Panguitch Lake Fishing
A Utah natural lake in Garfield County.
Pick for cutthroat troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
Sizing up Panguitch Lake before the drive
“1234” is how DWR sizes Panguitch Lake, a natural lake in Garfield County. Mapped from the UGRC layer, the water outline is about 1,052 acres of mapped outline. Parowan, about 13 miles away, is the handiest Utah town.
The Blue Ribbon program lists it. The UGRC and DWR launch points give it 7 launches. DWR also maps 3 shore and pier points. Statewide limits change here through 19 rule lines.
Size as the DWR Fish Utah page for Panguitch Lake prints it (DWR), read November 11, 2026.
Outline area from the UGRC Utah Lakes NHD layer (ArcGIS service; mapped polygon area, not a DWR surface-acre figure), read November 11, 2026.
Utah DWR Fish Utah page for Panguitch Lake (DWR last updated the page Sep 3, 2024), read November 11, 2026.
U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census counts (TIGERweb) and the 2023 Gazetteer, read November 11, 2026.
DWR on Panguitch Lake
DWR introduces Panguitch Lake like this:
Panguitch Lake is one of southern Utah's favorite fishing destinations, located on the Markagunt Plateau in Garfield County, at an elevation of 8,200 feet. This is a natural lake expanded by a dam. The lake is fed by three main tributaries – Blue Springs Creek, Clear Creek, and Ipson Creek – and is the source of Panguitch Creek.
DWR's directions to Panguitch Lake: East from Parowan Utah on SR-143 or south from Panguitch on SR-143
DWR biologists note on Panguitch Lake:
Panguitch Lake History – Panguitch Lake was important to local native Americans. In the language of the Paiutes, Panguitch means, roughly, "water with big fish." These big fish would have been native Bonneville cutthroat trout.
DWR records boat Ramp, cabins, drinking water, electrical hook-us, fish Cleaning Station, hand launch, RV and restrooms at the Panguitch Lake access points.
Utah DWR Fish Utah page for Panguitch Lake (DWR last updated the page Sep 3, 2024), read November 11, 2026.
For the cutthroat trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 The Panguitch Lake fish list, per DWR
The abundance words below are DWR's own for Panguitch Lake: a guide to odds, not a guarantee.
| Species | DWR rating |
|---|---|
| Bear Lake cutthroat trout | likely |
| Rainbow trout | likely |
| Tiger trout | likely |
| Brook trout | possible |
| Brown trout | possible |
| Splake | possible |
| Tiger muskellunge | possible |
| Utah chub | possible |
| Wiper | possible |
Utah DWR Fish Utah page for Panguitch Lake (DWR last updated the page Sep 3, 2024), read November 11, 2026.
What DWR released into Panguitch Lake
Hatchery plants at Panguitch Lake, newest first, from the DWR page.
| Date | Species | Number | Average length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 9, 2026 | Cutthroat | 18,000 | 4.57 |
| Nov 9, 2026 | Cutthroat | 8,040 | 4.57 |
| Sep 30, 2026 | Rainbow | 18,400 | 6.79 |
| Sep 29, 2026 | Rainbow | 17,955 | 7.35 |
| Sep 28, 2026 | Rainbow | 17,735 | 7.35 |
| Aug 11, 2026 | Brook trout | 50 | 3.23 |
| Aug 11, 2026 | Tiger trout | 2,802 | 3.37 |
| Aug 11, 2026 | Splake | 7,976 | 3.14 |
| May 26, 2026 | Tiger trout | 10,002 | 3.25 |
| May 26, 2026 | Tiger trout | 10,081 | 3.18 |
| Apr 22, 2026 | Muskie tiger | 5,000 | 1.98 |
| Mar 16, 2026 | Cutthroat | 22,075 | 8.36 |
Utah DWR Fish Utah page for Panguitch Lake (DWR last updated the page Sep 3, 2024), read November 11, 2026.
A dated DWR read on Panguitch Lake
Fall Fishing Forecast (September – November): Algae blooms have been prevalent this summer at Panguitch Lake. Algae will eventually die off and settle out with the cooling temperatures in the fall. Once that happens, expect good to excellent shore fishing.
DWR posted this Panguitch Lake report on Oct 5, 2026.
Utah DWR Fish Utah page for Panguitch Lake (DWR last updated the page Sep 3, 2024), read November 11, 2026.
