Fishing near Sandy, Utah
City, Salt Lake County. Census 2020 residents: 96,904.
- 3 milesNorthwest Sunset Pond
- 5launches within 20 mi
- 6rivers within 25 mi
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What Sandy, Utah offers anyone with a rod
A city of Salt Lake County, Sandy recorded 96,904 residents in the 2020 Census. No lake page sits closer than Northwest Sunset Pond, about 3 miles south. Grandpas Pond (Sandy Community Fishery) covers the most water close by: 3 acres.
Boats go in at Saratoga Springs Boat Ramp at Utah Lake, roughly 16 miles from town. Moving water starts with Jordan River, roughly 5 miles out. About 43 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 Sandy
| Lake | From Sandy | Size | Launches | Status | DWR lists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest Sunset Pond | 3 miles south | no DWR figure | 0 | community fishery | channel catfish, rainbow trout |
| Sunset Pond | 3 miles south | 1 acres | 0 | community fishery | bluegill, channel catfish, rainbow trout |
| Grandpas Pond (Sandy Community Fishery) | 4 miles west | 3 acres | 0 | community fishery | bluegill, channel catfish, rainbow trout |
| Midas Pond | 4 miles southwest | 1 acres | 0 | community fishery | bullhead, bluegill, channel catfish, rainbow trout, brook trout |
| Kidney Pond | 4 miles southwest | 1 acres | 0 | community fishery | bullhead, bluegill, channel catfish, rainbow trout, brook trout |
| Riverfront Pond | 4 miles southwest | 1 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 River5 miles, 92 DWR access points, 2 USGS gauges
- American Fork Creek11 miles, DWR stream reach
- Lower Provo River (I-15 to Olmstead Diversion)20 miles, guidebook entry, 3 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
- Middle Provo River (Legacy Bridge to Jordanelle Dam)22 miles, Blue Ribbon water, guidebook entry, 10 DWR access points, 4 USGS gauges
- Lower Provo River (Center Street Bridge to I-15)24 miles, guidebook entry, 2 USGS gauges
How Utah streams near Sandy are running
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Little Cottonwood Creek @ Jordan River Nr Slc | 3 cfs, 0.24 ft gage height | Nov 12 5:00 pm |
| Surplus Canal @ Salt Lake City, Ut | 123 cfs, 9.53 ft gage height | Nov 12 5:15 pm |
| Jordan River @ 1700 South @ Salt Lake City, Ut | 117 cfs, 1.74 ft gage height | Nov 12 4:15 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 12, 2026 5:33 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 Sandy
- Uinta Mountains, Weber River43 miles, brook trout, bonneville cutthroat trout, grayling Arctic
- Uinta Mountains, Provo River44 miles, brook trout, bonneville cutthroat trout, grayling Arctic
Utah DWR Fish Utah planner (dwrapps.utah.gov), read November 11, 2026.
Utah fishing spots around Sandy on a map
UGRC Boat Ramps layer (ArcGIS service) and the DWR Fish Utah access list, read November 11, 2026. Census place point.
Where Sandy boaters back down
- Saratoga Springs Boat Ramp at Utah Lake16 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
- American Fork Boat Harbor at Utah Lake16 miles, Utah Lake, boat ramp, for any vessel class, administered by Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands in the UGRC layer
- Lindon Boat Harbor at Utah Lake18 miles, Utah Lake, boat ramp, for any vessel class, administered by a private operator in the UGRC layer, docks – accessible, picnic tables, primitive (Tent)
- Saratoga City unamed Boat Ramp at Utah Lake19 miles, Utah Lake, boat ramp, for any vessel class, administered by a private operator in the UGRC layer
- Saratoga City south Boat Ramp at Utah Lake20 miles, Utah Lake, boat ramp, for any vessel class, administered by a private operator in the UGRC layer
UGRC Boat Ramps layer (ArcGIS service) and the DWR Fish Utah access list, read November 11, 2026.
Hatchery fish stocked close to Sandy
| Lake | From Sandy | Date | Species | Fish | Average length as printed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest Sunset Pond | 3 miles | Apr 3, 2002 | Rainbow | 500 | 9.53 |
| Sunset Pond | 3 miles | Oct 7, 2026 | Channel catfish | 401 | 4.25 |
| Sunset Pond | 3 miles | May 27, 2026 | Rainbow | 251 | 9.46 |
| Sunset Pond | 3 miles | Apr 27, 2026 | Rainbow | 248 | 9.69 |
| Grandpas Pond (Sandy Community Fishery) | 4 miles | Nov 5, 2026 | Rainbow | 250 | 17.1 |
| Grandpas Pond (Sandy Community Fishery) | 4 miles | Oct 13, 2026 | Rainbow | 700 | 9.47 |
| Grandpas Pond (Sandy Community Fishery) | 4 miles | Sep 21, 2026 | Rainbow | 699 | 9.41 |
| Midas Pond | 4 miles | Oct 5, 2026 | Rainbow | 301 | 9.55 |
| Midas Pond | 4 miles | Sep 16, 2026 | Rainbow | 300 | 9.44 |
| Midas Pond | 4 miles | Sep 10, 2026 | Rainbow | 301 | 9.4 |
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 Sandy 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 Sandy 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. |
- 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)
- 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.
Record-book Utah fish close to Sandy
| Species | Weight or length as listed | Water | Year | Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walleye | 15 lbs. 9 oz. | Lower Provo River (I-15 to Olmstead Diversion) | 1991 | catch and keep |
| Brown trout | 34" | Lower Provo River (I-15 to Olmstead Diversion) | 2015 | catch and release (length) |
| 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 |
Utah state record fish as DWR lists them (records page), read November 11, 2026. Record waters within 60 miles.
Organized Utah fishing near Sandy
| 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 Sandy
Bait shops worth a detour before Sandy
- Scheelsbait and tackle shop, Sandy, 3 miles
- Dick's Sporting Goods, 7170 S 1000 Ebait and tackle shop, Midvale, 3 miles
- Academy Sports + Outdoors, 7035 S 1300 Ebait and tackle shop, Midvale, 4 miles
- Sportsman's Warehouse, 165 W 7200 Sbait and tackle shop, Midvale, 4 miles
- Sportsman's Warehouse, 1475 W 9000 Sbait and tackle shop, West Jordan, 5 miles
- Fish Tech Outfittersbait and tackle shop, Salt Lake City, 5 miles
- Academy Sports + Outdoors, 5370 S Riley Lnbait and tackle shop, Salt Lake City, 6 miles
- Sportsman's Warehouse, 10462 S River Heights Drbait and tackle shop, South Jordan, 6 miles
Hiring a Utah guide for Sandy
- 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 Sandy
Neighboring Utah towns to Sandy
- White Cityunder a mile, 2020 count 5,522
- Cottonwood Heights3 miles, 2020 count 33,617
- Midvale4 miles, 2020 count 36,028
- Draper5 miles, 2020 count 51,017
- Murray6 miles, 2020 count 50,637
Backup Utah lakes when Sandy is slow
- Northwest Sunset Pond3 miles
- Sunset Pond3 miles
- Grandpas Pond (Sandy Community Fishery)4 miles
- Midas Pond4 miles
- Salt Lake Countycounty page
Piscifun reels and line to pack for Sandy
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Wasatch and red rock water near Sandy, on camera

