Fishing Ryder Lake in Summit County, Utah

• Overview

  Ryder Lake lies in Summit County, in Utah. It sits at 10,646 feet above sea level. At 21 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. The town to know is Kamas, 24 miles out. The nearest city of size is Provo, 55 miles away. Others within reach: McPheters Lake near enough 0.5 miles, Shale Lake 1.2 miles away, Blue Lake near enough 1.6 miles, Walcott Lake 1.6 miles away and Kermsuh Lake near enough 1.6 miles. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Ryder Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Open biodiversity records for Summit County list brown trout, rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, brook trout and Utah sucker. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Read Ryder Lake before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 53°F and December near 17°F on the long-run figures. Winter shuts the surface down for months. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly early June. On average, early June opens the water and early November closes it again. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. Expect Ryder Lake to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Nothing in the way of made access shows up nearby: no ramp, no car park, no path. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. If the gate is shut, McPheters Lake at 0.5 miles is the nearest alternative. Check the position on Ryder Lake before loading the car.