That trip along the Snake sparked my interest in the various types of cutthroat trout. I had only ever heard about cutthroat trout a few times before this trip, and thought that there was only one species of them. It was up on the Snake River, in Jackson, Wyo. It was not until 2017 that I had caught my first cutthroat. As far as I was concerned, those two types of trout were the only ones worth catching. At this time, my fly fishing adventures were influenced by where I could catch big brown and rainbow trout. I also went to places such as Flaming Gorge, Lee’s Ferry and the Uintas. Even in the winter, I would try and spend some time on the Middle Provo. Fly fishing had become my hobby.Īnytime I could get out on the water, I was there. I spent these years eagerly chasing after brown trout with zebra midges and green drakes. The next seven years, I spent much time out on the Middle Provo, fly rod in hand. I did fall into the freezing water, but also managed to catch the biggest rainbow trout I had ever caught. My first day ever out on the Middle Provo was cold, wet, but extremely worth it. However, three years later, my first time casting a fly in Utah would ensure that I would fall in love with the sport. I learned to fly fish when I turned ten years old. Help us keep this site up and running by visiting our online store which features outdoor themed gifts, décor and more.Bonneville cutthroat trout, caught in Mill Creek. For more outdoor activities, please connect with us on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram. You can even get recent water level reports from the Central Utah Water Conservancy District by clicking here.įor additional Utah Lake activities, check out the links below:
You can get an updated fishing report for the lake by clicking here and view maps of the area by clicking here. Of course, with a lake this big, nearly every angler has a couple secret spots that consistently produce fish. Popular fishing spots are the Provo boat harbor, Lindon boat harbor, American Fork boat harbor, Lincoln Beach and Sandy Beach. Additional species include white bass and crappie. Giant channel cats can be caught from shore, as well as trophy walleye. What about the future? What does a trip to the lake hold in store for you? Plenty.Īlthough the native cutthroats may not call the lake home anymore, there are several species of game fish. On the federal endangered species list since the late ‘80s, it is estimated that there are now less than a thousand living in the lake, which is the only place on earth they call home. The native June sucker has suffered mightily. In addition to hurting water quality, less vegetation also meant less cover for young fish from the lake’s other species. The lake’s plant life served as crucial anchors in the sediment of the already volatile lake and as the carp plowed through it, the water got dirtier and less sunlight reached the remaining vegetation. Utah Lake is a shallow lake prone to strong winds, so an unstable bottom is a big deal. While it may have seemed like a good idea at the time, the vacuum-mouthed detritus feeders only hastened the lake’s demise by eating vegetation and churning up sediment on the bottom. With the lake’s biomass plummeting in the late 1800s, the powers that be decided there needed to be something in it. Industrial chemicals and waste were routed directly into the water.Īnd years of unrestricted commercial fishing didn’t do the native cutthroat population any favors. Unfortunately, the lake was abused by early settlers. They regularly tipped the scales at more than 20 pounds. Most importantly for outdoor enthusiasts, Utah Lake was home to massive cutthroat trout. It offered swimming, boating, dancing and amusement park attractions. The Geneva Resort remained a local favorite until it finally closed its doors in 1935.Īnother popular lakeside destination was Beck’s Saratoga Springs Resort, which opened near the mouth of the Jordan River in 1884. One of the most popular attractions was a toboggan slide that sent riders plummeting down a wooden track and skidding across the water. It was built in 1888 and boasted a hotel, dance pavilion, saloon, boat harbor, rental cabins and two swimming pools. Several resorts used to dot the shoreline of Utah Lake, including the Geneva Resort in Provo.
NATIVE GAME FISH OF UTAH PLUS
Here’s a brief recap of the lake’s history, plus a guide to enjoying its many offerings. And although it’s had a bit of a rough history, there are now lots of great activities you can do at the lake. Utah Lake was once a renowned trout fishery with crystal clear waters.
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