Fishing in Box Elder County, Utah
County seat: Brigham City. Census 2020 residents: 57,666.
- 5lake pages
- 6launches
- 5river pages
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First things to know about fishing Box Elder County
At the 2020 Census, Box Elder County had 57,666 residents; Brigham City is the county seat. The 2023 Gazetteer measures 5,781 square miles of land and 947.9 square miles of water inside the county line. 5 Utah lakes and reservoirs in the county have a full page on this site, and Willard Bay Reservoir is the biggest by DWR or mapped size. DWR gives Willard Bay Reservoir Blue Ribbon status.
UGRC and DWR between them place 6 launches and 6 shore or pier points in the county. Flowing water in the county starts with George Creek, Johnson Creek and Onemile Creek / Sawmill Canyon. For a city-park cast, DWR lists Pioneer Park Pond and Mayors Pond as community fisheries. In 2026 DWR logged 25 plants here: 2,219,988 fish into 7 waters.
U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census counts (TIGERweb) and the 2023 Gazetteer, read November 11, 2026. UGRC Boat Ramps layer (ArcGIS service) and the DWR Fish Utah access list, read November 11, 2026.
Every UGRC and DWR pin inside Box Elder County
UGRC Boat Ramps layer (ArcGIS service) and the DWR Fish Utah access list, read November 11, 2026. Lake pins are the DWR map point for each water.
Utah lake pages for Box Elder County
| Lake | Size | Launches | Status | DWR lists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Willard Bay Reservoir | about 9,991 acres of mapped outline | 2 | Blue Ribbon fishery | black crappie, channel catfish, smallmouth bass, walleye, wiper |
| Mantua Reservoir | about 515 acres of mapped outline | 1 | reservoir | bluegill, largemouth bass, rainbow trout, yellow perch, channel catfish |
| Willard Peak Pond | 10 acres | 0 | pond | bluegill, channel catfish, largemouth bass, sunfish Bluegill, bass Largemouth |
| Pioneer Park Pond | 2.5 acres | 0 | community fishery | bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, green sunfish, largemouth bass, rainbow trout, grass Carp Sterile |
| Mayors Pond | 1.5 acres | 0 | community fishery | rainbow trout |
Size as the DWR Fish Utah page for this water prints it (DWR), read November 11, 2026. Waters with no DWR acreage print their mapped outline instead. Utah DWR Fish Utah planner (dwrapps.utah.gov), read November 11, 2026.
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Around Brigham City, out to 40 miles, Fish Utah puts rainbow trout on the most lake lists.
DWR Fish Utah species lists (likely or possible), counted per lake page within 40 miles; DWR’s ratings, not a catch survey. Utah DWR Fish Utah planner (dwrapps.utah.gov), read November 11, 2026.
Mapped Utah waters of Box Elder County kept to one line each
25 further named lakes and ponds in Box Elder County are listed with their mapped size only.
| Water | Size | Listed by |
|---|---|---|
| South Bay | about 4,249 acres of mapped outline | UGRC lakes layer |
| Hull Lake | about 732 acres of mapped outline | UGRC lakes layer |
| South East Bay | about 599 acres of mapped outline | UGRC lakes layer |
| Duck Lake | about 342 acres of mapped outline | UGRC lakes layer |
| Pintail Lake | about 320 acres of mapped outline | UGRC lakes layer |
| West Lake | about 259 acres of mapped outline | UGRC lakes layer |
| East Lake | about 255 acres of mapped outline | UGRC lakes layer |
| Widgeon Lake | about 229 acres of mapped outline | UGRC lakes layer |
| North Bay | about 192 acres of mapped outline | UGRC lakes layer |
| Spires Lake | about 190 acres of mapped outline | UGRC lakes layer |
| Blue Creek Reservoir | about 134 acres of mapped outline | UGRC lakes layer |
| Klondike Lake | about 130 acres of mapped outline | UGRC lakes layer |
| Horseshoe Sloughs | about 118 acres of mapped outline | UGRC lakes layer |
| Rose Ranch Reservoir | about 117 acres of mapped outline | UGRC lakes layer |
| Crocker Lake | about 111 acres of mapped outline | UGRC lakes layer |
| Etna Reservoir | about 74 acres of mapped outline | UGRC lakes layer |
| Coyote Ponds | about 61 acres of mapped outline | UGRC lakes layer |
| Cement Ponds | about 51 acres of mapped outline | UGRC lakes layer |
| Lynn Reservoir | about 44 acres of mapped outline | UGRC lakes layer |
| West Crocker Lake | about 29 acres of mapped outline | UGRC lakes layer |
| East Crocker Lake | about 24 acres of mapped outline | UGRC lakes layer |
| Death Creek Reservoir | about 21 acres of mapped outline | UGRC lakes layer |
| Mud Lake | about 17 acres of mapped outline | UGRC lakes layer |
| Skating Pond | about 15 acres of mapped outline | UGRC lakes layer |
| Warm Spring Reservoir | about 12 acres of mapped outline | UGRC lakes layer |
Outline area from the UGRC Utah Lakes NHD layer (ArcGIS service; mapped polygon area, not a DWR surface-acre figure), read November 11, 2026. Listed waters are not claimed to hold fish. Utah DWR Fish Utah planner (dwrapps.utah.gov), read November 11, 2026.
