Cleveland Lake Fishing Guide, Duchesne County, Utah

• Overview

  Cleveland Lake lies in Duchesne County, Utah. Elevation runs to 11,184 feet. Compared with other Utah water on our list, it sits high. Head to Kamas, 34 miles away, for anything you forgot. Provo is the closest city, 63 miles away. Also within reach: Three Lakes 1.1 miles, Picture Lake at 1.6 miles, Lower Ottoson Lake 1.8 miles, Upper Ottoson Lake at 1.9 miles and Squaw Lake 2.2 miles. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Cleveland Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. County-wide records name brook trout, brown trout, rainbow trout, Arctic grayling and black-spotted cutthroat trout. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Cleveland Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between December at about 16°F and July at about 52°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Once it clears, about mid June, the fishing comes on quickly. From about mid June to around early November, expect open water on the long-run figures. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. Cleveland Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Three Lakes, 1.1 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Where Cleveland Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.