Fishing near South Salt Lake, Utah
City, Salt Lake County. Census 2020 residents: 26,777.
- 2 milesFairmont Park Pond
- 1launch within 20 mi
- 2rivers within 25 mi
Pick for channel catfishPiscifun LumiCat II catfish rod48% OFFSale $114.99 Photo, nearby stand in for South Salt Lake: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
Utah lakes and streams handy to South Salt Lake
The 2020 Census found 26,777 people in South Salt Lake, a city of Salt Lake County. The closest lake with a page is Fairmont Park Pond, about 2 miles northeast. The largest lake in the table is Willow Pond, at 4 acres.
The first mapped launch out of town is Great Salt Lake State Marina, 16 miles off. For a stream, Jordan River lies some 7 miles away. High-country anglers can reach the Uinta Mountains, Weber River area, about 44 miles away.
U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census counts (TIGERweb) and the 2023 Gazetteer, read November 11, 2026. Straight-line miles from the Census place point.
Ponds and big reservoirs near South Salt Lake
| Lake | From South Salt Lake | Size | Launches | Status | DWR lists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairmont Park Pond | 2 miles northeast | 1 acres | 0 | community fishery | rainbow trout |
| Millrace Park Pond | 4 miles south | 3 acres | 0 | community fishery | bluegill, channel catfish, green sunfish, rainbow trout, sunfish Bluegill |
| Willow Pond | 5 miles south | 4 acres | 0 | community fishery | bluegill, channel catfish, green sunfish, rainbow trout |
| Grandpas Pond (Sandy Community Fishery) | 9 miles south | 3 acres | 0 | community fishery | bluegill, channel catfish, rainbow trout |
| Midas Pond | 11 miles south | 1 acres | 0 | community fishery | bullhead, bluegill, channel catfish, rainbow trout, brook trout |
| Kidney Pond | 11 miles south | 1 acres | 0 | community fishery | bullhead, bluegill, channel catfish, rainbow trout, 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 Getting to a stream from South Salt Lake
- Jordan River7 miles, 92 DWR access points, 2 USGS gauges
- American Fork Creek21 miles, DWR stream reach
Current USGS Utah flow by South Salt Lake
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Little Cottonwood Creek @ Jordan River Nr Slc | 3 cfs, 0.24 ft gage height | Nov 12 5:00 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.
High Utah lake country near South Salt Lake
- Uinta Mountains, Weber River44 miles, brook trout, bonneville cutthroat trout, grayling Arctic
- Uinta Mountains, Provo River46 miles, brook trout, bonneville cutthroat trout, grayling Arctic
Utah DWR Fish Utah planner (dwrapps.utah.gov), read November 11, 2026.
Utah water near South Salt Lake on one map
UGRC Boat Ramps layer (ArcGIS service) and the DWR Fish Utah access list, read November 11, 2026. Census place point.
Utah launches within a short tow of South Salt Lake
- Great Salt Lake State Marina16 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.
What DWR released near South Salt Lake lately
| Lake | From South Salt Lake | Date | Species | Fish | Average length as printed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairmont Park Pond | 2 miles | Sep 15, 2020 | Channel catfish | 401 | 2.48 |
| Fairmont Park Pond | 2 miles | Jun 6, 2019 | Rainbow | 201 | 14.06 |
| Millrace Park Pond | 4 miles | Oct 7, 2026 | Channel catfish | 996 | 4.25 |
| Millrace Park Pond | 4 miles | Apr 27, 2026 | Rainbow | 374 | 9.69 |
| Millrace Park Pond | 4 miles | Apr 13, 2026 | Rainbow | 374 | 9.64 |
| Willow Pond | 5 miles | Oct 27, 2026 | Rainbow | 251 | 11.86 |
| Willow Pond | 5 miles | Oct 21, 2026 | Rainbow | 300 | 17.1 |
| Willow Pond | 5 miles | Oct 14, 2026 | Rainbow | 688 | 11.6 |
| Grandpas Pond (Sandy Community Fishery) | 9 miles | Nov 5, 2026 | Rainbow | 250 | 17.1 |
| Grandpas Pond (Sandy Community Fishery) | 9 miles | Oct 13, 2026 | Rainbow | 700 | 9.47 |
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.
