow to fair success.

Email your fishing reports on central region waters to scottroot@utah.gov

FISHING REPORT FOR THE CENTRAL REGION OF UTAH

STRAWBERRY RESERVOIR - (March 13) Ice fishing still occurring and anglers report fair success. About the only “ice-fishable” water in the central region. Ice is 16+ inches with a layer of slush on top. ATV’s and snowmobiles not recommended because they may get stuck. Anglers report that early morning hours are best and many different types of bait-tipped jigs are producing fish. Move around to different locations and fish at different depths until you find the schools of fish. Regulations for the reservoir include: Limit 4 trout or kokanee salmon in the aggregate. No more than 2 may be cutthroat trout under 15 inches and no more than 1 may be a cutthroat over 22 inches in length. All cutthroat between 15 and 22 inches must be immediately released (any trout with cutthroat markings is considered a cutthroat). Don't feel compelled to harvest fish on every trip. Please do your part to ensure the future of this heavily utilized fishery by voluntarily releasing fish!

JORDANELLE RESERVOIR (March 13) Getting more and more open water. Ice is weak, especially around the edges so please don’t ice fish at this time. Bass limit is 6. All bass over 12 inches must be immediately released.

DEER CREEK RESERVOIR (March 13) Unsafe ice. Expect ice-off in the near future. Bass limit 6. All bass over 12 inches must be immediately released. Walleye limit has been increased this year to 10 but only one over 24 inches may be kept.

UTAH LAKE - (March 13) Open water with just a few pockets of ice remaining. Boats can now be launched at the Lincoln Beach ramp. Anglers reporting fair success for white bass. A few small walleye have been caught but walleye success is very slow. tributaries to Utah Lake are closed from March 1st to May 1st Walleye limit has been changed this year to 10 but only one can be over 24 inches. There is no limit on white bass. largemouth and smallmouth bass limit is 6...but... All largemouth and smallmouth bass over 12 inches must be immediately released. For more information on conditions call Utah Lake State Park at (801) 375-0731.

YUBA RESERVOIR (March 13) State Park ranger reports about 15-20 feet of open water along the shoreline. Remaining ice is unsafe. Expect is off soon. Call the state park at (435) 758-2611 for current conditions. Perch success is fair to good BUT, the perch may not be kept at Yuba. For more info call the State Park.

PROVO RIVER (March 13) Good fishing on most stretches of the river. Midge hatches occurring daily and nymph fishing producing good success as well. Notice: tributaries to Utah Lake are closed from March 1st to May 1st (see proclamation for specifics).
Please read the proclamation for regulations since there are different regs on different stretches of the Provo. For example, Between Charleston Bridge and the Legacy Bridge (near Midway) the use of bait is allowed and a standard limit of 4 trout (any trout species and any size). Do your part to prevent the spread of WHIRLING DISEASE by cleaning mud from waders and equipment. DO NOT TRANSPORT any parts of fish caught here to other waters.

BURRASTON PONDS - (March 13) Slow fishing success.

DIAMOND FORK RIVER - (March 13) Success continues to be reported as “slow to fair” using flies, lures or bait. NOTICE: The DWR treated the stream in September of 2006 with rotenone from Three Forks to it’s headwaters to remove all fish (mostly browns). Over 20,000 Bonneville cutthroat trout fingerlings were stocked on Halloween into this area to help restore this sensitive species and to provide anglers a good sport fishery. The restoration stretch is closed to fishing but the first 10 miles of Diamond Fork (from the turnoff of Hwy 6) is not effected by this treatment and anglers report slow success for brown trout. Remember: that on Diamond Fork...from Springville Crossing to it headwaters is “artificial flies and lures only” and it is closed to the possession of cutthroat trout.

HOBBLE CREEK & CATCH BASIN - (March 13) Slow fishing success.

THISTLE CREEK (March 13) –Light pressure with fair success.

SALT LAKE WATERS (March 13) Fishing success is reported to be “fair”. Stocking should begin next month.

AMERICAN FORK RIVER - (March 13) Fair success by using flies or worms. Light fishing pressure.

TIBBLE FORK RESERVOIR (March 13) – Open water now! The inlet is producing some trout by using worms or even flies. Success on the main body of the lake is reported as fair by using traditional baits.

SPANISH OAKS RES. (March 13) – No report this week but expect gate to be locked and no vehicle access to reservoir until March.

SALEM POND - (March 13) Fishing success is considered “fair to good” for trout by using worms or powerbait. Remember that regulations include: Limit 4 fish (Daily bag and possession limit is a total of 4 fish in the aggregate for all species, for example: 1 trout, 2 channel catfish and 1 bluegill.) Bass, bluegill and channel catfish are also in these waters.

SPRING LAKE - (March 13) Slow fishing.

PAYSON LAKES - (March 13) Gate is locked for the season and no vehicle access.

Vernon, Granstville & Settlement Canyon Reservoirs (Tooele Co.) (March 13) -
Open water with reports of fair success.

MILL HOLLOW - Drained! No fish until 2009!

SANPETE CO. WATERS (March 13) – No report this week but expect unsafe ice on many waters and some lower elevation waters will have open water.

Email your fishing reports on central region waters to scottroot@utah.gov