Joe's Valley Reservoir is a large medium elevation reservoir located up a beautiful scenic highway from Orangeville. Nestled in the Manti-Lasal National Forest, the reservoir is managed as a trophy fishery in a first class hunting and fishing environment. Other fishing opportunities exist in the area and easy access to skyline drive allows for exciting explorations of the surrounding landscape. The record Albino Rainbow Trout was caught in the reservoir in 1989 and many trophy sized splake have been caught up to 16 lbs.
The reservoir is 168' at its deepest and averages 44' throughout the lake. The reservoir holds a unique shape with the dam on the East Side and facilities, campground and boat ramp on the West. The North and South arms are funnelled into inlets and offer unique fishing opportunities.
The lake is inhabited by a variety of species including Rainbow Trout, Splake, Tiger Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Tiger Muskey and Utah Chub. The reservoir hosts a large Chub population which competes for food with the Rainbow Trout and creates competition for many of the smaller trout in the aqua-system. This is why Splake, Tiger Trout and Cutthroat are the primary sport fish planted in the fishery. These predatious feeders can consume the smaller chub populations causing them to grow large and fat. Do not expect to catch many fish here, but do expect the possibility of hooking a monster. Tiger Muskey were also introduced several years ago and some should be over the 40" mark by now.
Ice fishing is productive during the winter months for all the above mentioned trout varieties. But the most productive time to fish the reservoir is during late spring when the ice melts away. During these early weeks trophy Splake can be caught from shore using bate techniques. Chub minnows or pieces of chub meat are the best in areas where Splake travel into the shallows while the water temperature is cool. During the Summer these large Splake are found deep in the water column. Jigging and trolling with down riggers is an effective way of targeting deeper fish during the Summer months. Try medium sized jigging spoons tipped with chub or a night crawler just off the bottom. Chrome colored crocodiles and crippled haring work well. Behind a down rigger ball try dragging flatfish, spoons and rapalas that look like chub. Find the Splake on your sonar, they will be the deepest species you mark. You may be able to mark some Rainbows between 10' and 20' along with your Cutthroat and Tiger Trout populations closer to 20'. If the flatfish, spoons and rapalas don't trigger a bite, try a dodger/flasher and a worm.The deep areas by the dam and the center of the lake are a good place to start, then make your way up the North arm toward the inlet.
If you are after Tiger Muskey try casting large spoons and blue fox spinners into the shallows during the heat of the summer. The west bay and the grassy shoreline leading up the south arm should be productive. Also try throwing large plastic flukes and paddle tails rigged weedless. Chub colors work but bright colors also work well. Remember to use steel lead and set your drags right otherwise it can be a quick fight.
You will find the chub on the bottom in 15' to 25' of water most the way up the south arm. Watch your sonar they are hard to miss. Whether you are catching bate or showing the kids a good time, the chub will bite non-stop most of the day. Use small jig heads or tube jigs tipped with a piece of crawler and keep it within a foot of the bottom. Light sensitive line is best as they like to play with their food.
Facilities include improved camp sites, a large boat ramp and a seasonal convenience store. Camp sites are set in a sandy juniper oasis with an occasional ponderosa pine obscuring the skyline.
The trout limit is 4, only 1 trout may be over 18 inches. Any Tiger Muskey caught under 40" must immediately be released. Also during ice season there are no ATV's allowed on the reservoir.
Map & Location
No comments:
Post a Comment