BFF Vernal area fish out 2024 report

The Vernal UT area has a large variety of flyfishing opportunities.   This year we focused our efforts at Steinaker and Zelph Caulder reservoirs.

Nesting Ospreys could be seen and experienced at the Steinaker Boat Ramp.

Both bodies of water are basically full.  Water from Steinaker is used for irrigation purposes, and it will likely draw down to 50-60% by fall, but it’s a good size body of water (34,500 AF).

At Steinaker our focus was on Bluegill and Largemouth bass.   Both were difficult to keep off the fly – they are very plentiful and aggressive.   If you dared to hang a fly in the water while putting on an indicator you were likely to have a fish take it.

Joe Rockwell, Ron Barnett and I all had great success fishing the area south of the boat ramp from the park, and also the flooded cottonwoods near the North end of the lake for bluegill and bass.   Joe and I did experience a very light hatch (likely callibeatis and midges) and saw trout rising along with bluegill.

We decided ½ a day of catching all the bluegill one could handle was enough and drove up the Diamon Mountain area to check out Matt Warner Reservoir, but the wind was kicking up so we made the call to check our Zelph Caulder (normally just called Caulder) reservoir.   It too was full, and a DWR enforcement office at Steinaker told me they had Tiger Trout in addition to the rainbows in there.  

We experienced roads covered in Anabrus simplex (aka Mormon Crickets) on the way to the lake.   I’ve lived in Utah since 2007 and this was my first time experiencing them in these numbers.

Once at the lake it was apparent that these fish have abundant forage (minnow, caddis, mayflies, damsel fly, chironomids, crayfish, frogs, and mice – were seen lakeside or on the water).   The water level is the highest I’ve seen it and there was about 6 aerator windmills now on the lake – if there is no winterkill again this next winter, the lake should be a phenomenal trophy trout fishery again next summer.   We caught several very thick/heavy 16-17” bows.   We never experienced a prolific hatch of any sort but had some success with damsel fly nymphs and mayfly nymphs.

The group site at Steinaker State Park would make an excellent club campout next year if there were enough interest (25 people min/$150 per night).   In addition to being right near beds of large bluegill, the site is close enough to Vernal for groceries, food options, etc…  and several other bodies of water within a 45 min drive (Red Fleet – crappie & walleye, Cottonwood Res for Tiger Muskie, Diamond Mountain Lakes – Matt Warner & Caulder, as well as Jone’s Hole)