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Why Fish Here
Minersville does not look like trophy water from the parking lot, and then you hook one. The rules are what make it: artificial flies and lures only, every trout 22 inches or smaller released, and a limit of one fish over 22 inches. Utah lists it as a Blue Ribbon fishery. Upstream, the Beaver River from the reservoir to the bridge at Greenville closes January 1 until the second Saturday of July.
How To Fish It
Best rigs: Chironomids under indicator from a tube; jigs on the dam rocks
Bait and lures: Leeches, chironomids (special regs - mostly artificials)
Best time: Morning. Season: March-November
Local tip: Trophy-regulation water near Beaver - big, hot rainbows on flies.
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.
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.
Cutthroat Trout
Rig: Strawberry: white tube jig 15-30 ft; Bear Lake: troll minnow-profile lures
Bait: Tube jigs, dead minnows (where legal), dry flies in creeks
When: Morning bite is king; ice-off is legendary
The Bonneville cutthroat is Utah's state fish. Strawberry slot: release cutts 15-22 in.
Getting There + Nearby
Nearby adventures: Piute State Park (State Park, 35 mi) · Piute Reservoir (Fishing, 36 mi) · Panguitch Lake North Campground (Camping, 37 mi) · Panguitch Lake (Fishing, 37 mi)
Quick Answers
- What fish are in Minersville Reservoir?
- Rainbow Trout, Smallmouth Bass, Cutthroat Trout.
- What is the best bait at Minersville Reservoir?
- Leeches, chironomids (special regs - mostly artificials)
- When is the best time to fish Minersville Reservoir?
- Morning. Season: March-November.
- Why fish Minersville Reservoir?
- Because Utah manages it for big rainbows rather than numbers, and the size rule holds them in the lake long enough to get there. It is a Blue Ribbon fishery with a flies and lures only restriction, so leave the PowerBait behind. A float tube or small boat opens up water you cannot reach wading.