Fishing For The Colors Of Fall

Upper Sixth Water

The fall season is progressing. Colored leaves are putting on a dazzling show in canyons throughout Utah. The annual show of color is now fading at high elevations in northern Utah but is going strong in canyons throughout the sate, and at higher elevations in southern Utah.

But leaves are not the only things that show beautiful colors during fall. Hues on several species of fish become more vivid during fall. For example, the big brook trout on Boulder Mountain develop a brilliant splash of orange/red as they prepare to spawn. The brown trout in the Green, Provo, Weber and other rivers take on a rich golden color with iridescent spots that radiate a rainbow of colors.

I fished Upper Sixth Water on Saturday and caught very nice, very beautiful browns. I've never seen more colorful browns. (Sixth Water is a tributary to Diamond Fork, which is a tributary to the Spanish Fork River.)

The quaking aspen trees were totally naked - they had already lost their leaves. But the willows along the stream were bright yellow and the canyon was beautiful.

Fall is also the perfect time to catch big fish in Utah. In Flaming Gorge, lake trout spawn in the fall and they become more predictable as they congregate near spawning grounds. The giant lakers are always hard to catch but they become a little easier at this time of year. Smaller lake trout are frequently caught during late October and November.

Sixth Water Brown Trout

Walleye are very active in the fall and several trophy fish will be caught during the next few weeks at Willard Bay, Deer Creek Reservoir and Starvation Reservoir.

At Strawberry, big cutthroat are cruising the shorelines where they can be caught from boat and shore. Minnow-imitating lures are good bets right now. In recent years the Lucky Craft Pointer Minnow has become the lure of choice at Strawberry. I like and use them, but also often use traditional Rapalas. A medium-sized Rapala in rainbow colors can be killer during fall.

At Lake Powell, fishing was red hot during the summer and early fall but is becoming less consistent now. Still, many large stripers, largemouth and smallmouth bass will be caught during the next couple weeks.

This is a great time to enjoy the colors of fall.

- Dave Webb