The Best Fishing Spots in Utah
Utah is a top destination for recreational fishing, with a mix of high-country mountain lakes, freestone rivers and large reservoirs that suit many styles of angling. Anglers commonly target coldwater trout species — especially rainbow trout, brown trout, brook trout and native cutthroat trout — as well as lake-run kokanee salmon and warmwater species like smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, walleye and catfish. Signature waters include Flaming Gorge and the Green River for big trout, Strawberry Reservoir and the Provo River for consistent trout action, and Bear Lake for unique lake fisheries. Both fly fishing and conventional tackle are productive across the state, with opportunities year-round depending on elevation and water temperature.
Top Cities For Fishing
Lake Fishing
Utah Lake
River Fishing
Top Freshwater Fishing Spots
Scofield Reservoir
Cool-water gem known for tiger trout, cutthroat, and rainbow trout; ice season is popular with jigs tipped with bait, while spring and fall bring shallow trolling and casting along weed edges and creek inlets near Madsen Bay .
Deer Creek Reservoir
Wind-swept Deer Creek fishes well for rainbow trout, smallmouth bass, and occasional walleye; troll spinners and crankbaits along the old river channel, work tubes on rocky structure, and cover shorelines near Charleston for active fish.
Flaming Gorge Reservoir
A deep, clear impoundment renowned for trophy lake trout (mackinaw), abundant kokanee salmon, and quality rainbow trout; target spring lakers with deep-trolling or jigging, chase summer kokanee on downriggers, and work smallmouth along rocky shorelines near Lucerne Valley and Buckboard .
Logan River
A clear, freestone canyon stream offering eager brown and rainbow trout plus native cutthroat; fish pocket water and undercut banks with dries and nymphs, focusing on summer hatches and fall terrestrials up Logan Canyon .
Pineview Reservoir
Set in Ogden Valley, Pineview is famous for tiger muskie along with crappie and smallmouth bass; target weedlines and points with large swimbaits or glide baits for muskies, and fish jigs under docks and timber for panfish near Anderson Cove .
Provo River
Flowing from Jordanelle Reservoir to Utah Lake , the Provo River offers prolific hatches and consistent action for brown and rainbow trout; the Middle and Lower sections reward year-round nymphing, with summer PMDs and fall blue-wings bringing great dry-fly windows.
Starvation Reservoir
A versatile eastern Utah water with strong walleye, rainbow trout, and smallmouth bass; jig flats and humps for walleye, troll spoons for trout, and work rocky shorelines for bronzebacks near Juniper Point and Rabbit Gulch .
Strawberry Reservoir
Utah’s premier trout fishery for cutthroat, rainbow, and growing kokanee numbers; ice fishing shines midwinter, while spring and fall bring shallow-action trolling and casting around the Soldier Creek and Strawberry Bay arms for aggressive cruisers.
Utah Lake
A large, shallow lake best known for fast action on channel catfish, spring runs of white bass, and solid walleye; shore anglers soak bait near Lindon and American Fork boat harbors while boaters drift flats and troll edges for roaming predators.
Weber River
From canyon runs to farm-country bends, the Weber holds strong brown trout with pockets of rainbows; nymph riffle seams year-round, swing streamers on overcast days, and hit evening caddis near Hoytsville and Uintah access points.
Willard Bay
A productive walleye and wiper venue with seasonal surges of wiper, walleye, and crappie; spring jigging on dikes and marina edges and summer trolling with crankbaits or spinner rigs across open-water schools are staples out of North Marina .
Green River
Below Flaming Gorge Dam , the Green River’s clear tailwater is legendary for sight-fishing to wild brown and rainbow trout with dry flies, nymphs, and streamers; drift boats cover the A, B, and C sections, while waders work seams, shelves, and riffles through classic canyon water.
Quail Creek Reservoir
Known for early-season warmth, Quail Creek offers largemouth bass, rainbow trout (cool months), and bluegill; probe steep banks with jerkbaits and swimbaits, and fish coves and points near Harrisburg when winds pick up.
Lake Powell
Sprawling across red-rock canyons, Lake Powell is famed for striped bass, walleye, and smallmouth bass, with spring topwater action and fall boils drawing anglers to points, coves, and backs of canyons; launch from Wahweap or Bullfrog and troll, jig, or cast around structure for year-round opportunities.
Jordanelle Reservoir
Close to the Wasatch Front, Jordanelle offers smallmouth bass, rainbow trout, and kokanee; spring jerkbaits on rocky banks, summer smallmouth on drop-shots, and downrigger trolling for kokanee and rainbows keep action steady from Hailstone to the upper river arms.