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

• Overview

  You will find Francis Lake in Duchesne County, Utah. Country round the bank runs to rolling bush. At 8 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Our Duchesne County list holds plenty of bigger water. The town to know is Kamas, 29 miles out. Further out sit Francis (29 miles) and Oakley (31 miles). No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Francis Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Survey and observation records for Duchesne County include brook trout, brown trout and rainbow trout. The county list is broader than any single water. At Francis Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put July near 56°F and December near 20°F. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Ice is part of the season here, ending near late May. On average, late May opens the water and mid November closes it again. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. The season on Francis Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Slide Lake sits 0.9 miles off and takes the overflow. For Francis Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.