Photo: ricketyus, CC BY 2.0

Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0

Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0

Photo: Scott Ellis, CC BY-SA 2.0
What anglers staying in Sandy tend to ask
Which lake is a short drive from Sandy, Utah?
Northwest Sunset Pond, about 3 miles south.
Where do Sandy boaters put in on Utah water?
Saratoga Springs Boat Ramp at Utah Lake, 16 miles away, on Utah Lake.
Which DWR shore spots are near Sandy?
DWR maps no shore or pier point within 20 miles; the Northwest Sunset Pond page shows its access.
Which stores near Sandy sell Utah fishing gear?
Scheels, one of 8 listings nearby.
Which Utah county holds Sandy?
Salt Lake County.
Do I need a Utah fishing license near Sandy?
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 Sandy?
White City (under a mile), Cottonwood Heights (3 miles) and Midvale (4 miles).
How many trout may an angler near Sandy 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 Sandy?
Jordan River lies roughly 5 miles from town.
What did DWR stock near Sandy?
Fish Utah lists Rainbow at Northwest Sunset Pond on Apr 3, 2002, 3 miles from town.
Which backcountry lakes are near Sandy?
The Uinta Mountains, Weber River area, about 43 miles away, on DWR's list.
Plan a Beehive State trip from Sandy
Lake pages carry launches, DWR species lists and dated limits.

