Fishing at Ned Reservoir, Wayne County, Utah

• Overview

  Ned Reservoir falls in Wayne County, part of Utah. The water sits 9,157 feet up. Supplies mean a trip to Monroe, 44 miles off. After that come Richfield at 50 miles and Aurora at 54 miles. Others within reach: Bullberry Lakes at 1.6 miles, Round Lake about 1.7 miles, Lost Lake at 1.7 miles, Coleman Reservoir about 1.8 miles and Donkey Reservoir at 1.8 miles. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Ned Reservoir

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. County-wide records name Arctic grayling, bluehead sucker, flannelmouth sucker, brook trout and rainbow trout. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. The near bank of Ned Reservoir is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 20°F to 58°F. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Ice-out usually falls in early May, and the weeks after it fish hardest. The open-water window runs from around early May to about mid November in an average year. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. The season on Ned Reservoir follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Bullberry Lakes at 1.6 miles is the sensible second choice. Check the position on Ned Reservoir before loading the car.