Fishing in Piute County, Utah
County seat: Junction. Census 2020 residents: 1,438.
- 2lake pages
- 8launches
- 1river pages
Pick for troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of Otter Creek Reservoir: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
Planning a first trip in Piute County
Courthouse business for Piute County is done in Junction; the county counted 1,438 residents in 2020. Gazetteer mapping shows 758 square miles of land and 7.8 square miles of water. Otter Creek Reservoir heads the county's 2 Utah lakes and reservoirs with their own page. Blue Ribbon water here: Otter Creek Reservoir and East Fork Sevier River (Kingston Canyon).
Launch data from UGRC and DWR show 8 launches here, plus 4 shore or pier points on DWR's shore list. Moving water with a DWR page here includes East Fork Sevier River (Kingston Canyon). Hatchery trucks made 21 logged stops in the county in 2026, releasing 173,590 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.
Slickrock-to-summit pins across Piute 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.
Lakes spread across Piute County
| Lake | Size | Launches | Status | DWR lists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Otter Creek Reservoir | 2520 | 7 | Blue Ribbon fishery | rainbow trout, cutbow Ctbl*Rtwv |
| Piute Reservoir | about 2,226 acres of mapped outline | 1 | reservoir | rainbow trout, bass White, all Trout, chub, crappie White, sunfish Bluegill, bass Smallmouth, crappie Black |
A short drive out of Junction reaches these lakes past the Piute County boundary.
| Lake | From Junction | Size | Launches | Status | DWR lists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monroe Pond | 27 miles north | 2 acres | 0 | community fishery | rainbow trout, tiger trout, brown trout, brook trout |
| Minersville Reservoir | 32 miles west | 401 | 4 | Blue Ribbon fishery | rainbow trout, smallmouth bass, wiper, tiger trout |
| Koosharem Reservoir | 33 miles northeast | about 346 acres of mapped outline | 2 | reservoir | bear Lake cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, brown trout, bonneville cutthroat trout |
| Fish Lake | 35 miles northeast | 2,500 acres | 5 | Blue Ribbon fishery | kokanee salmon, lake trout, rainbow trout, splake, yellow perch, cutbow Ctbl*Rtwv |
| Paragonah (Red Creek) Reservoir | 36 miles southwest | no DWR figure | 2 | reservoir | bonneville cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, tiger trout, muskie Tiger |
| Pine Lake | 37 miles southeast | about 80 acres of mapped outline | 2 | natural lake | 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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Bars count lake pages within 40 miles of Junction where Fish Utah rates the fish likely or possible; rainbow trout leads.
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.
Further named basins on the Piute County Utah map
State maps carry 4 more named lakes inside Piute County; they stay on this list.
| Water | Size | Listed by |
|---|---|---|
| Upper Box Creek Reservoir | about 68 acres of mapped outline | UGRC lakes layer |
| Manning Meadows Reservoir | about 52 acres of mapped outline | UGRC lakes layer |
| Lower Box Creek Reservoir | about 22 acres of mapped outline | UGRC lakes layer |
| Barney Lake | about 15 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.
Utah rivers to wade in Piute County
- East Fork Sevier River (Kingston Canyon)Blue Ribbon water, guidebook entry, 8 DWR access points, 1 USGS gauge
Flow gauges around Piute County
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Sevier River Near Kingston, Ut | 172 cfs, 4.46 ft gage height | Nov 14 5:45 pm |
| East Fork Sevier River Near Kingston, Ut | 19 cfs, 3.32 ft gage height | Nov 14 5:30 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.
Utah trailer launches around Piute County
- Otter Creek State Park Boat RampOtter Creek Reservoir, boat ramp, for any vessel class, administered by Utah State Parks in the UGRC layer, cabins, hand launch, RV
- Piute State Park Boat RampPiute Reservoir, boat ramp, for any vessel class, administered by Utah State Parks in the UGRC layer, covered Picnic ares, drinking water, fire rings
- Eagle's Nest Hand Launch at Otter Creek ReservoirOtter Creek Reservoir, hand launch, hand launch, OHV or 4WD trails, primitive (Tent)
- Fisherman's Beach Hand Launch at Otter Creek ReservoirOtter Creek Reservoir, hand launch, hand launch, OHV or 4WD trails, primitive (Tent)
- Otter Creek State Park Boat RampOtter Creek Reservoir, boat ramp, camp host, covered Picnic ares, cycling
- Senior Citizen Point Hand Launch at Otter Creek ReservoirOtter Creek Reservoir, hand launch, hand launch, OHV or 4WD trails, primitive (Tent)
- South Point Hand Launch at Otter Creek ReservoirOtter Creek Reservoir, hand launch, hand launch, OHV or 4WD trails, primitive (Tent)
- Tamarisk Point Hand Launch at Otter Creek ReservoirOtter Creek Reservoir, hand launch, hand launch, OHV or 4WD trails, primitive (Tent)
Fishing piers in Piute County
- Pull-off #1 Shore Access at East Fork Sevier River (Kingston Canyon)East Fork Sevier River (Kingston Canyon), shore access
- Pull-off #2 Shore Access at East Fork Sevier River (Kingston Canyon)East Fork Sevier River (Kingston Canyon), shore access
- Pull-off #3 Shore Access at East Fork Sevier River (Kingston Canyon)East Fork Sevier River (Kingston Canyon), shore access
- Pull-off #4 Shore Access at East Fork Sevier River (Kingston Canyon)East Fork Sevier River (Kingston Canyon), 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.
