Desert trout?

Not looking like one of my usual fishing holes!

So, spring break in Colorado.  We packed up the family truckster, loaded up the dog and headed for Mesquite, Nevada.  Some were looking for  green golf courses. Some were looking rockhounding locations. Some just wanted sunshine and to relax, while others just wanted a stick to chase.  Then there is me.  I figured there had to be a fish or three between Denver and Mesquite!

I broke out the old Utah road and recreation atlas and planned my assault on the trout of southern Utah.  First, I am going to state the obvious:  Utah's (at least the ones I visited) trout "rivers" are much smaller than my usual Montana fishing zones. Matter of fact most of them had about as much water as Garnier creek that flows behind our house in Columbia Falls.

First day, drove to Richfield, Utah and spent the night in the pet-friendly Motel 6, which smelled like Indian food and stale smoke.  Next morning, after buying a fishing license online we were off.  first stop Clear creek.

                                   Not so Clear creek!

Needless to say, my first utah trout stream left a little to be desired in the water clarity department. We are not quitters, so it was on to the Sevier river.  It was perfect, clear (but low) and a paved walking/biking trail parallelled the river for five miles. Julie and Maggie ran while i harrassed the local trout population, and actually caught a couple medium sized rainbows on dry flies.  All in all a great stop minutes from the interstate,  now its on to the bright lights of the Virgin River Casino.

                                              There has to be water around here somewhere!

                                                                            Utah is COOL!

                                                  Leeds creek, home to native cutthroat trout.

I am not gong to say Utah is teeming with trout (at least the southern section), but is a fun place to hang out, collect some cool rocks, and wade in some cold  trout water.

                           A black dog (with one white paw) in the desert, every one can dream!

                                                                           local flora

In our six days in the desert fishing the "rivers" of southern Utah we fished the Santa Clara river, and caught  browns. Leeds creek, which is home to Native cutthroats, and the Beaver river below Minersville Reservoir.  I am proud to say that I never got skunked, and caught three species of trout....................

                                                                                              Utah fishing hole

 and Yes trout do live in the desert.

Next stop Montana!