Flaming Gorge Fishing Reports

 November 18th, 2021

Flaming Gorge

• Good
• Surface temps in the upper 40s/low 50s. Kingfisher cut-through is less than 2 feet deep. 
• Lake trout: Recent fishing reports indicate that lake trout fishing success has improved with some anglers having good days on large and small fish. Patience is key when fishing for lake trout. Lake trout are currently shallow and deep. Some anglers have been catching small lake trout close to shore and shallow. Many fish have moved to spawning locations. Try locating smaller fish in shallow areas near spawning locations and throw jigs, similar to bass fishing. If you don't find them there, try along main channel depths and on structure in 60-100 feet of water. Good lures to try are jigging spoons such as Northland Buckshots or Crippled Herrings, jigging raps and 3.5 inch tube jigs in 1/4-3/8 oz weight and tipped with sucker or chub meat. Trolling lures shallow behind planer boards can work well for large active fish. If trolling lures on downriggers, watch for concentrations and individual fish on your fish finder and if located, vertically jig for them. Small lake trout less than 25-inches are overabundant, causing competition for food and a decrease in growth rates. Please help the resource by harvesting some of these fish. This size class of fish makes exceptional table fare. 
• Kokanee salmon: Kokanee harvest season closed Sept. 10th-Nov. 30th. 
• Rainbow and cutthroat trout: Anglers report catching numerous rainbows from boats casting to shoreline areas and bank fishing has picked up significantly. Try typical lures (spinners, spoons, jigs). 
• Smallmouth bass: No recent reports but success usually drops once water temperature drops below 50 degrees. Crayfish are the main forage for bass in this water. Tube jigs, twist tail grubs, small spinnerbaits, ned rigs, stickbaits, Wackyworms and topwater lures can all work. Remember limit in UT is now only 3 fish and catch and release only in WY. 
• Burbot: Current angling reports indicate slow fishing. Fish will start to move to river arms in preparation for winter spawn. Angling success should increase until ice up. Boat and shore anglers can target burbot on rocky points and shorelines in 10-40 feet of water at night using glow-in-the-dark lures like Yamamoto grubs, Radical Glow tubes, Maniac Cutterbugs, and Northland Buckshot spoons. Tip the lure with sucker/chub meat, recharge glow frequently, and jig or deadstick the presentation a couple inches from the bottom. Please remember all burbot caught must be killed.

Green River below Flaming Gorge Dam

• Good
• Flows: 800
• Dry Flies- Small BWO's 20-24
• Nymph Fishing-  Eggs, glo bugs, red midges 18-22, and gray soft hackle 18-22
• Streamer Fishing has been good   When the hatches disipate, the fish start to eat each other.  Use streamers that mimic small brown trout, white fish, or sculpin.   Black has been solid, but gingers and whites are typically productive in winter months.
• Spin Fishing: 1/4 Zig Jigs in Black or Olive/Orange colors.   4" Tube jigs in white. 

High Country 

Browne Lake

• Good
• Reports of decent fishing success. Good population of rainbow and brook trout. Try fishing typical trout lures (jigs tipped with worms, Powerbait, worm and bobbers, spoons, spinners, flys) as these methods usually produce fish. Stream below the dam also has good fishing. 
   

Calder Reservoir

• Good
• Water level is getting low. Reports of good fishing for multiple sizes of rainbows, cutts and browns. Fish up to 20-inches have been caught. Fish consume mostly midge larvae, damselfly larvae, sow bugs, scuds and red side shiners in this water. Try imitating those food sources for the best fishing results. The reservoir has special catch-and-release regulations. You must use flies and lures only — bait is not allowed. Please use good catch-and-release techniques especially when water temperature is warmer. See the Utah Fishing Guidebook for details.
   

Long Park Reservoir

• Good
• Anglers have been having good success from shore. There are plenty of fish in the reservoir. Rainbows, Brook trout and grayling are all present in good numbers. Most fish eat aquatic insect larvae so try patterns that might look like midges. Typical trout lures (worms, powerbait, spoons, tube jigs, marabou jigs, flys) usually work well at this water.
   

Moose Pond

• Good
• Anglers report catching stocked rainbows. Typical trout lures work in this water(power bait, worm and bobber, spinners, spoons, flys). Only about 5 feet deep so you don't need fish very deep. Trail around entire pond makes for good access. Good location to take children. 
  This water is a "Fishing with the Fox" contest location, so if you catch a "PURPLE" tagged fish, make sure to register it on Eventbrite to be part of the prize drawing. IF you catch a green-tagged fish, be aware it's from the 2020 Fishing with the Fox contest season. Unfortunately, there are not any prizes left over for the green-tagged fish. For more information or questions, please contact the UDWR office: 435-781-9453.
   

Matt Warner

• Good
• Anglers are having good fishing success. Good numbers of fish in multiple size classes. Fish mostly feed on aquatic insects (midge, damselfly), redside shiners, leeches and zooplankton. Powerbait, worms, spoons, spinners, fly presentations, small minnow imitation baits can all work here. Don't be afraid to harvest some fish as low water levels could impact populations later this year. 
• ******Anglers and recreational users should be aware there is an algal bloom that exceeds warning levels according to Tri-County Health Department and the Department of Water Quality. Under these circumstances, bacteria can reproduce quickly, and begin to produce cyanotoxins that most commonly cause skin irritation and gastrointestinal illnesses, although some toxins can cause liver, neurological or respiratory problems. Even in the absence of these toxins, the cyanobacteria can cause gastrointestinal distress and skin irritation. These blooms can also pose serious health risks to pets, and livestock. Fishing is still open. Wash hands with clean water before eating or preparing food. When harvesting your catch, clean fish well and discard the guts. For more up-to-date information, please visit: https://deq.utah.gov/water-quality/harmful-algal-blooms-home 

(*NOTE: IF you catch a green tagged fish, be aware its from the 2020 Fishing with the Fox contest season. Unfortunately, there are not any prizes left over, as that contest ended in August 2020. The 2021 Fishing with the Fox contest will not be hosted at Matt Warner this year.)

Sheep Creek Reservoir

• Poor
• USFS roads and camping areas are open. A winterkill this past winter season killed a significant portion of the fish population. Anglers should expect lower catch rates and smaller fish for a couple years while the population rebounds in numbers and size. Special regulations are in effect on this water. No bait allowed, size and species restrictions. Please use good catch and release techniques to preserve the fish in this water.
   

Spirit Lake

• Good
• A recent report indicated the surface may be capped with ice but no information on the ice thickness. This water usually has good fishing at first good ice. Fish consume mostly sow bugs, midges, leeches and other aquatic insects. Lures that imitate those food sources and also spinners, spoons, powerbait and worms all work well. Possibility of catching tiger trout up to 15" with typical lures and baits.