Moving Utah water in Box Elder County
- George CreekDWR stream reach
- Johnson CreekDWR stream reach
- Onemile Creek / Sawmill CanyonDWR stream reach
- West Fork Bear River4 USGS gauges
- Wildcat CreekDWR stream reach
Other Fish Utah reaches in Box Elder County (1)
- Lower Bear River7 DWR access points, 4 USGS gauges
USGS stations within Box Elder County
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Lakeside Drain At Quarry Near Lakeside, Ut | 94 cfs, 3.01 ft gage height | Nov 14 6:00 pm |
| Salt Creek Near Honeyville, Ut | 10 cfs, 3.74 ft gage height | Nov 14 5:45 pm |
| Malad River Near Bear River City, Ut | 12 cfs, 8.78 ft gage height | Nov 14 5:30 pm |
| Bear River Near Corinne, Ut | 841 cfs, 4.82 ft gage height | Nov 14 5:30 pm |
| Bear River Below O-line Canal Nr Brigham City, Ut | 6.98 ft gage height | Nov 14 6:15 pm |
| Av Watkin Outlet Near Willard, Ut | 5.60 ft gage height | Nov 14 6:15 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 14, 2026 6:32 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Utah DWR Fish Utah planner (dwrapps.utah.gov), read November 11, 2026. USGS Water Data for the Nation, live through the site, retrieved on page view.
Launch ramps across Box Elder County
- Mantua Reservoir Boat RampMantua Reservoir, boat ramp, for small motorized craft, administered by a private operator in the UGRC layer, docks – accessible, restrooms, swimming
- Willard Bay South MarinaWillard Bay Reservoir, boat ramp, for any vessel class, administered by Utah State Parks in the UGRC layer, camp host, covered Picnic ares, cycling
- Willard Bay north Boat RampWillard Bay Reservoir, boat ramp, for any vessel class, administered by Utah State Parks in the UGRC layer, camp host, covered Picnic ares, cycling
- Bear River Bay Boat Ramp at Great Salt LakeGreat Salt Lake, boat ramp, for small motorized craft, administered by Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands in the UGRC layer
- Corinne Boat Ramp at Lower Bear RiverLower Bear River, boat ramp, for small motorized craft, administered by Utah DWR in the UGRC layer
- Deweyville Boat Ramp at Lower Bear RiverLower Bear River, boat ramp, for small motorized craft, administered by Utah DWR in the UGRC layer
DWR shore access in Box Elder County
- Freeway Bay Shore Access at Willard Bay ReservoirWillard Bay Reservoir, shore access
- Northwest Corner Shore Access at Willard Bay ReservoirWillard Bay Reservoir, shore access
- Southwest Corner Shore Access at Willard Bay ReservoirWillard Bay Reservoir, shore access
- Bear River Boat Launch Shore AccessLower Bear River, shore access
- Bird Refugee Boat Launch Shore Access at Lower Bear RiverLower Bear River, shore access
- Fishing Access 1 at Mantua ReservoirMantua Reservoir, shore access
UGRC Boat Ramps layer (ArcGIS service) and the DWR Fish Utah access list, read November 11, 2026. Neither layer publishes fees or opening hours.
