Fishing near Cottonwood Heights, Utah
City, Salt Lake County. Census 2020 residents: 33,617.
- 6 milesWillow Pond
- 2launches within 20 mi
- 5rivers within 25 mi
Pick for channel catfishPiscifun LumiCat II catfish rod48% OFFSale $114.99 Photo of Provo River: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
What Cottonwood Heights, Utah offers anyone with a rod
A city of Salt Lake County, Cottonwood Heights recorded 33,617 residents in the 2020 Census. No lake page sits closer than Willow Pond, about 6 miles west.
Boats go in at American Fork Boat Harbor at Utah Lake, roughly 19 miles from town. Moving water starts with Jordan River, roughly 6 miles out. About 40 miles away sits the Uinta Mountains, Weber River area of mountain lakes.
U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census counts (TIGERweb) and the 2023 Gazetteer, read November 11, 2026. Straight-line miles from the Census place point.
Closest reservoirs to Cottonwood Heights
| Lake | From Cottonwood Heights | Size | Launches | Status | DWR lists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Willow Pond | 6 miles west | 4 acres | 0 | community fishery | bluegill, channel catfish, green sunfish, rainbow trout |
| Grandpas Pond (Sandy Community Fishery) | 6 miles southwest | 3 acres | 0 | community fishery | bluegill, channel catfish, rainbow trout |
| Northwest Sunset Pond | 6 miles southwest | no DWR figure | 0 | community fishery | channel catfish, rainbow trout |
| Sunset Pond | 6 miles southwest | 1 acres | 0 | community fishery | bluegill, channel catfish, rainbow trout |
| Lake Lillian | 6 miles east | 3 acres | 0 | natural lake | arctic grayling, grayling Arctic, brook trout |
| Lake Florence | 6 miles east | 2 acres | 0 | natural lake | brook trout |
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 channel catfish herePiscifun Chaos XS round baitcaster36% OFFSale $57.99 Utah creeks a short drive from Cottonwood Heights
- Jordan River6 miles, 92 DWR access points, 2 USGS gauges
- American Fork Creek13 miles, DWR stream reach
- Middle Provo River (Legacy Bridge to Jordanelle Dam)20 miles, Blue Ribbon water, guidebook entry, 10 DWR access points, 4 USGS gauges
- Lower Provo River (Olmstead Diversion to Deer Creek Dam)21 miles, Blue Ribbon water, guidebook entry, 12 DWR access points, 4 USGS gauges
- Lower Provo River (I-15 to Olmstead Diversion)22 miles, guidebook entry, 3 USGS gauges
How Utah streams near Cottonwood Heights are running
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Little Cottonwood Creek @ Jordan River Nr Slc | 3 cfs, 0.24 ft gage height | Nov 12 6:00 pm |
| Surplus Canal @ Salt Lake City, Ut | 127 cfs, 9.53 ft gage height | Nov 12 6:15 pm |
| Jordan River @ 1700 South @ Salt Lake City, Ut | 127 cfs, 1.74 ft gage height | Nov 12 6:15 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 12, 2026 6:33 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 high-lake areas close to Cottonwood Heights
- Uinta Mountains, Weber River40 miles, brook trout, bonneville cutthroat trout, grayling Arctic
- Uinta Mountains, Provo River42 miles, brook trout, bonneville cutthroat trout, grayling Arctic
- Uinta Mountains, Mirror Lake Highway48 miles, brook trout, rainbow trout, tiger trout, grayling Arctic, bonneville cutthroat trout
Utah DWR Fish Utah planner (dwrapps.utah.gov), read November 11, 2026.
Utah fishing spots around Cottonwood Heights on a map
UGRC Boat Ramps layer (ArcGIS service) and the DWR Fish Utah access list, read November 11, 2026. Census place point.
Where Cottonwood Heights boaters back down
- American Fork Boat Harbor at Utah Lake19 miles, Utah Lake, boat ramp, for any vessel class, administered by Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands in the UGRC layer
- Saratoga Springs Boat Ramp at Utah Lake19 miles, Utah Lake, boat ramp, for any vessel class, administered by Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands in the UGRC layer, covered Picnic ares, drinking water, fish Cleaning Station
UGRC Boat Ramps layer (ArcGIS service) and the DWR Fish Utah access list, read November 11, 2026.
Hatchery fish stocked close to Cottonwood Heights
| Lake | From Cottonwood Heights | Date | Species | Fish | Average length as printed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Willow Pond | 6 miles | Oct 27, 2026 | Rainbow | 251 | 11.86 |
| Willow Pond | 6 miles | Oct 21, 2026 | Rainbow | 300 | 17.1 |
| Willow Pond | 6 miles | Oct 14, 2026 | Rainbow | 688 | 11.6 |
| Grandpas Pond (Sandy Community Fishery) | 6 miles | Nov 5, 2026 | Rainbow | 250 | 17.1 |
| Grandpas Pond (Sandy Community Fishery) | 6 miles | Oct 13, 2026 | Rainbow | 700 | 9.47 |
| Grandpas Pond (Sandy Community Fishery) | 6 miles | Sep 21, 2026 | Rainbow | 699 | 9.41 |
| Northwest Sunset Pond | 6 miles | Apr 3, 2002 | Rainbow | 500 | 9.53 |
| Sunset Pond | 6 miles | Oct 7, 2026 | Channel catfish | 401 | 4.25 |
| Sunset Pond | 6 miles | May 27, 2026 | Rainbow | 251 | 9.46 |
| Sunset Pond | 6 miles | Apr 27, 2026 | Rainbow | 248 | 9.69 |
DWR fish stocking table for 2026, year to date (DWR stocking report; water names are DWR abbreviations), read November 11, 2026. DWR prints the average length with no unit.
