Best Fishing Times in Utah This Week
Near Vernal, Manila and Provo: today on a 24 hour timeline and the next seven days rated Fair to Best.
Working out the moon and the sun for Vernal, UT, and reading the forecast.
Fishing somewhere else? Enter any ZIP for your own spot
Photo: “Fall fishing on the Madison River at sunrise”, Jacob W. Frank, Yellowstone National Park (NPS), Public domain
Utah at a glance
Solunar windows plus the agency calendarWhen fish bite in Utah
Utah's fishing year runs from ice fishing at Steinaker from late December to early March and an early June peak for every species to summer kokanee at Strawberry and high country fishing into October.
Each entry below is from Utah Division of Wildlife Resources or its published guides, quoted word for word and linked. Line the season up with the week above: a run in its prime and a Great day with a window at first light is the morning to take off.
- Late December to early March
Rainbow trout and bluegill
Steinaker Reservoir usually freezes over for good ice fishing for rainbow trout and bluegill from late December through early March.
“The reservoir is a fun spot to fish for rainbow trout and bluegill, and it's a waterbody you can usually count on to freeze over for great ice fishing from late December through early March.”
Winter fun at Steinaker, Starvation and Flaming Gorge reservoirs - Wildlife blog - Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, read October 9, 2026 - Early June
Warmwater and coldwater species
Utah's warmwater and coldwater fish are active and biting in early June, one of the best times to fish in the state.
“All of the fish in the state, both warmwater and coldwater species, are active and willing to bite this time of year, making early June one of the best times to fish in Utah.”
Great places to go fishing on Memorial Day weekend and Free Fishing Day on June 6 - News - Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, read October 9, 2026 - Summer
Kokanee salmon, rainbow and cutthroat trout
Strawberry Reservoir offers fairly consistent fishing all summer for kokanee salmon and rainbow and cutthroat trout.
“Anglers will find pretty consistent fishing all summer long for kokanee salmon, rainbow and cutthroat trout.”
Great places to go fishing on Memorial Day weekend and Free Fishing Day on June 6 - News - Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, read October 9, 2026 - July to early October
High elevation streams and lakes
Utah's high elevation streams and lakes usually fish well from July until late September or early October.
“Utah's high-elevation streams and lakes typically provide great fishing from July until late September or early October.”
Head to Utah's high-elevation areas for great fishing in August - News - Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, read October 9, 2026
Reading the Utah timeline
Each day has two major solunar periods of about two hours, centered on the moon overhead and underfoot, and two minor periods of about an hour at moonrise and moonset. A window within an hour of sunrise or sunset is marked in gold. The rating adds the moon phase, the gold windows and a capped nudge from the National Weather Service forecast for each town. Every factor and its points.
Dawn and dusk are the reliable part; the moon windows are the old angler’s rule.
