Utah is one of the most popular tourist states in America for good reason. Incredible national parks, world-class camping and hiking, and some of the best skiing in the country are top of many people’s lists for why they visit. But for those who work with a rod and reel, Utah has another reason for being a bucket-list destination— it offers some of the best fishing in America. Our fish-loving team at Freedom National put together this list of the best places to fish in Utah to help you plan your next fishing trip to the Beehive State.
(Want to learn more about what Utah has to offer? Check out our lists of the best places to visit in Utah and best places to camp in Utah.
What to Know Before Fishing in Utah
Before we jump into our list, here are a couple of tips that you’ll want to know about fishing in Utah.
Fly Fishing vs. Bait Fishing
While most fishing destinations will offer some level of success for both fly fishers and bait fishers, there are some areas that are best-served by one or the other. In general, flowing bodies of water like rivers and streams excel for fly fishing, while bait fishing can sometimes be more successful on lakes and reservoirs. Still, check with local experts and check out our guide for your best bet for specific bodies of water.
Can you fish in Utah Without a License?
Anyone fishing in Utah will need to purchase a fishing license, which can be purchased online nowadays for a small fee. Penalties for fishing without a license can be steep, and it’s also important to identify and follow limits for how many fish you can keep.
The 13 best places to fish in Utah
Ready to dive into our list? Here are the 13 best places to fish in Utah.
Provo River
The Provo River is on our list not just because it’s one of the best places to fish in Utah— it’s considered to be one of the best fly-fishing destinations in the world. Not only does it offer incredible opportunities to catch brown trout and rainbow trout reaching up to 18” or more in length, but it’s also just a ten minutes from the city of Orem and fifteen from the city of Provo, roughly 40 minutes from Salt Lake City.
There are three segments of the Provo River for fishing, divided up by the Jordanelle Reservoir and the Deer Creek Reservoir. Snowmelt can make the water icy cold, but with your gaiters and on a hot summer day, it can be the perfect fishing experience.
Trout tend to be most active on the river in the morning, and be sure to check in with local experts about which flies are working the best during a given season.
Green River
The Green River, located in Flaming Gorge in southern Utah, is a visually stunning landscape for fishing that will make you happy with your day even if you get skunked. The steep walls of the canyons make for a visual environment unlike any other, and the fish are not to be underestimated. This world-renowned fly fishing spot features loads of trout including rainbows (mainly located near the dam) and browns (mostly downstream).
While fly fishing is generally the approach of choice on the Green River, anglers do have success using spinners as well. The river can be accessed at the dam, at Little Hole, and at Browns Park. It’s also important to note that bait fishing is forbidden at Flaming Gorge.
Dry flies and top/bottom combos have seen recent success for anglers on the Green River in flaming gorge.
Lake Powell
Lake Powell is located far from Utah’s major population centers, found in an otherworldly red-rock setting with steep cliff faces and more fish than you’ll know what to do with. In fact, Lake Powell is home to multiple fishing tournaments, mostly for largemouth bass. It’s not hard to see why it’s considered one of the best places to fish in Utah.
Speaking of large, Lake Powell is huge. We’re talking about over 2,000 miles of distance and depths of up to 600 feet. We recommend renting a boat from one of the many rental agencies near the lake, which will give you the chance to access hard-to-reach areas. The cliff faces surrounding many areas of Lake Powell make it impossible to simply wade into the water from the shore in most sections.
Lake Powell will offer black crappie, channel catfish, carp, largemouth and smallmouth bass, striped bass, walleye, and pike to those willing to seek out the best spots.
Uinta Mountains
While not a specific fishing spot, the Uinta wildlife area offers so many small lakes, streams, ponds, and reservoirs that are incredible fishing destination that we just had to include the entire mountain range in our list. The area is a favorite for overnight backpackers, so find yourself a travel rod and a large collection of flies and plan a multi-day fishing expedition with your friends. It will certainly be an experience you’ll never forget, fileting fresh caught trout over a fire in the beautiful alpine wilderness of Utah’s Uinta mountains.
Strawberry Reservoir
Located in the Uinta National Forest area, Strawberry Reservoir is a highly respected fishery for trout. Thanks to the stream that acts as a tributary to the Reservoir and its crystal clear, perfect waters, Strawberry Reservoir is an excellent environment for trout that spawn often and grow fast—and big. You can expect to find rainbow trout and cutthroat throat reaching two-feet in length or more. In fact, the largest cutthroat trout ever caught in Utah was caught right here in Strawberry Reservoir. The 27 lb. beast was caught in 1930, and the record stands to this day.
