Capitol Reef Country’s lakes and streams offer some of the most rewarding fishing in the state. This angler’s paradise boasts everything from small, clear streams to trophy waters for the big catch.
The Fremont River: With over 20 miles of stream, the Fremont River is a great place to chase trout. Most likely catches here are brown and rainbow, plus brook, cutthroat, tiger, and splake. The stream flows from 8,000 to 5,400 feet, beginning slowly at Johnson Reservoir in Fishlake National Forest and picking up the pace around Mill Meadow Reservoir. The stream is used for irrigation just below Mill Meadow but picks up again at Bicknell Bottoms.
The beautiful Upper Fremont flows from Johnson Reservoir to Mamoit Spring with easy shore access or a short hike into the canyon for more remote fishing holes. Nightcrawlers, muddlers, lures, and flies are great for catching hearty rainbow, cutthroat, brook, and brown trout. The section of stream from Mamoit Spring to Johnson Reservoir is de-watered in the winter, and the trout are under a foot long. Wild brown trout is most abundant upstream from Mill Meadow Reservoir. This is mostly Forest Service land but the stream flows through private lands so ask for permission if you’re not sure.
The Lower Fremont waters are slower moving and turbid. Below Mill Meadow Reservoir, the Fremont River is completely de-watered until Bicknell Bottoms. Perennial springs provide flow to Bicknell where you’ll find some decent-sized rainbow in the marshy waters. Nightcrawlers are the bait of choice here. Downstream to Torrey, the Fremont River is loaded with rainbow and brown trout but mostly flows through private lands.
Even further downstream, the Fremont River flows into Capitol Reef National Park where large brown trout is the catch of the day when the waters are clear. The trout population dries up at Sulpher Creek, near the visitor center.
The Fremont River’s moving waters provide the perfect habitat for world class fly fishing. Local outfitters can help you experience the best fly fishing in Capitol Reef Country.
Lake Fishing: Looking for a fishing paradise? You can’t go wrong at Fish Lake where the trophy waters contain huge lake trout upwards of 20 pounds, 10-pound rainbows, and hearty brook and splake. Salmon eggs and night crawlers are the bait of choice here. Shore fishing is best near Twin Creeks and on the rocky south side. Small boat fishing is ideal. Nearby Johnson Reservoir offers fantastic shore fishing from the dam or shallow surface fishing from a boat. Nightcrawlers are excellent bait for the hefty rainbow trout found here. Early spring and late fall are the best times of year for fishing this hotspot.
Mill Meadow and Forsyth reservoirs, located just north of Fremont, are both well stocked with splake, tiger, and rainbow trout ranging in size from one to four pounds. These lakes are great for both shore fishing and boat fishing. Night crawlers with marshmallows, large spinners, and black jigs work well here, depending on location and time of day. The U.M. Creek is a quiet and pleasant trout stream that runs from Forsythe Reservoir to Mill Meadow Reservoir, with clear waters that produce pan-sized wild brook and cutthroat trout. View a google map of this location.
Boulder Mountain’s high-altitude lakes have short fishing seasons that peak in the fall. Above 10,000 feet, Posey Lake and Cyclone Lake are stocked annually with rainbow trout. On the west side of Boulder Mountain near the Bluebell Knoll peak, Raft Lake and Cook Lake are stocked with pan-sized brook and rainbow trout. On the north side of the mountain, around 8,300 feet, small trout (about 12 inches) flourish at Coleman Reservoir. Try shore fishing with nightcrawlers and salmon eggs, or fly fishing in the earliest and latest parts of the day.
Lower Bowns Reservoir is a large fishable lake on the east side of Boulder Mountain, about 12 miles from Torrey. At 45 feet deep and 37 surface acres, it’s great for both shore and small boat fishing. Rainbow and cutthroat trout of up to four pounds have been fished here. Try night crawlers from the shore and silver spinners from watercraft.
View more information about fishing in this region and access to communities for lodging and other visitor services. – Click Here – Utah Fishing
Keep Capitol Reef Country Forever Mighty
What is Forever Mighty? It’s practicing responsible travel while visiting Utah and Capitol Reef Country by following the principles of Tread Lightly and Leave No Trace.
Plan ahead and prepare, travel and camp on durable surfaces, dispose of waste properly, leave what you find, minimize campfire impacts, respect wildlife, be considerate of others, support local business and honor community, history and heritage. Help us keep Utah and Capitol Reef Country’s outdoor recreation areas beautiful, healthy, and accessible.