Bourbon Lake Fishing near Oakley, Utah

• Overview

  Bourbon Lake is a Summit County water, in Utah. Rolling bush runs right down to the water. On water this small, stealth matters more than range. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Summit County. The closest town, Oakley, is 22 miles distant. Kamas follows at 22 miles, then Francis at 23 miles. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Bourbon Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Reported across Summit County: brown trout, rainbow trout, cutthroat trout and brook trout. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Bourbon Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 55°F; the cold one sits at 20°F. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Look for the thaw near late May; the fishing lifts straight after. The lid tends to go about late May and return around mid November. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. Time your trip to Bourbon Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. Recorded parking is half a mile off, far enough to travel light. A campsite is mapped about 0.9 miles away, which makes an early start easier. There are toilets half a mile off. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Whiskey Island Lake, 1.7 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Confirm before you fish Bourbon Lake.