Hey everyone,

 

I'm here in Layton, UT (30 miles or so N. of SLC) and been running around trying to find places to bass fish from the shore. It's frustrating to say the least. I've got my fill of trout now - I'm from Florida so I haven't caught trout in over 30 years so that was a nice change. But my passion is bassin'. I know Pineview Res is supposed to be good but I'm stuck from the bank. Have caught a few little ones in Ogden and a couple ponds around Layton/Kaysville, but I'm looking for relatively decent fishing while bank bound - anyone with a boat out there, I'd be more than happy to kick in for some gas I'm here working and I am on a firm work schedule Mon-Fri 7-3:30. Any assistance would be awesome! Thanks in advance.

 

Bob

Deer Creek and Jordanelle Reservoirs but they are best from a boat, as well as Pelican near Vernal and Starvation near Utah. Pelican has good largemouth fishing, the rest are primarily smallmouth though Jordanelle has largemouth too.

Mantua, East Canyon, etc. You can walk around some of the marinas on Utah lake (Provo / Amercan Fork) too.

Get at least a float tube. You don't have to worry about cottonmouths or gators in the water as you would in Florida. J/k

So many places! Keep exploring.

I should mention you could join a local bass club as non boater. Either TBF(FLW) or B.A.S.S. Nation affiliated clubs in northern UT.

Going to scout out a few more spots this weekend, so thanks for the good info on where to start looking into. I wish they had given me a rental truck with a hitch instead a of a rental car - I'd just go to MWR at Hill and rent a boat.

 

The float tube would be a good idea but I don't want to accumulate a lot of stuff here since I'll eventually get to fly back to FL, plus I wouldn't really use it back home (My Nitro would get jealous I think   ). The club angle might be good too so I'll have to look into that one. Any idea of clubs close to Layton?

 

Thanks a lot

Bob

You can catch some smallies fishing the bank of the jordanelle. The trail down to the lake from the old keetley road is a good spot. off the mayflower exit across from deer valley

Check out KSL.com.  You can probably pick up a pontoon for under $150, or a float tube for d**n near free, and just junk it when you move!

what about Willard Bay ?, Utah Lake?

I have always fished deer creek from the shore.... have caught a ton of smallies and the occasional largemouth. One of the biggest I ever caught was on the back side of that lake off the railroad tracks.. when you are drivng up to the lake you take the very first road that leads to the water. There is a spot you can park and walk along the railroad tracks... this was over 10 years ago of course.. on that back side there are alot of rocks and a steep drop off.. however I would walk over a mile to a very large boulder that is on the shore and fish off of that... And I mean very big.. its the size of a house and darker than the surrounding rock... when the water is high enough the smalliez will hang out on the face of that rock. And for the 7lb largemouth it was near that rock as well.... bobber and a worm with about a 3-4 foot leader.....

If the water is too low.. the rock will not be submerged and it kills that spot.. then I would just find some riprap And fish it with cranks or worms.

If you are willing to drive the 3.5 hours to St. George, Sand Hollow And Quail Creek might be the two best largemouth fisheries in the state. Both are smaller lakes under 1000 acres. Sand Hollow has fantastic numbers of 2 - 6 pound largemouth. Quail Creek doesn't have quite the numbers that Sand Hollow does but you can still bag 10 - 12 bass on a good day and a decent chance at a 6 to 8 pounder and occasionally a little bigger. Both can be fished from the bank.