Dated Utah reservoir figures for Box Elder County
Willard Bay Reservoir
Reclamation daily values for Willard Bay Reservoir, November 10, 2026.
Bureau of Reclamation Upper Colorado Region reservoir data (hydrodata), latest daily values, read November 11, 2026. Provisional.
The 2026 DWR plant log for Box Elder County
Water names below are DWR's own abbreviations from the 2026 table, newest first.
| Date | Water as DWR prints it | County | Fish | Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 14, 2026 | MAYOR'S POND | Box Elder | 252 | Rainbow |
| September 30, 2026 | WILLARD CR POND | Box Elder | 400 | Rainbow |
| September 29, 2026 | MANTUA RES | Box Elder | 10,000 | Rainbow |
| September 15, 2026 | COLD SPRING LAKES | Box Elder | 938 | Rainbow |
| July 7, 2026 | WILLARD BAY RES | Box Elder | 3,480 | Wiper |
| June 22, 2026 | COLD SPRING LAKES | Box Elder | 627 | Rainbow |
| June 18, 2026 | WILLARD BAY RES | Box Elder | 2,612 | Wiper |
| June 11, 2026 | COLD SPRING LAKES | Box Elder | 314 | Rainbow |
| June 9, 2026 | WILLARD BAY RES | Box Elder | 219,200 | Wiper |
| June 5, 2026 | PIONEER PARK P | Box Elder | 400 | Channel catfish |
DWR fish stocking table for 2026, year to date (DWR stocking report; water names are DWR abbreviations), read November 11, 2026.
Beehive State creel numbers for Box Elder County
The limits here are from the 2027 Utah Fishing Guidebook, which takes effect January 1, 2027; the 2026 Utah Fishing Guidebook stays in force through December 31, 2026 and differs only where a row says so. Any Box Elder County water without its own guidebook entry uses the statewide rows below. Utah prices its adult 365-day fishing license at $40 for residents and $120 for visitors, unchanged between the two guidebooks.
| Species group | 2027 daily limit | 2026 daily limit | Guidebook note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baitfish (common carp, fathead minnow, redside shiner, Utah sucker, Utah chub, white sucker) | No limit | same | (NEW) Formerly called "nongame species"; baitfish species are listed on page 20. |
| Black crappie and white crappie (a combined total) | 50 | same | – |
| Bluegill and green sunfish (a combined total) | 50 | same | – |
| Bonneville cisco | 30 | same | – |
| Bullhead | 24 | same | – |
| Burbot | No limit | same | REMINDER: Do not release any burbot you catch. All burbot caught must be immediately killed. |
| Channel catfish | 8 | same | – |
| Community fisheries | 2 | 2 | The limit includes fish of most species. All tiger muskellunge must be released. NEW: There are restrictions for largemouth bass at some waters. See page 39. |
| Crayfish | No limit | same | REMINDER: You may use bait to catch crayfish on waters where bait use is prohibited for fish, as long as none of the lines have hooks attached. |
| Kokanee salmon | See trout limit | same | Kokanee salmon are part of the total trout limit. Anglers may not possess kokanee salmon at any waterbody statewide from Sept. 10 through Nov. 30. |
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass (a combined total) | 6 | same | – |
| Northern pike | 20, only 1 over 36 inches | same | – |
Utah waters in Box Elder County with their own limits
- Mantua Reservoir(NEW) Limit 15 bluegill. (new in the 2027 guidebook, in force from January 1, 2027)
- Mayors PondThe daily limit is 2 trout – common carp do not count toward the daily limit. (Fish Utah page)
- Pioneer Park PondThe daily limit is 2 trout – common carp do not count toward the daily limit. (Fish Utah page)
- Willard Bay ReservoirBlack Crappie: Limit 10. (Fish Utah page)
- Willard Peak PondLimit 5 bluegill. (2027 guidebook, p. 54)
Utah special-regulation waters
2027 Utah Fishing Guidebook (effective January 1, 2027; DWR PDF), read November 11, 2026. License prices as printed in the 2027 Utah Fishing Guidebook, p. 8 (the 2026 guidebook prints the same prices; checked against the DWR fees page), read November 11, 2026.
