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

• Overview

  Utah holds Crescent Lake, in Duchesne County. It sits at 10,837 feet above sea level. At about 28 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. By elevation it is in the upper part of our Utah listings. Mountain View lies 35 miles from the water. Roosevelt is 35 miles and Ballard 36 miles. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Crescent Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Duchesne County records list brook trout, brown trout and rainbow trout among the fish reported. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. Work Crescent Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 51°F and December near 16°F. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. Count the season from break-up, usually mid June. In an average year the thaw lands around mid June and the freeze near early November. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. It sets the rhythm of the year at Crescent Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. Ashley National Forest covers ground next to the water; its rules will apply on that side. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Fox Lake sits 0.6 miles off and takes the overflow. Signs at Crescent Lake carry more weight than any list.