Utah towns

Fishing near Kearns, Utah

Metro township, Salt Lake County. Census 2020 residents: 36,723.

  • 5 milesMillrace Park Pond
  • 1launch within 20 mi
  • 2rivers within 25 mi
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Photo of Deer Creek Reservoir: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0

Kearns, Utah

Fishing options near Kearns

Kearns is a metro township in Salt Lake County; the 2020 Census counted 36,723 residents. Millrace Park Pond, around 5 miles east, is the first lake out of town. By size, Willow Pond tops the nearby lakes (4 acres).

Count on 12 miles to reach Great Salt Lake State Marina, the nearest launch. Jordan River runs about 5 miles from town.

36,7232020 residents
5 milesto Millrace Park Pond
1launch within 20 mi
8shops within 20 mi

U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census counts (TIGERweb) and the 2023 Gazetteer, read November 11, 2026. Straight-line miles from the Census place point.

Lakes

Utah lakes an easy drive out of Kearns

LakeFrom KearnsSizeLaunchesStatusDWR lists
Millrace Park Pond5 miles east3 acres0community fisherybluegill, channel catfish, green sunfish, rainbow trout, sunfish Bluegill
Willow Pond5 miles east4 acres0community fisherybluegill, channel catfish, green sunfish, rainbow trout
Grandpas Pond (Sandy Community Fishery)7 miles southeast3 acres0community fisherybluegill, channel catfish, rainbow trout
Midas Pond9 miles southeast1 acres0community fisherybullhead, bluegill, channel catfish, rainbow trout, brook trout
Kidney Pond9 miles southeast1 acres0community fisherybullhead, bluegill, channel catfish, rainbow trout, brook trout
Riverfront Pond9 miles southeast1 acres0community fisherybluegill, channel catfish, rainbow 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.

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Rivers

The nearest river to Kearns

  • Jordan River5 miles, 92 DWR access points, 2 USGS gauges
  • American Fork Creek21 miles, DWR stream reach

Utah flow gauges a short drive from Kearns

USGS gaugeLatest readingTime (ET)
Little Cottonwood Creek @ Jordan River Nr Slc3 cfs, 0.24 ft gage heightNov 13 7:00 pm
Surplus Canal @ Salt Lake City, Ut120 cfs, 9.53 ft gage heightNov 13 7:15 pm
Jordan River @ 1700 South @ Salt Lake City, Ut120 cfs, 1.74 ft gage heightNov 13 7:15 pm

US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 13, 2026 7:33 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.

Map

Lakes, rivers and ramps by Kearns, mapped

UGRC Boat Ramps layer (ArcGIS service) and the DWR Fish Utah access list, read November 11, 2026. Census place point.

Launches

Nearest Utah boat access to Kearns

  • Great Salt Lake State Marina12 miles, Great Salt Lake, boat ramp, for any vessel class, administered by Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands in the UGRC layer

UGRC Boat Ramps layer (ArcGIS service) and the DWR Fish Utah access list, read November 11, 2026.

Stocking

Utah stocking rows on lakes near Kearns

LakeFrom KearnsDateSpeciesFishAverage length as printed
Millrace Park Pond5 milesOct 7, 2026Channel catfish9964.25
Millrace Park Pond5 milesApr 27, 2026Rainbow3749.69
Millrace Park Pond5 milesApr 13, 2026Rainbow3749.64
Willow Pond5 milesOct 27, 2026Rainbow25111.86
Willow Pond5 milesOct 21, 2026Rainbow30017.1
Willow Pond5 milesOct 14, 2026Rainbow68811.6
Grandpas Pond (Sandy Community Fishery)7 milesNov 5, 2026Rainbow25017.1
Grandpas Pond (Sandy Community Fishery)7 milesOct 13, 2026Rainbow7009.47
Grandpas Pond (Sandy Community Fishery)7 milesSep 21, 2026Rainbow6999.41
Midas Pond9 milesOct 5, 2026Rainbow3019.55

Utah stocking report

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.

Limits

Keeper rules on Utah water near Kearns

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. Most Utah lakes and streams near Kearns follow the statewide table below. A 365-day Utah fishing license for an adult resident is $40; a nonresident adult pays $120, the same in the 2026 and 2027 guidebooks.

