Salt Lake City is well known for its views of the Wasatch Mountains, thriving hub of business, culture, and some of the greatest snow on earth. However, what many people don’t realize is how many incredible fishing destinations are just a quick drive away.
Whether you are looking for a place to go fly fishing or are just wanting to take the family out for a nice and relaxing day on the water. There are plenty of places to catch fish around the Salt Lake area.
The following list includes the 10 best places to fish near Salt Lake City, Utah. These destinations offer great fishing, world class views, are a quick drive from Utah’s capital and offer some excellent fishing opportunities for anglers of all ages and skill levels.
Best Fishing Near Salt Lake City
Willard Bay Reservoir
Willard Bay has become Salt Lake City’s go to spots for anything water related and present anglers with some unique and excellent fishing opportunities. It’s a 9,900-acre freshwater reservoir located in eastern Box Elder County and is about a 45-minute drive from the city.
It’s one of Utah’s most dynamic warm water fisheries and it has some unique fish including: wiper, walleye, smallmouth bass, catfish, crappie, and other panfish.
This is a state park which operates two marines located on the north and south part of the lake. Both have modern campgrounds, boat launches, restrooms, docks, and other amenities.
Willard Bay is really known for its population of wipers which is a hybrid between a white bass and striped bass. They are known for being energetic fighters and are a blast to catch. One of the best times to fish for wipers is when they boil, which is usually in late summer and fall. It’s not unheard-of to land a wiper on every cast when you time it right.
For more information about the Willard Bay State Park Check out this article.
Provo River
The Provo River is one of Utah’s great gems and it will truly give you a blue-ribbon experience all year-round. It’s arguably one of the best fisheries in the west. The Provo River provides anglers with the chance to catch monster browns and numerous fish between 14 and 18 inches.
The Provo River is split up into three sections: upper, middle, and lower. Each section of the river is bounded by a body of water: the Upper Provo flows from Trail Lake down to Jordanelle Reservoir, the Middle Provo is located between Jordanelle and Deer Creek Reservoir, and the Lower Provo goes from Deer Creek and eventually flows into Utah Lake. Each section of the river offers something a bit different and has a variety of public access points and private property as well.
The Provo River’s proximity, excellent hatches, great fishing, and mountain scenery make it a must visit for all anglers, especially if you are into fly fishing.
For more information on fishing the Provo River check out this article: Fly Fishing the Provo River.
Pineview Reservoir
Being from Utah one of my favorite places to go fishing is at Pineview Reservoir. Pineview is located just up Ogden Canyon and is about 55 minutes away from Salt Lake City. This place is beautiful and has some excellent fishing.
Pineview offers a unique blend of sport fish, including trophy size Tiger Muskie which are a hybrid between a muskie and northern pike. The Tiger Muskie state record was caught and Pineview and monster fish are caught here every year.
In addition to its great Tiger Muskie population, it is also home to giant smallmouth bass as well. Local bass fishing tournaments are held here every year and 5lb smallmouth are not uncommon. There is also a healthy population of crappie, perch, catfish, and a few trout mixed in.
The big fish that can be found at Pineview, it’s unique species, incredible scenery are all reasons why this is an excellent place to fish and is worth checking it if you are in the Salt Lake area.
Weber River
Next up on our list is the Weber River. If fly fishing is your preferred angling method this is one of the best and most productive rivers near Salt Lake City and is a quick 45-minute drive away.
Much like the Provo River, the Weber River is a three-section river (upper, middle, & lower) with headwater that starts in the Unita, Wasatch, and Cache National Forests. All of these sections have a good amount of public access spread throughout with some private land mixed in as well.
The Weber River is home to rainbows, browns, and cutthroat trout with the chance to catch some whitefish, brookies and even some grayling on some parts.
The Weber River is known to have some great caddis hatches starting around Mother’s Day, but the most popular way to fish it is with nymphs. If you are not into fly fishing other angling methods such as small spinners and spoons can also work well on deeper parts of the river.
If you are interested in fishing the Weber River, check out this in-depth guide on Jans.com: Fly Fishing on the Weber River.
Jordanelle Reservoir
Another great Utah fishery that is located just about 45 minutes away from Salt Lake City, Utah is Jordanelle Reservoir. Jordanelle sits on the eastern edge of the Wasatch Mountains and is right by Park City and Heber.
Jordanelle is filled by the famous Provo River and is known for offering some great fishing and other recreational activities. There are three main recreation areas, Hailstone, Rock Cliff, and Ross Creek. Hailstone is the biggest and most popular area and is where the main boat ramp is.
At Jordanelle you can expect to catch a wide variety of species including big brown trout, kokanee salmon, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, and they just recently planted wipers and tiger muskie.
The reason Jordanelle made this list is because of its close proximity to Salt Lake, it has beautiful mountain scenery and its place anglers can catch a variety of fish species.
Strawberry Reservoir
Strawberry Reservoir is located southeast of Salt Lake City and is a quick 90-minute drive away. It is one of Utah’s most popular and consistent fisheries and is a part of Utah’s Blue-Ribbon Fisheries program.
The reason it made this list is because of its healthy population of rainbow’s, cutthroats, and kokanee salmon. It’s not uncommon for anglers to catch rainbow and cutthroat trout up to 24 inches with the chance of some larger fish as well.
