Island Lake Fishing near Roosevelt, Utah

• Overview

  Island Lake stands in Duchesne County, Utah. The bank gives way to mixed forest. Supplies mean a trip to Roosevelt, 30 miles off. Provo sits 81 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. Within a short run: Lower Chain Lake some 0.6 miles off, Krebs Lake 1.1 miles away, Lily Lake some 1.4 miles off, Oke Doke Lake 2.4 miles away and Bollie Lake some 2.9 miles off. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Island Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Records held for Duchesne County cover brook trout, brown trout, rainbow trout, Arctic grayling and black-spotted cutthroat trout. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. Read Island Lake for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 55°F and December near 19°F. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near late May. Averages suggest open water from about late May through to roughly mid November. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. It holds true on Island Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Lower Chain Lake sits 0.6 miles off and takes the overflow. Check the current arrangement for Island Lake.