What You Should Know About Fishing In Southern Utah

Southern Utah is teeming with good fishing waters and with many types of fish.  Whether you like the wandering and gorgeous monster of Lake Powell for its striped bass or the meandering smallness of the Virgin River and its Rainbow Trout, you have your pick of where to catch em.  It’s hard to argue that fishing in Southern Utah won’t provide the best angling in a state where the sport of fishing is enjoyed in every region.

Virgin River

The Virgin River is largely responsible for the existence of St. George City, Utah and its surrounding towns.  It’s also credited for the flora and fauna of Zion National Park, the third-most popular national park in America.  The best fishing on the Virgin is found on the north fork of the river, just below Navajo Lake. Fish which are native to the Virgin are the Spinedace, Speckled Dace, Flannelmouth Sucker, and Desert Sucker.  Fish introduced to Zion’s river are Rainbow Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Brown Trout, Channel Catfish, and Brook Trout.

Part of the Colorado River Basin, the rivers of Zion National Park have kept their native fish in healthy populations.  This is rare and only possible because river flow in the park is natural, through flooding, sediment transport and times of low and high flow.

Lakes And Reservoirs

Fishing in Southern Utah includes hundreds of lakes to float on or shore on.  Some of the best are the following.

Boulder Mountain supports over 80 lakes and reservoirs, where Brook and Cutthroat Trout flourish.  Near Capitol Reef National Park, Boulder Mountain offers accessible campgrounds and basic facilities.

Sand Hollow Reservoir is one of the best fishing lakes in Utah.  Located just outside St. George, Sand Hollow State Park has stunning vistas because of the geologic landscape of Zion Canyon.  Anglers catch bluegill and bass. Modern facilities are found on the lakefront. Fishing in Southern Utah is attractive to families who like to be near a city with all services.  Baker Lake, near Veyo, Utah, is a traditional mainstay for locals who want to catch trout.

Johnson Reservoir and Fish Lake are part of Fish Lake National Forest.  Splake, Mackinaw, Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout, Brook and Brown Trout are caught there.  The fall colors are gorgeous.

Otter Creek Reservoir and Yuba Reservoir are popular among boaters, who take Trout, Walleye, and Yellow Perch.  At nearby Panguitch Lake, ice fishing for trout is great. Gunlock Reservoir is good in spring and fall for crappie and bass.  Near Beaver, Utah is Anderson Meadow Reservoir, where Rainbow and Brook Trout are common. Anderson has good camp spots, drinking water, and facilities.  Quail Creek Reservoir, near St. George, contains Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Rainbow Trout, and Crappie.

Rivers And Streams

Beaver River contains Brown and Rainbow Trout, especially above the town of Beaver along Highway 153 and west of Beaver, below Minersville Reservoir.

The Escalante River flows to the Escalante Canyons, warming enough to support catfish and suckers.  In its colder waters, the Escalante has various trout types.

The East Fork of the Sevier River is a bit tougher to fish because of its steep slopes, rocks, and brush.  If you’re bent on fishing the Sevier, you’re going after any of the three common types of trout.

Santa Clara River is good fishing from the town of Veyo off Hwy 18, northeast to Pine Valley.  You’ll harvest Rainbow and Brown Trout.

Fremont River is surrounded by a lot of private land, but the fishing is good.  Fishing Southern Utah at most other spots does not require asking permission from landowners.

What You Should Know About Fishing In Southern Utah

Article By: Clear Content Marketing