Best fishing lakes in Utah: 12 lakes and what bites

The lakes at a glance

1. Lake Powell

Lake Powell spreads over 161,000 acres of water. Striped bass, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass and walleye are the draw. The deepest water is around 583 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and an upper arm: good places to start.

Lake Powell today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

2. Bear Lake

At 69,800 acres of water, Bear Lake is a huge piece of water. It holds trout and lake trout. It goes down to about 208 ft. Its bed shows three steep ledges and an upper arm worth a first look.

Bear Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

3. Utah Lake

Utah Lake is a natural lake of 95,000 acres. It lies next to Saratoga Springs. Expect largemouth bass, white bass, catfish and walleye. It goes down to about 14 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs: good places to start. Utah Lake is a large, shallow freshwater lake whose biomass is dominated by common carp.

Utah Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

4. Deer Creek Reservoir

Deer Creek Reservoir covers 2,960 acres of water. The lake is near Midway. It holds largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, trout and yellow perch. Deer Creek Reservoir impounds the Provo River between Heber Valley and Provo Canyon.

Deer Creek Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

5. Pineview Reservoir

Pineview Reservoir covers about 2,390 acres. The lake is near Wolf Creek. Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie and bluegill are the draw. Pineview Reservoir is one of only a few lakes in Utah stocked with tiger muskie.

Pineview Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

6. Strawberry Reservoir

Strawberry Reservoir spreads over 17,200 acres of water. It lies about 25 miles west of Provo. The fish here are trout and kokanee salmon. The deepest water is around 200 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look. Strawberry Reservoir is Utah's most popular fishery, drawing over a million angling hours a year.

Strawberry Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

7. Jordanelle Reservoir

Jordanelle Reservoir is a reservoir of about 2,610 acres. The lake is within an easy drive of Sandy Hills (about 22 miles). Expect trout, kokanee salmon, smallmouth bass and yellow perch. Jordanelle Reservoir on the Provo River supports a broader range of fish species than most other reservoirs in the area, including tiger muskie.

Jordanelle Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

8. Willard Bay Reservoir

Willard Bay Reservoir is a reservoir of 9,900 acres of water. It lies next to Willard. It holds crappie, walleye, smallmouth bass and catfish. It goes down to about 36 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and a steep ledge to work. Willard Bay is an off-stream freshwater reservoir diked off from the saline Great Salt Lake.

Willard Bay Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

9. Fish Lake

Fish Lake is a natural lake of about 2,510 acres. You will find it about 9.4 miles south of Loa. Expect trout, lake trout, kokanee salmon and yellow perch. The deepest water is around 175 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look.

Fish Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

10. Cutler Reservoir

Cutler Reservoir is a reservoir of about 2,480 acres. You will find it right by Benson. The fish here are catfish, walleye, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work. Cutler Reservoir impounds the Bear River in Cache Valley.

Cutler Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

11. Yuba Lake

Yuba Lake is a reservoir of about 9,260 acres. You will find it near Gunnison. Walleye, smallmouth bass, yellow perch and northern pike are the draw. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and a steep ledge worth a first look. Sevier Bridge Reservoir, better known as Yuba Lake, is the fourth-largest man-made lake in Utah.

Yuba Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

12. Starvation Reservoir

Starvation Reservoir spreads over some 3,500 acres. The lake is about 60 miles west of Provo. Walleye, smallmouth bass and trout are the draw.

Starvation Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

Which lake for which fish

A lake appears under a fish when it holds it, by the record or by the type of lake.

• Bass: Lake Powell, Utah Lake, Deer Creek Reservoir and Pineview Reservoir
• Walleye: Lake Powell, Utah Lake, Deer Creek Reservoir and Willard Bay Reservoir
• Trout: Bear Lake, Deer Creek Reservoir, Strawberry Reservoir and Jordanelle Reservoir
• Crappie: Pineview Reservoir, Willard Bay Reservoir, Mona Reservoir and Pelican Lake
• Pike and muskie: Pineview Reservoir, Jordanelle Reservoir and Yuba Lake
• Catfish: Utah Lake, Deer Creek Reservoir, Willard Bay Reservoir and Cutler Reservoir

The fishing year

• Spring: walleye are usually at their best. Prime range. Low light is best, on reefs and weed edges.
• Summer: walleye are usually fair. Warm surface. They go deep in the day; try evenings.
• Fall: walleye are usually at their best. Prime range. Low light is best, on reefs and weed edges.
• Winter: walleye are usually at their best. Good cool-water bite, best at dusk and after dark.

Before you go

Buy a Utah fishing licence before the trip and read the state's rules for each lake: seasons, size and bag limits change from water to water. Each lake page on LakeScope shows today's water temperature, the wind, the best bite times and a 3-D view of the bed, so check it the morning you go.