Beehive State record catches near Box Elder County
| Species | Weight or length as listed | Water | Year | Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yellowstone cutthroat trout | 14" | Johnson Creek | 2020 | catch and release (length) |
| Carp | 38 lbs. 13 oz. | Willard Bay Reservoir | 2015 | archery |
Utah state record fish as DWR lists them (records page), read November 11, 2026.
Utah tournament dates on Box Elder County water
DWR and organizer pages tie 3 events or results to Box Elder County water; 1 have not been fished yet.
| Date | Event | Water | Organizer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan. 10, 2027 | NIFT | Mantua Reservoir | NIFT |
| Aug. 30, 2026 | UBTT Northern Utah Division, Mantua, Northern Utah (result) | Mantua Reservoir | Ultimate Bass Team Tour, LLC (Cedar City, Utah) |
| May 2, 2026 | UBTT Northern Utah Division, Mantua, Northern Utah (result) | Mantua Reservoir | Ultimate Bass Team Tour, LLC (Cedar City, Utah) |
Event as listed by the organizer (source), read November 11, 2026.
Utah bait counters around Box Elder County
Shops selling hooks and line in Box Elder County
- Maniac Custom Luresbait and tackle shop, Bear River City
- Maniac Custom Luresbait and tackle shop, Brigham City
- PME Sporting Goodsbait and tackle shop, Brigham City
- Willard Bay State Park North Marinamarina, Willard
- Willard Bay State Park South Marinamarina, Willard
Yellow Pages, Utah State Parks and NPS listings (city of business), read November 11, 2026.
A short way past Box Elder County
Places in Box Elder County with town pages
- Brigham City2020 count 19,650
- Tremonton2020 count 9,894
- Perry2020 count 5,555
- Garland2020 count 2,589
- Willard2020 count 1,978
- Honeyville2020 count 1,606
- Elwood2020 count 1,173
- Mantua2020 count 1,090
Across the Utah county line from Box Elder County
- Davis County60 miles southeast
- Weber County66 miles east
- Cache County68 miles east
- Tooele County80 miles south
Piscifun gear a Beehive State angler could bring to Box Elder County
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Identification photos for fish at Box Elder County
Photo: NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, CC BY 2.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Clearing up Box Elder County fishing myths
Where can I put a boat in the water in Box Elder County?
6 launches, each in the access list above.
Which DWR lake in Box Elder County has the most acreage here?
Willard Bay Reservoir, with about 9,991 acres of mapped outline.
What fish does DWR name near Box Elder County?
Fish Utah rates rainbow trout likely or possible on the most lakes within 40 miles, then largemouth bass, bluegill and channel catfish.
Where do Box Elder County anglers pick up flies and jigs?
5 listings, Maniac Custom Lures among them.
Which Utah town holds the Box Elder County offices?
That is Brigham City.
Which Utah license covers fishing in Box Elder County?
DWR charges adults $40 (resident) or $120 (nonresident) for a fishing license good 365 days from purchase.
What Utah counties are closest to Box Elder County?
Nearest first: Davis County, Weber County and Cache County.
What is the Utah trout limit in Box Elder County?
Statewide, the trout, kokanee and grayling row sets a daily limit 4 under the 2027 guidebook; the 2026 guidebook prints the same number. Waters with their own entry can differ.
Are there special DWR rules on Box Elder County lakes?
5 waters with a page here carry their own rules, beginning with Mantua Reservoir.
Which Box Elder County waters does DWR call Blue Ribbon?
Willard Bay Reservoir, on DWR's Blue Ribbon list.
How many fish did DWR stock in Box Elder County in 2026?
The 2026 DWR table lists 2,219,988 fish in 25 rows across 7 waters in the county.
When is the next Utah weigh-in on Box Elder County water?
3 entries on file; the next is NIFT on Mantua Reservoir, Jan. 10, 2027.
Which Utah state records trace to Box Elder County?
Yellowstone cutthroat trout, 14", from Johnson Creek (2020).
A slickrock or Wasatch morning in Box Elder County
Launch pages repeat UGRC and DWR details with directions.