Fishing in Iron County, Utah
County seat: Parowan. Census 2020 residents: 57,289.
- 7lake pages
- 4launches
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Fishing Iron County in brief
The county seat of Iron County is Parowan, and 57,289 people lived in the county when the 2020 Census was taken. By the Census Gazetteer it covers 3,296 square miles of land and 4.4 square miles of water. Measured by acreage, Newcastle Reservoir comes first among 7 Utah lakes and reservoirs covered in the county.
Inside the county line sit 4 launches and 1 shore or pier point. DWR's community program covers Lake at the Hills (Leigh Hill), Bristlecone (Brian Head) Pond and Woods Ranch Pond (Kids Pond) in the county. 34,610 fish went into 12 county waters in 2026, per 36 rows of DWR's stocking table.
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.
Plotting Iron County launches and DWR lakes
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.
Choosing among the Utah lakes of Iron County
| Lake | Size | Launches | Status | DWR lists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newcastle Reservoir | about 151 acres of mapped outline | 1 | reservoir | rainbow trout, smallmouth bass, brown trout, crappie Black |
| Yankee Meadow Reservoir | about 29 acres of mapped outline | 1 | reservoir | brook trout, bonneville cutthroat trout, rainbow trout |
| Lake at the Hills (Leigh Hill) | 8 acres | 0 | community fishery | bluegill, channel catfish, largemouth bass, rainbow trout, wiper, muskie Tiger, crappie Black |
| Bristlecone (Brian Head) Pond | 4 acres | 0 | community fishery | rainbow trout, tiger trout |
| Woods Ranch Pond (Kids Pond) | 1 acres | 0 | community fishery | rainbow trout |
| Parowan Pond | 0.5 acres | 0 | community fishery | channel catfish, rainbow trout, crappie Black |
| Paragonah (Red Creek) Reservoir | no DWR figure | 2 | reservoir | bonneville cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, tiger trout, muskie Tiger |
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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Out to 40 miles from Parowan, DWR rates rainbow trout likely or possible on more lake pages than any other fish.
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.
Little-documented Utah waters inside Iron County
Here are 5 smaller named waters of Iron County, largest outline first.
| Water | Size | Listed by |
|---|---|---|
| Quichapa Lake | about 1,664 acres of mapped outline | UGRC lakes layer |
| Rush Lake | about 621 acres of mapped outline | UGRC lakes layer |
| Red Creek Reservoir | about 38 acres of mapped outline | UGRC lakes layer |
| Modena Draw Reservoir | about 37 acres of mapped outline | UGRC lakes layer |
| Dry Lake | about 11 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.
Creeks winding through Iron County
River readings across Iron County
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Coal Creek Near Cedar City, Ut | 40 cfs, 4.64 ft gage height | Nov 14 6:25 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.
Public ramps in Iron County
- Eastside access point at Paragonah (Red Creek) ReservoirParagonah (Red Creek) Reservoir, hand launch, hand launch, wildlife watching
- Southeast shore Hand Launch at Paragonah (Red Creek) ReservoirParagonah (Red Creek) Reservoir, hand launch, hand launch, primitive (Tent), restrooms
- Yankee Meadows Boat RampYankee Meadow Reservoir, boat ramp, for small motorized craft, administered by Utah DWR in the UGRC layer, hand launch, OHV or 4WD trails, picnic tables
- Newcastle Reservoir Boat RampNewcastle Reservoir, boat ramp, hand launch, restrooms, wildlife watching
Shore spots spread over Iron County
- Paragonah Reservoir Dam Shore AccessParagonah (Red Creek) 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.
Hatchery deliveries to Iron County, per DWR
The newest 2026 rows for the county, water names exactly as DWR abbreviates them.
| Date | Water as DWR prints it | County | Fish | Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 30, 2026 | FOREBAY POND | Iron | 350 | Rainbow |
| September 30, 2026 | LEIGH HILL RES | Iron | 742 | Rainbow |
| September 30, 2026 | PAROWAN POND | Iron | 350 | Rainbow |
| September 29, 2026 | LEIGH HILL RES | Iron | 1,272 | Rainbow |
| September 21, 2026 | NEWCASTLE RES | Iron | 2,500 | Rainbow |
| September 21, 2026 | NEWCASTLE RES | Iron | 2,500 | Rainbow |
| September 15, 2026 | PARAGONAH RES | Iron | 2,024 | Cutthroat |
| September 15, 2026 | YANKEE MEADOW RES | Iron | 3,163 | Cutthroat |
| August 12, 2026 | BRIAN HEAD POND | Iron | 705 | Rainbow |
| July 23, 2026 | WOODS POND | Iron | 203 | Rainbow |
DWR fish stocking table for 2026, year to date (DWR stocking report; water names are DWR abbreviations), read November 11, 2026.
