Fishing Race Track Reservoir in San Juan County, Utah

• Overview

  Within San Juan County, Utah, you have Race Track Reservoir. The water sits 8,747 feet up. The whole thing is a single swim; walk it in a minute. Most waters listed here for San Juan County are larger. For a base, Monticello sits 8.3 miles out. After that come Blanding at 19 miles and Moab at 47 miles. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Race Track Reservoir

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Species logged across San Juan County include rainbow trout, brook trout, green sunfish and black bullhead. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Race Track Reservoir gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 24°F to 62°F. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. Ice-out usually falls in mid April, and the weeks after it fish hardest. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about mid April until roughly early December. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Race Track Reservoir.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Public mapping marks it as seasonal water rather than permanent. Expect a half a mile walk in from where the car goes. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Monticello Lake sits 1.3 miles off and takes the overflow. Confirm access to Race Track Reservoir locally before you travel.