Fishing near Salt Lake City, Utah
City, Salt Lake County. Census 2020 residents: 199,723.
- 5 milesFairmont Park Pond
- 1launch within 20 mi
- 1river within 25 mi
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Fishing options near Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City is a city in Salt Lake County; the 2020 Census counted 199,723 residents. It serves Utah as the Salt Lake County seat. Fairmont Park Pond, around 5 miles southeast, is the first lake out of town. By size, Little Dell Reservoir tops the nearby lakes (250 acres).
Count on 15 miles to reach Great Salt Lake State Marina, the nearest launch. Jordan River runs about 11 miles from town. Mountain lakes start with the Uinta Mountains, Weber River area, 46 miles from town.
U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census counts (TIGERweb) and the 2023 Gazetteer, read November 11, 2026. Straight-line miles from the Census place point.
Utah lakes an easy drive out of Salt Lake City
| Lake | From Salt Lake City | Size | Launches | Status | DWR lists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairmont Park Pond | 5 miles southeast | 1 acres | 0 | community fishery | rainbow trout |
| Millrace Park Pond | 8 miles south | 3 acres | 0 | community fishery | bluegill, channel catfish, green sunfish, rainbow trout, sunfish Bluegill |
| Bountiful Lake | 9 miles north | 50 acres | 0 | community fishery | bluegill, channel catfish, common carp, green sunfish, largemouth bass, rainbow trout, wiper, brown trout |
| Willow Pond | 10 miles south | 4 acres | 0 | community fishery | bluegill, channel catfish, green sunfish, rainbow trout |
| Little Dell Reservoir | 12 miles east | 250 acres | 0 | reservoir | bonneville cutthroat trout |
| Grandpas Pond (Sandy Community Fishery) | 14 miles south | 3 acres | 0 | community fishery | bluegill, 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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- Jordan River11 miles, 92 DWR access points, 2 USGS gauges
Utah flow gauges a short drive from Salt Lake City
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Jordan River @ 1700 South @ Salt Lake City, Ut | 127 cfs, 1.74 ft gage height | Nov 12 6:15 pm |
| Surplus Canal @ Salt Lake City, Ut | 127 cfs, 9.53 ft gage height | Nov 12 6:15 pm |
| Jordan River @ Cudahy Lane Nr Salt Lake City, Ut | 153 cfs, 2.15 ft gage height | Nov 12 6:00 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.
Mountain-lake areas a drive from Salt Lake City
- Uinta Mountains, Weber River46 miles, brook trout, bonneville cutthroat trout, grayling Arctic
- Uinta Mountains, Provo River49 miles, brook trout, bonneville cutthroat trout, grayling Arctic
Utah DWR Fish Utah planner (dwrapps.utah.gov), read November 11, 2026.
Lakes, rivers and ramps by Salt Lake City, mapped
UGRC Boat Ramps layer (ArcGIS service) and the DWR Fish Utah access list, read November 11, 2026. Census place point.
Nearest Utah boat access to Salt Lake City
- Great Salt Lake State Marina15 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.
Utah stocking rows on lakes near Salt Lake City
| Lake | From Salt Lake City | Date | Species | Fish | Average length as printed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairmont Park Pond | 5 miles | Sep 15, 2020 | Channel catfish | 401 | 2.48 |
| Fairmont Park Pond | 5 miles | Jun 6, 2019 | Rainbow | 201 | 14.06 |
| Millrace Park Pond | 8 miles | Oct 7, 2026 | Channel catfish | 996 | 4.25 |
| Millrace Park Pond | 8 miles | Apr 27, 2026 | Rainbow | 374 | 9.69 |
| Millrace Park Pond | 8 miles | Apr 13, 2026 | Rainbow | 374 | 9.64 |
| Bountiful Lake | 9 miles | Nov 2, 2026 | Rainbow | 1,600 | 9.42 |
| Bountiful Lake | 9 miles | Oct 7, 2026 | Rainbow | 1,800 | 9.42 |
| Bountiful Lake | 9 miles | Oct 6, 2026 | Channel catfish | 2,000 | 4.04 |
| Willow Pond | 10 miles | Oct 27, 2026 | Rainbow | 251 | 11.86 |
| Willow Pond | 10 miles | Oct 21, 2026 | Rainbow | 300 | 17.1 |
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.