Statewide Utah rows for Cottonwood Heights anglers
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. Anglers based in Cottonwood Heights start from these statewide rows. Licenses in Utah run 365 days from the purchase date: $40 for a resident adult, $120 for a nonresident adult.
| 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. |
- Willow PondThe daily limit is 2 fish (common carp do not count toward the daily limit). (Fish Utah page)
- Grandpas Pond (Sandy Community Fishery)The daily limit is 2 fish (common carp do not count toward the daily limit). (Fish Utah page)
- Northwest Sunset PondThe daily limit is 2 fish (common carp do not count toward the daily limit). (Fish Utah page)
- Sunset PondThe daily limit is 2 fish (common carp do not count toward the daily limit). (Fish Utah page)
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.
Record-book Utah fish close to Cottonwood Heights
| Species | Weight or length as listed | Water | Year | Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain whitefish | 4 lbs. 12 oz. | Deer Creek Reservoir | 1997 | catch and keep |
| Black crappie | 1 lb. 14 oz. | Deer Creek Reservoir | 2020 | spearfishing |
| Yellow perch | 15 oz. | Deer Creek Reservoir | 2023 | spearfishing |
| Walleye | 13 lbs. 8 oz. | Deer Creek Reservoir | 2024 | spearfishing |
| Smallmouth bass | 23 ½" | Jordanelle Reservoir | 2003 | catch and release (length) |
Utah state record fish as DWR lists them (records page), read November 11, 2026. Record waters within 60 miles.
Organized Utah fishing near Cottonwood Heights
| Date | Event | Water | Organizer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sept. 19, 2026 | UBTT Northern Utah Division, Jordanelle, Northern Utah (result) | Jordanelle Reservoir | Ultimate Bass Team Tour, LLC (Cedar City, Utah) |
| May 30, 2026 | UBTT Northern Utah Division, Jordanelle, Northern Utah (result) | Jordanelle Reservoir | Ultimate Bass Team Tour, LLC (Cedar City, Utah) |
| April 11, 2026 | The Great Carp Hunt 2026 (boat category), Utah Lake, boat teams (result) | Utah Lake | Utah Lake Authority |
| April 11, 2026 | The Great Carp Hunt 2026 (shore category), Utah Lake, shore (result) | Utah Lake | Utah Lake Authority |
| no date printed | The Great Carp Hunt 2025, Utah Lake, season total (result) | Utah Lake | Utah Lake Authority |
Event as listed by the organizer (source), read November 11, 2026.
Utah tackle stores around Cottonwood Heights
Bait shops worth a detour before Cottonwood Heights
- Fish Tech Outfittersbait and tackle shop, Salt Lake City, 2 miles
- Academy Sports + Outdoors, 7035 S 1300 Ebait and tackle shop, Midvale, 2 miles
- Dick's Sporting Goods, 7170 S 1000 Ebait and tackle shop, Midvale, 3 miles
- Sportsman's Warehouse, 165 W 7200 Sbait and tackle shop, Midvale, 4 miles
- Academy Sports + Outdoors, 5370 S Riley Lnbait and tackle shop, Salt Lake City, 5 miles
- Scheelsbait and tackle shop, Sandy, 6 miles
- Freyvogel Fly Fishingfly shop, Salt Lake City, 6 miles
- Sportsman's Warehouse, 1475 W 9000 Sbait and tackle shop, West Jordan, 6 miles
Hiring a Utah guide for Cottonwood Heights
- Kromefishingfishing guide, West Jordan, (801) 660-5008
Yellow Pages, Utah State Parks and NPS listings; miles only where the listing has an exact address point, read November 11, 2026.
In Utah close to Cottonwood Heights
Neighboring Utah towns to Cottonwood Heights
Backup Utah lakes when Cottonwood Heights is slow
- Willow Pond6 miles
- Grandpas Pond (Sandy Community Fishery)6 miles
- Northwest Sunset Pond6 miles
- Sunset Pond6 miles
- Salt Lake Countycounty page
Piscifun reels and line to pack for Cottonwood Heights
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Wasatch and red rock water near Cottonwood Heights, on camera
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Giuseppe Milo, CC BY 2.0
What anglers staying in Cottonwood Heights tend to ask
Which lake is a short drive from Cottonwood Heights, Utah?
Willow Pond, about 6 miles west.
Where do Cottonwood Heights boaters put in on Utah water?
American Fork Boat Harbor at Utah Lake, 19 miles away, on Utah Lake.
Which DWR shore spots are near Cottonwood Heights?
DWR maps no shore or pier point within 20 miles; the Willow Pond page shows its access.
Which stores near Cottonwood Heights sell Utah fishing gear?
Fish Tech Outfitters, one of 8 listings nearby.
Which Utah county holds Cottonwood Heights?
Salt Lake County.
Do I need a Utah fishing license near Cottonwood Heights?
Utah prices its adult 365-day fishing license at $40 for residents and $120 for visitors, unchanged between the two guidebooks.
Which Utah towns are a short drive from Cottonwood Heights?
Holladay (3 miles), Sandy (3 miles) and White City (4 miles).
How many trout may an angler near Cottonwood Heights keep?
Statewide, the trout, kokanee and grayling row sets a daily limit 4 under the 2027 guidebook, and the 2026 guidebook matches it. Lakes with their own entry differ.
What DWR stream runs near Cottonwood Heights?
Jordan River lies roughly 6 miles from town.
What did DWR stock near Cottonwood Heights?
Fish Utah lists Rainbow at Willow Pond on Oct 27, 2026, 6 miles from town.
Which backcountry lakes are near Cottonwood Heights?
The Uinta Mountains, Weber River area, about 40 miles away, on DWR's list.
Plan a Beehive State trip from Cottonwood Heights
Lake pages carry launches, DWR species lists and dated limits.