What’s planted, what’s biting and what’s open, from Flaming Gorge to Starvation. We read the Utah DWR and Utah DEQ, put it in plain words, and link the source.
Agency pages only, and nothing is estimated. Your permit and the current DWR regulations always win.
Open nowComing soonClosedAlgae (DEQ)Mercury: limit mealsSeleniumLow waterOld report / caution
Fresh fish planted
DWR stocking · Basin only
The latest DWR plantings in Uintah, Duchesne and Daggett counties since Sept. 20, newest first. Size is the average length in inches. The Sept. 21 backcountry cutthroat drop is rolled into one row.
The latest DWR Northeastern Region report for each water, plus any DEQ mercury or algae advisory. A DWR report can be months old, so check its date.
Flaming Gorge Reservoir
Daggett County · Manila, Dutch John
Lake troutKokanee salmonRainbow troutSmallmouth bassBurbot
Statewide kokanee rule: you may not keep kokanee Sept. 10 to Nov. 30. Extra water is going out of the dam this year, so the lake is drawing down; Utah ramps should stay usable through fall, but watch for new hazards. DWR says lake trout fishing has been great around Buckboard, Sheep Creek, Jarvies, North Skull and Antelope Flat.
The last DWR note is a June flow update. Releases were raised for drought operations, then planned to drop to about 1,600 cfs starting June 13. DWR warns the Indian Crossing bridge is a hazard above 3,500 cfs. Check live flows before you float.
The latest DWR report is the summer forecast. It calls June one of the best months, as walleye, smallmouth and perch feed once the water hits about 60 degrees. DWR planted about 30,000 small rainbows here Sept. 20.
DEQ logged algal blooms here Sept. 4, Sept. 18 and Oct. 6, 2026; DEQ lists monitoring as ended for the season. DEQ algal blooms
DEQ mercury advisory, meals per month (adult / ages 6–16 / pregnant, nursing or under 6): Smallmouth bass 6/2/do not eat; Walleye over 12" 3/1/do not eat. DEQ fish advisories
The latest DWR post is about the Uintah Basin Fishing Contest. Big Sand Wash was a 2026 contest water for tagged rainbows. It has no newer conditions report.
DEQ mercury advisory, meals per month (adult / ages 6–16 / pregnant, nursing or under 6): Smallmouth bass 3/1/do not eat; Walleye 7/2/1; Yellow perch 5/1/do not eat; Brown trout 7/2/1. DEQ fish advisories
The summer report says it is low: about 38% of active storage in mid-June. The ramp still reaches the conservation pool, and bluegill and bass give fast action early and late. DWR planted 4,000 rainbows here Sept. 30 and 268 bigger ones Sept. 25.
Low water in 2026. Check with Steinaker State Park for current ramp conditions.
DEQ mercury advisory, meals per month (adult / ages 6–16 / pregnant, nursing or under 6): Bluegill 6/2/do not eat; Brown trout 6/2/do not eat; Largemouth bass 10/3/1; Rainbow trout 7/2/1. DEQ fish advisories
Red Fleet is very low, at 28% of active capacity in June, so use care on the water. The main predators are wiper, walleye and largemouth bass, and perch, crappie and bluegill are good for kids. DWR stocks tiger trout here each fall.
DEQ mercury advisory, meals per month (adult / ages 6–16 / pregnant, nursing or under 6): Largemouth bass 7/2/1; Walleye over 12" 7/2/1; Walleye under 12" 11/3/1. DEQ fish advisories
Pelican Lake only filled to about 80% this year and keeps dropping as water goes to irrigation. The edges are murky. DWR says to fish the deeper water, early and late, along clear weed lines.
The latest DWR post is the spring forecast. It reports excellent ice fishing all winter, with a big class of 19–20-inch fish, and expected great fishing after ice-off.
Calder has special rules: artificial flies and lures only, no bait, and you may keep only one trout over 22 inches. The last DWR report (February) said it fished well all fall for trout over 20 inches.
DWR has not updated this report since June 2025, so treat it as old. It covers rainbows, splake, tiger trout and brook trout, with plenty of forage fish.
DWR is draining Red Creek for a dam project. From July 2 to Dec. 31 the limit is eight trout of any species, and spearfishing is open for all sportfish.
Drought kept water low this year, so DWR moved fish that were meant for these ponds to Little Montes and Steinaker. Harvest is encouraged under the two-fish limit. DWR planted 90 big rainbows in Old Fort Pond North on Oct. 19.
This is a special-regulation water and a regional broodstock lake for native Colorado River cutthroat. Fly fishing works best. DWR asks anglers to use barbless hooks.
DEQ mercury advisory, meals per month (adult / ages 6–16 / pregnant, nursing or under 6): Brown trout 2/1/do not eat; Rainbow trout 5/1/do not eat. DEQ fish advisories
Northeastern Region units and seasons, from the 2026 DWR guidebooks. "Open now" means today’s date falls inside the guidebook season. Check your permit and unit boundaries at hunt.utah.gov.
Mule deer
LE muzzleloader on general units (Nine Mile, North Slope, Vernal/Bonanza, Yellowstone)Oct. 28–Nov. 5Open now
Uinta Basin extended archerySept. 12–Nov. 30Open now
Book Cliffs, Floy Canyon HAMSSNov. 7–30Coming soon
General rifle · LE rifle (Book Cliffs N/S, Diamond Mtn)Oct. 17–25Closed
General archery / muzzleloaderAug. 15–Oct. 1Closed
Ducks, mergansers, cootsOct. 3, 2026–Jan. 16, 2027Open now
ScaupOct. 3–Dec. 27Open now
Tundra swan (permit)Oct. 3–Dec. 13Open now
The DWR guidebook places Ouray NWR in the Northern Zone. Zone lines for the rest of the Basin were not verified this check, so look at the duck-zone map on hunt.utah.gov.
General-season deer units: Nine Mile · North Slope · Vernal/Bonanza · Yellowstone
Limited-entry deer: Book Cliffs (North and South for rifle) · Diamond Mtn · Book Cliffs, Floy Canyon HAMSS
Limited-entry elk: Book Cliffs, Bitter Creek/East · Book Cliffs, Little Creek Roadless · Diamond Mtn · North Slope, Three Corners
Pronghorn: Book Cliffs, Bitter Creek · Book Cliffs, South · Diamond Mtn/Bonanza · Nine Mile, Anthro-Myton Bench · Nine Mile, Range Creek · North Slope, Three Corners/West Daggett · Vernal
Moose: Diamond Mtn/Vernal · North Slope, Three Corners/West Daggett · Yellowstone
