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Quail Creek Reservoir
| Location: Just off I-15, 12 miles north of St. George.
Altitude 3000 feet. Click here for map. The water: Spring visibility 8-10 feet due to algae in water; nutrient-rich cooler water greener below 20 feet; darkness in daytime below 50 feet. Late summer visibility 20 feet. Upper water temperatures around 70 degrees in summer, thermocline around 45 feet with deeper temperatures about 62. Max depth around 65 feet. Picture by Bruce Argyle |
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Getting there: From I-15 go south almost to St. George.
Take the U-9 exit (about 12 miles north of St. George) drive east 2 miles, turn left to
drive along the reservoir. Tank fills at Aqua Sports (439 N. Bluff St.) in St. George, 15
minutes away. Picture by Bruce Argyle, Diver Steve Argyle |
| Our recommendation: Quail Creek is
best in late summer or early fall, as the water clears. In the spring,
nutrients in the water promote algae growth. In September, visibility may
approach 30 feet. You can dive the west side, from your car. Most divers
go to the beach at the state park. There are warning buoys here, to keep
the ski boats off of your head. Diver Steve Argyle with a bluegill, picture Bruce Argyle. Note the algae in the water, compared to the blue water in the photos below. |
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The creek mouth sees more nutrients. You'll usually see
plenty of fish life,
and fewer ski boats, but you'll have to watch for trolling fishermen. Water
tends to be greener here, with lower visibility. The diving is
easier, and the water is clearer, from the swimming beach at the state
park, and you'll usually find plenty of bass and bluegill there.
Huge largemouth bass, and schools of smaller bass, will cruise up to check you out. Photo September 18, 2001. |
| The far east side of the reservoir sees less traffic, if you can get
there (you'll need a boat). Find an area with lots of huge rocks and old drowned mesquite. The best
sight-seeing is at 10-20 feet.
A bluegill on a bed of pondweed. Bluegill are friendly, and with patience, will take food from you. They tend to run in schools of 10-20 fish. |
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Seasonal variation: Can be dived year-round, but it gets VERY cold in
the winter. You'll want a dry suit unless you plan a short dive with an exit right into a
warmed motor home. Water is warm by April. Air temperatures hit 90 in May and remain hot
until October. In the mid-summer, overheating while preparing to dive is a risk. Although
this reservoir rarely sees a flake of snow, it DOES freeze during the nights late December
through February -- a boat left in the open may suffer damage.
A school of bass swirls around moss-covered brush. |
| What to See: Crawdads are out at night, but hide under rocks during
the day. There are some big 'uns! (See our Crayfish Recipe
page.) If you slow down, you'll see plenty of largemouth bass, bluegill, and
minnows. So get
close to the fish, and get an eyeful. The bass are curious, so if you hover a
few minutes, they'll come right up to you. And the bluegill will take
cheese from you.
Kristen cruises through the September water, at the state park. |
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The bottom is covered with pondweed and moss-covered
mesquite. You may see twinkling schools of irridescent minnows in the branches.
Stay still a while, and you'll see a "hog" largemouth bass cruise by. Sunfish (Crappie) cruising by drowned mesquite, picture by Bruce Argyle. Note the green hue of the water near the creek mouth in early June. |
| Fees: $5.00 to get into the State Park.
Regulations: Spearfishing NOT allowed -- check with the Fish and Game for latest information. Catching a crawdad. On silt-covered areas of bottom, you'll see holes where the crayfish hide. If you don't mind stirring up a bit of mud, you can reach in and grab them. |
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Remember: Quail Creek has a lot of hard-core trolling fishermen cruising along the shore even on weekdays. Be sure to use your dive float, and don't go in where fellow humans are already fishing. |
| Exposure: For shallow dives in mid-summer, you can get by with farmer john alone, jacket alone, or a warm-water full suit. If you're going below the thermocline, you need a full wet suit. |
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Sample Dive #1: From the main highway, turn left to approach the reservoir. Continue past the dam and the park area. Just after the reservoir narrows (about 1/4 mile from where the creek enters the gorge, there's a ramp going rightward from the road down towards the water. GPS coordinates N 37° 12.060' W 113° 23.564'. Park and walk down. Attach a dive float with about 25 feet of cord. Surface swim 200 feet over to the far (east) side and drop down to about 12 feet. Cruise slowly along the rocks. Find some old moss-covered brush and let a school of bluegill surround you.
Sample Dive #2: From the main highway, turn left and drive north along the reservoir. At the main entrance to the state park area, pay your $5 and turn right. Find a parking place, and walk down to the water. Attach a dive float with about 30 feet of cord. Swim straight out. Depending on the fullness of the reservoir, you'll find pondweed and moss-covered brush at around 20-30 feet. Cruise slowly, pausing frequently to let the fish come up to investigate you.
This dive site review was compiled by Bruce Argyle and is only as accurate as his failing memory.
