How to catch rainbow trout in Utah
The backbone of Utah fishing — the DWR stocks rainbows by the hundreds of thousands, from community ponds to high-mountain reservoirs. Willing biters on flies, lures, and bait.
Behavior & tendencies
Rainbows are opportunistic mid-column feeders that cruise open water and hold in moderate current seams. Freshly stocked fish stay shallow and gullible for a week or two; holdovers get bigger, deeper, and pickier. They're the most catchable trout in Utah — which is exactly why the DWR plants them everywhere.
Seasonal patterns
Ice-off through early summer is prime, when rainbows cruise the top ten feet and hit almost anything. Summer pushes them deeper at low-elevation waters (fish early or late); high lakes stay good all day. Fall brings a second shallow feeding binge, and they bite all winter through the ice.
What they bite
Insects, zooplankton, minnows, and — for stocked fish — anything resembling hatchery pellets. Scents and flash both work.
Recommended presentations
- Small spinners or spoons countedown to cruising depth
- PowerBait or a worm off the bottom for stocked fish
- Woolly bugger stripped slow on a sinking line
- Chironomid or balanced leech under an indicator on stillwaters
- Dry-dropper on streams
rainbow trout by region
Best months for rainbow trout
300 waters holding rainbow trout
Sorted by how they’re fishing right now.
- Green River (below Flaming Gorge)PrimeBlue Ribbon
- Washington Lake — Mirror Lake HwyPrime
- Currant Creek ReservoirGood
- Sand Cove Reservoir, UpperGood
- Willow Park PondGood
- Adams ReservoirGood
- American Fork RiverGood
- Ashley CreekGood
- Beaver RiverGood
- Clinton PondGood
- Duchesne RiverGood
- East Canyon ReservoirGood
- East Canyon ReservoirGood
- East Fork Sevier RiverGoodBlue Ribbon
- Farmington City ReservoirGood
- Garden City Heritage Community ParkGood
- Glenwood PondGood
- Grantsville ReservoirGood
- Holmes Creek ReservoirGood
- Jackson Flat ReservoirGood
- Jensen Nature Park PondGood
- Kaysville Stake PondGood
- Kolob ReservoirGood
- Koosharem ReservoirGood
- Lost Lake — Uintas North SlopeGood
- Lower Provo RiverGoodBlue Ribbon
- Lower Weber RiverGood
- Mammoth CreekGood
- Meadow Creek PondGood
- Middle Provo RiverGoodBlue Ribbon
- Mirror LakeGood
- Ogden RiverGood
- Parowan PondGood
- Riverton PondGood
- South Fork Ogden RiverGood
- Steed PondGood
- Upper Provo RiverGood
- Upper Sevier RiverGood
- Wide Hollow ReservoirGood
- Willard Creek PondGood
- American Fork CreekFair
- Anderson Meadow — Tushar MtnsFair
- Annabella Reservoir — Monroe MtnFair
- Antimony Lake — Escalante MtnFair
- Asay CreekFair
- Aspen Mirror Lake — Cedar MtnFair
- Bar MFair
- Barker Reservoir — North Creek LakesFair
- Bear River — UintasFair
- Beaver Creek — UintasFair
- Beaver Lake — Bear River drainageFair
- Big Lake — Monroe MtnFair
- Birch Creek ReservoirFair
- Blanding Reservoir No 3Fair
- Blanding Reservoir No 4Fair
- Blind Lake — Boulder Mtn North SlopeFair
- Blue Lake — La Sal MtnsFair
- Boulger PondFair
- Box ReservoirFair
- Brian Head PondFair
- Bridger Lake — Uintas North SlopeFair
- Brough ReservoirFair
- Browne Lake — Uintas North SlopeFair
- Burraston PondsFair
- Butterfly LakeFair
- Cart CreekFair
- Carter CreekFair
- Causey ReservoirFair
- Chalk CreekFair
