Pelican Lake Fishing
A Utah natural lake in Uintah County.
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Before a first Utah trip to Pelican Lake
DWR words the size of Pelican Lake in Uintah County this way: “1560”. On the UGRC layer the polygon covers about 1,119 acres of mapped outline. Ballard is the closest town on the Census list, about 16 miles off.
It counts 1 launch across UGRC and DWR. DWR shows 3 shore and pier points as well. Its own rules run to 9 rule lines.
Size as the DWR Fish Utah page for Pelican 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 Pelican Lake (DWR last updated the page Mar 25, 2025), read November 11, 2026.
U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census counts (TIGERweb) and the 2023 Gazetteer, read November 11, 2026.
DWR details for Pelican Lake
DWR's summary of Pelican Lake, quoted:
Pelican Lake has a nice boat ramp, restrooms and covered picnic tables. There is primitive camping on the south shore and on the DWR Sportsmans Access ground on the north side. There is also a primitive boat ramp on the DWR Sportsmans Access land.
How DWR says to reach Pelican Lake: Take SR-88 south from Highway 40 for about 10 miles to Randlett Highway. Turn onto this highway and go straight to reach the boat ramp or take an immediate left off the Randlett Highway and follow the signs for sportsmans access.
DWR adds this about Pelican Lake:
Despite the DWR's best efforts, biologists have observed common carp in Pelican Lake this spring. DWR crews have been out repeatedly removing all carp captured, in an effort to control the population before they overrun the system.
Utah DWR Fish Utah page for Pelican Lake (DWR last updated the page Mar 25, 2025), read November 11, 2026.
What Fish Utah says swims in Pelican Lake
DWR's likely-possible-unlikely scale for Pelican Lake is reproduced below.
| Species | DWR rating |
|---|---|
| Common carp | invasive species |
| Bluegill | likely |
| Largemouth bass | likely |
| Bullhead | possible |
| Tiger muskellunge | possible |
Utah DWR Fish Utah page for Pelican Lake (DWR last updated the page Mar 25, 2025), read November 11, 2026.
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The newest Pelican Lake rows from the DWR stocking list follow; lengths appear as DWR gives them.
| Date | Species | Number | Average length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 24, 2026 | Wiper | 500 | 8.86 |
| Jun 17, 2026 | Wiper | 500 | 11.84 |
| Jun 11, 2026 | Muskie tiger | 735 | 6.34 |
| Jun 23, 2025 | Muskie tiger | 1,000 | 6.3 |
| Apr 23, 2025 | Wiper | 235 | 7.37 |
| Apr 23, 2025 | Wiper | 180 | 8.11 |
| Jul 10, 2024 | Wiper | 748 | 8.55 |
| May 29, 2024 | Sunfish bluegill | 307 | 7.37 |
| Apr 16, 2024 | Muskie tiger | 8,970 | 2.0 |
| Sep 21, 2023 | Bass largemouth | 3,600 | 2.75 |
| Aug 9, 2023 | Muskie tiger | 2,457 | 8.82 |
| Jul 11, 2023 | Wiper | 500 | 8.71 |
Utah DWR Fish Utah page for Pelican Lake (DWR last updated the page Mar 25, 2025), read November 11, 2026.
What the dated DWR report says about Pelican Lake
(Summer) Pelican Lake did not fill to full capacity in 2026, it reached around 80% capacity. As a result the lake level is already significantly lower than normal with about 3-4 of water inside the bulrush edge. Significant winds have churned up the edges of the lake and it is murky.
This Pelican Lake report carries the date Jun 30, 2026 on the DWR page.
Utah DWR Fish Utah page for Pelican Lake (DWR last updated the page Mar 25, 2025), read November 11, 2026.
Ramps and hand launches at Pelican Lake
- Pelican Lake Boat Rampboat ramp, for any vessel class, administered by the Bureau of Land Management in the UGRC layer
DWR shore access on Pelican Lake
- BLM Ramp Shore Access at Pelican Lakeshore access
- Pelican Lake Fishing piershore access
- UDWR Sportsman Access at Pelican Lakeshore access
Alternate ramps beside Pelican Lake
- Ouray Boat Ramp at Green River in northeastern UtahGreen River in northeastern Utah, 7 miles south
For Pelican Lake, the launch data name the site and agency only: no prices or opening times.
UGRC Boat Ramps layer (ArcGIS service) and the DWR Fish Utah access list, read November 11, 2026.
What a cooler from Pelican Lake may hold
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.