Species group2027 daily limit2026 daily limitGuidebook note
Baitfish (common carp, fathead minnow, redside shiner, Utah sucker, Utah chub, white sucker)No limitsame(NEW) Formerly called "nongame species"; baitfish species are listed on page 20.
Black crappie and white crappie (a combined total)50same–
Bluegill and green sunfish (a combined total)50same–
Bonneville cisco30same–
Bullhead24same–
BurbotNo limitsameREMINDER: Do not release any burbot you catch. All burbot caught must be immediately killed.
Channel catfish8same–
Community fisheries22The 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.
CrayfishNo limitsameREMINDER: 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 salmonSee trout limitsameKokanee salmon are part of the total trout limit. Anglers may not possess kokanee salmon at any waterbody statewide from Sept. 10 through Nov. 30.
  • Millrace Park PondThe daily limit is 2 fish (common carp do not count toward the daily limit). (Fish Utah page)
  • 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)
  • Midas PondThe daily limit is 2 fish (common carp do not count toward the daily limit). (Fish Utah page)
  • Kidney PondThe daily limit is 2 fish (common carp do not count toward the daily limit). (Fish Utah page)
  • Riverfront 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.

Records

Beehive State record catches near Kearns

SpeciesWeight or length as listedWaterYearCategory
Nonnative cutthroat trout31 ½"East Canyon Reservoir2011catch and release (length)
Walleye15 lbs. 9 oz.Lower Provo River (I-15 to Olmstead Diversion)1991catch and keep
Brown trout34"Lower Provo River (I-15 to Olmstead Diversion)2015catch and release (length)
Mountain whitefish4 lbs. 12 oz.Deer Creek Reservoir1997catch and keep
Black crappie1 lb. 14 oz.Deer Creek Reservoir2020spearfishing

Utah state record fish

Utah state record fish as DWR lists them (records page), read November 11, 2026. Record waters within 60 miles.

Local help

Fly shops and bait stores near Kearns

Stocking up on line for Kearns

  • Mountain Cork Incbait and tackle shop, West Jordan, 5 miles
  • Academy Sports + Outdoors, 5370 S Riley Lnbait and tackle shop, Salt Lake City, 6 miles
  • Sportsman's Warehouse, 1475 W 9000 Sbait and tackle shop, West Jordan, 6 miles
  • Sportsman's Warehouse, 165 W 7200 Sbait and tackle shop, Midvale, 6 miles
  • Sportsman's Warehouse, 10462 S River Heights Drbait and tackle shop, South Jordan, 7 miles
  • Freyvogel Fly Fishingfly shop, Salt Lake City, 8 miles
  • Dick's Sporting Goods, 7170 S 1000 Ebait and tackle shop, Midvale, 8 miles
  • Academy Sports + Outdoors, 7035 S 1300 Ebait and tackle shop, Midvale, 8 miles

Outfitters who run trips to Kearns

Yellow Pages, Utah State Parks and NPS listings; miles only where the listing has an exact address point, read November 11, 2026.

Nearby

Mapped beside Kearns

Utah communities a short drive from Kearns

Impoundments a short drive from Kearns

  • Millrace Park Pond5 miles
  • Willow Pond5 miles
  • Grandpas Pond (Sandy Community Fishery)7 miles
  • Midas Pond9 miles
  • Salt Lake Countycounty page
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Fish photos

Sorting out the Utah fish of Kearns by sight

Burbot, Utah
Burbot
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Channel catfish, Utah
Channel catfish
Photo: Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, CC BY-SA 2.0
Kokanee salmon, Utah
Kokanee salmon
Photo: Thomas Quine, CC BY 2.0
Answers

Using Kearns as a fishing base, answered

Which lake is closest to Kearns, Utah?

Millrace Park Pond, about 5 miles east.

Which Utah launch serves Kearns best?

Great Salt Lake State Marina, 12 miles away, on Great Salt Lake.

Can I fish Utah water without a boat near Kearns?

DWR maps no shore or pier point within 20 miles; the Millrace Park Pond page shows its access.

Where do Kearns anglers buy flies and jigs?

Mountain Cork Inc, one of 8 listings nearby.

Which Utah county page covers Kearns?

Salt Lake County.

What does a Utah fishing license cost for Kearns?

Plan on $40 with Utah residency or $120 without it for an adult 365-day license; anglers under 12 need none.

Which Utah towns are near Kearns?

West Valley City (3 miles), Taylorsville (3 miles) and West Jordan (3 miles).

What daily trout limit covers water near Kearns?

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.

Which Utah river page is nearest Kearns?

Jordan River lies roughly 5 miles from town.

Has DWR stocked a lake near Kearns lately?

Fish Utah lists Channel catfish at Millrace Park Pond on Oct 7, 2026, 5 miles from town.

Hook up the trailer in Kearns for Utah water

Open the nearest DWR lake page for launches and limits.

Millrace Park PondUtah towns