Mountain Lake · Volcanic · Utah, US

Fish Lake

20191007-FS-Fishlake-JZ-001

Fish Lake is Utah's big natural mountain-lake answer to the Californian who has seen plenty of Sierra reservoirs and still wants something different.

Fair · Rainbow
Balanced Leech · 8-12
A respectable few hours, if you choose your moments
Good wave on — drift country. A useful wave. Work the productive shore.
49% confidence
limited data

Fish Lake is often best in spring through autumn.

What moved it
  • WindE 11 km/hLight breeze
Today's fly
Balanced Leech
Balanced Leech8-12
Proven pattern for this period
Conditions on the water
Estimate
Wind
Light breeze
E 11 km/h
N
E
from the east
Wave20 cm ripple
Water temp9.3°C
Air temp8°C
CloudOvercast
Pressure1020 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm

No gauge on this water — readings are regional estimates from weather, not a live gauge.

How to fish it · for Rainbow
When
No strong hatch signals at the moment — general searching tactics should work best. The ripple is helpful — fish should move onto the feed and a slow-drifted team or single wet will cover water well.
Where
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work a bushy searching pattern on the bob and drop a contrasting nymph on the point.
The plan
Plan A

Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work a bushy searching pattern on the bob and drop a contrasting nymph on the point.

Plan B

If the main plan is not working, switch to a smaller, more imitative pattern fished slower and deeper. A change of drift angle can also make a difference.

Watch for

Keep an eye on changing conditions — wind shifts and cloud breaks can trigger short feeding spells.

Boat — drift

A gentle ripple is ideal for drifting — broadside drift covering the wind lanes should be productive.

Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 2 as a supporter.

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Through the year
0–3 scale · October highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Gray DrakeHatch
2
2
CallibaetisHatch
2
3
3
3
2
Hexagenia (Western)Hatch
2
2
Black MidgeHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2

Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.

Ranked for today
Rainbow fly box
CH
Chironomid
12-16 · Pattern
Proven pattern for this period
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • Verify Fish Lake-specific species and harvest rules against UDWR
  • Stillwater safety: wind and cold water matter.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Condition match
85%
Cloud50%
Wind100%
Temp100%

Conditions are ideal for Fish Lake — wind, cloud and temperature all line up.

Fishing better nearby · 3
East Fork Sevier River — Kingston Canyon
52 km
76
Brown trout · Rainbow trout · Cutthroat trout
Fremont River
31 km
75
Brown trout · Rainbow trout
Boulder Mountain Lakes
50 km
Brook trout · Cutthroat trout · Rainbow trout
Gallery · 2
  1. 20191007-FS-Fishlake-JZ-001
  2. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
About this water

Fish Lake is Utah's big natural mountain-lake answer to the Californian who has seen plenty of Sierra reservoirs and still wants something different. It sits high on the Sevier Plateau in aspen and spruce country, big enough for boats, deep enough for lake trout, and still useful to fly anglers around shorelines, weed edges and cool-water windows. It is not a delicate dry-fly river; it is a high stillwater where wind, depth, ice-off and summer stratification decide the game. It's southern/central Utah's serious stillwater anchor, alongside Boulder Mountain and Panguitch.

  • Lake
  • Volcanic
Why this score
  • Wind conditions (ripple) closely match what this water fishes best in.
  • Temperature (cool) is in the sweet spot for autumn fishing.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Trout 1 January → 31 December
Related guides
Small Stillwater Playbookstillwater tacticsThermal Layers & Troutreading depth and temperatureEuro Nymphingsubsurface methods
Booking & contacts