The 15 Best Fishing Spots in Utah

Make no mistake about it, Utah offers some of the best fishing opportunities in the West. It has plenty of famous lake and rivers and offers anglers with a variety of great fishing spots.

Here is a list of the top 15 fishing spots every angler should have on their bucket list.

The 15 Best Fishing Spots in Utah

Green River

Green River is a world famous fly fishing stream and is located below the Flaming Gorge Dam in northeaster Utah. It’s clear waters supports a large population of trout and has been called the top fly fishing trout steam in the lower 48 based on the numbers of large trout.

The crystal clear Green River can be accessed at three sections (A, B, C). Section A is the dam to a place called Little Whole, Section B is from Little Hole to Indian Crossing in Browns Park and Indian Crossing to the state line, also in Browns Park is section C.

The size and large population of trout along with its’ scenic, steep-wall canyons makes this rugged steam a must visit for all anglers.

Key Species: Rainbow trout, brown trout and cutthroat trout
Best Ways to Fish: Flies, spinners, lures and jigs
When to fish: All year-round

Make sure to check out My Recommend Gear and Tackle Guide to ensure you have the right gear for your next fishing adventure.

https://youtu.be/r_Ujhhz2Mgs

The 10 Best Places to Fish In Utah (https://youtu.be/r_Ujhhz2Mgs)

Lake Powell

This fishery, featuring islands and cliffs of brilliant orange and crimson, has more than 1,800 miles of shoreline, most of it in the southeastern part of Utah.

Powell is also home to one of the best fisheries in the state of Utah.

Key Species: Striped bass, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, bluegill, green sunfish, black crappie, northern pike, channel catfish, and bullhead catfish
Best Ways to Fish: Mainly from a boat, but there are areas you can fish from shore
When to fish: All year-round

Strawberry Reservoir

Strawberry Reservoir is well known as Utah’s premier trout fishery. No other reservoir in Utah is as popular and consistently productive. Anglers enjoy both size and quantity at Strawberry Reservoir as it supports a healthy population of both rainbow and cutthroat trout as well as kokanee salmon.

This reservoir is located between Heber City and Duchesne, about 90 minutes from Salt Lake City.

Key Species: Rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, and kokanee salmon
Best Ways to Fish: PowerBait, Flies, spinners, trolling
When to fish: All year-round

Strawberry Reservoir Resources

Provo River

The Provo River is one of Utah’s great gifts and will truly give you a blue ribbon experience all year-round. It’s arguably one of the best fisheries in the west. The Provo Rivers provides anglers with the chance to catch monster browns and numerous fish between 14 and 18 inches. It’s close proximity, great fishing and fantastic views makes it a must visit for any angler.

Key Species: Brown trout, rainbow trout, cutthroat trout and white fish
Best Ways to Fish: Wading with Flies, lures and spinners
When to fish: All year-round

The Provo river is divided into three sections: lower, middle and upper.

Upper – Trail Lake to Jordanelle Reservoir (largest)
Middle – Jordanelle to Deer Creek Reservoir
Lower – Downstream from Deer Creek Reservoir

Unita Mountains

The Unita Mountains is truly one of Utah’s most precious fishing gems. These mountain ranges are an anglers dream in the summer. When other trout fisheries start to slow down the Unita’s offers solitude, scenic views, and great fishing.

There are over a 1,000 natural lakes in the Unitas and most of them support fish. These unique mountains make any fishing trip well worth it.

Key Species: Brook trout, rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, brown trout, grayling and golden trout
Best Ways to Fish: Flies, lures and spinners
When to fish: Summer and Fall

Flaming Gorge Reservoir

Flaming Gorge is the premier lake trout destinations in Utah. This famous reservoir straddles the Utah Wyoming state line and has produced more lake trout over 30lbs than any other fishery in the entire United States. Monster lake trout can be caught all year round.

Of course giant lake trout are not all that the Gorge has to offer, healthy populations of small mouth bass and kokanne salmon also attract anglers throughout the state. Flaming Gorge offers spectacular scenery and great fishing.

