Shepard Lake Fishing near Kamas, Utah

• Overview

  The Summit County end of Utah holds Shepard Lake. Height above sea level is 9,977 feet. It covers about 14 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. The nearest place of any size is Kamas, 21 miles away. Beyond it, Francis at 22 miles and Oakley at 22 miles. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Shepard Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. County-wide records name brown trout, rainbow trout and cutthroat trout. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. The shape of Shepard Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 54°F on average, December about 18°F. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Ice is part of the season here, ending near early June. Break-up near early June, freeze-up near mid November: that is the shape of an average year. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. Shepard Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. The nearest alternative is Maba Lake, 0.2 miles out. For Shepard Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.