Smallmouth bass in Utah
Utah smallmouth bass limits by edition, special-water lines, records and DWR-rated waters.
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Utah Smallmouth bass by the numbers
For smallmouth bass, the 2027 statewide line is "Largemouth and smallmouth bass (a combined total)", and it reads 6 per day. The current 2026 edition, good to December 31, 2026, agrees with the 2027 number.
26 Utah reservoirs, areas and streams on this site name it in their DWR list (13 likely). The specific-waters list touches it 15 times; Colorado River comes first alphabetically. 4 DWR record rows list it.
2027 Utah Fishing Guidebook, p. 9 (effective January 1, 2027; DWR PDF), read November 11, 2026.
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| Statewide row | 2027 daily | 2026 daily | Note as printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass (a combined total) | 6 | same |
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.
Utah allows two days of fish in possession, but Flaming Gorge Reservoir caps it at one daily limit.
2027 Utah Fishing Guidebook, p. 9 (effective January 1, 2027; DWR PDF), read November 11, 2026.
Utah Admin. Code R657-13 (R657-13-19), last changed June 23, 2026 as printed on the DWR rules page, read November 11, 2026.
Guidebook water entries touching smallmouth bass
| Water as printed | County | Rule lines | Edition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado River | Garfield, Grand, San Juan and Wayne counties | No limit for burbot, northern pike, smallmouth bass or walleye. Anglers may not release any of these fish, which must be immediately killed. | both editions |
| Colorado River tributaries | Garfield, Grand and Wayne counties | No limit for burbot, northern pike, smallmouth bass or walleye. Anglers may not release any of these fish, which must be immediately killed. | both editions |
| Flaming Gorge Reservoir | Daggett County | Limit 3 smallmouth and largemouth bass (a combined total). | both editions |
| Grantsville Reservoir | Tooele County | No limit for smallmouth bass. Anglers must not release any bass they catch. All bass must be immediately killed. | NEW 2027 |
| Green River | Carbon, Daggett, Emery, Grand, San Juan, Uintah and Wayne counties | No limit for burbot, northern pike, smallmouth bass or walleye. Anglers may not release any of these fish, which must be immediately killed. No limit for burbot, northern pike, smallmouth bass or walleye. Anglers may not release any of these fish, which must be immediately killed. | both editions |
| Green River tributaries | Carbon, Duchesne, Emery and Uintah counties | No limit for burbot, northern pike, smallmouth bass or walleye. Anglers may not release any of these fish, which must be immediately killed. | both editions |
| Gunlock Reservoir | Washington County | No limit on smallmouth bass. Anglers must not release any smallmouth bass they catch. All smallmouth bass must be immediately killed. | both editions |
| Lake Powell | Garfield, Kane and San Juan counties | Limit 20 smallmouth bass. | both editions |
| Quail Creek Reservoir (Quail Lake) | Washington County | No limit on smallmouth bass. Anglers must not release any smallmouth bass they catch. All smallmouth bass must be immediately killed. | both editions |
| San Juan River | San Juan County | No limit for burbot, northern pike, smallmouth bass or walleye. Anglers may not release any of these fish, which must be immediately killed. | both editions |
| San Juan River tributaries | San Juan County | No limit for burbot, northern pike, smallmouth bass or walleye. Anglers may not release any of these fish, which must be immediately killed. | both editions |
| Sand Hollow Reservoir | Washington County | No limit on smallmouth bass. Anglers must not release any smallmouth bass they catch. All smallmouth bass must be immediately killed. | both editions |
| Santa Clara River | Washington County | No limit on smallmouth bass. | both editions |
| Utah Lake | Utah County | Limit 6 largemouth or smallmouth bass (a combined total), only 1 may be over 12 inches. | both editions |
| Virgin River | Washington County | No limit on smallmouth bass. | both editions |
2027 Utah Fishing Guidebook, p. 35-58 (effective January 1, 2027; DWR PDF), read November 11, 2026.
Utah smallmouth bass record rows
| Category | Weight | Length | Water | Year | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catch and keep (by weight) | 7 lbs. 6 oz. | 22" | Midview Reservoir (Lake Borham) | 1996 | |
| Catch and release (by length) | – | 23 ½" | Jordanelle Reservoir | 2003 | |
| Spearfishing | 5 lbs. 5 oz. | 20 ⅜" | Flaming Gorge Reservoir | 2024 | |
| Setline | 1 lb. 1 oz. | 13 ⅛" | Cutler Reservoir | 2017 |
Utah state record fish as DWR lists them (records page), read November 11, 2026.
Utah waters where DWR lists smallmouth bass
Each word after a water is DWR's own rating on its Fish Utah page (likely, possible or unlikely) or a stocking row; it is not a catch report.
- Lake PowellDWR: likely; Kane County
- Flaming Gorge ReservoirDWR: likely; Daggett County
- Willard Bay ReservoirDWR: likely; Box Elder County
- Jordanelle ReservoirDWR: likely; Wasatch County
- Deer Creek ReservoirDWR: likely; Wasatch County
- Pineview ReservoirDWR: likely; Weber County
- Echo ReservoirDWR: likely; Summit County
- Minersville ReservoirDWR: likely; Beaver County
- Rockport ReservoirDWR: likely; Summit County
- East Canyon ReservoirDWR: likely; Morgan County
- Newcastle ReservoirDWR: likely; Iron County
- Big Sand WashDWR: likely; Duchesne County
- Enterprise ReservoirsDWR: likely; Washington County
- Otter Creek ReservoirDWR: possible; Piute County
- Piute ReservoirDWR: possible; Piute County
- Cutler ReservoirDWR: possible; Cache County
- Mona ReservoirDWR: possible; Juab County
- Quail Creek ReservoirDWR: possible; Washington County
- Mantua ReservoirDWR: possible; Box Elder County
- Ogden RiverDWR: possible; Weber County
- Lake at the Hills (Leigh Hill)DWR: possible; Iron County
- White RiverDWR: possible; Uintah County
- Gunnison Bend and DMAD ReservoirsDWR: possible; Millard County
- Yuba Reservoir & State ParkDWR: possible; Sanpete County
- Green River in northeastern UtahDWR: invasive species; Uintah County
- Grantsville ReservoirDWR: invasive species; Tooele County
Utah DWR Fish Utah planner (dwrapps.utah.gov), read November 11, 2026.
Photo of Lake Powell: Bernard Spragg. NZ, Public domain
Utah Smallmouth bass, plainly explained
How many smallmouth bass can one angler take home in Utah?
For smallmouth bass, the 2027 statewide line is "Largemouth and smallmouth bass (a combined total)", and it reads 6 per day. The current 2026 edition, good to December 31, 2026, agrees with the 2027 number.
Which Utah waters set their own smallmouth bass rule?
The specific-waters list touches it 15 times; Colorado River comes first alphabetically.
How large did the Utah record smallmouth bass run?
DWR lists 7 lbs. 6 oz. from Midview Reservoir (Lake Borham) (1996) in its catch and keep (by weight) table.
Which Utah waters should I try first for smallmouth bass?
Start with Lake Powell, Flaming Gorge Reservoir and Willard Bay Reservoir; 26 built pages list it in all.
Are smallmouth bass on a Utah release list?
No Utah release-only rule covers it statewide.
Which DWR license do smallmouth bass anglers buy?
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. Wyoming residents can add the $59 Flaming Gorge, Utah reciprocal permit printed in the guidebook.
Can a smallmouth bass set a new Utah record?
DWR runs the program online, with separate tables for each method.
What is the Utah possession limit for smallmouth bass?
Up to two limits away from home; at Flaming Gorge only one.