Wilder Lake in Summit County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Wilder Lake falls in Summit County, part of Utah. The setting is mixed forest on every side. At 4 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Summit County. The nearest place of any size is Kamas, 23 miles away. For a city, Provo is 53 miles off. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Wilder Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Survey and observation records for Summit County include brown trout, rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, brook trout and Utah sucker. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. On Wilder Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 54°F and December about 18°F. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around early June. Ice clears near early June and comes back about mid November in a typical year. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. That is the shape of the year on Wilder Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Records list it as a fishing water. Overnight stays are possible about 130 yards out, where camping is mapped. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. The nearest alternative is Packard Lake, 0.7 miles out. For Wilder Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.