04-29-2016, 11:02 PM
[#0000FF]Deer Creek is probably the worst of several potential spots for you to try for walleye on the fly. They are in a down mode...population wise. And it is increasingly tough even for the experienced bottom bouncers to catch them with the traditional crawler harnesses.
Best bet would be around the rocky shorelines of Starvation from about the first of June on. But there should be good potential both at Willard Bay and at Utah Lake through May into June.
I used to catch grundles at both Utah Lake and Willard on a six weight flyrod...sometimes even on purpose. Mostly while fishing for crappies or white bass. That's when there were no shad in Willard and there were hordes of crappies all around the rocks and the walleyes were in there feeding on them. These days you have to cover a lot of water t even try to find them. Some guys troll the whole lake without hooking one.
At Willard use Clousers or similar. White zonkers or buggers work too. But you might have to put up with a few wipers or crappies...or even catfish.
At Utah Lake, black or purple both work well. But white or chartreuse catch them too.
If the water comes up a bit try dragging big flies around either straight off the Battle Creek outlet or down off the Bubbleup...at Lindon. Further south you can catch a few off the rock shelves at Lincoln Beach. They have been tough for everyone down there the last year or two with the low water.
If you are still set on Deer Creek, the best time is through the month of June. Work a fast sinking line over about 20 feet of water on the flats. That is where and when they will be most concentrated during the post spawn period. After that you can work almost anywhere around the rocks. The Island is a good spot to catch both smallies and an occasional walleye. But working the steep bank along the north shore of Walsburg Bay can be productive too. In those situations you can score with a sink tip or moderate sink line...working down to less than 12 feet deep close to shore. Minnow patterns or small white streamers will work. They are feeding on baby crappies, perch and crawdads.
[/#0000FF]
[signature]
Best bet would be around the rocky shorelines of Starvation from about the first of June on. But there should be good potential both at Willard Bay and at Utah Lake through May into June.
I used to catch grundles at both Utah Lake and Willard on a six weight flyrod...sometimes even on purpose. Mostly while fishing for crappies or white bass. That's when there were no shad in Willard and there were hordes of crappies all around the rocks and the walleyes were in there feeding on them. These days you have to cover a lot of water t even try to find them. Some guys troll the whole lake without hooking one.
At Willard use Clousers or similar. White zonkers or buggers work too. But you might have to put up with a few wipers or crappies...or even catfish.
At Utah Lake, black or purple both work well. But white or chartreuse catch them too.
If the water comes up a bit try dragging big flies around either straight off the Battle Creek outlet or down off the Bubbleup...at Lindon. Further south you can catch a few off the rock shelves at Lincoln Beach. They have been tough for everyone down there the last year or two with the low water.
If you are still set on Deer Creek, the best time is through the month of June. Work a fast sinking line over about 20 feet of water on the flats. That is where and when they will be most concentrated during the post spawn period. After that you can work almost anywhere around the rocks. The Island is a good spot to catch both smallies and an occasional walleye. But working the steep bank along the north shore of Walsburg Bay can be productive too. In those situations you can score with a sink tip or moderate sink line...working down to less than 12 feet deep close to shore. Minnow patterns or small white streamers will work. They are feeding on baby crappies, perch and crawdads.
[/#0000FF]
[signature]