Fishing in Wayne County, Utah
County seat: Loa. Census 2020 residents: 2,486.
- 1lake pages
- 3launches
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 Wayne County
Courthouse business for Wayne County is done in Loa; the county counted 2,486 residents in 2020. Gazetteer mapping shows 2,461 square miles of land and 5.7 square miles of water. Mill Meadow Reservoir heads the county's 1 Utah lake or reservoir with their own page.
Launch data from UGRC and DWR show 3 launches here, plus 8 shore or pier points on DWR's shore list. Hatchery trucks made 48 logged stops in the county in 2026, releasing 34,844 fish into 28 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 Wayne 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 Wayne County
| Lake | Size | Launches | Status | DWR lists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mill Meadow Reservoir | about 161 acres of mapped outline | 1 | reservoir | brown trout, rainbow trout, muskie Tiger, kokanee salmon, brook trout |
A short drive out of Loa reaches these lakes past the Wayne County boundary.
| Lake | From Loa | Size | Launches | Status | DWR lists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forsyth Reservoir | 10 miles northeast | about 166 acres of mapped outline | 1 | reservoir | splake, tiger trout, bonneville cutthroat trout |
| Fish Lake | 11 miles north | 2,500 acres | 5 | Blue Ribbon fishery | kokanee salmon, lake trout, rainbow trout, splake, yellow perch, cutbow Ctbl*Rtwv |
| Johnson Reservoir | 14 miles north | 700 acres | 1 | reservoir | tiger muskellunge, yellow perch, muskie Tiger, tiger trout, bass Largemouth |
| Koosharem Reservoir | 17 miles northwest | about 346 acres of mapped outline | 2 | reservoir | bear Lake cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, brown trout, bonneville cutthroat trout |
| Otter Creek Reservoir | 23 miles southwest | 2520 | 7 | Blue Ribbon fishery | rainbow trout, cutbow Ctbl*Rtwv |
| Lower Bowns Reservoir | 29 miles southeast | about 108 acres of mapped outline | 1 | reservoir | rainbow trout, cutbow Ctbl*Rtwv |
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.
For the trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 How often DWR names each fish close to Wayne County
Bars count lake pages within 40 miles of Loa 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.
Backcountry Utah basins of Wayne County
- Thousand Lake Mountainbrook trout, colorado River cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, tiger trout, grayling Arctic, bonneville cutthroat trout, 40 recent stocking rows
Utah DWR Fish Utah planner (dwrapps.utah.gov), read November 11, 2026.
Further named basins on the Wayne County Utah map
State maps carry 7 more named lakes inside Wayne County; they stay on this list.
| Water | Size | Listed by |
|---|---|---|
| Blind Lake | about 53 acres of mapped outline | UGRC lakes layer |
| Fish Creek Reservoir | about 24 acres of mapped outline | UGRC lakes layer |
| Torgerson Lake | about 24 acres of mapped outline | UGRC lakes layer |
| Donkey Reservoir | about 21 acres of mapped outline | UGRC lakes layer |
| Raft Lake | about 16 acres of mapped outline | UGRC lakes layer |
| Lower Reservoir | about 14 acres of mapped outline | UGRC lakes layer |
| Beaver Dam Reservoir | 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.
