Shadow Lake Fishing Guide, Wasatch County, Utah

• Overview

  This water sits in Wasatch County, Utah. It stands 9,964 feet above sea level. The water measures roughly 8 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. The closest town, Francis, is 25 miles away. Provo is the closest city, 52 miles away. Alternatives close at hand: Lodgepole Lake a shade over 0.9 miles, Betsy Lake after 1 mile, Palisade Lake a shade over 1 mile, Lost Lake after 1 mile and Powell Lake a shade over 1.1 miles. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Shadow Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Reported across Wasatch County: brown trout, rainbow trout, brook trout, black-spotted cutthroat trout and Utah sucker. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. On Shadow Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 18°F in December up to 55°F in July. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Winter locks it down, and early June brings it back. Climate averages put the opening at about early June and the closing near mid November. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. On Shadow Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Lodgepole Lake at 0.9 miles is the sensible second choice. Where Shadow Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.