Conditions Right Now
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Tackle + Bait Slots
Cat kit: 2/0 circle hooks + liver after dark.
Why Fish Here
Manila Creek sits on the bench above Pleasant Grove, which gives it something the valley-floor ponds do not have: a little elevation and a lot of open sky. It is on the state community fishery list, so hatchery rainbows come in roughly every other week through spring and fall, and channel catfish get added over the summer. The daily limit is two fish, and carp do not count toward it. Check the pond's posted hours before an evening trip, since community waters are only open when the park is.
How To Fish It
Best rigs: Bobber + worm; small jigs
Bait and lures: Worms, PowerBait
Best time: Evenings. Season: Mar-Nov (closed Dec 1-late Feb)
Closed in winter. DWR closes Manila Creek Pond from Dec. 1 through 6 a.m. on the last Saturday in February (DWR community ponds).
Local tip: Pleasant Grove's pond above the city - sunset views over Utah Lake.
Species Playbook
Rainbow Trout
Rig: Slip-bobber or sliding sinker rig, 4 lb mono line, size 8-10 baitholder
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.
Bluegill & Sunfish
Rig: Worm under a small bobber, size 10 hook - that's it
Bait: Worms, mealworms, tiny jigs
When: All day long, all summer
THE kid fish. Pelican Lake grows bluegill the size of dinner plates.
Getting There + Nearby
Nearby adventures: Battle Creek Falls (Hike, 2 mi) · American Fork Creek (Fishing, 3 mi) · Highland Glen Park Pond (Fishing, 4 mi) · Mount Timpanogos (Timpooneke) (Hike, 4 mi)
Quick Answers
- What fish are in Manila Creek Pond?
- Rainbow Trout, Channel Catfish, Bluegill & Sunfish.
- What is the best bait at Manila Creek Pond?
- Worms, PowerBait
- When is the best time to fish Manila Creek Pond?
- Evenings. Season: Mar-Nov (closed Dec 1-late Feb).
- Why fish Manila Creek Pond?
- The state lists Manila Creek at 2858 N. 4000 West in Pleasant Grove, close enough to town that it fits in a weeknight. Rainbow trout arrive with the spring and fall stocking runs and channel catfish through summer. The daily limit is two fish.