If you really want to reach the bigger fish, you’ll want to consider using a boat or tube to get out past the shore. Still, casual shore fishing will get you plenty of opportunities for a catch.
Fish Lake
Located in South-central Utah amongst Fishlake National Forest, Fish Lake is a gorgeous lake filled with perch and rainbow trout as well as massive lake trout. If you love fishing in visually stunning surroundings, you don’t want to miss Fish Lake. It’s also a favorite during wintertime for ice fishing. In summer months, you’re more likely to have great success from a boat versus the shore.
BONUS: Fish Lake is located just a mile from Pando, the massive quaking Aspen tree colony considered by some scientists to be the largest and one of the oldest living organisms on the planet. Be sure to check it out during your fishing trip to Fish Lake.
Logan River
Logan Utah is located in northern Utah, not far from the Idaho border. There are three sections at the mouth of the canyon that are regularly stocked with brown trout and rainbow trout, great for both fly fishing or using bait. From there, the river is world-class all the way up as it snakes its way to Idaho. Find your own private fishing hole and bring in trout that also include some moderately sized cutthroats or brooks. Strike out at one section? Don’t worry, you’ve got 30 miles of river to explore along Highway 89— and all of it is beautiful. Plus, you’re just a short drive from Bear Lake, another great fishing destination, and Logan, UT, a worthwhile town to visit thanks to its retro downtown and attractions at Utah State University.
Bear Lake
Located near Logan, UT, Bear Lake is a major tourist destination in Northern Utah, and among the best places to fish in Utah. Great places to eat, plenty of water sports, and even sand beaches make Bear Lake the perfect weekend getaway. It’s also a great place to fish, because while it is popular, it’s also huge, which means you should be able to find your own little corner away from the crowds to fish for cutthroat trout, lake trout, and two fish that you won’t find anywhere else in the world— the Bonneville Whitefish and Bonneville Cisco. How’s that for a bucket list item.
Pineview Reservoir
Calm water, great visibility, and an idyllic mountain setting make Pineview Reservoir an angler’s dream. It’s also renowned for the wide range of fish it has to offer if you’re looking to go beyond Utah’s iconic trout varieties. Here you’ll find tiger muskie, crappie, perch, largemouth and smallmouth bass, and even some bullhead catfish.
Keep in mind that Pineview is a popular destination for watersports, so consider fishing in the offseason when the reservoir is likely to be less crowded.
Weber River
20 minutes northeast of Park City winds the Weber River, a fly fishing haven and Blue Ribbon fishery. Connecting multiple lakes in the Uinta Mountains, the Weber River winds for 125 miles with plenty of great fishing all along the way. While the majority of the river is located on private property, Utah has instituted the Walk In Access Program that allows for special access for fishers. You’ll find grayling, brook, brown, and rainbow trout as well as cutthroats. Don’t sleep on the Weber River— it may not be as well known as some of Utah’s other fishing destinations, but it can make for an incredibly successful day in the water surrounded by a beautiful landscape.
Tibble Fork Reservoir
This lesser-known reservoir is located in gorgeous American Fork canyon, located about 20 minutes from Provo, UT. It’s not extensively fished in the summer months, but it becomes a major ice fishing destination in winter, when it freezes over quickly and stays frozen throughout the season. If you love ice fishing, Tibble Fork is definitely worth considering as a stop on your tour of the best places to fish in Utah.
Starvation Reservoir
Don’t let the name fool you— you won’t starve after a day of fishing at Starvation Reservoir. This large, calm body of water is best known as a destination for fishing for walleye, but you’ll also find plenty of smallmouth bass, rainbow trout, and brown trout. It’s available for fishing year-round, and you can choose to fish from the shore or opt for a boat to get you out in the deeper portions of the reservoir.
Payson Lakes
We’re including Payson Lakes on this list because it’s not widely known by Utah outsiders, but is a hidden gem for Utah locals. Located in rural Payson Canyon, about ninety minutes south of Salt Lake City, the Payson Lakes area features multiple gorgeous lakes surrounded by Aspen trees that are absolutely lit up with yellows and oranges in the autumn months. You do not want to miss this beautiful, scenic, and less-populated fishing destination. There are also streams that wind all up and down the canyon that savvy anglers like to pull off and fish when they have the chance.
Conclusion
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