Dan Keller
UT DWR Fish Biologist
Lake Elevation as of June 6th is 3527 ft. With the use of metal mats Stateline Auxiliary boat ramp will provide boat launching down to 3515 ft. The Bullfrog North Ramp is also open, NPS website has lots of good information and states the ramp is best suited to launch vessels less than 25 ft.
Spring fishing is fading as fish are moving away from the shallows heading to deeper water. However, last week we still found plenty of smallmouth bass in shallow water, and a few largemouth bass. Bluegills are now spawning and can also be found in coves that get sun all day and are protected from the wind.
STRIPED BASS
Recent angler reports show good catch rates throughout the main channel and major canyon mouths. Early morning and late evening are the most productive times to target Striped Bass. Look for schools near steep rocky points and canyon mouths. Trolling shad-colored crankbaits is a great way to locate active fish. Once a school is found, switch to swimbaits, spoons, or anchovies to catch lots more. Surface activity is becoming more common and should increase as summer progresses. Most of the stiped bass are young 1- and 2-year-old fish, they are starting to chase young of year shad now that threadfin and gizzard shad have spawned. Expect to see striped bass feeding on larval shad on the surface (aka slurps) throughout June. Last week we started to see slurps at about 6:45 pm south of the Rincon, and we continued so find scattered slurps as we approached the Escalante and San Juan. Lots of lures work well for striped bass feeding on the surface, one of my favorites recently has been a 3 ½” Rapala Mooch Minnow that I super glue to a ¼ oz jig head. The plastic is very durable, and the glue prevents fish from pulling the bait off the hook.
SMALLMOUTH BASS / LARGEMOUTH BASS
Many fish have completed spawning and are moving toward deeper rocky structure. The best action is along broken rock, secondary points, and submerged ledges in 10-30 feet of water. Tube jigs, Ned rigs, drop-shot rigs, and swimbaits continue to produce fish. Topwater opportunities exist during calm mornings, especially in areas where shad are concentrated. I had success catching several smallmouth, striped bass, and one largemouth at first light on June 3rd using a Yo-Zuri 3DB Pencil in ghost shad color. Largemouth bass are becoming more difficult to locate as water temperatures increase. The best fishing is found in brush-filled coves, and the backs of canyons.
WALLEYE
Walleye are commonly found near points adjacent to spawning areas and in the backs of stained-water canyons. The Walleye bite has slowed down compared to last month, however anglers fishing areas North of Bullfrog up to Good Hope Bay, continue to report success.
Spring fishing is fading as fish are moving away from the shallows heading to deeper water. However, last week we still found plenty of smallmouth bass in shallow water, and a few largemouth bass. Bluegills are now spawning and can also be found in coves that get sun all day and are protected from the wind.
STRIPED BASS
Recent angler reports show good catch rates throughout the main channel and major canyon mouths. Early morning and late evening are the most productive times to target Striped Bass. Look for schools near steep rocky points and canyon mouths. Trolling shad-colored crankbaits is a great way to locate active fish. Once a school is found, switch to swimbaits, spoons, or anchovies to catch lots more. Surface activity is becoming more common and should increase as summer progresses. Most of the stiped bass are young 1- and 2-year-old fish, they are starting to chase young of year shad now that threadfin and gizzard shad have spawned. Expect to see striped bass feeding on larval shad on the surface (aka slurps) throughout June. Last week we started to see slurps at about 6:45 pm south of the Rincon, and we continued so find scattered slurps as we approached the Escalante and San Juan. Lots of lures work well for striped bass feeding on the surface, one of my favorites recently has been a 3 ½” Rapala Mooch Minnow that I super glue to a ¼ oz jig head. The plastic is very durable, and the glue prevents fish from pulling the bait off the hook.
SMALLMOUTH BASS / LARGEMOUTH BASS
Many fish have completed spawning and are moving toward deeper rocky structure. The best action is along broken rock, secondary points, and submerged ledges in 10-30 feet of water. Tube jigs, Ned rigs, drop-shot rigs, and swimbaits continue to produce fish. Topwater opportunities exist during calm mornings, especially in areas where shad are concentrated. I had success catching several smallmouth, striped bass, and one largemouth at first light on June 3rd using a Yo-Zuri 3DB Pencil in ghost shad color. Largemouth bass are becoming more difficult to locate as water temperatures increase. The best fishing is found in brush-filled coves, and the backs of canyons.
WALLEYE
Walleye are commonly found near points adjacent to spawning areas and in the backs of stained-water canyons. The Walleye bite has slowed down compared to last month, however anglers fishing areas North of Bullfrog up to Good Hope Bay, continue to report success.