FISHING
Whether you’re casting a worm from shore, trolling in a boat, or throwing a fly from a float tube, Utah’s state parks offer great fishing opportunities statewide.
Fishing Hot Spots:
Rockport State Park- Within 45-minutes of Salt Lake City, fish one of the hottest fishing spots in Utah, Rockport Reservoir. During the warm summer months, visitors flock to the reservoir and enjoy trolling for rainbow, bass, and perch. During the winter, Rockport is a popular destination for ice anglers and has a reputation for producing large schools of perch. If fishing is slow,
enjoy viewing bald eagles nesting nearby or deer meandering through the pinyon pines
Jordanelle State Park- Jordanelle is popular with most water enthusiast and is well-known for the smallmouth bass fishing. The reservoir also has a healthy population of rainbow and brown trout and yellow perch. The close proximity to Salt Lake City brings many anglers, boaters, jet skiers, and sunbathers to the park throughout the summer and a popular Wasatch Back destination.
Scofield State Park- Scofield Reservoir, considered a Blue Ribbon Fishery in Utah, is popular for both winter and summer fishing for rainbow and cutthroat trout. Bordering theManti-LaSalNational Forest, this area offers mountain views and a respite from the summer heat. Its close proximity to the Wasatch Front allows for a day-long fishing trip, or stay overnight in one of the two campgrounds.
At an elevation of 7,600 feet, Scofield Reservoir is one of the first reservoirs to freeze in the winter. An annual ice fishing derby entices anglers statewide to test their luck at landing the biggest fish of the day.
Bear Lake State Park- Bear Lake State Park located on the Utah-Idaho border draws in thousands of visitors each summer. The turquoise blue waters of Bear Lake are ideal for waterskiing, swimming, sailing, scuba diving, and fishing. Fish species includeBear Lake cutthroat, Bonneville and Bear Lake whitefish, and the famous Bonneville Cisco. The annual Cisco Disco party is held every January when swarms of Bonneville Cisco come close to the rocky shore to spawn. Anglers wade waist-deep in the icy water or drill holes through the ice if the lake is frozen to scoop up the small fish.
Quail Creek State Park- QuailCreekState Park, located north of St. George, could be considered an anglers paradise. With water depths reaching 120 feet, this reservoir is home to both cold and warm water fish. Rainbow trout, bullhead catfish, and crappie are found closer to the bottom of the reservoir, while largemouth bass and bluegill thrive in the warmer, upper layers.
Sprawled at the base of cinnamon colored buttes, Quail Creek is a popular recreation destination especially in late fall and winter due to the warm climate.
Fishing Reports:
Want to know where the fishing is hot, wait bait to use, or what flies are hatching? Click here!
Current reservoir conditions - water temperatures, ramp closures, seasonal ice conditions
Fishing Information:
All anglers over the age of 13 need a fishing license. For information on obtaining a license, fishing regulations, and other helpful tips, visit the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources fishing web page.
Utah's reservoirs are stocked with a variety of species including rainbow, cutthroat and brown trout, large and smallmouth bass, walleye, and yellow perch. Reservoirs stock warmwater or coldwater fish or often both.
Coldwater - Bear Lake, Deer Creek, East Canyon, Escalante, Huntington, Hyrum, Jordanelle, Millsite, Otter Creek, Palisade, Quail Creek, Red Fleet, Rockport, Scofield, Starvation, Steinaker, Wasatch Mountain (pond), Yuba
Warmwater - Deer Creek, East Canyon, Escalante, Gunlock, Huntington, Hyrum, Quail Creek, Red Fleet, Rockport, Sand Hollow, Starvation, Steinaker, Utah Lake, Willard Bay, Yuba
Key: Trout includes several species including rainbow, cutthroat and brown trout. Warmwater fish includes smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, bluegill, yellow perch, catfish and walleye
Photo Credits
Photo 3: Curtis Robinson shows the huge cutthroat trout he caught and released at East Canyon Reservoir on March 26, 2011. The 31-and-a-half-inch cutthroat set a new Utah state record -- it's the largest cutthroat trout ever caught and released in Utah. photo courtesy of Curtis Robinson