As one of Utah’s most popular fishing destinations Strawberry Reservoir offers anglers the chance to catch a variety of fish species. Located in Wasatch County about 50 miles southeast of Salt Lake City this large reservoir spans over 17,000 acres when full. With cold, clear waters fed by mountain snowmelt, Strawberry Reservoir provides the ideal habitat for desirable game fish. Read on to learn more about the fish species found in Utah’s Strawberry Reservoir.
Rainbow Trout
The most abundant game fish in Strawberry Reservoir is the rainbow trout, Approximately 90% of the trout in the reservoir are rainbows, These fish thrive in the cool waters of the reservoir and commonly reach lengths of 15 to 20 inches Trophy-sized rainbows exceeding 10 pounds are caught each year by anglers at Strawberry,
Rainbow trout feed mainly on zooplankton, aquatic insects and smaller fish. Effective techniques for catching rainbows include using powerbait, nightcrawlers, spinners and flies. The best times to target rainbow trout are during the ice-off period in early spring and fall when the fish become more active.
Cutthroat Trout
In addition to rainbows, Strawberry Reservoir holds good numbers of cutthroat trout. The Bear Lake cutthroat is the main subspecies found here. These fish have a stunning appearance with orange-red slashes under the gills. Most cutthroats caught range from 15 to 22 inches long.
Cutthroat trout occupy slightly different habitat than rainbow trout. They prefer shallow, rocky areas and can be caught nearshore or over submerged weedbeds using spinners flies and soft plastic lures. Early and late season are prime times to hook into hard-fighting cutthroat trout.
Kokanee Salmon
A unique fish found in Strawberry Reservoir is the kokanee salmon. Kokanee are a landlocked version of sockeye salmon. These silver-colored fish average 10 to 17 inches long in the reservoir. Kokanee salmon mainly feed on zooplankton and can be caught trolling with downriggers using small spoons, wedding rings and other flashy lures.
The best kokanee fishing takes place during the late summer and fall when the fish move into shallower areas to spawn. Anglers will find concentrations of kokanee near the reservoir inlet and beside deep weedbeds. Kokanee salmon provide fast action on light spinning and casting tackle.
Smallmouth Bass
For warmwater fishing, Strawberry Reservoir holds a modest population of smallmouth bass. These feisty fish mostly run from 12 to 15 inches long with 3 to 4 pound lunkers caught each season. The smallmouth bass occupy rocky shorelines, points and submerged structure. During the summer, they move into the shallows to feed on crayfish and smaller baitfish.
To catch bronzeback smallmouth, anglers can use soft plastic grubs, crankbaits and topwater poppers. As with other species, the ice-out period in spring and fall turnover produce excellent bass fishing. Focus efforts in the Narrows area, near the dam and around submerged weedbeds.
Other Fish Species
In addition to the main game fish, other species found in lesser numbers in Strawberry Reservoir include lake, brown and brook trout along with yellow perch, walleye and Utah chub. Lake trout occur in the deepest parts of the reservoir. Perch and chub frequent weedy areas. Walleye and brown trout make up only a small percentage of the fish population.
Fishing Regulations
Since Strawberry Reservoir is one of Utah’s trophy trout fisheries, there are special regulations in place. Make sure to consult the current Utah Fishing Guidebook before heading out. Some key regulations include:
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Possession limit of 4 trout or kokanee salmon in aggregate.
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No limit on bass or other species.
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Only artificial flies and lures allowed – no bait.
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Slot limit on cutthroat trout between 15 and 22 inches (must be immediately released).
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Kokanee salmon limit of 12 fish.
Paying attention to the fishing regulations helps maintain the quality fishery and gives all anglers the opportunity to catch fish at Strawberry Reservoir.
When to Fish Strawberry Reservoir
One of the great aspects of Strawberry Reservoir is that it fishes well during much of the year. Here is a quick overview of the prime fishing seasons:
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Spring (May – June) – Ice-off and spawning period produce excellent fishing for rainbows, cutthroats and smallmouth bass. Fish move into shallow, warmer water.
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Summer (July – August) – Daytime surface action for rainbow trout and bass picks up. Kokanee salmon fishing is best this time of year.
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Fall (September – October) – Cooling water triggers fall fish feeding frenzy. Lunker trout and bass on the prowl.
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Winter (November – April) – Rainbow and cutthroat trout fishing continues through the ice. Access for hard water angling.
Accommodations and Amenities
Strawberry Reservoir is conveniently located about 1.5 hours from Salt Lake City. Lodging options include staying at Strawberry Bay Marina and Lodge or the nearby Strawberry Valley Inn. Developed campgrounds managed by the U.S. Forest Service provide lakeside access. These include Strawberry Campground, Renegade Point and Soldier Creek.
Anglers will find boat ramps located at Strawberry Bay, Soldier Creek and the Narrows. Services including boat rentals, slip rentals, supplies and guides are available from the marina and nearby motels. With its proximity to major towns plus great fishing and scenery, it’s easy to understand why Strawberry Reservoir ranks as one of Utah’s top fishing destinations.
