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Bear Lake

Fishing Guide

★ Blue Ribbonlake5,923 ft elevation69,120 acresLicense required ↗

Bear Lake straddles the Utah-Idaho border and is famous for its brilliant turquoise water and world-class fishing for Bonneville Cutthroat Trout and Lake Trout. One of Utah's most iconic natural lakes.

Recent Stocking

SpeciesAmountDate
Cutthroat Trout36,557 fish · 3 loads
Cutthroat Trout37,351 fish · 2 loads
Cutthroat Trout8,926 fish

Species

Primary

Cutthroat TroutRainbow Trout

Also present

Lake Trout
  • Cutthroat Trout: Bonneville Cutthroat — Bear Lake's iconic native trout, best in spring and fall
  • Rainbow Trout: Rainbow Trout stocked regularly throughout season
  • Lake Trout: Lake Trout present in deeper water

Recommended Gear

Proven lures and bait for what's biting here.

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Fishing Regulations

Updated
Species / RuleLimit
trout2
Bonneville Cisco30
Whitefish10
  • Anglers may keep snagged Bonneville cisco that are taken through normal, legal fishing activities
  • Cisco may be taken with a handheld dipnet - net opening may not exceed 18 inches in any dimension
  • When ice fishing for fish other than cisco, the size of the hole may not exceed 18 inches
  • Any angler who possesses a valid Utah or Idaho fishing or combination license may fish within both the Utah and Idaho boundaries of Bear Lake
  • A person may not possess a multipoint hook with a weight permanently or rigidly attached directly to the shank - or a weight suspended below a multipoint hook - unless the hook is on an unweighted dropper line that is at least three inches long
  • Bear Lake Tributaries - Big Spring Creek and Swan Creek CLOSED April 15 through 6am on the second Saturday in July, artificial flies and lures only

Summarized from Utah DWR and may be out of date — always confirm current rules before fishing.

Get Directions

From Logan, take US-89 north over Bear Lake Summit. The state park marina is at Garden City on the west shore.

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Access & Facilities

  • Shore fishing
  • Boat ramp
  • Restrooms
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Fee$15–20/day

Current Weather

Temperature

86°F

Wind

6 mph

Clear skies

View Bear Lake on Utah's Fish Planner →

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