The guidebook lines covering Pelican Lake
- Pelican Lake(NEW) No limit for bullhead. (new in the 2027 guidebook, in force from January 1, 2027)
- Pelican LakeAnglers must not release any common carp they catch. All common carp must be immediately killed. (new in the 2027 guidebook, in force from January 1, 2027)
- Pelican LakeAn angler may use up to six lines when fishing through the ice. If the angler is using more than two lines, the angler’s name must be attached to each line, pole or tip-up, and the angler may check only their lines. (new in the 2027 guidebook, in force from January 1, 2027)
2027 Utah Fishing Guidebook, p. 48 (effective January 1, 2027; DWR PDF), read November 11, 2026.
Word for word, the Fish Utah rules shown for Pelican Lake (DWR marks them updated Jan 10, 2023):
- Please consult the 2023 Utah Fishing Regulations for more information.
- Largemouth Bass- 6 fish limit.
- Bluegill- 15 fish but only 5 may be over 7 inches in total length.
- Tiger Muskie – 1 fish over 40" all fish under 40" must be immediately released; please use proper catch and release techniques with this species.
- Common carp- must kill; anglers are required to remove carp from the system if caught by legal means.
- Black Bullhead Catfish – 50 fish limit.
Utah DWR Fish Utah page for Pelican Lake (DWR last updated the page Mar 25, 2025), read November 11, 2026.
Default DWR limits covering Pelican Lake
| Species group | 2027 daily limit | 2026 daily limit | Note as printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluegill and green sunfish (a combined total) | 50 | same | – |
| Bullhead | 24 | same | – |
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass (a combined total) | 6 | same | – |
| Tiger muskellunge | 1 over 40 inches | same | – |
| Wiper | 3 | same | – |
2027 Utah Fishing Guidebook, p. 9 (effective January 1, 2027; DWR PDF), read November 11, 2026.
Fish carried home from Pelican Lake count under this Utah definition: "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.
Beehive State records landed at Pelican Lake
| Species | Weight or length | Year | Place as DWR prints it | Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 11 ⅝" | 2007 | Pelican Lake | catch and release (length) |
Utah state record fish as DWR lists them (records page), read November 11, 2026.
Pelican Lake and nearby lakes in one table
| Water | Distance | Size | County | Launches | Species on DWR list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pelican Lake | 1560 | Uintah County | 1 | 9 | |
| Brough Reservoir | 5 miles north | 120 | Uintah County | 0 | 9 |
| Cottonwood Reservoir | 13 miles northwest | 210 | Uintah County | 0 | 8 |
| Bullock Reservoir | 13 miles northwest | 98 | Uintah County | 0 | 10 |
| Little Montes Reservoir | 17 miles northwest | 40 | Uintah County | 0 | 7 |
| Old Fort Ponds | 21 miles north | < 2 acres | Uintah County | 0 | 8 |
DWR Fish Utah pages, UGRC Boat Ramps and Lakes NHD layers; outline sizes are GIS figures. Read November 11, 2026.
In the same basin as Pelican Lake
Lakes and ponds around Pelican Lake
- Brough Reservoir5 miles north
- Cottonwood Reservoir13 miles northwest
- Bullock Reservoir13 miles northwest
- Little Montes Reservoir17 miles northwest
- Old Fort Ponds21 miles north
Tackle counters on the drive to Pelican Lake
- Sportsman's Warehouse, 2015 W Highway 40bait and tackle shop, Vernal, 18 miles
- Uintah Angler Supplybait and tackle shop, Vernal, 20 miles
Towns a highway drive from Pelican Lake
- Ballard16 miles
- Roosevelt17 miles
- Naples19 miles
Pelican Lake on the Utah county map
- Uintah Countyseat: Vernal
Piscifun tackle chosen for a Utah day at Pelican Lake
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Reservoirs, high lakes and wadeable creeks around Pelican Lake, pictured
Photo: James St. John, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Tony Webster, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
The usual head-scratchers about Pelican Lake
Which Utah town is closest to Pelican Lake?
County lines put it in Uintah County; the nearest Census town, Ballard, is about 16 miles away.
What size does DWR give Pelican Lake?
Its size, per DWR: "1560".
How many Utah boat ramps serve Pelican Lake?
Start at Pelican Lake Boat Ramp, one of 1 launch.
Which fish does Utah DWR list in Pelican Lake?
On DWR's list: bluegill, largemouth bass, wiper, muskie Tiger and sunfish Bluegill.
What may a creel from Pelican Lake hold?
9 rule lines apply here; each one sits in the limits band with its edition.
Can kids fish Pelican Lake without a 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. Anglers under 12 fish without one.
Does DWR map shore access at Pelican Lake?
3 shore and pier points are on file, BLM Ramp Shore Access at Pelican Lake first.
Which shop on the Utah list serves Pelican Lake?
Stop at Sportsman's Warehouse, 2015 W Highway 40, about 18 miles away.
On what schedule does Utah DWR plant Pelican Lake?
Latest of 21 stocking rows: Jun 24, 2026, wiper.
Does DWR list a record from Pelican Lake?
DWR lists a bluegill of 11 ⅝" from Pelican Lake, year 2007.
Mark the Free Fishing Day for Pelican Lake
Check the creel numbers before keeping a fish.