SOUTHERN UTAH — Now that spring is in the air, many in Southern Utah are angling for their chance to hit their favorite fishing hole. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources recently released its spring fishing report to give anglers information regarding ice, water levels and new restrictions.

Anglers should note that regulations returned to standard at Minersville Reservoir. This means only artificial flies and lures may be used and only one trout over 22 inches may be kept. These restrictions also forbid the use of scented or salted soft plastics.

“We lift the restrictions and double the limits during drought years to avoid a massive die-off due to low water levels,” said Richard Hepworth, aquatics manager at Utah DWR.

Navajo Lake is still recovering from a 2021 treatment of rotenone to remove invasive fish, Hepworth told St. George News. Future fish to be stocked include rainbow trout, tiger trout, splake trout and tiger muskie. The staff hopes multiple predator fish will help prevent Utah chub from regaining dominance in the lake.

Typically, spring provides some of the most exciting fishing of the year for largemouth bass in Washington County reservoirs, said Hepworth. This spring will be “interesting” for fishermen who will be vying for fish who aren’t competing for food.

“We had a few years of rough drought and fish trying to survive in little water,” he said. “Now we have a year with significant snowpack and rainfall. So there will be plenty of water, and with that comes plenty of food, but not as many fish. So the ones that are there might be hard to catch.”

Check out these fishing tips and reservoir conditions from the Southern Utah’s Division of Wildlife Resources experts.

Baker

Ten-inch rainbow trout were stocked in Baker Reservoir last fall. Most anglers fish with popular baits, but flies and lures also work well. Fishing will begin to slow down in late spring as temperatures rise and the reservoir is drawn down for irrigation use.

Duck Creek/Aspen Mirror

Access to Duck Creek Pond is usually good in early to mid-April. Aspen Mirror Lake is typically accessible by early to mid-May. Access to both may be later this year due to the abundant snowpack. Spring fishing can be good to excellent, but expect to see crowds on the weekends.

Enterprise

Due to an abundance of snow and cold temperatures this year, ice-off is projected for the end of March or early April. As the snow melts and the reservoirs fill, you can often expect the water to be murky or muddy. Hungry rainbow trout often provide good to excellent fishing as the water temperature warms and triggers feeding. Smallmouth bass remain sluggish until late spring.

Gunlock

Fishing is often best after multiple days of calm, warm weather. Fish will be fairly inactive for a few days after a storm or cold front. During the early spring, look for bass to begin moving into shallow water during the afternoon on temperate days. Bluegill and black crappie will also be getting more active during the spring and will spawn later than the bass do. Because it’s higher in elevation, spring fishing at Gunlock Reservoir tends to lag a couple weeks behind other reservoirs.

Kolob

Kolob Reservoir is closed to bait fishing until May 20, 2023. Ice comes off around the same time that access opens up — usually in mid-April — although with this year’s snowpack it could be May. Rainbow and tiger trout are abundant.

Minersville

The reservoir is usually ice-free by mid-to-late March. Rainbow trout begin patrolling the shorelines looking for food and a place to spawn as soon as the ice off, providing great fishing throughout April and May. Many anglers fish with nymphs, but streamers, balanced leeches and midge dries can also produce well. Spin anglers catch rainbow trout with marabou jigs, spinners, spoons and unscented plastics. For wipers, use lures and flies that imitate chubs and crayfish.

Navajo Lake

Rainbow and tiger trout will be stocked in May and June providing fishing opportunities for summer to supplement last year’s stocks. There are regulations in place for the tiger muskie; harvest limit is one fish and it must be over 40 inches in length to be kept. Tiger muskies less than 40 inches must be released to keep the chub population in check. Other fish will be stocked in small sizes throughout the year.

Newcastle

Rainbow trout begin patrolling the shorelines looking for food and a place to spawn as soon as the ice comes off. Most popular baits, lures, jigs and flies can produce good fishing. For wipers, use lures and flies that imitate shiners and crayfish. As spring progresses into May, trout feed actively on the surface during mornings and evenings, while moving into deeper water during the day.

Panguitch Lake

Spring brings hungry trout into the shallows to feed along with some of the best fishing of the year. While some anglers think that ice-off fishing only happens while the ice is melting, fishermen can catch fish for up to one month after. Excellent fishing for all trout species with various tackle, the report states. Boat and float tube anglers can also find good success in the spring but remember, a lot of fish are close to shore so anglers should fish in the shallows.

Red Creek

Ice comes off around the same time that access opens up, usually in early-to-mid April. Spring fishing is good to excellent for abundant tiger trout, and you can also catch cutthroat and rainbow trout. Various lures, jigs and flies are effective, while natural baits like nightcrawlers and cut bait — pieces of minnow, chub or sucker — tend to work better than PowerBait.

Pine Valley

Stocking of rainbow trout begins in May. Before that, you can usually catch a few fish that were carried over from the previous year. An occasional tiger trout may be caught, though most of the stocking for this species is done in May and June.

Quail Creek State Park

Trout are caught from both shore and boat using popular trout techniques. Bait, spinners, flies and trolling all produce good results. Spring provides some of the most exciting fishing of the year for largemouth bass at Washington County reservoirs, though fishing is not always consistent. Spring is a time of change for warm-water fish, and they are highly affected by daily weather patterns. Your best guide for spring fishing conditions is the weather forecast. Fishing is often best after multiple days of calm, warm weather.

Sand Hollow Reservoir

During the early spring, look for bass to begin moving into shallow water during the afternoon on temperate days. This activity continues as water warms into the upper 50s. Once the water reaches 60 degrees, the bass get even more active and start spawning. Bluegill and black crappie will also be getting more active during the spring and will spawn a little later than the bass do.

Tushar Mountain

Access to Little Reservoir typically opens in mid-to-late April, followed by Kent’s Lakes in early-to-late May and the highest lakes, LaBaron and Puffer,  in late May to mid-June. Heavy snowpack this winter may cause access to these lakes opening even later. Rainbow trout are stocked soon after the lakes are accessible.

Yankee Meadows

Access opens in early-to-mid April — although, due to heavy snowpack, access might not be available until May. Spring fishing is typically good to excellent as trout start actively feeding. Rainbow, brook and cutthroat trout are abundant.

For the most up-to-date information on reservoir openings and fishing conditions, visit the Utah Department of Wildlife website.

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