Key Species: Lake trout, smallmouth bass, rainbow trout, brown trout, channel catfish and kokanee salmon
Best Ways to Fish: From the shore and a boat
When to fish: All year-round

Sand Hollow Reservoir

Located in Washington County about 15 minutes from Saint George, Sand Hallow Reservoir is a premier bass fishing fishery in Utah and is an ideal fishing spot for all anglers.

This blue ribbon fishery also has an abundant bluegill population that can be easily caught even by beginners.

Sand Hollow has a healthy population of eight to sixteen-inch bass as well as a number of larger bass ranging to over five pounds.

Key Species: Largemouth bass and Bluegill
Best Ways to Fish: From the shore and a boat
When to fish: All year-round

Pineview Reservoir

The opportunity to catch a trophy tiger muskie is what makes this a special lake. But that is not all that it offers. Pineview also has some nice sized smallmouth bass and you can also find plenty of action fishing for crappie and perch.

Pineview Reservoir is located at the top of Ogden Canyon which is about 10 miles from Ogden. It’s scenic views and healthy population of fish makes this one of the best fishing destinations in Utah.

Key Species: Tiger muskie, smallmouth bass, trout, crappie, yellow perch and bluegill
Best Ways to Fish: From the shore and a boat
When to fish: All year-round

Fish Lake

Fish Lake may perhaps be the most popular and scenic places to fish in all of Utah and is one of the state’s best ice fishing destinations. It has also been one of Utah’s legendary trophy trout waters.

This blue water lake is located in south-central Utah at the base of Central Utah’s Mytoge Mountains, at an elevation about 8,800 feet.

Fish Lake provides anglers with multiple fishing opportunities including big lake trout and nice sized splake, rainbows as plenty of perch.

Key Species: Lake trout, rainbow trout, splake, brown trout, tiger muskie, and kokanee salmon
Best Ways to Fish: Trolling and Ice fishing
When to fish: All year-round

Starvation Reservoir

This scenic dessert reservoir provides anglers with great fishing opportunities. Starvation Reservoir is probably best known for its walleye fishing. But that is not all that it offers, it also supports a healthy population of smallmouth bass and trout (rainbow and brown).

Key Species: Walleye, rainbow trout, brown trout, smallmouth bass and yellow perch
Best Ways to Fish: From a boat and from shore
When to fish: All year-round

Bear Lake

Bear Lake is very well known for its annual cisco run every January. In fact, Bear Lake is the only place in the world where you can find bonneville cisco. Anglers throughout the west gather each January and it has turned into quite the event.

Key Species: Bonneville cisco, lake trout, cutthroat trout
Best Ways to Fish: Jigging and Trolling
When to fish: All year-round (best in the spring and fall)

Willard Bay Reservoir

Willard bay is located on the top of the Great Salt Lake Flood plain in northern Utah.

Has big walleye

Key Species: Whiper, walleye, crappie, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, green sunfish, bluegill, yellow perch and channel catfish
Best Ways to Fish: From a boat and shore
When to fish: Spring, summer and fall

Boulder Mountains

Much like the High Unita’s, the Boulder Mountains offers a beautiful back country experience especially if you are willing to hike. These mountains provide anglers with over 80 lakes and streams to choose from.

Key Species: Rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, brook trout, tiger trout, grayling and splake
Best Ways to Fish: Flies, bait, spinners, jigs and spoons
When to fish: Summer and Fall

Utah Lake

Utah Lake is a shallow lake that offers anglers with a variety of fishing opportunities. While Utah Lake is commonly known as a popular white bass lake. There also some big largemouth bass in this lake. The low elevation of this lake makes it a great lake in the spring as it tends to warm up faster than most other lakes in Utah.

Key Species: Walleye, Largemouth bass, white bass, channel catfish, bullhead catfish, bluegill, yellow perch and crappie
Best Ways to Fish: From a boat or from shore
When to fish: All year-round

Joes Valley Reservoir

Joes Valley is found in the eastern slope of the Wasatch Plateau in the Manti-La Mountains in Emery County. This blue ribbon reservoir supports a healthy population of trophy splake and tiger muskie.

It’s scenic views and solid fishing make it spot to visit for every angler.

Key Species: Tiger muskie, splake, rainbow trout, tiger trout and cutthroat trout
Best Ways to Fish: From a boat or from shore
When to fish: All year-round