- Cold Spring LakesFair
- Coleman Reservoir — Boulder Mtn North SlopeFair
- Cook Lake — Boulder MtnFair
- Corn CreekFair
- Crouse ReservoirFair
- Dark Canyon Lake — La Sal MtnsFair
- Deep Lake — Monroe MtnFair
- Deep Lake — Wasatch PlateauFair
- Deer Creek Lake — Boulder Mtn East SlopeFair
- Dons Lake — La Sal MtnsFair
- Dry Wash Reservoir — Abajo MtnsFair
- Duck Creek — Cedar MtnFair
- Duck Creek SpringsFair
- East Fork Sevier River — Kingston CanyonFair
- East Park ReservoirFair
- Emerald Lake — Wasatch PlateauFair
- Fairview Lake — Wasatch PlateauFair
- Farnsworth Lake — Fishlake PlateauFair
- Ferron Reservoir — Wasatch PlateauFair
- Fish LakeFairBlue Ribbon
- Flaming Gorge ReservoirFairBlue Ribbon
- Gates Lake — Fishlake PlateauFair
- Grassy Lake Reservoir — Wasatch PlateauFair
- Grassy Trail ReservoirFair
- Hacking Lake — Uintas South SlopeFair
- Harrisville City PondFair
- Hidden Lake — La Sal MtnsFair
- Hobbs ReservoirFair
- Hoop Lake — Uintas North SlopeFair
- Huntington G F PondsFair
- Indian Creek ReservoirFair
- Iron Mine Lake — Uintas South SlopeFair
- Jones Hole CreekFair
- Jordanelle ReservoirFairBlue Ribbon
- Laketown ReservoirFair
- Lilly Lake — Mirror Lake HwyFair
- Lily Lake — Uintas North SlopeFair
- Little Brush CreekFair
- Little Creek ReservoirFair
- Little Reservoir — Tushar MtnsFair
- Lloyds Lake — Abajo MtnsFair
- Long Park ReservoirFair
- Lower Bowns Reservoir — Boulder MtnFair
- Lower Box Creek Reservoir — Monroe MtnFair
- Lower Kents Lake — Tushar MtnsFair
- Manila Creek Park PondFair
- Maple Grove SpringsFair
- Maple LakeFair
- Marsh Lake — Uintas North SlopeFair
- Marys Lake — Wasatch PlateauFair
- Mcclellan ReservoirFair
- Medicine Lake — La Sal MtnsFair
- Meeks Lake — Thousand Lake MtnFair
- Mill Hollow ReservoirFair
- Mill Meadow ReservoirFair
- Miller Lake — Boulder Top NorthFair
- Millers Flat Reservoir — Wasatch PlateauFair
- Minersville ReservoirFairBlue Ribbon
- Monroe PondFair
- Monticello Lake — Abajo MtnsFair
- Moon LakeFair
- Moosehorn Lake — Mirror Lake HwyFair
- Morrell Pond — Thousand Lake MtnFair
- Mount Pleasant PondFair
- Navajo LakeFair
- New Canyon Reservoir — Wasatch PlateauFair
- Newcastle ReservoirFair
- Nine Mile ReservoirFair
- North Fork American Fork CreekFair
- North Fork Duchesne RiverFair
- Oak Creek — Millard CountyFair
- Oaks Park ReservoirFair
- Oowah Lake — La Sal MtnsFair
- Otter Creek ReservoirFairBlue Ribbon
- Panguitch CreekFair
- Paradise ReservoirFair
- Pass Lake — Mirror Lake HwyFair
- Payson Reservoir (Big East)Fair
- Petes HoleFair
- Pine Lake — Paunsaugunt PlateauFair
- Pine Valley Reservoir — Pine Valley MtnFair
- Posey Lake — Escalante MtnFair
- Potters No 1 — Wasatch PlateauFair
- Potters No 2 — Wasatch PlateauFair
- Provo Delta Community FisheryFair
- Puffer Lake — Tushar MtnsFair
- Quail Creek ReservoirFair
- Quarter Corner Lg103 — Uintas North SlopeFair
- Red Creek ReservoirFair
- Rex Reservoir — Fishlake PlateauFair
- Round Lake — Thousand Lake MtnFair
- Row Lake 3 — Boulder MtnFair
- Row Lake 7 (Banana) — Escalante MtnFair
- Salina City PondFair
- Salina Reservoir — Fishlake PlateauFair
- Salt CreekFair
- Santaquin CreekFair
- Scout Lake — Mirror Lake HwyFair
- Sheep CreekFair
- Shingle Mill ReservoirFair
- Silver Lake Flat Reservoir — American Fork CynFair
