Conditions Right Now
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Tackle + Bait Slots
Cat kit: 2/0 circle hooks + liver after dark.
Why Fish Here
Bountiful Lake is big enough to fish like a small lake rather than a park pond, and that changes your approach. The state lists it as Bountiful Lake, at 1275 W. 1600 North in Woods Cross, out on the open flats near the Legacy Nature Preserve, so there is very little shelter from weather and the bank is long enough to spread out. The community fishery limit is two fish a day, but common carp do not count toward that. Bring a heavier rod than a pond usually needs.
How To Fish It
Best rigs: Bottom rig + crawler for cats; bobber rigs for trout
Bait and lures: Worms, liver, PowerBait
Best time: Evenings. Season: All year
Local tip: Big-for-a-pond water by the Legacy Nature Preserve - surprise carp will test your drag.
Species Playbook
Rainbow Trout
Rig: Slip-bobber or sliding sinker rig, 4 lb line, size 8-10 baitholder hook
Bait: PowerBait (rainbow/garlic), nightcrawler, small spinners (Panther Martin, Jake's)
When: Early morning & last 2 hours before dark
Utah's #1 fish. If a pond got stocked this week, cast anything shiny. Perfect first fish for kids.
Channel Catfish
Rig: Carolina/sliding-sinker rig on bottom, circle hook
Bait: Nightcrawlers, chicken liver, hot dogs, stink bait, carp meat
When: Evening into night; hot summer nights are best
Utah Lake is a catfish factory - 30-fish nights happen.
Largemouth Bass
Rig: Texas-rigged worm near weeds; wacky rig Senko
Bait: Senkos, jigs, frogs over pads, topwater at dawn
When: Dawn topwater, evenings; pre-spawn (April-May) is prime
Look for submerged brush, tules, and shade lines.
Getting There + Nearby
Nearby adventures: Farmington Pond (Fishing, 5 mi) · Jordan River OHV State Rec Area (State Park, 8 mi) · Ensign Peak (Hike, 8 mi) · Kaysville Ponds (Fishing, 9 mi)
Quick Answers
- What fish are in Bountiful Lake?
- Rainbow Trout, Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass.
- What is the best bait at Bountiful Lake?
- Worms, liver, PowerBait
- When is the best time to fish Bountiful Lake?
- Evenings. Season: All year.
- Why fish Bountiful Lake?
- Because you can catch something that pulls back. Alongside the stocked rainbows and channel catfish there are largemouth bass and a large carp population, and carp are exempt from the two-fish daily limit, so nobody minds if you target them. It is also close to north Salt Lake City and easy to reach.