Fishing at Arta Lake, Duchesne County, Utah

• Overview

  Out in Duchesne County, Utah, sits Arta Lake. Elevation runs to 10,489 feet. It covers about 13 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. The closest town, Francis, is 26 miles away. It is 52 miles to Provo, the nearest city. Near neighbours: Survey Lake within 0.3 miles, Heart Lake out at 1.3 miles, Grandaddy Lake within 1.4 miles, Lodgepole Lake out at 1.7 miles and Fern Lake within 1.9 miles. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Arta Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Records held for Duchesne County cover brook trout, brown trout, rainbow trout, Arctic grayling and black-spotted cutthroat trout. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. Read Arta Lake for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 56°F and December about 20°F. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. Look for the thaw near late May; the fishing lifts straight after. Averages suggest open water from about late May through to roughly mid November. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. At Arta Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Survey Lake at 0.3 miles is the sensible second choice. Check the current arrangement for Arta Lake.