Where trailers back into Panguitch Lake
- Bear Paw Resort at Panguitch Lakehand launch, cabins, drinking water, electrical hook-us
- Blue Springs Inlet Hand Launch at Panguitch Lakehand launch, cycling, hand launch, hiking
- East Shore (Bear Paw Beach) Hand Launch at Panguitch Lakehand launch, cycling, hand launch, hiking
- Panguitch Lake Adventure Resortboat ramp, cabins, camp host, cycling
- Panguitch Lake North Boat Rampboat ramp, for any vessel class, administered by the U.S. Forest Service in the UGRC layer, cycling, docks – accessible, hand launch
- Panguitch Lake South Boat Rampboat ramp, for any vessel class, administered by a private operator in the UGRC layer, cycling, hand launch, hiking
- Aspen Cove Resort at Panguitch Lakeboat ramp, cabins
Utah bank fishing at Panguitch Lake
- Blue Springs Lodge Shore Access at Panguitch Lakeshore access, cabins
- Panguitch Lake North Campgroundshore access, camp host, drinking water, fire rings
- Panguitch Lake South Campgroundshore access, camp host, drinking water, fire rings
Spare ramps if Panguitch Lake is busy
- Yankee Meadows Boat RampYankee Meadow Reservoir, 8 miles west
- Southeast shore Hand Launch at Paragonah (Red Creek) ReservoirParagonah (Red Creek) Reservoir, 10 miles north
- Eastside access point at Paragonah (Red Creek) ReservoirParagonah (Red Creek) Reservoir, 10 miles north
No fee or hour figures for Panguitch Lake exist in UGRC or DWR records.
UGRC Boat Ramps layer (ArcGIS service) and the DWR Fish Utah access list, read November 11, 2026.
Daily limits in force at Panguitch Lake
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.
Guidebook entries for Panguitch Lake
- Panguitch LakeLimit 4 trout (a combined total). (2027 guidebook, p. 47)
- Panguitch LakeNo more than 2 may be cutthroat or tiger trout under 15 inches, and no more than 1 may be a cutthroat or tiger trout over 22 inches. (2027 guidebook, p. 47)
- Panguitch LakeAll cutthroat and tiger trout from 15 to 22 inches must be immediately released. (2027 guidebook, p. 47)
- Panguitch LakeTrout may not be filleted and the heads or tails may not be removed in the field or in transit. (2027 guidebook, p. 47)
- Panguitch LakeAny trout with cutthroat markings is considered to be a cutthroat trout. To learn how to identify cutthroat trout in this water, see the graphic on page 58 and the description of a Bear Lake cutthroat trout on page 63. (2027 guidebook, p. 47)
2027 Utah Fishing Guidebook, p. 47 (effective January 1, 2027; DWR PDF), read November 11, 2026.
The Fish Utah page for Panguitch Lake serves these rule lines, quoted as DWR lists them (DWR marks them updated May 27, 2025).
- Limit 4 trout (a combined total).
- No more than 2 may be cutthroat or tiger trout under 15 inches, and no more than 1 may be a cutthroat or tiger trout over 22 inches.
- All cutthroat and tiger trout from 15 to 22 inches must be immediately released.
- Trout may not be filleted and the heads or tails may not be removed in the field or in transit.
- Any trout with cutthroat markings is considered to be a cutthroat trout; To
- learn how to identify cutthroat trout in this water, see the description of a Bear
- Lake cutthroat trout on page 50 of the Utah Fishing Guidebook and review the graphic on page 52.
- Panguitch Lake tributaries: Excluding Blue Springs Creek upstream from
- Bunker Creek Road Bridge (The bridge is approximately one mile upstream from Panguitch
- Lake); Also excluding Clear Creek upstream from the Panguitch Lake North Shore Highway,
- located approximately one-quarter mile upstream from Panguitch Lake – CLOSED Jan 1 through 6 am on the second Saturday of July.
- Limit 4 trout (a combined total).
- No more than 2 may be cutthroat or tiger trout under 15 inches, and no more than 1 may be a cutthroat or tiger trout over 22 inches.
- All cutthroat and tiger trout from 15 to 22 inches must be immediately released.
Utah DWR Fish Utah page for Panguitch Lake (DWR last updated the page Sep 3, 2024), read November 11, 2026.
