Bear Lake Fishing near Montpelier, Utah

• Overview

  Bear Lake falls in Rich County, part of Utah. It sits at 5,922 feet above sea level. Surface area runs to some 108.6 sq miles, so a boat and a plan are both worth having. A plain outline means the drop-off does the work that bays would elsewhere. It is the biggest water on our Rich County list. For supplies, Montpelier is 23 miles out. Richmond is 25 miles away, with Lewiston at 27 miles. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Bear Lake

  Sounding records show water to about 207 feet. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Rich County records list Bonneville cisco, Bonneville whitefish and bear lake whitefish among the fish reported. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. Bear Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 63°F and February about 24°F. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about mid April. The lid tends to go about mid April and return around early December. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. Plan around that when you fish Bear Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Lower North Eden Reservoir at 4.4 miles is the sensible second choice. Nothing on Bear Lake should be assumed from this page alone.