Well lets get started in letting you know where these "hot spots" are for the summmer of 2005 for us fly angelers. I will try to keep this site updated and add info to it from time to time as the situation changes from hot to lukewarm as fishing in southwest Utah you are bound to catch fish mostly anywhere with enough time and patience. But I want you to start catching fish as soon as your flies hit the water right? I will start with the most common lakes for those that prefer lake fishing and then move on to the streams for those that like to fly fish streams and where you can catch wild and fiesty fighting brown trout up and over 3 pounds(1.36kgs). I also will tell you what I have heard from other fly fishers over the years plus my own knowlege with both types of waters and I won't be bias as some lakes are just more accessible and scenic then others, which is also part of a fly fishing experience.
Brook TroutRainbow Trout
The two main types of fish here, which are the rainbow and the elusive brook or brown trout. There are some hybrid trout in the bigger lakes around here mostly in Fish Lake, a very picturesque lake surronded by tall ponderosa trees nestled up in the high mountains, which has the huge lake speckled trout which can get over 5 pounds(2.27 kgs) or more. A note on Fish lake which might save you some time, it can be only fished fly or otherwise from a boat. You can rent boats there from the local marina though. The shores that are accessable are all very shallow for 20 feet(approx. 7 meters) out then drops like a cliff fast into deeper water. This lake is usually hot year around with great ice fishing in the winter months. For the fly fishers the best fly to use there that I had the best luck with is a "dry fly" a black or brown woolly bugger size #10 or bigger which is always a hot fly there. I give this lake 3 out of 4 stars for hooking that whale of trout, which I have seen and heard from flyfishers and my luck there plus a breathtaking looking of a lake which is a must see. I would have given this lake 4 stars but it is somewhat out of the way which you must have least a full day to get to and back for the average travelling tourist staying in motel rooms.
Another big lake or reservoir which can be flyfished from shore or a boat is Otter Lake. Located not far north of Bryce Canyon this lake also has good fishing yet this lake at times has its ups and downs when it is hot. Some days I catch trout left and right and on other days I just get skunked out. The fishing is somewhat better from boat though on all days. The trout here are mostly rainbow trout that are 3 pounds or rarely bigger. They also are stocked trout with a few wild rainbows you can catch. As for the experienced fly fishers know stocked trout don't seem to put up that great of a fight on your line but thats just my opinion. Yet I have seen people trolling with boats catch some rainbow lake trout up to 5 to 8 pounds. The best fly to use there is also a black or brown woolly bugger size # 12 or smaller. Some of your "wet flies" brown or golden nymps in the number 14 or smaller hooks seem to do well also. The lake is not as scenic as it is in a wide level sagebrush valley with very few trees. The trees that are there are small cottonwoods scattered thin and few. Although the lake has views of rugged mountains in the distance. It is not a sheltered lake as the wind likes to pick up, blow and give you fits. Perhasp for the flyangelers it is a hit or miss lake which I would give a 2 and half stars out of 4.
A smaller high mountain lake located 30 miles north of Bryce Canyon is Pine Lake. Located 20 miles north of Bryce Canyon with 7 miles of gravel road. As for location, the scenery, and ease of access this lake is a flyfishermans dream come true. The trout here are mostly wild rainbow trout but not as big as on the bigger lakes listed above but that is to be expected as the lake is only about 5 acres wide and not too deep. It is surronded by Pink cliff mountains which tower over the lake. I was well empressed with the view years ago when I moved here. This is a lake that can be fished from shore or with a small floation tube that fly fisherman love to use. Hooking into 3 pound rainbow or the occasional brown trout is common here. The type of fly I like to use here with good results is the golden beaded Prince nymph wet fly # 14 or smaller hook. For a dry fly a small common renagade or a mayfly during the early summer is good also. I give this lake 4 out of 4 stars for location and trout catchablity.
Another nice lake that is close by is Tropic Reservoir. Located about 15 miles from Bryce up 7 miles of graveled two lane road. This is another beatiful lake surrounded by ponderosa trees with a nice campground close by. You can fly fish this lake from shore or with a flotation device. Note though this lake is mostly stocked rainbow trout with sluggish fighting capabilities. None of the trout in this lake that anyone myself included get any bigger then 3 pounds with most of the fish caught under a pound. The action here is also slow on some days. This lake sufferes from a lot of pressure as the spot the average fly fishing tourist finds first as it is well marked from the highway and as a result the lake has becomed somewhat overfished. I have to be truthfull it is a very scenic lake but as for action in catching fish be prepared for a slow time. Dry flies seem to work best here, try your renagades or black gnats number 14 or smaller hook. As for location it is the best but I rather be catching fish too since Pine Lake listed above is only another 5 miles futher from highway 12. I give this lake 2 stars out of 4. For the top secret what most people don't know is that the stream running into Tropic Reservoir a few miles up from the lake is a prime fly fishing stream where you can catch the wild brown brook trout and they are fly savy too.
Bryce Canyon National Park; Inspiration Point
Copyright 2005 by Roland Reynolds
