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SALT LAKE CITY — Fishing is the pastime of many Utahns — and for good reason. There are many great fishing holes throughout the state. If you want one close to home for a quick fishing trip, here are several within 30 minutes of civilization.
Community Ponds
Utah is home to 50 community fisheries, according to the Division of Wildlife Resources website. Most of the ponds are located along the Wasatch Front from Logan to Santaquin, but there are also several near St. George and Cedar City. Many of the community ponds have picnic tables and fire pits along the shore.
DWR officials said they stock catfish into most of the ponds once every two weeks until July. In addition to the catfish, most of the ponds also have bluegill and largemouth bass, according to DWR.
Children under 12 can fish for free at the ponds, but other anglers need a fishing license. To find the nearest community fishery to you, click here for a full list.
Payson Lakes
Located only 20 minutes from Payson, Payson Lakes offers fishing and camping. Anglers can expect to catch mostly rainbow trout and brook trout. The Payson Lake campground opened June 13, according to DWR, and the fishing is currently fair to good.
At the intersection of 100 North and 600 East in Payson, turn onto 600 East (Mt. Nebo Scenic Byway) and go 12.9 miles until the campground sign. Turn right at the sign and go 0.3 miles until you reach the lake.
A fishing license is required at the lake.
Utah Lake
Utah Lake is the closest fishing location for many Utah County residents. For many residents who live near Center Street in Provo, the lake is accessible after a short bike ride down the Provo River trail.
Utah Lake offers some excellent fishing for those interested in catching channel catfish, walleye, white bass and bluegill fish. The south side of the lake is popular for catching walleye and bass in particular. There is also a growing population of largemouth bass in Utah Lake.
Utah Lake has several different docks and points around the lake where fishing is easily accessible. The marina on Center Street in Provo is a good place for families to fish because of the picnic tables, pavilions and volleyball nets available.
For a list of several of the access points to Utah Lake, click here.
A fishing license is required at the lake.
Logan Canyon River
The Logan River is a blue-ribbon trout stream and is one of the best in the Intermountain Region, according to Utah.com. The river runs along Highway 89 and has three dams in the canyon. The First Dam is near the mouth of the canyon and is easily accessible.
Brown and rainbow trout are commonly caught on the lower river with flies and Panther Martin Spinners. The Third Dam offers good fly fishing.
A fishing license is required at the lake.
American Fork River
The American Fork River runs through American Fork Canyon and offers some great fishing from the mouth of the canyon up to Tibble Fork Reservoir. The river is stocked with fish throughout the year, particularly with brown and rainbow trout. Trout can typically be caught with a variety of different baits, but floating a night crawler down the river is a good option for fishing on the American Fork River.
There are also a lot of campgrounds and picnic areas along the river for those that want to make their fishing trip an overnight event. Many of the campsites also have barbecues and fire pits available.
A fishing license is required at the lake.