Flaming Gorge Fishing Overview

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Description
Flaming Gorge is a large, cold-water reservoir straddling the Utah/Wyoming border. Fishing and water sports are very popular there. Flaming Gorge is one of the best lake trout waters in the US, with fish occasionally going over 40 pounds. The Utah record lake trout (51 lb 8 oz) was caught at Flaming Gorge in 1988, and there may yet be a bigger one swimming in the reservoir now. Flaming Gorge also produced Utah's record brown trout (33 lb 10 oz) and rainbow trout (26 lb 2 oz).

Flaming Gorge is also Utah's best kokanee salmon water. In addition, it supports an incredible number of smallmouth bass. Recently, burbot were illegally introduced into the drainage and are now rapidly spreading through the reservoir. Fishing for burbot can be fast in spots. All burbot must be harvested if caught in Utah, to help control their population. Burbot are a slender, smooth-skinned fish with white, flaky flesh. They are considered excellent eating.

Location
NE Utah and southern Wyoming
    180 miles from Salt Lake City
    40 miles from Vernal
    20 miles from Green River WY

Primary Species
Kokanee salmon, lake trout, rainbow trout, some brown trout, smallmouth bass and burbot (ling)

Special Regulations
The lake trout limit is 8 fish, but only one may be over 28 inches. Anglers are encouraged to keep small lake trout, as biologists think that species is overpopulated at smaller sizes. For other trout and kokanee, the limit is 4 fish. The smallmouth bass limit is 10 fish.

All burbot must be harvested if caught in Utah, to help control their population. They were illegally introduced to the upper Green River drainage and could have a major impact on other fish species. There is no limit on burbot.

People with Utah fishing licenses can fish in the Wyoming portion of the reservoir if they obtain a Wyoming reciprocal fishing permit.

Seasonal Factors
Winters are very cold in Flaming Gorge country, but the Utah portion of the main lake usually does not freeze. Ice fishing is popular on the Wyoming portion, and on some arms and bays in Utah. Ice fishing can be very good for burbot and rainbows, beginning in mid-December. Anglers also target lake trout through the ice. Smaller lake trout range freely and are often caught by anglers fishing for rainbows. Action for larger fish is always spotty and difficult.

Since the Utah portion of the lake usually does not freeze, boat fishing is possible year-round but not common until ice and snow melt from ramps - usually in late March or April. Fishing is very good at that time for rainbows and small lake trout. Because water temperatures are cold, larger lake trout can range freely and are occasionally caught near the surface.

As the water warms, larger lake trout move deep. During summer and fall they are almost always caught deep, often down 80-100 feet. To reach them anglers jig with large, heavy hooks tipped with bait, or troll with electronic downriggers programmed to keep lures just off the bottom. Flatfish and Rapalas are effective when fished at appropriate depths.

Larger lake trout migrate toward the upper lake during winter. Many fish spawn in the Linwood Bay area, beginning in mid-October. Fishermen will cluster over humps in the bay, where the fish spawn.

Smallmouth bass become active in June and offer very good fishing into October. They spawn in mid or late June, moving shallow where they are caught easily in large numbers. As summer progresses they move deeper. They are often caught by anglers working crankbaits or jigs at various depths.

Kokanee can be caught year-round, but action is usually best during late summer and early fall when mature fish congregate near spawning areas. They hit flashy lures trolled behind a downrigger. During early summer they may be at depths of 25-30 feet. By August they may be down 60-70 feet. They can also be caught jigging vertically. A good fish finder is very helpful.

Troll a small lure just under the surface and you can usually catch rainbows year-round. Rainbows and also be caught fishing baits from shore or boat.

Burbot are commonly caught fishing a white or glo-colored jig tipped with bait, near the bottom in water 10-40 feet deep.

On the Wyoming side, the lake is in open country and wind can be a factor. In Utah most of the lake is in deep canyons where it is somewhat sheltered.