Bonneville Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii utah)


Bonneville Cutthroat Trout
Oncorhynchus clarkii utah

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Teleostei
Order: Salmoniformes
Family: Salmonidae
Genus: Oncorhynchus
Species: O. clarkii

Body Type: A large-bodied Cutthroat subspecies historically reaching enormous sizes in the Bonneville Basin. The body is heavily spotted with large, irregular spots concentrated toward the tail. Coloring is golden-yellow to olive with vivid red-orange slash marks and red or rose lateral coloring on spawning fish.

Preferred Water Temperature: 48°F–62°F. Adapted to the Great Basin streams and lakes of Utah, Nevada, and Idaho. Tolerates the seasonal temperature fluctuations of desert-mountain watersheds.

Habitat: Streams and lakes of the Bonneville Basin — Bear Lake, Utah Lake tributaries, and streams draining the Wasatch, Uinta, and Raft River mountains. A species of special concern in Utah with active restoration programs. Found in clear, cold mountain streams and the unique Bear Lake ecosystem.

Best Lures: Inline spinners produce in streams and Bear Lake. Large spoons work in deep Bear Lake. Dry flies and nymphs on a fly rod are highly effective. Small crankbaits and Rapalas work well.

Best Baits: Nightcrawlers are universally effective. Salmon eggs produce in streams. Minnows work in Bear Lake. Wax worms are effective in cold conditions. Bear Lake-specific baits include sculpin imitations.

Size & Weight: Stream fish 10–16 inches; Bear Lake fish reach 18–24 inches and 4–8 lbs historically. The Bonneville Cutthroat once reached 40+ lbs in Bonneville Lake. Modern Bear Lake fish reach 15+ lbs.

Top 5 Places to Catch Bonneville Cutthroat Trout: 1. Bear Lake, Utah/Idaho — premier destination for large Bonneville Cutthroat 2. Logan River, Utah — excellent stream fishing near Cache Valley 3. Strawberry Reservoir, Utah — stocked trophy fishery 4. Bear River tributaries, Utah — restoration stream access 5. Provo River, Utah — tailwater below Jordanelle with stocked fish



Box Elder County Fishing Spots
Name (# of Reports) Last Update Location
Mantua Reservoir (58) 3-18-2026 Mantua, UT
 

Cache County Fishing Spots
Name (# of Reports) Last Update Location
Hyrum Reservoir & State Park (61) 3-18-2026 Hyrum, UT
Logan River (65) 3-18-2026 Logan, UT
 

Carbon County Fishing Spots
Name (# of Reports) Last Update Location
Clear Creek (39) 3-11-2026 Cove, UT
Green River (117) 8-25-2025 UT
Scofield Reservoir (58) 3-2-2026 Scofield, UT
 

Daggett County Fishing Spots
Name (# of Reports) Last Update Location
Flaming Gorge Reservoir (UT & WY) (110) 5-9-2025 UT
Green River (117) 8-25-2025 UT
 

Davis County Fishing Spots
Name (# of Reports) Last Update Location
Bartholomew Park Pond (1) 8-20-2025 Springville, UT
Holmes Creek Reservoir (69) 3-18-2026 Layton, UT
Jensen Nature Park Pond (64) 3-18-2026 Syracuse, UT
 

Emery County Fishing Spots
Name (# of Reports) Last Update Location
Green River (117) 8-25-2025 UT
 

Garfield County Fishing Spots
Name (# of Reports) Last Update Location
East Fork Sevier River (56) 3-11-2026 UT
Sevier River (3) 5-27-2025 UT
 

Grand County Fishing Spots
Name (# of Reports) Last Update Location
Green River (117) 8-25-2025 UT
 

Iron County Fishing Spots
Name (# of Reports) Last Update Location
Mammoth Creek (1) 3-11-2026 North View, UT
Paragonah (Red Creek) Reservoir (4) 3-11-2026 Parowan, UT
Yankee Meadow Reservoir (3) 8-21-2025 Dixie National Forest, UT
 

Juab County Fishing Spots
Name (# of Reports) Last Update Location
Sevier River (3) 5-27-2025 UT
 

Kane County Fishing Spots
Name (# of Reports) Last Update Location
East Fork Sevier River (56) 3-11-2026 UT
Sevier River (3) 5-27-2025 UT
 

Millard County Fishing Spots
Name (# of Reports) Last Update Location
Sevier River (3) 5-27-2025 UT
 

Morgan County Fishing Spots
Name (# of Reports) Last Update Location
East Canyon Reservoir (95) 3-18-2026 Coalville, UT
Lost Creek Reservoir (18) 3-18-2026 Croydon, UT
 

Piute County Fishing Spots
Name (# of Reports) Last Update Location
East Fork Sevier River (56) 3-11-2026 UT
Otter Creek Reservoir (13) 3-16-2026 Angle, UT
Sevier River (3) 5-27-2025 UT
 

Rich County Fishing Spots
Name (# of Reports) Last Update Location
Bear Lake (126) 3-10-2026 Garden City , ID
Fish Lake (43) 3-16-2026 Loa, UT
Garden City Community Pond (3) 2-21-2014 Garden City, UT
Laketown Reservoir (1) 1-24-2014 Mayfield, UT
 

San Juan County Fishing Spots
Name (# of Reports) Last Update Location
Green River (117) 8-25-2025 UT
 

Sanpete County Fishing Spots
Name (# of Reports) Last Update Location
Sevier River (3) 5-27-2025 UT
 

Sevier County Fishing Spots
Name (# of Reports) Last Update Location
Fish Lake (43) 3-16-2026 Loa, UT
Koosharem Reservoir (5) 3-16-2026 Burrville, UT
Sevier River (3) 5-27-2025 UT
 

Summit County Fishing Spots
Name (# of Reports) Last Update Location
Echo Reservoir (63) 2-10-2026 Echo, UT
 

Uintah County Fishing Spots
Name (# of Reports) Last Update Location
Green River (117) 8-25-2025 UT
 

Utah County Fishing Spots
Name (# of Reports) Last Update Location
Bartholomew Park Pond (1) 8-20-2025 Springville, UT
Diamond Fork River (2) 12-6-2024 UT
Lower Provo River (5) 6-14-2022 Provo, UT
Spanish Oaks Pond (1) 8-20-2025 Spanish Fork, UT
Spring Lake (2) 8-20-2025 Payson, UT
 

Wasatch County Fishing Spots
Name (# of Reports) Last Update Location
Deer Creek Reservoir (57) 5-27-2025 Charleston, UT
Lower Provo River (5) 6-14-2022 Provo, UT
Strawberry Reservoir (78) 3-27-2026 Heber City, UT
Willow Pond Park (2) 8-20-2025 Murray , UT
 

Washington County Fishing Spots
Name (# of Reports) Last Update Location
Enterprise Reservoir- Upper (2) 5-27-2025 Enterprise, UT
 

Wayne County Fishing Spots
Name (# of Reports) Last Update Location
Green River (117) 8-25-2025 UT
 

Weber County Fishing Spots
Name (# of Reports) Last Update Location
Causey Reservoir (53) 3-18-2026 Ogden, UT
Meadow Creek Pond (3) 3-18-2026 Roy , UT