Fishing in Rich County, Utah
County seat: Randolph. Census 2020 residents: 2,510.
- 5lake pages
- 7launches
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Fishing Rich County in brief
The county seat of Rich County is Randolph, and 2,510 people lived in the county when the 2020 Census was taken. By the Census Gazetteer it covers 1,029 square miles of land and 57.6 square miles of water. Measured by acreage, Bear Lake comes first among 5 Utah lakes and reservoirs covered in the county. DWR rates Bear Lake as Blue Ribbon water.
Inside the county line sit 7 launches and 0 shore or pier points. DWR's community program covers Laketown Reservoir and Garden City Pond in the county. 112,196 fish went into 6 county waters in 2026, per 18 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 Rich 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 Rich County
| Lake | Size | Launches | Status | DWR lists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear Lake | about 70,008 acres of mapped outline in Utah | 7 | Blue Ribbon fishery | bonneville whitefish, bear Lake cutthroat trout, lake trout, bonneville cutthroat trout |
| Woodruff Reservoir | 90 surface-acres | 0 | reservoir | no DWR list |
| Birch Creek Reservoir | 30 acres | 0 | reservoir | bonneville cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, tiger trout |
| Laketown Reservoir | 4 acres | 0 | community fishery | rainbow trout, bonneville cutthroat trout |
| Garden City Pond | 3 acres | 0 | community fishery | rainbow trout, wiper |
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 Randolph, 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 Rich County
Here are 14 smaller named waters of Rich County, largest outline first.
| Water | Size | Listed by |
|---|---|---|
| Neponset Reservoir | about 1,014 acres of mapped outline | UGRC lakes layer |
| Crane Reservoir | about 127 acres of mapped outline | UGRC lakes layer |
| Blue Grass Pond | about 119 acres of mapped outline | UGRC lakes layer |
| Little Creek Reservoir | about 67 acres of mapped outline | UGRC lakes layer |
| South Lake | about 64 acres of mapped outline | UGRC lakes layer |
| Sixmile Reservoir | about 47 acres of mapped outline | UGRC lakes layer |
| Saleratus Reservoir Number 1 | about 36 acres of mapped outline | UGRC lakes layer |
| Dry Hollow Reservoir | about 27 acres of mapped outline | UGRC lakes layer |
| North Lake | about 20 acres of mapped outline | UGRC lakes layer |
| Dry Lake | about 19 acres of mapped outline | UGRC lakes layer |
| Saleratus Reservoir Number 2 | about 19 acres of mapped outline | UGRC lakes layer |
| Suttons Reservoir | about 17 acres of mapped outline | UGRC lakes layer |
| Kearl Reservoir | about 13 acres of mapped outline | UGRC lakes layer |
| Shearing Corral 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.
Creeks winding through Rich County
River readings across Rich County
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Big Creek Near Randolph, Ut | 3 cfs, 4.70 ft gage height | Nov 14 5:45 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 Rich County
- 150 South Access Point at Bear LakeBear Lake, hand launch, cycling, hand launch, hiking
- 250 East Loop Access Point at Bear LakeBear Lake, hand launch, cycling, hand launch, hiking
- Bear Lake State Park Boat RampBear Lake, boat ramp, for small motorized craft, administered by Utah State Parks in the UGRC layer, covered Picnic ares, cycling, drinking water
- Cisco Beach Boat Ramp at Bear LakeBear Lake, boat ramp, covered Picnic ares, cycling, fire rings
- First Point Boat Ramp at Bear LakeBear Lake, boat ramp, covered Picnic ares, cycling, fire rings
- Rainbow Cove Boat Ramp at Bear LakeBear Lake, boat ramp, covered Picnic ares, cycling, fire rings
- Rendezvous Beach State Park Boat Ramp at Bear LakeBear Lake, boat ramp, for any vessel class, administered by Utah State Parks in the UGRC layer, camp host, covered Picnic ares, cycling
