Fishing Report for Northern Utah September 19, 2012

BEAR LAKE: (September 19) For recorded updates on water temperatures and lake conditions, call 435-946-8501.

BIRCH CREEK RESERVOIR: (September 19) Fall is typically the best time to fish this reservoir. Try CountDown Rapalas (in brown trout color) or streamers. Be prepared for cold mornings and windy afternoons.

BLACKSMITH FORK RIVER: (September 19) Volunteer Trevor Plowman reports that fishing was fair. There were equal numbers of anglers with fly rods and spinning rods. They were catching 12- to 14-inch brown trout, using grasshoppers, bait or caddis flies.

BOUNTIFUL LAKE: (September 19) Utah's community fisheries will be stocked with trout this fall. Check the DWR stocking report for details on when the lake was last stocked.

CAUSEY RESERVOIR: (September 19) Biologist Chris Penne reports that fishing is good for tiger trout in the morning. Try using crayfish imitations or diving crankbaits. The reservoir is closed to the possession of kokanee salmon with any red color (within the high-water mark of the reservoir) from Aug. 15 through 6 a.m. on Sept. 29.

CUTLER RESERVOIR & MARSH: (September 19) Volunteer Doug Plowman reports that anglers who fished for crappie with a single-tail jig and a float had the most success. Some anglers also caught perch and smallmouth bass with a leech. Angler pressure is light.

EAST CANYON RESERVOIR & STATE PARK: (September 19) Park Manager James Lowe reports that fishing has been slow. Water levels are dropping very quickly. The boat ramp is down to a single mud-covered lane.

ECHO RESERVOIR: (September 19) Volunteer Kade Bambrough reports that water levels remain low while the dam is under repair. Fishing has been very slow. There were 26 entries in last week's catfishing derby, which produced a total of two fish. Some anglers report fair perch fishing. You cannot launch a boat from a trailer because water levels are well below the launching area. The daily bag and possession limit has been increased to eight trout. This increase will remain in effect until January 1, 2013.

FARMINGTON POND: (September 19) Utah's community fisheries will be stocked with trout this fall. Check the DWR stocking report for details on when the pond was last stocked.

HOLMES CREEK RESERVOIR: (September 19) Fishing should improve with cooler temperatures. Check the DWR stocking report for details on when the reservoir was last stocked.

HYRUM RESERVOIR & STATE PARK: (September 19) Boating anglers who fished for bass seemed to have the most success with drop shot rigs. Shore anglers caught fish with worms and PowerBait. Most catches consisted of rainbows, perch and bass. The trout ranged from 12 to 15 inches, and the bass and perch were approximately 9 to 10 inches.

JENSEN NATURE PARK POND: (September 19) Utah's community fisheries will be stocked with trout this fall. Check the DWR stocking report for details on when the pond was last stocked.

KAYSVILLE PONDS: (September 19) Utah's community fisheries will be stocked with trout this fall. Check the DWR stocking report for details on when the ponds were last stocked.

LITTLE CREEK RESERVOIR: (September 19) Check the DWR stocking report for details on when the reservoir was last stocked.

LOGAN RIVER: (September 19) Volunteer Trevor Plowman reports that fishing has been fair to good. Most anglers had some success catching 9- to 15-inch rainbows, using hamburger and salmon eggs. A mixture of bread and tuna, PowerBait and eggs also worked reasonably well. Nightcrawlers and spinning bait were not as successful. On the upper stretches of the river, anglers were catching browns and cutthroats. The fish ranged from 7 to 15 inches. Try using an adult mayfly, a grasshopper or a caddis fly. Fish were caught on the surface of the water, and fishing seemed to be equally good in the mornings and evenings. The Right Hand Fork of the Logan River is going to be chemically treated on Sept. 19 and 20. The treatment will remove non-native brown trout, which will be replaced with native Bonneville cutthroat trout. The limit will be eight trout until Jan. 1, 2013.

