by Don Allphin After receiving several emails from anxious readers wondering why the white bass run stopped as abruptly as it began, I decided to offer an alternate fishing opportunity while there is still too much water entering Utah Lake. White bass will still be caught in the lower Provo River but not until the
by Don Allphin A reader asks: “What should I use when fishing small, shallow, mountain lakes? I can see fish jump, but I don’t know what flies to use, and lures just get hung up in the moss.” In the evenings or early mornings the surface of most high mountain lakes explodes with surfacing trout,
by Don Allphin After a 30-year hiatus Orrin Olsen and his son Grant joined me for a day and a half of fishing on Flaming Gorge last week. Orrin and I were friends in high school and had some great times on Strawberry in the early ‘70s. We went our separate ways after high school
By Don Allphin White bass in huge numbers are making their way up the inlet streams surrounding Utah Lake this week. Though their size is on average a little small, their numbers are so great that anglers are enjoying the action regardless of size. My son Don Jr. enjoys taking his young daughters to the
There is no question about it, I am a bass angler through and through. But my home water is Flaming Gorge Reservoir, (northeastern Utah) which is such a prolific fishery that early in the year when the bass are just waking up, I like to target lake trout. The problem is that I’ve only fished
by Don Allphin A reader reports that the ice is mostly off on Deer Creek though Jordanelle is still ice-bound. Strawberry still has an incredibly thick sheet of ice but the afternoon slush is acting like glue to most four-wheelers and even snow machines. My point here is simple: maybe it’s time to shift gears
by Don Allphin A reader writes, “I’m new to nymphing for trout and am having problems recognizing when to set the hook. Can you give me some suggestions?” Detecting a strike in moving water is one of the most challenging aspects of fly fishing. And, don’t let the veterans tell you they feel each strike
By Don Allphin September 13, 2007 Over the past 10 years I’ve taken scores of friends and family fishing on Strawberry in the fall. Teaching my guests to cast and retrieve a lure is the easy part; the tough part is coaxing the fish to bite. I believe that “seeing” fish is the first step
by Don Allphin August 13, 2007 The annual C.A.S.T. (Catch A Special Thrill) was held on Rockport Reservoir this past Saturday. C.A.S.T. events bring together volunteers including members of the Utah Bass Federation, the BASS Federation Nation, and others who take physically challenged children fishing. This year 34 children were involved. Each of these events
by Don Allphin June 11, 2007 Last week I spent a few days on Starvation Reservoir. Though fishing was not the primary reason for the trip, I was able to steal a few hours each day to target a few smallmouth bass, walleyes and perch. One dilemma, in which I constantly find myself, is not