Conditions Right Now
Your Loadout
Tackle + Bait Slots
Winter loadout: auger, ice cleats, short jig rod, insulated bibs.
How To Fish It
Best rigs: Drop shot & ned rig on rocky points; troll needlefish for trout; perch jigs off Rock Cliff
Bait and lures: 3" plastics, jerkbaits, worms
Best time: Morning & evening. Season: May-October; ice at Rock Cliff arm
Local tip: Kayak-friendly bass water 15 min from Park City. The Provo River inlet (Rock Cliff) is quieter and fishier.
Species Playbook
Smallmouth Bass
Rig: Ned rig, drop shot, tube jig on rocky structure
Bait: 3 in green-pumpkin plastics, crawfish crankbaits, topwater early
When: Morning & evening in summer; all day spring/fall
Count to the bottom, drag it slow over rocks. Fights way above its weight class.
Brown Trout
Rig: Fly: sow bug/zebra midge under indicator; Spin: single-hook Rapala or spinner
Bait: Flies (sow bugs, streamers), Rapalas, worms after rain
When: Dawn, dusk, and overcast days; fall (spawn season) fires them up
Wary and smart. Downsize line to 4 lb fluoro on clear days.
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.
Yellow Perch
Rig: Drop-shot two small jigs tipped with worm near bottom
Bait: Mealworms, perch meat (where legal), tiny tube jigs
When: Midday is fine - ice fishing staple
School fish. Through the ice, they save the day when trout sulk.
Wiper (Hybrid Striper)
Rig: Cast crankbaits or white curly-tail grubs into surface boils
Bait: Shad-pattern cranks, spoons, swimbaits
When: Dawn patrol along the dikes, May-September
Freight train on a line. Watch for churning shad on the surface.
Getting There + Nearby
Nearby adventures: Jordanelle State Park (State Park, 2 mi) · Historic Union Pacific Rail Trail SP (State Park, 5 mi) · Provo River (Middle) (Fishing, 6 mi) · Weber River (Fishing, 8 mi)
Quick Answers
- What fish are in Jordanelle Reservoir?
- Smallmouth Bass, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Wiper (Hybrid Striper).
- What is the best bait at Jordanelle Reservoir?
- 3" plastics, jerkbaits, worms
- When is the best time to fish Jordanelle Reservoir?
- Morning & evening. Season: May-October; ice at Rock Cliff arm.