This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Flaming Gorge fishing report from Ryan Mosley, Flaming Gorge Project Leader for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.
I love Thanksgiving. Good food, family, football, and the fishing couldn't be better this time of the season. We made it out a couple times last weekend and the rainbow trout were hitting jigs with authority! We found most of our bows in only 5-20 ft of water near submerged vegetation. Hot lures were Gulp minnows (shad colors) and Yamamoto grubs (crayfish colors) rigged on a 3/8 oz jig head. We retrieved the bait through the middle of the water column, pausing occasionally, with most of the hits on the pause. We even caught some lake trout while fishing the same habitat and techniques. Upon cleaning the lakers, some of them were full of juvenile bass, the reason they were likely so shallow. The fish were healthy and spectacular to look at with vibrant colors and contrasting spots (see pics). Some of the mid-sized fish also made a tasty alternative to 4 days worth of turkey leftovers.The person who coined the phrase "Money can't buy you happiness!", never bought a Utah fishing license!Ryan MosleyFlaming Gorge Project LeaderUtah Division of Wildlife ResourcesP.O. Box 145Dutch John, Utah 84023CP(435)790-4097WP(435)885-3164ryanmosley@utah.gov