UTERStriped bass fishing in Utah freshwater
In Utah freshwater, striped bass peak April–June and August–October and are around year-round, spawning in May–June, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. April: Lake Powell stripers come up the canyons.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Striped bass in Utah freshwater, month by month
- JanuaryAround
- FebruaryAround
- MarchArriving
- AprilPeakLake Powell stripers come up the canyons.
- MaySpawningPowell stripers spawn; anchovies on the walls.
- JuneSpawning
- JulyAround
- AugustPeakPowell striper boils on the surface — cast spoons into them.
- SeptemberPeak
- OctoberPeak
- NovemberAround
- DecemberAround
Where to fish striped bass 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 striped bass
- Live eelsHooked through the lips on a 5/0 to 7/0 circle hook and sight-cast to a cobia or dropped to a cobia on a ray — the eel is the cobia bait.
- Menhaden (pogies)Nose-hooked on a circle hook and free-lined or slow-trolled; cut in chunks for the bottom.
- HerringCut-plug for salmon: head off at an angle, guts out, two hooks in tandem so it spins slow behind a flasher or a banana weight. Whole and live on a circle hook for stripers where the herring run.
- BloodwormsA piece threaded on a #2 to 2/0 hook on a hi-lo or fish-finder rig — the striper, spot, croaker and white perch bait of the Chesapeake and the surf.
- Sand eelsFree-lined or on a light jig head for stripers, fluke and bluefish; strips teased on a fluke rig.
- Minnows (fatheads, shiners)Hooked lightly through the lips or behind the dorsal on a #6 to #2 hook under a slip bobber for crappie, perch and walleye; a big golden shiner on a 2/0 to 4/0 for largemouth, pike and stripers.
- Leader10–20 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook#2–3/0
- Jig head1/8–1/2 oz
- Braid10–30 lb
Feeds in 42–80°F water, best at 50–68°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch striped bass in Utah freshwater?
Peak season is April–June and August–October, with fish spawning in May–June (often a closed or catch-and-release window — check the rule). Striped bass are here year-round. April: Lake Powell stripers come up the canyons.
Where do striped bass hold in Utah freshwater?
Look on bridge, dock / pilings, river, reservoir, lake — around Flaming Gorge, Lake Powell, Strawberry Reservoir, Green River, Provo River, Utah Lake.
What is the best bait for striped bass in Utah freshwater?
Live bait: live eels, menhaden (pogies), herring, bloodworms. Live eels: Hooked through the lips on a 5/0 to 7/0 circle hook and sight-cast to a cobia or dropped to a cobia on a ray — the eel is the cobia bait. 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 striped bass 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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