Utah rivers to wade in Wayne County
Flow gauges around Wayne County
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Fremont River Near Bicknell, Ut | 68 cfs, 4.43 ft gage height | Nov 14 5:45 pm |
| Fremont R At Hwy 24 Ab Sandy C Nr Caineville, Ut | 44 cfs, 9.77 ft gage height | Nov 14 5:35 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 Wayne County
- Meeks Lake Hand Launch at Thousand Lake MountainThousand Lake Mountain, hand launch, hand launch, hiking, OHV or 4WD trails
- Morrell Pond Hand Launch at Thousand Lake MountainThousand Lake Mountain, hand launch, hand launch, hiking, OHV or 4WD trails
- Mill Meadow Reservoir Boat RampMill Meadow Reservoir, boat ramp, OHV or 4WD trails, primitive (Tent), restrooms
Fishing piers in Wayne County
- Deep Creek Lake Shore Access at Thousand Lake MountainThousand Lake Mountain, shore access
- Deep Creek Lake/Grass Lake Trailhead Shore Access at Thousand Lake MountainThousand Lake Mountain, shore access
- Elkhorn Campground at Thousand Lake MountainThousand Lake Mountain, shore access
- Grass Lake Shore Access at Thousand Lake MountainThousand Lake Mountain, shore access
- Farrell Pond at Thousand Lake MountainThousand Lake Mountain, shore access
- Floating Island Lake Shore Access at Thousand Lake MountainThousand Lake Mountain, shore access
- Neffs Reservoir Shore Access at Thousand Lake MountainThousand Lake Mountain, shore access
- Round Lake Shore Access at Thousand Lake MountainThousand Lake Mountain, 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 Wayne 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 10, 2026 | BLIND L NBS | Wayne | 2,002 | Grayling arctic |
| September 10, 2026 | GREEN L NBS | Wayne | 501 | Grayling arctic |
| September 10, 2026 | NEFFS RES TLM | Wayne | 403 | Grayling arctic |
| September 10, 2026 | RAFT L BTN | Wayne | 1,001 | Grayling arctic |
| September 10, 2026 | ROUND L NBS | Wayne | 52 | Grayling arctic |
| August 4, 2026 | ROUND L TLM | Wayne | 185 | Brook trout |
| July 14, 2026 | DEEP CR L TLM | Wayne | 200 | Brook trout |
| July 14, 2026 | NEFFS RES TLM | Wayne | 200 | Brook trout |
| July 13, 2026 | BEAVER DAMS NBS | Wayne | 200 | Brook trout |
| July 13, 2026 | BLIND L NBS | Wayne | 1,003 | Cutthroat |
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 Wayne County line
- Barney Outdoor Outfittersbait and tackle shop, Richfield, 35 miles
Yellow Pages and park listings; straight-line miles only where the listing has an exact address point.
Utah guidebook limits on Wayne 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 Wayne 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 Wayne County waters in Utah
- Mill Meadow ReservoirBrown 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 Wayne County
| Species | Weight or length as listed | Water | Year | Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brownbow trout | 1 lb. | Mill Meadow Reservoir | 2000 | catch and keep |
| Brownbow trout | 12 ¼" | Mill Meadow Reservoir | 1997 | catch and release (length) |
Utah state record fish as DWR lists them (records page), read November 11, 2026.
Gear stores in Wayne County
Who rows clients out of Wayne County
- Fremont River Guidesfishing guide, Bicknell, (435) 425-3999
- Fremont River Guides & Fly Shopfly fishing guide, Torrey, (435) 425-3999
Yellow Pages, Utah State Parks and NPS listings (city of business), read November 11, 2026.
In the same basin as Wayne County
Adjoining Wayne County
- Garfield County39 miles southwest
- Emery County54 miles north
- Sevier County56 miles northwest
- Piute County62 miles west
Piscifun tackle chosen for a Utah day at Wayne County
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Sorting out the Utah fish of Wayne County by sight
Photo: NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: Thomas Quine, CC BY 2.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Fishing inside Wayne County: the common asks
How many ramps do UGRC and DWR list for Wayne County?
There are 3 launches in the state launch data.
Which Wayne County lake is the biggest on this site?
Mill Meadow Reservoir (about 161 acres of mapped outline).
What species does Fish Utah list around Wayne County?
Fish Utah rates rainbow trout likely or possible on the most lakes within 40 miles, then tiger trout, brown trout and splake.
Where can I buy bait in Wayne County, Utah?
The closest shops sit outside the county and appear above.
What Utah town serves Wayne County as its seat?
It is Loa.
What Utah license do Wayne 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 Wayne County?
Begin with Garfield County, Emery County and Sevier County.
What trout rule covers Wayne 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 Wayne County lakes have special limits?
1 water with a page here carry their own rules, beginning with Mill Meadow Reservoir.
Is Wayne County on the DWR stocking table?
The 2026 DWR table lists 34,844 fish in 48 rows across 28 waters in the county.
What Utah record fish came out of Wayne County?
Brownbow trout, 1 lb., from Mill Meadow Reservoir (2000).
Set up a Utah fishing weekend in Wayne County
River pages list DWR access points and live USGS flow.