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 Rich 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 20, 2026 | SOUTH EDEN RESERVOIR | Rich | 294 | Tiger trout |
| September 29, 2026 | GARDEN CITY HERITAGE COM | Rich | 500 | Rainbow |
| September 4, 2026 | LAKETOWN RES | Rich | 500 | Rainbow |
| August 7, 2026 | GARDEN CITY HERITAGE COM | Rich | 1,000 | Rainbow |
| July 27, 2026 | LAKETOWN RES | Rich | 749 | Rainbow |
| June 29, 2026 | GARDEN CITY HERITAGE COM | Rich | 500 | Rainbow |
| June 22, 2026 | BIRCH CR RES | Rich | 502 | Rainbow |
| June 22, 2026 | BIRCH CR RES | Rich | 20,016 | Rainbow |
| June 22, 2026 | BIRCH CR RES | Rich | 500 | Tiger trout |
| May 5, 2026 | BEAR L | Rich | 4,326 | Cutthroat |
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 Rich 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 Rich 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 Rich County
- Bear LakeLimit 2 trout. (Fish Utah page)
- Birch Creek ReservoirGeneral possession limits apply (4 trout). (Fish Utah page)
- Garden City PondThe daily limit is 2 trout – common carp do not count toward the daily limit. (Fish Utah page)
- Laketown ReservoirThe daily limit is 2 fish (Fish Utah page)
- Woodruff ReservoirGeneral Possession Limits Apply (4 Trout, 10 Whitefish) (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 Rich County
| Species | Weight or length as listed | Water | Year | Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bonneville cisco | 3.2 oz. | Bear Lake | 2026 | catch and keep |
| Bonneville whitefish | 4 lbs. 8.96 oz. | Bear Lake | 2018 | catch and keep |
| Bear Lake cutthroat trout | 31" | Bear Lake | 2021 | catch and release (length) |
| Bonneville whitefish | 23 ¼" | Bear Lake | 2009 | catch and release (length) |
Utah state record fish as DWR lists them (records page), read November 11, 2026.
Fly shops and tackle stores of Rich County
Where Rich County anglers buy Utah gear
- Bear Lake State Park Marinamarina, Garden City
- Ideal Beach Marinamarina
Yellow Pages, Utah State Parks and NPS listings (city of business), read November 11, 2026.
Grouped near Rich County
Utah counties next to Rich County
- Cache County27 miles west
- Morgan County41 miles southwest
- Weber County41 miles southwest
- Summit County54 miles south
Piscifun kit to stow in the truck for Rich County
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Canyon walls and alpine shorelines by Rich County through a lens
Photo: Paul Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: David Brossard, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Andrey Zharkikh, CC BY 2.0
Photo: rick kloeppel, CC BY 2.0
What Utahns ask about the water in Rich County
Can a Utah kayak or boat go in the water in Rich County?
The merged UGRC and DWR list holds 7 launches, named above with directions.
Which Utah reservoir leads Rich County on size?
That is Bear Lake, listed at about 70,008 acres of mapped outline in Utah.
Which fish lead the DWR lists near Rich County?
Fish Utah rates rainbow trout likely or possible on the most lakes within 40 miles, then bonneville cutthroat trout, brown trout and kokanee salmon.
Is a tackle shop listed in Rich County?
2 in all, including Bear Lake State Park Marina.
Which Utah town is the county seat of Rich County?
The seat is Randolph.
What will DWR charge to fish in Rich 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 Rich County?
By center point: Cache County, Morgan County and Weber County.
Is there a daily trout limit in Rich 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 Rich County?
5 waters with a page here carry their own rules, beginning with Bear Lake.
Which Blue Ribbon fisheries sit in Rich County?
Bear Lake, on DWR's Blue Ribbon list.
How much stocking does Rich County see?
The 2026 DWR table lists 112,196 fish in 18 rows across 6 waters in the county.
Has Rich County produced a Utah state record?
Bonneville cisco, 3.2 oz., from Bear Lake (2026).
Pick a Utah reservoir or creek in Rich County
Every launch page carries a directions link.