{"id":1023,"date":"2021-04-02T15:38:10","date_gmt":"2021-04-02T22:38:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/freedomgeneral.com\/blog\/?p=1023"},"modified":"2021-08-02T07:55:26","modified_gmt":"2021-08-02T14:55:26","slug":"best-places-fish-utah","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/freedomgeneral.com\/blog\/best-places-fish-utah\/","title":{"rendered":"The 13 Best Places to Fish in Utah"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"man<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019s 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\u2014 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Want to learn more about what Utah has to offer? Check out our lists of the best places to visit in Utah<\/a> and best places to camp in Utah<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What to Know Before Fishing in Utah<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Before we jump into our list, here are a couple of tips that you\u2019ll want to know about fishing in Utah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fly Fishing vs. Bait Fishing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can you fish in Utah Without a License?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Anyone fishing in Utah<\/a> 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\u2019s also important to identify and follow limits for how many fish you can keep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 13 best places to fish in Utah<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ready to dive into our list? Here are the 13 best places to fish in Utah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Provo River<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Provo River is on our list not just because it\u2019s one of the best places to fish in Utah\u2014 it\u2019s considered to be one of the best fly-fishing destinations in the world<\/em>. Not only does it offer incredible opportunities to catch brown trout and rainbow trout reaching up to 18\u201d or more in length, but it\u2019s also just a ten minutes from the city of Orem and fifteen from the city of Provo, roughly 40 minutes from Salt Lake City.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Green River<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019s also important to note that bait fishing is forbidden at Flaming Gorge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dry flies and top\/bottom combos have seen recent success for anglers on the Green River in flaming gorge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lake Powell<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Lake Powell is located far from Utah\u2019s major population centers, found in an otherworldly red-rock setting with steep cliff faces and more fish than you\u2019ll know what to do with. In fact, Lake Powell is home to multiple fishing tournaments, mostly for largemouth bass. It\u2019s not hard to see why it\u2019s considered one of the best places to fish in Utah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking of large, Lake Powell is huge.<\/em> We\u2019re 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Uinta Mountains<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019ll never forget, fileting fresh caught trout over a fire in the beautiful alpine wilderness of Utah\u2019s Uinta mountains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Strawberry Reservoir<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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\u2014and big.<\/em> 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you really want to reach the bigger fish, you\u2019ll 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fish Lake<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019t want to miss Fish Lake. It\u2019s also a favorite during wintertime for ice fishing. In summer months, you\u2019re more likely to have great success from a boat versus the shore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Logan River<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019t worry, you\u2019ve got 30 miles of river to explore along Highway 89\u2014 and all of it is beautiful. Plus, you\u2019re 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bear Lake<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019s also a great place to fish, because while it is popular, it\u2019s also huge<\/em>, 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\u2019t find anywhere else in the world\u2014 the Bonneville Whitefish and Bonneville Cisco. How\u2019s that for a bucket list item.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pineview Reservoir<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Calm water, great visibility, and an idyllic mountain setting make Pineview Reservoir an angler\u2019s dream. It\u2019s also renowned for the wide range of fish it has to offer if you\u2019re looking to go beyond Utah\u2019s iconic trout varieties. Here you\u2019ll find tiger muskie, crappie, perch, largemouth and smallmouth bass, and even some bullhead catfish. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Weber River<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019ll find grayling, brook, brown, and rainbow trout as well as cutthroats. Don\u2019t sleep on the Weber River\u2014 it may not be as well known as some of Utah\u2019s other fishing destinations, but it can make for an incredibly successful day in the water surrounded by a beautiful landscape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tibble Fork Reservoir<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This lesser-known reservoir is located in gorgeous American Fork canyon, located about 20 minutes from Provo, UT. It\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Starvation Reservoir<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t let the name fool you\u2014 you won\u2019t 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\u2019ll also find plenty of smallmouth bass, rainbow trout, and brown trout. It\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Payson Lakes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019re including Payson Lakes on this list because it\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Gearing up for a tour of all the best places to fish in Utah? Freedom National is the best way to access cheap car insurance online in Utah<\/a>. Get a quote in just minutes, then get a plan that\u2019s perfect for you when driving in the Beehive State. At Freedom National, we make getting cheap car insurance online easy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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\u2019s 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\u2014 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 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":1024,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nThe 13 Best Places to Fish in Utah<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"If you're wondering where the absolute best places to fish are in Utah. 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