Butterfly Lake, Utah: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Butterfly Lake sits in Summit County, out in Utah. It stands 10,338 feet above sea level. At roughly 5 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. The closest town, Kamas, is 22 miles away. Provo is the closest city, 53 miles away. Within easy reach: Bud Lake lies 0.4 miles on, 0.4 miles away is Castle Lake, Pearl Lake lies 0.7 miles on, 1 mile away is Bonnie Lake and Picturesque Lake lies 1 mile on. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Butterfly 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. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Public occurrence data for Summit County names brown trout, rainbow trout, cutthroat trout and brook trout. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Read Butterfly Lake before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 54°F; by December the average is down near 18°F. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Ice-out usually falls in early June, and the weeks after it fish hardest. On average, early June opens the water and mid November closes it again. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. At Butterfly Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. Public data has parking about 130 yards from the shore. Mapping shows a campsite some 170 yards from the water. Public toilets are recorded roughly 100 yards off. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Should this one be busy, Bud Lake is 0.4 miles off. Check the position at Butterfly Lake before loading the car.