Ninemile Reservoir in Sanpete County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Out in Sanpete County, Utah, sits Ninemile Reservoir. The land about it is mixed woodland. It measures about 175 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. The full circuit measures close to 2.2 miles on foot. Size puts it in the front rank of our Sanpete County list. Gunnison at 6 miles is the nearest place to stop. The nearest city of size is Provo, 73 miles away. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Ninemile Reservoir

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Species logged across Sanpete County include rainbow trout, brown trout, Atlantic salmon and black-spotted cutthroat trout. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. On Ninemile Reservoir the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 72°F in July and bottoms out near 26°F in January. Temperature moves within a narrow band, and so does the fishing. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. The hot months push the fishing to dawn and dusk. It holds true on Ninemile Reservoir more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. Formal access is not mapped, so the last stretch is likely on foot. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Palisade Lake at 3 miles is the sensible second choice. Check the current arrangement for Ninemile Reservoir.