Willow Creek Reservoir in Sanpete County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Sanpete County in Utah is where Willow Creek Reservoir sits. Height above sea level is 5,715 feet. It runs to roughly 125 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. Size puts it in the front rank of our Sanpete County list. Salina at 7.2 miles is the nearest place to stop. Centerfield is 8.3 miles away, with Gunnison at 10 miles. The boundary is near enough that local access rules are worth double-checking.

• Where to Fish on Willow Creek Reservoir

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. Records held for Sanpete County cover rainbow trout, brown trout, Atlantic salmon, black-spotted cutthroat trout and brook trout. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Fish Willow Creek Reservoir to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 72°F and January about 26°F. The season stretches long at both ends here. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. It holds true on Willow Creek Reservoir more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. No slipway, car park or made path shows up nearby in mapping, so treat access as rough. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Redmond Lake at 6.8 miles is the sensible second choice. Check the position at Willow Creek Reservoir before loading the car.