2026 and 2027 Utah limits for Iron 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. Most of Iron County fishes under the statewide rows shown here. Both Utah guidebooks list $40 for the resident adult license and $120 for nonresidents, each valid 365 days.
| 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 | – |
Water-specific rules across Iron County
- Bristlecone (Brian Head) PondThe daily limit is 2 trout (Fish Utah page)
- Lake at the Hills (Leigh Hill)The daily limit is 2 fish, in any combination – Anglers are encouraged to voluntarily release largemouth bass. (Fish Utah page)
- Newcastle ReservoirLimit 2 wiper. (2027 guidebook, p. 46)
- Paragonah (Red Creek) ReservoirCutthroat Trout/Bonneville: Trout, including salmon, grayling and hybrids a combined limit of 4. (Fish Utah page)
- Parowan PondThe daily limit is 2 fish, in any combination. (Fish Utah page)
- Woods Ranch Pond (Kids Pond)The daily limit is 8 trout (Fish Utah page)
- Yankee Meadow ReservoirBrook Trout: Trout, including salmon, grayling and hybrids a combined limit of 4. (Fish Utah page)
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.
Utah record-book entries near Iron County
| Species | Weight or length as listed | Water | Year | Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wiper | 11 lbs. 6 oz. | Newcastle Reservoir | 2014 | spearfishing |
Utah state record fish as DWR lists them (records page), read November 11, 2026.
Fly shops and tackle stores of Iron County
Where Iron County anglers buy Utah gear
- Circle Valley Anglersbait and tackle shop, Cedar City
- Sportsman's Warehouse, 889 S Main Stbait and tackle shop, Cedar City
Yellow Pages, Utah State Parks and NPS listings (city of business), read November 11, 2026.
Grouped near Iron County
Utah home bases for fishing Iron County
- Cedar City2020 count 35,235
- Enoch2020 count 7,374
- Parowan2020 count 2,996
Utah counties next to Iron County
- Beaver County31 miles north
- Washington County46 miles south
- Piute County70 miles northeast
- Millard County73 miles north
Piscifun kit to stow in the truck for Iron County
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Reservoirs, high lakes and wadeable creeks around Iron County, pictured
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: ClassA RVs, CC BY 2.0
What Utahns ask about the water in Iron County
Can a Utah kayak or boat go in the water in Iron County?
The merged UGRC and DWR list holds 4 launches, named above with directions.
Which Utah reservoir leads Iron County on size?
That is Newcastle Reservoir, listed at about 151 acres of mapped outline.
Which fish lead the DWR lists near Iron County?
Fish Utah rates rainbow trout likely or possible on the most lakes within 40 miles, then tiger trout, brook trout and bonneville cutthroat trout.
Is a tackle shop listed in Iron County?
2 in all, including Circle Valley Anglers.
Which Utah town is the county seat of Iron County?
The seat is Parowan.
What will DWR charge to fish in Iron County?
A 365-day Utah fishing license for an adult resident is $40; a nonresident adult pays $120, the same in the 2026 and 2027 guidebooks.
Which Utah counties lie next to Iron County?
By center point: Beaver County, Washington County and Piute County.
Is there a daily trout limit in Iron 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.
Where do the Utah limits change in Iron County?
7 waters with a page here carry their own rules, beginning with Bristlecone (Brian Head) Pond.
How much stocking does Iron County see?
The 2026 DWR table lists 34,610 fish in 36 rows across 12 waters in the county.
Has Iron County produced a Utah state record?
Wiper, 11 lbs. 6 oz., from Newcastle Reservoir (2014).
Pick a Utah reservoir or creek in Iron County
Every launch page carries a directions link.