Biggest lakes in Utah: the top 10 by size

The list

Sizes are the published surface area where one exists; the others are our own measure of the water's outline and read "about". Reservoirs shrink and grow with their level, so a dry year shows less water.

1. Great Salt Lake

Great Salt Lake spreads over 1,088,000 acres. You will find it within an easy drive of Layton (about 3 miles). The deepest water is around 45 ft. The Great Salt Lake is several times saltier than the ocean and supports almost no fish, only brine shrimp and brine flies.

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

2. Lake Powell

At some 161,000 acres, Lake Powell is a huge piece of water. The fish here are striped bass, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass and walleye. At about 583 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and an upper arm to work.

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

3. Sevier Lake

Sevier Lake covers 120,000 acres of water. You will find it near Milford. The deepest water is around 15 ft.

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

4. Utah Lake

Utah Lake is a natural lake of some 95,000 acres. You will find it right by Saratoga Springs. It holds 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

5. Bear Lake

Bear Lake spreads over 69,800 acres of water. Expect trout and lake trout. At about 208 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. On the 3-D map the bed has three steep ledges and an upper arm: good places to start.

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

6. Strawberry Reservoir

Strawberry Reservoir covers 17,200 acres. It lies near Mapleton. The fish here are trout and kokanee salmon. At about 200 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start. 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. Willard Bay Reservoir

Willard Bay Reservoir is a reservoir of some 9,900 acres. The lake is within an easy drive of Ogden (about 10 miles). The fish here are crappie, walleye, smallmouth bass and catfish. The deepest water is around 36 ft. 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

8. Yuba Lake

Yuba Lake spreads over about 9,260 acres. The lake is about 60 miles north of Provo. Walleye, smallmouth bass, yellow perch and northern pike are the draw. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and a steep ledge to work. 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

9. Starvation Reservoir

Starvation Reservoir is a reservoir of some 3,500 acres. You will find it near Duchesne. The fish here are walleye, smallmouth bass and trout. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work.

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

10. Deer Creek Reservoir

Deer Creek Reservoir is a reservoir of 2,960 acres of water. It lies about 2.1 miles north of Midway. The fish here are largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, trout and yellow perch. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start. 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

Big water, big days

Large lakes make their own weather: a breeze that is nothing on a pond builds real waves over miles of open water. Check the wind on the lake page before you launch and keep to the lee shore when it picks up.