Utah stocking rows for Piute County waters
Rows run newest first, with water names shortened the way DWR's 2026 table shortens them.
| Date | Water as DWR prints it | County | Fish | Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 3, 2026 | OTTER CR RES | Piute | 29,478 | Rainbow |
| November 2, 2026 | OTTER CR RES | Piute | 5,355 | Rainbow |
| November 2, 2026 | OTTER CR RES | Piute | 2,065 | Rainbow |
| November 2, 2026 | OTTER CR RES | Piute | 33,335 | Rainbow |
| October 26, 2026 | OTTER CR RES | Piute | 3,960 | Cutbow ctbl*rtwv |
| October 13, 2026 | OTTER CR RES | Piute | 24,570 | Cutbow ctbl*rtwv |
| September 14, 2026 | MANNING MEADOW RES | Piute | 15,003 | Cutthroat |
| July 28, 2026 | BOX CR RES, LOWER | Piute | 750 | Tiger trout |
| June 25, 2026 | SEVIER R, E FK | Piute | 702 | Rainbow |
| May 24, 2026 | PIUTE RES | Piute | 139 | Bass white |
DWR fish stocking table for 2026, year to date (DWR stocking report; water names are DWR abbreviations), read November 11, 2026.
Shops a short drive past the Piute County line
- Barney Outdoor Outfittersbait and tackle shop, Richfield, 37 miles
- Circle Valley Anglersbait and tackle shop, Cedar City, 60 miles
Yellow Pages and park listings; straight-line miles only where the listing has an exact address point.
Utah guidebook limits on Piute County water
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. Start from these statewide rows in Piute County; a named water's entry replaces them. DWR charges adults $40 (resident) or $120 (nonresident) for a fishing license good 365 days from purchase.
| 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 | – |
Guidebook exceptions printed for Piute County waters in Utah
- East Fork Sevier River (Kingston Canyon)(a) Feeder canal from the diversion near Antimony down the channel to Otter Creek Reservoir: (2027 guidebook, p. 40)
- Otter Creek ReservoirRainbow 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.
DWR record entries from Piute County
| Species | Weight or length as listed | Water | Year | Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wiper | 20 lbs. 12.16 oz. | Otter Creek Reservoir | 2026 | catch and keep |
Utah state record fish as DWR lists them (records page), read November 11, 2026.
In the same basin as Piute County
Adjoining Piute County
- Sevier County33 miles northeast
- Garfield County51 miles southeast
- Beaver County60 miles west
- Wayne County62 miles east
Piscifun tackle chosen for a Utah day at Piute County
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Identification photos for fish at Piute County
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Aszazin, CC BY-SA 3.0
Fishing inside Piute County: the common asks
How many ramps do UGRC and DWR list for Piute County?
There are 8 launches in the state launch data.
Which Piute County lake is the biggest on this site?
Otter Creek Reservoir (2520).
What species does Fish Utah list around Piute County?
Fish Utah rates rainbow trout likely or possible on the most lakes within 40 miles, then brown trout, tiger trout and utah chub.
Where can I buy bait in Piute County, Utah?
The closest shops sit outside the county and appear above.
What Utah town serves Piute County as its seat?
It is Junction.
What Utah license do Piute County anglers buy?
Licenses in Utah run 365 days from the purchase date: $40 for a resident adult, $120 for a nonresident adult.
What counties surround Piute County?
Begin with Sevier County, Garfield County and Beaver County.
What trout rule covers Piute 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.
Which Piute County lakes have special limits?
2 waters with a page here carry their own rules, beginning with East Fork Sevier River (Kingston Canyon).
Where is Blue Ribbon fishing in Piute County?
Otter Creek Reservoir and East Fork Sevier River (Kingston Canyon), on DWR's Blue Ribbon list.
Is Piute County on the DWR stocking table?
The 2026 DWR table lists 173,590 fish in 21 rows across 7 waters in the county.
What Utah record fish came out of Piute County?
Wiper, 20 lbs. 12.16 oz., from Otter Creek Reservoir (2026).
Set up a Utah fishing weekend in Piute County
River pages list DWR access points and live USGS flow.