This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Michael Hadley, a UDWR fisheries biologist in southern Utah, sent in the first gill net survey report of the spring. Check out the fast-growing rainbow trout at Wide Hollow Reservoir near Escalante.
Division of Wildlife Resources fish biologists conducted a gill net survey at Wide Hollow Reservoir near Escalante on March 15, 2012. They found that rainbow trout stocked at 10 inches in spring 2011 have grown fast; those fish now measure 16 to 18 inches and weigh 2 to 3 lbs. This exceptional growth can be attributed to the outstanding water year in 2011 in addition to the refilling of the reservoir after dam reconstruction in 2010. An empty, recently-filled lake is very productive and provides a lot of food. Additional 10-inch fish will be stocked very soon, meaning that right now is a great time to visit this reservoir and experience some quality fishing. Spring is a great time to visit the Escalante area and you can put together a unique trip by combining some fishing with sight-seeing at Escalante Petrified Forest State Park, which is located right next to the reservoir. Other places to visit nearby include the Escalante canyons, Calf Creek Falls, Hole-in-the-Rock Road, Kodachrome Basin State Park, Scenic Highway 12, and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Largemouth bass and bluegill are also being re-established in Wide Hollow Reservoir, but it will take another couple of years before they are large enough for anglers to target.