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By Tony Nelson and Lewis Garrett
San Juan County is located on the Colorado Plateau in the southeastern corner of Utah and offers a wide variety of outdoor activities for the avid sportsman.
The county encompasses 8103 square miles of high desert, red rock and sandstone canyons, timbered mountains, and sagebrush flats. With over 60 percent of the land under the control of the federal and state governments, opportunities for outdoor recreation abound.
Most people familiar with San Juan County think of Monument Valley, Lake Powell, the four corners, and the Navajo Indian Reservation...basically, hot, dry deserts and vast empty spaces with little wildlife, human inhabitants, or water. Of course, San Juan County does have all of these features; however, it also harbors some of Utah's best-kept hunting and fishing secrets.
Fishing:
One of the key ingredients for successful fishing is water! Unfortunately for San Juan County, water is in short supply. There is no blue ribbon trout stream located within the county and stream fishing is limited to a few small mountain streams.
However, several reservoirs have been built over the years to provide water for agriculture and human consumption. These have proved to be excellent recreational opportunities for anglers in search of trout and various warm water species. Since many of these waters are located in lower elevations, the best fishing for trout will occur during the spring and fall. Some fishing opportunities in and around San Juan County include:
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Recapture Reservoir:
This reservoir, located on State Highway 191 between Blanding and Monticello, is the largest reservoir in the county. Recapture
Reservoir is also the only water where small boats are allowed. Anglers can expect fast action on pan-sized rainbows with a chance of catching a few bass.
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Blanding Reservoir #3 and #4:
These two reservoirs are located in the foothills just on the outskirts of Blanding and offer anglers an excellent opportunity to hook into some fat rainbows. Both of these lakes are managed by the Division of Wildlife Resources as put-and-take fisheries and are stocked on a regular basis.
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Monticello Lake:
Located at the base of the La Sal Mountains, this lake is stocked with both rainbows and brook trout. This lake has a campground and is an excellent choice for an extended stay.
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Lloyds and Foy's Reservoirs:
Both Lloyds and Foy's offer anglers the chance to catch trout in a more traditional, "trout-like" atmosphere. These reservoirs are located in the Blue Mountains and are surrounded by aspens and pine forests. Anglers at these two lakes can expect good fishing for planted rainbows.
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Indian Creek and Mill Creek:
Even though these are both small streams, they offer fly fishermen the opportunity to catch wild brown and cutthroat trout. The fish in these streams are not big, but they make up for size in their numbers and willingness to rise to the fly. Both streams see very little pressure and are an excellent bet for anglers seeking a little solitude.
Hunting:
San Juan County may lack blue ribbon trout streams and reservoirs, but it more than makes up for this with its world class hunting opportunities. A few of these possibilities include:
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Big Game Elk:
Some of the best elk hunting in the west can be found within the county. Every year, hunters from across the country try their luck at obtaining one of the coveted Elk Ridge limited-entry elk tags. The Elk Ridge unit consistently produces some of the largest bull elk in the state, as well as many campfire stories about monster bulls that got away. Elk hunters in search of meat, not trophies, can try their luck in the La Sal Mountains spike bull-only unit. This unit has an increasing population of elk and is one of the better spike-only units in the state.
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Mule Deer:
Located in the southeastern region, San Juan County is the destination of many deer hunters every fall. Both the Blue and La Sal Mountains offer hunters an excellent opportunity to bag a buck. Deer hunters need to be aware that special regulations have been put into place this year, which limit the season to four days during all general deer hunts. In past years, both the Blue and La Sal have produced some excellent trophy bucks and the possibility still exists to harvest a trophy-quality deer.
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Black Bears:
The Elk Ridge unit and La Sal Mountains harbor some of the state's largest populations of black bears. If you are lucky enough to draw a tag for either of these units, you have an excellent chance at harvesting a bear. The Blue Mountains also have good populations with less competition for tags.
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Upland Game:
Upland game hunters are limited to blue grouse and chukars. Blue grouse can be found on the aspen and pine-covered slopes of the La Sal and Blue mountains, while chukars will be concentrated near water in the foothills and desert country.
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Turkeys:
Turkey populations in San Juan County have done well in recent years and hunting opportunities for this tasty bird have increased. Hunters should focus on the Montezuma and Elk Ridge units. It is necessary to draw a tag to hunt turkeys in Utah, so some advance planning is necessary.
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Predators:
Coyotes can be found just about anywhere in San Juan County! Drive down any dirt road and you are bound to run into coyote tracks. Of course, they are very tough to hunt and are quick to learn from past mistakes, so the farther you get off the beaten path the greater your chance of success. If you are after coyotes, concentrate your efforts in the following areas: Harts Draw north of the Blue Mountains, the desert country south of the La Sal's, as well as the sagebrush flats north and east of Monticello.
Beautiful scenery, excellent hunting, good fishing, uncrowded wilderness, and a good time await sportsmen willing to explore this remote section of Utah. Make it a point to visit this unique county; it is an experience you won't soon forget.
See you in the field!
Photo by Dan Wright
Copyright © 2000 by Tony Nelson and Lewis Garrett. All rights
reserved.
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