This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated.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.
Scott Tolentino, UDWR Bear Lake Project Leader, sent in this report.
Thursday, Sept. 6, 2012
Bear Lake •
Surface water temperature is 70 degrees. Lake trout and cutthroat trout fishing has been good and will only get better as the water starts to cool. The mornings at Bear Lake have been very brisk indeed this week. The hot spots are off the Gus Rich Point area on the flats in about 70-85' of water. Best luck has come from trolling minnow lure with rattles, crankbaits with rattles, and flatfish close to the bottom.
We've also had some good reports from anglers fishing along the east side at 1st and 2nd Points and off the Cisco Beach area. Jigging or trolling in depths of 60-90 feet have produced the best results. Tube jigs tipped with cisco or sucker meat has been working for the jiggers and trollers are using minnow-type lures with rattles or flatfish trolled from downriggers near the bottom.
Garden City Community Fishery Pond •
The pond has been stocked with the last load of catchable-sized rainbows for the year. Several of these fish are tagged with a small metal tag on the dorsal fin. This is for the Garden City Outdoor Heritage Days festival on September 7th and 8th. Fishing should be excellent. Try using flies behind a bubble or try worms and powerbait fished either under a bobber about 2 feet down or fished right on the bottom. Use hopper or bee patterns in dry flies and woolly buggers and bead-head nymphs with wet flies. For more information on the tagged fish contest please contact the Town Garden City for more information 435-946-2901.
Laketown Reservoir •
Water levels are average and fishing has been fair for hold-over rainbows from last year. These fish are 16-19" long and up to almost 3 pounds. It will not be stocked again this summer. Try wet flys such as woolly buggers or worms fished on the bottom or powerbait and worms.