Popular Local Fishing Spots

Like to fish? The Sanpete County area has excellent fishing opportunities and access to some of the state’s best fisheries.

Here are a few options to consider when planning your fishing trip in Sanpete County. For more information, including directions to each location, visit wildlife.utah.gov/fishing/main-fishing-page.html.

GOOSEBERRY RESERVOIR

This reservoir is a 57-acre shallow lake located on the northern end of the Manti-La Sal National Forest. There is a Forest Service campground on the west side of the lake. The reservoir is stocked with catchable-sized rainbow trout and also contains a wild population of cutthroat trout.

FAIRVIEW LAKES

These lakes are private waterbodies open to the public for fishing and non-motorized boat use (fishing not allowed from boats with motors). Likely catch is rainbow trout.

BENCHES POND

Also known as Beaver Dam Reservoir, Benches Pond is a highly utilized lake near the Skyline Drive in the Manti-La Sale National Forest. The lake is frequently stocked with catchable-sized rainbow trout between May and October. Bait fishing and lure-fly fishing all produce great results.

MILLER FLAT RESERVOIR

Miller Flat Reservoir is a 160-acre lake perched at an 8,400-foot elevation in the Manti-La Sal National Forest. The reservoir is highly accessible just off of Miller Flat Road. It is stocked with rainbow trout and also contains some naturally occurring cutthroat trout. The reservoir typically experiences large water withdrawals and is very low in the fall. Small boats, pontoons and float tubes can be hand-launched at numerous locations.

BOULGER RESERVOIR

Boulger Reservoir is a highly utilized, 3-acre lake located in the Manti-La Sal National Forest about 5 miles east of the Skyline Drive. This lake is frequently stocked with catchable-sized rainbow trout from May to October and also contains some naturally occurring cutthroat trout. Both bait and lure/fly fishing are effective methods for catching fish at Boulger Reservoir.

SHINGLE MILL RESERVOIR

Shingle Mill Reservoir is a mountain lake located up Twelve Mile Canyon on the Arapeen OHV Trail in the Manti-La Sal National Forest. It is accessible by truck.

NEW CANYON RESERVOIR

New Canyon Reservoir is a great mountain lake to stop by for a picnic and to catch some fish. The reservoir gets stocked in June after the snow melts with catchable rainbow trout. The surrounding Arapeen Trail has more than 600 miles of OHV routes. There are approximately 50 ponds along the Arapeen Trail that are stocked on a rotational basis. If the fish aren’t biting at one pond, head down the trail and try another.

PALISADE RESERVOIR & STATE PARK

Summer recreational activities at Palisade Reservoir & State Park include fishing, camping, swimming, electric and non-motorized boating (fishing from boats with gas engines is prohibited), golfing and hiking. Off-highway vehicle trails are accessible from the park.

EAST PARLEY’S

Located up Six-Mile Canyon in the Manti-La Sal National Forest and on the Arapeen OHV Trail, East Parley’s gets stocked with fingerling brook trout every summer. There are many places up Six-Mile Canyon to pull up a camp trailer, but East Parley’s is only accessible by OHV. West Parley’s, located directly west of East Parley’s, is beautiful but does not have fish.

TOWN RESERVOIR

Located on Twelve Mile Road in the Manti-La Sal National Forest, Town Reservoir gets stocked in June after the snow melts with catchable rainbow trout. The reservoir is used for irrigation and can experience extreme draw-downs in late summer; fishing is best early in the season. There are many places along Twelve Mile Road to pull up a camp trailer.

BRAD’S SECRET LAKE

This mountain lake is located up Six Mile Canyon on the Arapeen OHV Trail. Brad’s Secret gets stocked with fingerling brook trout every summer. There are many places in Six Mile Canyon to pull up a camp trailer.

BEE TREE LAKE

This mountain lake is located up Twelve Mile Canyon on the Arapeen OHV Trail. Bee Tree Lake gets stocked with fingerling brook trout every summer. There are many places in Twelve Mile Canyon to pull up a camp trailer and camping at Twelve Mile Flat is great, but Bee Tree can only be accessed by OHV.

EMERALD LAKE

This lake is approximately 3.1 acres in size and has a maximum depth of 26 feet. Some fish survive most winters. It is located next to Blue Lake on the southern end of the Manti-La Sal National Forest. It is annually stocked with catchable-sized rainbow trout.