- Six Mile PondFair
- Skutumpa ReservoirFair
- Smith and Morehouse ReservoirFair
- Smithfield CreekFair
- Snow Lake — Wasatch PlateauFair
- Soup Bowl Reservoir — Wasatch PlateauFair
- South Eden ReservoirFair
- South Fork Ashley CreekFair
- Spanish Oaks PondFair
- Spinners Reservoir — Wasatch PlateauFair
- Spring LakeFair
- Stateline Reservoir — Uintas North SlopeFair
- Steinaker ReservoirFair
- Stoddard SloughFair
- TealFair
- Three Creeks Reservoir — Tushar MtnsFair
- Tibble Fork ReservoirFair
- Tidwell ReservoirFair
- Tony Grove Lake — Bear River RangeFair
- Towne Reservoir — Wasatch PlateauFair
- Trial LakeFair
- Tropic Reservoir — Paunsaugunt PlateauFair
- Twin Lake — Wasatch PlateauFair
- Uinta RiverFair
- Upper Box Creek Reservoir — Monroe MtnFair
- Vernon Reservoir — TooeleFair
- Virgin River Park PondFair
- Vivian Park PondFair
- Warner Lake — La Sal MtnsFair
- Wellsville ReservoirFair
- Whitney Reservoir — Uintas North SlopeFair
- Willard CreekFair
- Willow Lake — Wasatch PlateauFair
- Willow Spring PondFair
- Yankee Meadow Reservoir — Cedar MtnFair
- Yearns Reservoir — Wasatch PlateauFair
- Browns Draw ReservoirFair
- Huntington North ReservoirFair
- Millsite ReservoirFair
- Red Fleet ReservoirFair
- Settlement Canyon ReservoirFair
- Big Sandwash ReservoirTough
- Cleveland ReservoirTough
- Enterprise Reservoir, LowerTough
- Enterprise Reservoir, UpperTough
- Hyrum ReservoirTough
- Kens LakeTough
- Piute ReservoirTough
- Baker ReservoirWarning
- Bountiful PondWarning
- Deer Creek ReservoirWarning
- Echo ReservoirWarning
- Fremont RiverWarningBlue Ribbon
- Highland Glen Park PondWarning
- Lost Creek ReservoirWarning
- Mantua ReservoirWarning
- Matt Warner ReservoirWarning
- Panguitch LakeWarningBlue Ribbon
- Rockport ReservoirWarning
- Salem PondWarning
- Scofield ReservoirWarningBlue Ribbon
- Strawberry ReservoirWarningBlue Ribbon
- Canyon View Park PondDrained
- Palisade ReservoirDrained
- Baker
- Bartholomew Park Pond
- Benchs Pond
- Calder Reservoir
- Camp Kostopaulus
- Carbon County Pond
- Caspers Pond
- Cold Spring Lake
- Community Lake
- Cove Pond
- Deer Valley Lakes
- Fairmont Park Pond
- Forebay Pond
- Fort Buenaventura Pond
- Foy Lake
- Garkane Impoundment, Main Fork
- Gigliotti Pond
- Glassmans Pond
- Good Ski Lake (21st Street Pond)
- Gooseberry Reservoir
- Hayden Fork
- Hinkins Pond
- Kidney Pond
- Knight Ideal Pond
- Leigh Hill Reservoir
- Little Antimony — Escalante Mtn
- Little Montes Reservoir
- Lower Lyman Lake
- Maybey Pond
- Mayor's Pond
- Merchant Valley Reservoir
- Midas Pond
- Middle Kents Lake — Tushar Mtns
- Millrace Park Pond
- Moose Pond
- Old Fort Pond North
- Penny Springs Park Pond
- Pioneer Park Pond
- Pole Canyon Park Pond
- Pond At Poulter Preserve
- Rainbow Reservoir
- Razor Ridge Pond
- Riverfront Pond
- Roosevelt Community Pond
- Salt Creek Reservoir
- Sandy Community Fishery
- Silver Lake — Big Cottonwood Cyn
- Skylers Pond
- Skyline Pond
- Smith Family Park Pond
- Spring Hill Pond #1
- State Mental Hospital Pond
- Stillwater Fork
- Stratton Pond
- Sunset Pond
- Teapot Lake
- Towa P, Upper
- Towa P. Lower
- Uinta Pond
- Upper Lyman Lake
- Wasatch Mountain State Park Pond
- Willow Creek Pond
- Woods Pond
- Wpa Pond, Upper
- Wrigley Spring Reservoir
- Yuba Reservoir (Sevier Bridge)