On The Edge Of Starvation, Utah-Non Yak 4/27

Fished Thursday with a friend at Starvation Reservoir in Northeastern Utah from a boat (yeah, I know), Caught 4 brown trout to 4 pounds, a grundle of big smallmouth bass and over 50 fat rainbow trout to 21 inches. A day to remember. I used to think trolling was an old man sport. Guess I'm an old man. For the past month I have been learning a lot about spring trout trolling. Some of it I believe is applicable to Nor Cal reservoir trout anglers.

 I have found that trout are active in spring in lakes and reservoirs from 40 to 50 degrees, but only in specific areas. I found this to be true at 4 different reservoirs. I think the success is repeatable. I found 2 main things to look for. First, I found that a series of calm, clear and warm spring high pressure days will trigger a bite no matter what the water temp. It's the increasing temp that is key I believe, not the actual water temp. It's not the first day of the high, but the second and  third day that would turn on the bite. Above 55 degrees, the pressure system doesn't seem to matter. The second thing I discovered is to look for fish in the backs of bays in water 12 feet deep or less. There were subtle temp increases of 2 to 3 degrees in the back of the bays. The bite would be totally dead in the main lake and be hot in the very back of bays. Some bays were better than others. The northeastern corner of bays seem to catch more sun in the spring and were slightly warmer and the fish bit better. Then again, I could just be up in the night. By the way, I have been using crankbaits exclusively. My favorite are the 1/4 ounce Jointed Rapala Shad Raps. Something with a little orange seemed to help. Also, I fished cranks a really long way back behind the boat. Way farther than I am used to. Here is some fish porn. Later, Ed

Those are gorgeous trout, nice quality!

The smile says it all!

Those are CHUNKY fish bro..........you've been putting a lot of TIME OTW...

Got any pics of the inside meat of those trout???

Man, I'm moving; that's all there is to it. Beautiful trout.

Great report and really beautiful fish, thanks for the info, sounds logical,

DUDE you have been killing the trout up there !!! CUT THAT HAIR YOU DAMN HIPPY!!!!

Beautiful Trouts!  Thanks for the report and pictures Ed.

Healthy looking fish there Ed. Unlike the ones we catch here in the Bay Area. J/K

Jedmo

Sweet report.  It only took me 10 years to figure out that stuff 

what beautiful fish too!

Smoked trout @ Shelter Cove mmmmmmmm.

Smoked trout @ Shelter Cove mmmmmmmm.

Every time I smoke trout it comes out tasting like 7-11 peperoni sticks. Even with the Indian Candy recipe. 

Smoked trout @ Shelter Cove mmmmmmmm.

Every time I smoke trout it comes out tasting like 7-11 peperoni sticks. Even with the Indian Candy recipe. 

dude bring it to GS6 I will smoke it got a 50lb smoker to do the job...I got the bomb recipe from last yr... dialed from many yrs of smoking.................

Ed any pics of your fillets???   JUST LOVE SEEING HIGH ELV sweet meat pics...................

Smoked trout @ Shelter Cove mmmmmmmm.

Every time I smoke trout it comes out tasting like 7-11 peperoni sticks. Even with the Indian Candy recipe. 

dude bring it to GS6 I will smoke it got a 50lb smoker to do the job...I got the bomb recipe from last yr... dialed from many yrs of smoking.................

Ed any pics of your fillets???   JUST LOVE SEEING HIGH ELV sweet meat pics...................

Here you go Brother............

ummmm bright orange meat...yeah baby...looks all most like some eagle lake trout fillets...   Thanks Ed!!!

ummmm bright orange meat...yeah baby...looks all most like some eagle lake trout fillets...   Thanks Ed!!!

They are Kamloops