Ice fishing in Utah: 10 lakes and how to stay safe

Ice first

Those figures are for clear, solid new ice. White or snow ice is about half as strong, so double them. Ice is never the same thickness across a lake: check it with a spud or auger every few steps, stay away from inlets, outlets, springs and pressure ridges, and follow your state agency's advice.

1. Lake Powell

At 161,000 acres of water, Lake Powell is a huge piece of water. Expect walleye, striped bass, smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. The deepest water is around 583 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and an upper arm to work. Under the ice, walleye: cold. Slow jigs on deep structure.

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

2. Bear Lake

Bear Lake spreads over 69,800 acres. Expect trout and lake trout. It goes down to about 208 ft. The lake bed gives you three steep ledges and an upper arm to work. Under the ice, trout: cold. Slow and near the surface on sunny days.

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

3. Utah Lake

At 95,000 acres of water, Utah Lake is a huge piece of water. The lake is next to Saratoga Springs. Expect walleye, bluegill, largemouth bass and white bass. At about 14 ft at its deepest, it warms quickly in spring. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs to work. Under the ice, walleye: cold. Slow jigs on deep structure.

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

4. Strawberry Reservoir

Strawberry Reservoir spreads over some 17,200 acres. You will find it about 21 miles west of Mapleton. Trout and kokanee salmon are the draw. At about 200 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work. Strawberry Reservoir is Utah's most popular fishery, drawing over a million angling hours a year. Under the ice, trout: cold. Slow and near the surface on sunny days.

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

5. Willard Bay Reservoir

Willard Bay Reservoir covers 9,900 acres. You will find it about 10 miles southeast of Ogden. Crappie, walleye, bluegill and smallmouth bass are the draw. The deepest water is around 36 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and a steep ledge worth a first look. Willard Bay is an off-stream freshwater reservoir diked off from the saline Great Salt Lake. Under the ice, crappie: cold. Tight schools near deep brush and bridges.

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

6. Yuba Lake

Yuba Lake is a reservoir of about 9,260 acres. The lake is about 60 miles north of Provo. It holds walleye, yellow perch, northern pike and smallmouth bass. 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. Under the ice, walleye: cold. Slow jigs on deep structure.

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

7. Starvation Reservoir

Starvation Reservoir covers some 3,500 acres. It lies within an easy drive of Provo (about 60 miles). The fish here are walleye, trout and smallmouth bass. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work. Starvation Reservoir in the Uinta Basin is especially renowned for trophy walleye. Under the ice, walleye: cold. Slow jigs on deep structure.

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

8. Deer Creek Reservoir

Deer Creek Reservoir spreads over 2,960 acres of water. The lake is about 2.1 miles north of Midway. Trout, yellow perch, walleye and largemouth bass are the draw. 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. Under the ice, trout: cold. Slow and near the surface on sunny days.

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

9. Scofield Reservoir

Scofield Reservoir spreads over 2,820 acres. You will find it near Helper. Trout are the draw. The deepest water is around 66 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look. Scofield Reservoir on the Price River is known as an outstanding shore fishery for trout. Under the ice, trout: cold. Slow and near the surface on sunny days.

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

10. Jordanelle Reservoir

Jordanelle Reservoir covers about 2,610 acres. It lies about 22 miles west of Sandy Hills. Trout, yellow perch, kokanee salmon and smallmouth bass are the draw. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start. Jordanelle Reservoir on the Provo River supports a broader range of fish species than most other reservoirs in the area, including tiger muskie. Under the ice, trout: cold. Slow and near the surface on sunny days.

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

What to bring

• Ice picks around your neck and a throw rope
• A spud bar or auger to test as you walk
• A flotation suit or life jacket on early and late ice
• A friend, and someone on shore who knows where you went
• Small jigs and spoons tipped with a minnow or waxie