LOST CREEK RESERVOIR: (September 19) Aquatics Technician Seth Green reports that fishing has been fair for rainbow and cutthroat trout. Shore anglers have had the best success with various colors of PowerBait (floated six to 12 inches off the bottom). It is still possible to launch a boat, and boat anglers are catching fish while trolling various lures (popgear and a worm, wedding rings and various Rapala patterns). Fish are located from the surface to about 30 feet down. The water is cooling, so anglers can expect the fish to move into shallow water in the coming weeks. Make sure you are aware of the regulations at Lost Creek: There is a total trout limit of four fish. You are allowed to keep three trout under 15 inches and one trout over 22 inches. All fish, including rainbows, from 15 to 22 inches must be immediately released. Conservation officers are patrolling the area regularly.

MANTUA RESERVOIR: (September 19) Volunteer Doug Plowman reports that shore fishing was fair. Anglers were catching 9- to 12-inch rainbows on PowerBait. They used Skitterwalk Rapalas and spinner bait for bass.

MIRROR LAKE: (September 19) Fall fishing is at its best! Try using renegades, Parachute Adams, elk hair caddis and black ants. Several lakes were stocked with 12-inch tiger trout just after Labor Day. Washington Lake has low water levels and good fishing.

NEWTON RESERVOIR: (September 19) Volunteer Doug Plowman reports that the water is very low, thick and green. Boating access is difficult, so anglers are primarily shore fishing. Fishing is slow for tiger muskies. Bass anglers are catching some small fish (seven or eight inches) with spinner bait (rooster tails).

OGDEN RIVER: (September 19) The water level is low, and the river is very clear in the canyon. Fly anglers are doing well on standard nymph patterns, including hares' ears, Prince nymphs, pheasant tails, and copper Johns. Spinners have also been producing fish.

PINEVIEW RESERVOIR: (September 19) Volunteer Kade Bambrough reports that anglers are catching a few smallmouth bass around the narrows (towards the dam) and on rock structures around Browning Point. Fishing for tiger muskies is fair. Some anglers have caught them on broken back Rapalas, but it took patience and persistence to land the big fish. Several groups of anglers are targeting perch, and they are catching a lot of small fish. They are fishing with light tackle and small pieces of worm near the bottom. A few of them have actually hooked muskies instead of perch. One lucky fisherwoman landed a 40-inch muskie on six-pound test line for the second time in a week!

PORCUPINE RESERVOIR: (September 19) Volunteer Trevor Plowman reports that the water level is low. Launching boats may be difficult. Anglers haven't had much success. The reservoir is closed to the possession of kokanee salmon with any red color from Aug. 15 through 6 a.m. on Sept. 29. Also keep in mind that the East Fork Little Bear River and its tributaries (from Porcupine Reservoir upstream to the headwaters) are closed from Aug. 15 through 6 a.m. on Sept. 29.

ROCKPORT RESERVOIR: (September 19) Joseph Hamby reports that fishing has been fair in the early mornings but spotty later in the day. The cooler weather should improve fishing. Boaters have used lures, worms and PowerBait. The trout seem to be in the deeper, cooler water. Reports from shoreline anglers are also better in the mornings. Worms with marshmallows and PowerBait have been good bait choices. The smallmouth bass are in the rocky areas and around the docks. The water temperature is around 72 degrees. The new fish-cleaning station is done. It has a large surface, more sprayers and an automatic grinder.

WEBER RIVER: (September 19) Biologist Paul Thompson reports that the Weber River continues to fish very well with standard nymphs. Hares' ears, Prince nymphs, pheasant tails, scuds/sow bugs and midges should work well. With the recent warm weather, fishing has been the best in the morning or late evening. If you feel adventurous, try streamers (sculpin patterns, mice and brown or black buggers) after dark when some of the larger browns are more active. Spinners and crankbaits have also been working well. Before fishing, you can check flow releases from Rockport and Echo reservoirs at USGS gauging stations.

WILLARD BAY RESERVOIR: (September 19) Park Ranger Mert Russo reports that fishing is fair to good for catfish and bass. Try fishing near the rocks. Biologist Drew Cushing reports that boat fishing for wipers is good if you pitch white bass spinnerbaits and crankbaits towards shore. Fishing for walleye and catfish is slow to fair, using bottom bouncers and worm harnesses.