5 local places to catch big fish with a fly rod

5 local places to catch big fish with a fly rod

(Natalie Boren, Division of Wildlife Resources)


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THE GREAT OUTDOORS — Someone once said that nothing grows faster than a fish from the time he bites until he gets away.

While that's certainly true, you don't always need a fish story in order to talk about catching the elusive big one. These five spots here in Utah are some of the most dependable places at which you can hook big fish on your fly rod.

Starvation Reservoir ====================

Long, deep and located about 45 minutes from Strawberry Reservoir, Starvation (or 'Ole Starvy' as the locals call it) boasts some of the biggest fish in the Beehive State.

This is one of many fish the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) netted during spring surveys at Starvation Reservoir in 2016. In addition to big brown trout, Starvation's rainbow trout and walleye grow large as well.

Fly anglers will have the most success at Starvation Reservoir by using sinking lines, big leeches and float tubes or pontoon boats.

Koosharem Reservoir

If you've ever been to Fish Lake, you've likely passed Koosharem Reserovir, a shallow body of water just off Highway 24 in Sevier County.

The fishing here is slow at times, and it's a difficult lake to figure out, but many anglers do well here for big rainbow and cutthroat trout. Remember the dam is private property, so a float tube or pontoon boat will make fishing this shallow lake much easier.

Boulder Mountain

With nearly 80 lakes and ponds containing fish, Boulder Mountain is one of Utah's greatest fisheries. Lakes on both the north and south slopes provide excellent fish, especially for larger brook and tiger trout.

Not every lake on the mountain is home to big fish. Due to its high elevation and depth of lakes, various waters will experience winter kill from time to time. Boulder Mountain is a place where an adventurous spirit, ATVs, and the ability to hike many miles in a day will pay off with big, beautiful trout.

Fly fishing Boulder Mountain is often done from float tubes, using either wooly buggers or deep-sinking nymph rigs. Both are effective, depending on the fish, depth of the lake you're fishing, and the species you're trying to target. Historically, the biggest splake trout (a cross between brook and lake trout) have been caught from Blind Lake, Boulder's largest natural body of water.

Joe's Valley Reservoir

This remote reservoir, located near Orangeville, Emery County, is home to some of the state's best tiger trout and splake. While it's a very popular destination for boaters and water sports enthusiasts in the warmer months of the year, during spring and fall, it's a great place to target two of Utah's more elusive, hard-fighting fish.

This tiger trout was taken in the winter of 2013, and splake up to 13 pounds have been caught from the reservoir.

Diamond Fork River

While the population of fish in this river has declined significantly from its height in the early 2000s, big fish are still found in one of the Wasatch Front's least-fished rivers.

The big fish aren't as easy to find as they are on the Lower Provo River, but Diamond Fork still holds lunker trout for the anglers willing to put the time in to find them. The Diamond Fork River is located up Spanish Fork Canyon in South Utah County, and flows into the Spanish Fork River.

Where are your favorite places to catch big fish on the fly? Let us know in the comments below.


![Spencer Durrant](http://img.ksl.com/slc/2583/258385/25838585\.jpg?filter=ksl/65x65)
About the Author: Spencer Durrant \---------------------------------

Spencer is a fly fishing writer based in Utah. A member of the Outdoor Writers Association of America, he's a columnist for the Standard-Examiner, KSL.com, Fishwest, and Trout Life. Find him on Twitter at @Spencer_Durrant. or Instagram.

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