Keeper rules on Utah water near Salt Lake City
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 Salt Lake City 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 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. |
- Fairmont Park PondThe daily limit is 2 fish (common carp do not count toward the daily limit). (Fish Utah page)
- Millrace Park PondThe daily limit is 2 fish (common carp do not count toward the daily limit). (Fish Utah page)
- Bountiful LakeThe 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)
- Little Dell ReservoirCLOSED to the possession of cutthroat trout or trout with cutthroat markings. (2027 guidebook, p. 45)
- Grandpas Pond (Sandy Community Fishery)The 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.
Beehive State record catches near Salt Lake City
| Species | Weight or length as listed | Water | Year | Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonnative cutthroat trout | 31 ½" | East Canyon Reservoir | 2011 | catch and release (length) |
| Utah sucker | 6 lbs. 6 oz. | Weber River | 2003 | catch and keep |
| Rainbow trout | 30" | Weber River | 2024 | catch and release (length) |
| Mountain whitefish | 24" | Weber River | 2004 | catch and release (length) |
| 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.
Utah weigh-ins on water near Salt Lake City
| 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) |
| June 13, 2026 | UBTT Northern Utah Division, Echo Reservoir, Northern Utah (result) | Echo 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) |
Event as listed by the organizer (source), read November 11, 2026.
Fly shops and bait stores near Salt Lake City
Stocking up on line for Salt Lake City
- Dick's Sporting Goods, 400 W 100 Sbait and tackle shop, Salt Lake City, 2 miles
- High Country Fly Fishersfly shop, North Salt Lake, 4 miles
- Western Rivers Flyfisherfly shop, Salt Lake City, 4 miles
- Freyvogel Fly Fishingfly shop, Salt Lake City, 6 miles
- Academy Sports + Outdoors, 5370 S Riley Lnbait and tackle shop, Salt Lake City, 9 miles
- Pier 37 Incmarina, Centerville, 11 miles
- Fish Tech Outfittersbait and tackle shop, Salt Lake City, 11 miles
- Sportsman's Warehouse, 165 W 7200 Sbait and tackle shop, Midvale, 11 miles
Outfitters who run trips to Salt Lake City
- 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.
Mapped beside Salt Lake City
Utah communities a short drive from Salt Lake City
- North Salt Lake5 miles, 2020 count 21,907
- South Salt Lake5 miles, 2020 count 26,777
- Woods Cross7 miles, 2020 count 11,410
- West Valley City7 miles, 2020 count 140,230
- Bountiful8 miles, 2020 count 45,762
Impoundments a short drive from Salt Lake City
- Fairmont Park Pond5 miles
- Millrace Park Pond8 miles
- Bountiful Lake9 miles
- Willow Pond10 miles
- Salt Lake Countycounty page
A Piscifun bundle sized for a trip to Salt Lake City
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Sorting out the Utah fish of Salt Lake City by sight
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Thomas Quine, CC BY 2.0
Using Salt Lake City as a fishing base, answered
Which lake is closest to Salt Lake City, Utah?
Fairmont Park Pond, about 5 miles southeast.
Which Utah launch serves Salt Lake City best?
Great Salt Lake State Marina, 15 miles away, on Great Salt Lake.
Can I fish Utah water without a boat near Salt Lake City?
DWR maps no shore or pier point within 20 miles; the Fairmont Park Pond page shows its access.
Where do Salt Lake City anglers buy flies and jigs?
Dick's Sporting Goods, 400 W 100 S, one of 8 listings nearby.
Which Utah county page covers Salt Lake City?
Salt Lake County. It is also the county seat.
What does a Utah fishing license cost for Salt Lake City?
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 Salt Lake City?
North Salt Lake (5 miles), South Salt Lake (5 miles) and Woods Cross (7 miles).
What daily trout limit covers water near Salt Lake City?
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 Salt Lake City?
Jordan River lies roughly 11 miles from town.
Has DWR stocked a lake near Salt Lake City lately?
Fish Utah lists Channel catfish at Fairmont Park Pond on Sep 15, 2020, 5 miles from town.
Are there mountain lakes near Salt Lake City?
The Uinta Mountains, Weber River area, about 46 miles away, on DWR's list.
Hook up the trailer in Salt Lake City for Utah water
Open the nearest DWR lake page for launches and limits.