Smith and Morehouse Reservoir Fishing near Oakley, Utah

• Overview

  Smith and Morehouse Reservoir sits in Summit County, out in Utah. The country here is mixed forest. It runs to roughly 194 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. With about 2.6 miles of edge, you can try several depths in one session. It is the biggest water on our Summit County list. The closest town, Oakley, is 11 miles away. Kamas lies 12 miles off, Francis another 14 miles. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Smith and Morehouse Reservoir

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Reported across Summit County: brown trout, rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, brook trout and Utah sucker. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. Smith and Morehouse Reservoir repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 22°F to 59°F. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Look for the thaw near early May; the fishing lifts straight after. The season between ice runs from about early May to late November. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. On Smith and Morehouse Reservoir that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. Public data records a boat ramp half a mile out. Expect a half a mile walk in from where the car goes. Public toilets are recorded roughly half a mile off. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. For a change of water, Shingle Mill Lake is 1.4 miles distant. Confirm access to Smith and Morehouse Reservoir locally before you travel.