One of the spring rites for Utah fly fishermen is trying "hit the
thaw" at Strawberry Reservoir. If one gets lucky, fishing the ice
edges of this reservoir can produce a trip of a lifetime.
For those of you not familiar with this reservoir is probably the
most productive in Utah and in spite of heavy pressure consistently
produces fish which average 18 to 22 inches with some occasional
monsters thrown in. The primary fish is the Bonneville Cutthroat, a
Utah native that co-evolved with the Utah Chub, our most persistent
rough fish. Twenty or so years ago the reservoir was famous for its
giant, football sized Rainbow, but the chub eventually took over.
The entire reservoir was poisoned and the Rainbows were replaced by
the Cuts with the hope that they could keep the chubs at bay.
Sterile Rainbows were also introduced to prevent cross breeding.
(Rainbows aren't as effective as shallow water predators).
So far it seems to be working, the chub numbers have stayed down,
helped by a slot limit that requires fishermen to release any fish
caught between 15-22 inches (the prime size for chub predation).
Anyway, I went there with a fishing friend yesterday. The conditions
seemed to be perfect, the ice had receded twenty to thirty feet from
the shore and the bays were open. But I only managed to catch two
and since I was fishing blind (I forgot the battery for my fish
finder) I couldn't tell if the water was fishless or if I just wasn't
presenting them with what they wanted. The two fish I caught were
nice, one 18 inches, the other 22.
I will try againsoon, but doubt I will get back before the ice is gone.
Once, about eight years ago, I got lucky fishing the ice edges of
Strawberry. I was literally catching a fish every cast. In fact on
two occasions, after releasing a fish and stopping to untangle my
stripped line, I pulled my fly out of the water to cast only to have
a fish slam it as it rose.
But this wasn't one of those days. After four hours of casting,
kicking and freezing we gave it up for this year.
Fishing will continue to be good for fly fishermen in the spring, the
Cutthroat habitually come into the shallows to feed when temperatures
are cool. The same thing happens in the fall. In between, the
reservoir fishes best with boats and tackle.
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