Beehive State default limits at Panguitch Lake
| Species group | 2027 daily limit | 2026 daily limit | Note as printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tiger muskellunge | 1 over 40 inches | same | – |
| Trout, kokanee salmon and Arctic grayling (a combined total) | 4 | same | Anglers may not possess kokanee salmon at any waterbody statewide from Sept. 10 through Nov. 30. |
| Wiper | 3 | same | – |
2027 Utah Fishing Guidebook, p. 9 (effective January 1, 2027; DWR PDF), read November 11, 2026.
On possession, the Utah rule reads, for Panguitch Lake as anywhere: "Possession limit means, for purposes of this rule only, two daily limits, including fish in a cooler, camper, tent, freezer, livewell or any other place of storage, excluding fish stored in an individual’s permanent residence."
Utah Admin. Code R657-13 (R657-13-2), last changed June 23, 2026 as printed on the DWR rules page, read November 11, 2026.
Anglers 12 and older need a Utah fishing license; both the 2026 and 2027 guidebooks print $40 for a resident 365-day adult license and $120 for a nonresident.
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.
Panguitch Lake on the Blue Ribbon list
Utah's Blue Ribbon program includes Panguitch Lake, per DWR.
Utah DWR Fish Utah page for Panguitch Lake (DWR last updated the page Sep 3, 2024), read November 11, 2026.
Panguitch Lake next to area reservoirs
Bristlecone (Brian Head) Pond tops this list at 4 acres, per DWR.
| Water | Distance | Size | County | Launches | Species on DWR list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panguitch Lake | 1234 | Garfield County | 7 | 11 | |
| Yankee Meadow Reservoir | 8 miles west | about 29 acres of mapped outline | Iron County | 1 | 3 |
| Paragonah (Red Creek) Reservoir | 10 miles north | – | Iron County | 2 | 6 |
| Bristlecone (Brian Head) Pond | 12 miles west | 4 acres | Iron County | 0 | 2 |
| Duck Creek Pond / Aspen Mirror Lake | 14 miles south | about 3 acres of mapped outline | Kane County | 0 | 3 |
| Parowan Pond | 14 miles northwest | 0.5 acres | Iron County | 0 | 4 |
DWR Fish Utah pages, UGRC Boat Ramps and Lakes NHD layers; outline sizes are GIS figures. Read November 11, 2026.
In Utah close to Panguitch Lake
Backup Utah lakes when Panguitch Lake is slow
- Yankee Meadow Reservoir8 miles west
- Paragonah (Red Creek) Reservoir10 miles north
- Bristlecone (Brian Head) Pond12 miles west
- Duck Creek Pond / Aspen Mirror Lake14 miles south
- Parowan Pond14 miles northwest
Bait shops worth a detour before Panguitch Lake
- Circle Valley Anglersbait and tackle shop, Cedar City, 23 miles
- Sportsman's Warehouse, 889 S Main Stbait and tackle shop, Cedar City, 24 miles
Where to sleep when fishing Panguitch Lake
- Parowan13 miles
- Panguitch14 miles
- Enoch22 miles
County write-ups naming Panguitch Lake
- Garfield Countyseat: Panguitch
Piscifun reels and line to pack for Panguitch Lake
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Wasatch and red rock water near Panguitch Lake, on camera
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: ClassA RVs, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
Clearing up Panguitch Lake ahead of time
Where would I base a trip to Panguitch Lake?
Head for Garfield County; the nearest Census town, Parowan, is about 13 miles away.
What surface area does Panguitch Lake cover?
DWR words it as "1234".
Does Utah have a ramp at Panguitch Lake?
7 launches serve it, Bear Paw Resort at Panguitch Lake among them.
What can a Utah angler catch at Panguitch Lake?
The DWR species list gives bear Lake cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, tiger trout, bonneville cutthroat trout and muskie Tiger.
What limits does Utah set at Panguitch Lake?
Read the 19 rule lines in the limits band before keeping a fish.
Does fishing Panguitch Lake call for a Utah license?
Anglers 12 and older need a Utah fishing license; both the 2026 and 2027 guidebooks print $40 for a resident 365-day adult license and $120 for a nonresident. Under-12 anglers are exempt.
Which shore points line Panguitch Lake?
There are 3 shore and pier points, Blue Springs Lodge Shore Access at Panguitch Lake among them.
Where do Utah anglers stock up before Panguitch Lake?
Circle Valley Anglers, about 23 miles away tops the Utah list.
Has Panguitch Lake been stocked lately?
DWR shows 23 stocking rows, latest Nov 9, 2026 (cutthroat).
Did DWR rank Panguitch Lake Blue Ribbon?
DWR lists it as a Blue Ribbon fishery.
Hitch the Utah trailer for Panguitch Lake
License prices and both guidebook editions are on the Utah license page.