The Utah guidebook numbers near South Salt Lake
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. These Utah statewide limits hold near South Salt Lake unless a lake page prints its own rule. Utah prices its adult 365-day fishing license at $40 for residents and $120 for visitors, unchanged between the two 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)
- 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)
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.
DWR-listed record fish near South Salt Lake
| Species | Weight or length as listed | Water | Year | Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonnative cutthroat trout | 31 ½" | East Canyon Reservoir | 2011 | catch and release (length) |
| Smallmouth bass | 23 ½" | Jordanelle Reservoir | 2003 | 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.
Derby and tournament dates close to South Salt Lake
| 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) |
Event as listed by the organizer (source), read November 11, 2026.
Picking up gear around South Salt Lake
Shops the South Salt Lake regulars use
- Freyvogel Fly Fishingfly shop, Salt Lake City, 2 miles
- Academy Sports + Outdoors, 5370 S Riley Lnbait and tackle shop, Salt Lake City, 4 miles
- Western Rivers Flyfisherfly shop, Salt Lake City, 4 miles
- Dick's Sporting Goods, 400 W 100 Sbait and tackle shop, Salt Lake City, 4 miles
- Fish Tech Outfittersbait and tackle shop, Salt Lake City, 6 miles
- Sportsman's Warehouse, 165 W 7200 Sbait and tackle shop, Midvale, 6 miles
- Academy Sports + Outdoors, 7035 S 1300 Ebait and tackle shop, Midvale, 6 miles
- Dick's Sporting Goods, 7170 S 1000 Ebait and tackle shop, Midvale, 6 miles
Guides listed near South Salt Lake
- 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.
A short way past South Salt Lake
Other Utah bases near South Salt Lake
- Millcreek4 miles, 2020 count 63,380
- Murray4 miles, 2020 count 50,637
- Taylorsville4 miles, 2020 count 60,448
- Holladay5 miles, 2020 count 31,965
- Salt Lake City5 miles, 2020 count 199,723
Other Utah reservoirs near South Salt Lake
- Fairmont Park Pond2 miles
- Millrace Park Pond4 miles
- Willow Pond5 miles
- Grandpas Pond (Sandy Community Fishery)9 miles
- Salt Lake Countycounty page
Piscifun gear a Beehive State angler could bring to South Salt Lake
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Canyon walls and alpine shorelines by South Salt Lake through a lens
Photo: Aqua Mechanical, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Giuseppe Milo, CC BY 2.0
Photo: rick kloeppel, CC BY 2.0
Questions from anglers booked into South Salt Lake
What Utah lake is nearest South Salt Lake?
Fairmont Park Pond, about 2 miles northeast.
Where can I launch a boat near South Salt Lake, Utah?
Great Salt Lake State Marina, 16 miles away, on Great Salt Lake.
Where can I cast from land around South Salt Lake, Utah?
DWR maps no shore or pier point within 20 miles; the Fairmont Park Pond page shows its access.
Is a Utah bait store listed in South Salt Lake?
Freyvogel Fly Fishing, one of 8 listings nearby.
In which Utah county is South Salt Lake?
Salt Lake County.
Which Utah license covers fishing around South Salt Lake?
DWR charges adults $40 (resident) or $120 (nonresident) for a fishing license good 365 days from purchase.
What Utah towns sit close to South Salt Lake?
Millcreek (4 miles), Murray (4 miles) and Taylorsville (4 miles).
What is the trout limit near South Salt Lake?
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.
Can I wade a Utah river near South Salt Lake?
Jordan River lies roughly 7 miles from town.
Where did DWR stock fish near South Salt Lake?
Fish Utah lists Channel catfish at Fairmont Park Pond on Sep 15, 2020, 2 miles from town.
Where are high lakes near South Salt Lake?
The Uinta Mountains, Weber River area, about 44 miles away, on DWR's list.
A Wasatch or slickrock morning from South Salt Lake
Launch pages repeat UGRC and DWR notes with directions.