Ready to escape the hectic city life and enjoy a weekend away that’s filled with relaxation, family time and catching all sorts of unique fish? Then Strawberry Reservoir could be the perfect spot for you and your family to take a trip to this summer. Every year, tons of families and fishermen pack up and head out to “The Berry” to explore everything the best Stillwater fishing in Utah has to offer.
Where It’s Located
About an hour and a half outside of Salt Lake City, you’ll find Strawberry Reservoir waiting for you. As you drive, there are gorgeous views along the way. Take in wonderful sights like Heber Valley and Mount Timpanogos as you head to Strawberry Reservoir ready to start your exciting weekend.You can even stop and fish along the way as Jordanelle Reservoir and Middle Provo River are both on the way to Strawberry. These are some great spots for mini fishing breaks before you make it to your final stop at Strawberry Reservoir.
What Kinds of Fish You’ll Find
Many streams located in the Uinta Basin will run into Strawberry. The spots at Strawberry Reservoir and even some of the stops along the way are very low-traffic but contain plenty of varieties of fish. You can find all different kinds of fish and insects such as damselflies, rainbow trout, kokanee salmon, crawfish, Stillwater mayflies, cutthroat trout, and large scuds.
Getting Accustomed to the Strawberry Reservoir Lingo
While walking around the reservoir or if you’re purchasing different fishing supplies or bait in the shops, don’t be afraid to mingle with the local fishermen. You can learn about some pretty fascinating phrases they say that can be helpful to you on your trip. This is why it’s best for you to understand their turn of phrases. It can help increase your chances of catching more fish.One phrase you're sure to hear are the words, “ice off.” This means that the ice sheet located on the Reservoir is melting away. This results in the fish going on a search to find a good meal and water that is a lot warmer. You’ll soon see very large portions of rainbow and cutthroat trout headed your way along the banks of the Reservoir. Get ready to catch as many of these fish as possible.
How to Fish For Cutthroat and Rainbow Trout
Since they’re desperately searching for warmth and a meal, these fish are ready to eat almost anything that comes their way. You’ll see as you engage in the first couple weeks of the “ice off” that these fish will eat almost anything thrown at them.If you decide to come out to The Berry at this time of year, this is when you’ll have the best opportunity to catch some of the largest fish available to you. You can also use this time to experiment with all sorts of different flies and streamers since these fish aren’t too picky with what they eat this time of year.
There are a few flies that some fishermen have found the best success in when catching these fish such as streamers and wooly buggers that are found in different colors like white, olive, and black. Normally when these flies are used while fishing, they’re placed on a sinking line.
Many have found impressive results with the types of fish they catch and will see fish at around two to five pounds. This isn’t the only way you can successfully catch these fish. Some fishermen have found great success in using different types of topwater flies like poppers or mouse patterns and saw more fish that way as well.
Other Seasons to Fish
Once winter and spring start to fade, summer and fall will come along with other new ways to fish Strawberry. This is when you’ll find mayflies buzzing around and even better - fish ready to gulp those flies down. They like to do this early in the morning when the sun has first started to rise.You can find them on the surface of the lake that is a little calmer in the morning before it starts to get hit by windy weather. This is where they will be feasting on mayflies and other insects, so this is a great spot to begin your day of fishing.
As the weather starts to heat up, the fish will want to cool down. This is when they will try to find water that’s colder so they move down into the deeper depths of the water. This is why your best fish-catching tool for this season will be a sinking line. The following are the best types of flies or streamers that will best be used with this line:
- Damselfly
- Scud Patterns
- Wooly Bugger
Another pro fisherman tip would be to take the damselfly and scud pattern flies with you to the weed beds as you fish along their edges and try your best to catch whatever bites over there.
When fall hits, the fish are preparing for the cold to strike again. They will swim back over to water that is located a little more in the shallows to stay there for a few months, waiting for winter to arrive.
Other Things to Do At Strawberry Reservoir
Although Strawberry Reservoir is known as one of the best fishing spots in Utah, there’s much more that you can do there to truly make it a fun spot for the whole family. Bring your powerboat or pontoon along with you and have an exciting ride on the gorgeous water. Or grab some tubes and float along the Reservoir as well. Once you’ve finished your day fishing, boating, or tubing, grab your tent and pitch it with the family for a fun night of camping out and stargazing.As you explore your campsite, you’ll see numerous crawfish crawling around on the ground or hiding on rocks in the water. Grab the kids and teach them how to hunt crawfish. It’s a fun adventure for everyone in the family to experience. As a bonus, crayfish are also delicious when boiled.
Whether you’re fishing in the spring, summer, or fall, Strawberry Reservoir is the place to visit. Enjoy your getaway by packing up and going on vacation with your family to boat or camp. Or use it as a relaxing vacation away from everyone else as you spend your days quietly fishing on the water. No matter what, you’re guaranteed to find enjoyment and relaxation at this Stillwater lake.