The best time to fish Strawberry Reservoir is in the fall and spring, but anglers can have fishing success all year-round. It’s also a very popular Utah Ice-fishing destination in the winter months.
Strawberry Bay is the main marina on the lake but there are three other paved boat ramps across the reservoir (renegade, soldier creek, aspen). You can find boat rentals, lodging, fishing guides and even a café at the Strawberry Bay Marina.
If you are near Salt Lake City and are looking for a great place to catch trout then Strawberry Reservoir is definitely worth the drive.
Mirror Lake
Mirror Lake is located in the high Uinta Mountains in Utah and is a very popular place to recreate and fish. It’s about an hour and half drive from Salt Lake City. It’s clear water and beautiful mountain scenery is a big reason why this lake makes this list.
On this lake you can expect to catch three different trout species: rainbow, brook and tiger. The fish in this lake tend to be on the smaller end, but they are all beautiful fish and can be a lot of fun to catch.
Mirror Lake has a Forest Service campground, picnic facilities and a small boat ramp used for non-motorized watercraft. There are several surrounding lakes nearby that can also be great places to fish. Some of which you might need to hike a few miles to get to, while others you can simply drive into.
The best time to go to Mirror Lake is early in the morning. In the summer this place can get pretty busy, so it’s best to head out early if you want to get away from the crowds.
If you are looking for a fun place to fish with family and friends that has some incredible mountain views then you should definitely consider visiting Mirror Lake.
Utah Lake
Next up on our list is Utah Lake. Most of the fishing destinations we have mentioned on this list have been primarily trout fisheries. However, Utah Lake offers anglers a chance to catch some other species and is a lot different from other places mentioned on this list. It’s about a 40-minute drive from downtown Salt Lake.
Utah Lake is a large shallow freshwater lake that lies in the heart of Utah Valley and is one of Utah’s most diverse and popular fishing destinations. Utah Lake is an excellent warm water fishery that provides anglers with close access to some great fishing.
It offers anglers the chance to catch channel catfish, walleye, white bass, largemouth bass, and several different species of panfish. With the most popular species to target being catfish and white bass.
For more information on places to fish and what to use at Utah Lake check out this Utah Lake fishing guide: Fishing Utah Lake – Tips, Spots and Everything You Need to Know
Mantua Reservoir
Another great place to fish near Salt Lake City is Mantua Reservoir. It’s a small reservoir located near Brigham City and is about an hour drive away. This is a smaller reservoir but is home to a nice population of largemouth bass, rainbow trout, bluegill, and other panfish.
It’s known for its trophy sized bluegill, but it’s also a popular bass fishing destination and has a great population of some of the state’s most healthy largemouth bass.
If you are looking for a quiet place to catch some nice largemouth bass and bluegill that’s near Salt Lake City then Mantua Reservoir is a great choice.
East Canyon Reservoir
The East Canyon State Park is tucked away in the high mountains of northeastern Utah and is a very popular place to camp and fish. It’s about a 45-minute drive from Salt Lake City.
The most popular fish to target at East Canyon Reservoir is Rainbow Trout, Smallmouth Bass and Wiper. You can also catch Black Crappie, Brown Trout, Kokanee Salmon, Splake and Tiger Trout as well.
East Canyon also has a variety of amenities that vary by the part of the reservoir including boat ramp, tent and RV camping, full hookups, fish cleaning stations, and cabins and yurts you can rent.
For more Easy Canyon Reservoir information check out the Utah State Park website: Stateparks.utah.gov.
Best Trout Fishing Spots Near Salt Lake City
Utah is well known for its beautiful mountains and for its excellent trout fishing. The state offers a wide variety of trout fishing opportunities that are just a quick drive from Salt Lake.
Here are the best places to fish for trout near Salt Lake City:
- Weber River
- Provo River
- Ogden River
- Strawberry Reservoir
- Jordanelle Reservoir
- Deer Creek Reservoir
- Echo Reservoir
- East Canyon Reservoir
For more information on places to go fishing for trout in Utah, check out this article: The 12 Best Trout Fishing Destinations in Utah
Best Bass Fishing Spots Near Salt Lake City
Utah isn’t well known for its bass fishing but there are still some great places to catch both smallmouth and largemouth bass near Salt Lake.
Here are some of the best bass fishing spots near Salt Lake City:
- Pineview Reservoir
- Willard Bay
- Mantua Reservoir
- Hyrum Reservoir
- East Canyon Reservoir
- Rockport Reservoir
- Echo Reservoir
For more information on places to go bass fishing in Utah, check out this article: The 12 Best Bass Fishing Spots in Utah.
More Fishing Resources
- How Much Does a Utah Fishing License Cost?
- The 15 Best Fishing Spots in Utah
- The 12 Best Bass Fishing Spots in Utah
- The 12 Best Trout Fishing Destinations in Utah
Final Thoughts
Salt Lake City is well known for its amazing access to outdoor recreation. It’s close to several rivers, reservoirs and lakes that vary in size and the types of fish that you can catch. The variety makes it a great destination for all anglers.
If you are around the Salt Lake area and are looking for a place to fish then I would highly recommend checking out one of these fisheries. They each offer something unique and are definitely worth checking out.
