Bear Lake in Duchesne County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Bear Lake sits within Duchesne County in Utah. It stands 8,983 feet above sea level. Surface area runs to about 7 acres — small enough to read in one session. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Duchesne County. Nearest town is Duchesne, 29 miles off. Francis follows at 34 miles, then Kamas at 34 miles. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Bear Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. County-wide records name brook trout, brown trout, rainbow trout and Arctic grayling. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Fish Bear Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 58°F and December reads 22°F. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly early May. Averages suggest open water from about early May through to roughly late November. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. It holds true on Bear Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Should this one be busy, Audry Lake is 1.8 miles off. Nothing on Bear Lake should be assumed from this page alone.