Fishing at Little Elk Lake, Uintah County, Utah

• Overview

  Little Elk Lake stands in Uintah County, Utah. The bank is 10,568 feet above sea level. About 9 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. The closest town, Maeser, is 24 miles away. Beyond it, Vernal at 27 miles and Roosevelt at 27 miles. Also within reach: Paul Lake within 0.4 miles, Johnson Lake at about 1.5 miles, Dead Lake within 1.7 miles and Kibah Lakes at about 1.9 miles. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Little Elk Lake

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. 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. Reported across Uintah County: rainbow trout, channel catfish and common carp. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. On Little Elk Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 53°F and December at 18°F. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. Ice-out usually falls in early June, and the weeks after it fish hardest. Climate averages put the opening at about early June and the closing near mid November. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. It sets the rhythm of the year at Little Elk Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. The nearest alternative is Paul Lake, 0.4 miles out. Treat Little Elk Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.