Conditions Right Now
Your Loadout 🎣 Stock Up on Gear
Tackle + Bait Slots
Walleye kit: bottom-bouncer + crawler harness at dusk.
Why Fish Here
Utah State Parks calls Starvation one of the premier walleye fisheries in the state, and fish over 10 pounds come out of it regularly. Along with walleye you will find smallmouth bass, yellow perch, and rainbow, brown and cutthroat trout, plus carp and chub. The park on the shoreline is Fred Hayes State Park at Starvation, which hosts several walleye tournaments a year, including the Walleye Classic. Bluegill, green sunfish, crappie and perch are capped at 10 combined.
How To Fish It
Best rigs: Jig + 4" plastic or crawler dragged on points; jerkbaits after dark
Bait and lures: Crawlers, grubs, jerkbaits
Best time: Dusk into dark. Season: May-October
Local tip: Arguably Utah's best walleye water - the state record swam here. Knight Hollow & Rabbit Gulch points in June.
Species Playbook
Walleye
Rig: Bottom-bouncer + worm harness; jig + minnow/plastic
Bait: Nightcrawler harnesses, curly-tail grubs, jerkbaits at night
When: Low light - dawn, dusk, after dark; spring spawn run
Fish slow along rocky points and dike edges. Best eating in Utah.
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.
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.
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.
Getting There + Nearby
Nearby adventures: Fred Hayes SP at Starvation (State Park, 1 mi) · Duchesne River (Fishing, 24 mi) · Strawberry River (Fishing, 25 mi) · Moon Lake Campground (Camping, 26 mi)
Quick Answers
- What fish are in Starvation Reservoir?
- Walleye, Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch.
- What is the best bait at Starvation Reservoir?
- Crawlers, grubs, jerkbaits
- When is the best time to fish Starvation Reservoir?
- Dusk into dark. Season: May-October.
- Why fish Starvation Reservoir?
- For walleye, primarily. Utah State Parks describes Starvation as one of the state's premier walleye fisheries, with fish over 10 pounds caught regularly and several tournaments held there each year. Smallmouth bass, yellow perch and trout round it out, and panfish carry a combined limit of 10.