Conditions Right Now
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Tackle + Bait Slots
Cat kit: 2/0 circle hooks + liver after dark.
Why Fish Here
This is the in-town option in Payson, which is the whole argument for it. You are fishing a city park pond with parking, grass and a sidewalk rather than driving to Spring Lake or Salem, so it fits into an hour after work or between errands. Expect stocked rainbow trout and channel catfish, and expect other people; the water is small and the bank is short. A bobber and a nightcrawler covers everything that lives in here.
How To Fish It
Best rigs: Bobber + worm
Bait and lures: Worms, PowerBait
Best time: Evenings. Season: All year
Local tip: In-town stocked water - bring the stroller.
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.
Getting There + Nearby
Nearby adventures: Spring Lake (Payson) (Fishing, 3 mi) · Salem Pond (Fishing, 3 mi) · Spanish Oaks Reservoir (Fishing, 7 mi) · Burraston Ponds (Fishing, 9 mi)
Quick Answers
- What fish are in Payson City Ponds (Memorial Park)?
- Rainbow Trout, Channel Catfish.
- What is the best bait at Payson City Ponds (Memorial Park)?
- Worms, PowerBait
- When is the best time to fish Payson City Ponds (Memorial Park)?
- Evenings. Season: All year.
- Why fish Payson City Ponds (Memorial Park)?
- Convenience, mostly. Payson's park pond puts stocked trout and catfish within a few minutes of anywhere in town, which makes it the right call for a short evening with kids rather than a destination trip. If you want more room and more species, Spring Lake is three miles south.