This is a busy time of the year along Utah's riverbanks and lake shores.

It's a good time to be out, especially in the high country, and a good time to test fishing skills.

Best fishing on the lower-elevation lakes and reservoirs is early morning. The toughest time to fish is midday when the sun is high and waters are at their warmest.

The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources is still routinely planting fish and will through the end of summer.

The secret, of course, is to be in the right spot at the right time, and with the right appetizers, or to have a pretty good knowledge of how to fish a certain water. Each is different and each has its hidden secrets.

A few hotspots include:

Fishing for yellow perch, walleye and bass at Starvation Reservoir is said to be fair to excellent. Perch are schooling around submerged vegetation in the back of bays. Walleye are cruising the weed beds looking for food.

High-country lakes should still be the main choice for anglers at this time of year.

Down on the Boulder Mountains, for example, reports are that fishing for splake and tiger trout at Fish Creek Reservoir has been excellent.

The Uinta lakes are a great place to take the family at this time of the year. Temperatures are cooler and the lakes are routinely stocked.

Sand Hollow Reservoir, north of St. George, has been and continues to be one of the state's best spots for bass. A recent survey showed there are lots of smaller bass and a good number of larger bass, up to four pounds, in both submerged brush and along rocky shores. The only problem is that along with the good fishing, the reservoir is offering excellent recreational swimming, water skiing and wakeboarding, so the recommendation is to fish early or late.

At Flaming Gorge, anglers are catching lots of small lake trout. They can be found near underwater humps and points. Currently, there is an overabundance of lake trout under 28 inches, so anglers are being asked to keep a limit, which is eight fish.

Kokanee fishing at the Gorge has been fair for those fishing deep in 40 to 50 feet of water. Rainbow trout fishing is rated good anywhere on the reservoir. The reservoir was stocked with 450,000 rainbows this year. These smaller fish are easy to catch and great for kids to pursue. Fish 30 to 50 feet to catch the larger rainbows. Smallmouth fishing has improved but has yet to reach the best fishing of the year yet.

Anglers are urged to try brightly colored lures or jigs, trout baits like worms or PowerBait or flies by matching the insect hatch.

The best fishing at Strawberry is early mornings and late evenings. The best fishing has been with tube jigs and black Woolly Buggers. Shore fishing has been slow, especially midday.

Bass fishing at Jordanelle continues to be good in areas near rocky points and submerged structure. Those after trout are doing well from shore and boats using traditional baits.

A complete report on the state's fishing waters can be found at the DWR's Web site — www.wildlife.utah.gov/fishing.