UTERCutthroat trout fishing in Utah freshwater
In Utah freshwater, cutthroat trout peak May–October and are around year-round, spawning in May–June, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. June: Strawberry Reservoir after ice-off — Bear Lake cutthroat.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Cutthroat trout in Utah freshwater, month by month
- JanuaryAround
- FebruaryAround
- MarchAround
- AprilAround
- MaySpawning
- JuneSpawningStrawberry Reservoir after ice-off — Bear Lake cutthroat.
- JulyPeak
- AugustPeak
- SeptemberPeak
- OctoberPeak
- NovemberAround
- DecemberAround
Where to fish cutthroat trout near Flaming Gorge, Lake Powell, Strawberry Reservoir
Flaming Gorge's lakers and burbot, Lake Powell's stripers and smallmouth, Strawberry's cutthroat, the Green River below the dam, and Uinta high lakes.
What to use for cutthroat trout
- NightcrawlersWhole on a #6 to #2 hook under a bobber or on a bottom rig; threaded on a spinner harness drifted for walleye. The bait that catches everything in fresh water.
- Salmon eggs (roe)A dime-sized spawn sac tied in mesh, or single eggs on a #10 to #6 egg hook, drifted along the bottom for steelhead, trout and salmon. Check the state's rule — bait is banned on many trout and salmon waters.
- Leader10–20 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook#2–3/0
- Jig head1/8–1/2 oz
- Braid10–30 lb
Feeds in 36–68°F water, best at 46–60°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch cutthroat trout in Utah freshwater?
Peak season is May–October, with fish spawning in May–June (often a closed or catch-and-release window — check the rule). Cutthroat trout are here year-round. June: Strawberry Reservoir after ice-off — Bear Lake cutthroat.
Where do cutthroat trout hold in Utah freshwater?
Look on river, creek / stream, lake, reservoir — around Flaming Gorge, Lake Powell, Strawberry Reservoir, Green River, Provo River, Utah Lake.
What is the best bait for cutthroat trout in Utah freshwater?
Live bait: nightcrawlers, salmon eggs (roe). Nightcrawlers: Whole on a #6 to #2 hook under a bobber or on a bottom rig; threaded on a spinner harness drifted for walleye. The bait that catches everything in fresh water. Tackle: leader 10–20 lb fluorocarbon, hook #2–3/0, jig head 1/8–1/2 oz, braid 10–30 lb.
What are the rules for cutthroat trout in Utah freshwater?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) and change — read the current rule at https://wildlife.utah.gov/rules before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://wildlife.utah.gov/licenses.
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