Table of Contents

Strawberry Reservoir Utah

Strawberry Reservoir Utah is what this guide is built around: where to find the best western trout water, when each river fishes, and how to plan a trip around real conditions. We focus on rivers that produce consistently across the Rocky Mountain West, year after year, for wade and float anglers alike.

The rivers

Standouts include Montana's Madison, Missouri, and Bighorn; Idaho's Henry's Fork and South Fork of the Snake; Colorado's Frying Pan and Roaring Fork; Wyoming's North Platte and Green; and Utah's Green River below Flaming Gorge. Each earns its reputation through a mix of cold, clean flows, dense insect life, and strong wild or well-established holdover trout populations. Bottom-release tailwaters fish year-round and offer technical, rewarding fishing, while the classic freestone rivers come alive once spring runoff clears and the summer hatches stack up.

When to go

Spring delivers Blue Wing Olives and the first caddis; summer is the peak, with Pale Morning Duns, golden stoneflies, caddis, and terrestrials keeping fish looking up; fall brings Mahogany Duns and aggressive, pre-winter browns. Tailwaters stretch the calendar into winter with dependable midge fishing. Match your trip to the hatch you most want to fish, and you will rarely be disappointed.

Plan your trip

Check flows and water temperature before committing, line up access or a local guide for unfamiliar water, and always confirm current regulations and licensing for the specific stretch you intend to fish. For live flows and water temperature we cross-check USGS Water Data before every trip, then confirm with recent local reports. For the latest numbers see our fishing reports and current conditions pages, and browse related hatch guides to plan your timing.

Gear and flies to bring

A 9-foot 5-weight rod, a floating line, 4X to 5X leaders, and a box covering mayflies, caddis, stoneflies, midges, and a few terrestrials handle most western trout situations. Add split shot and indicators for nymphing, a couple of streamers for off-color water, polarized sunglasses, and waders suited to the season. Always carry a current license and confirm local regulations before you fish.

Plan around the strawberry reservoir utah timing that fits your dates, check live flows the night before, and you will be set up for a productive day on the water.

🏔 Central Utah — Wasatch Plateau

Strawberry Reservoir

Central Utah's crown jewel — Bonneville Cutthroat and Kokanee in high-elevation stillwater

17,000 acres

Surface Area

65 ft

Max Depth

7,605 ft

Elevation

Late April – Early May

Ice-Out

May, Jun, Sep, Oct

Prime Season

Strawberry Reservoir Utah Fishing: Reports & Conditions

strawberry reservoir utah fishing reports and conditions

Planning a Strawberry Reservoir Utah fishing trip? Our strawberry reservoir utah fishing reports track current water conditions, flows, hatches, and access notes so you can time your visit and fish with confidence.

Below is a complete Strawberry Reservoir Utah fishing guide covering techniques, hatches, species, access, and regulations. For live water data we reference USGS Water Data — always check current conditions before you go.

About Strawberry Reservoir

Strawberry Reservoir is Utah's most celebrated stillwater fishery — a 17,000-acre high-elevation reservoir nestled in the Wasatch Plateau at 7,600 feet, famous for its exceptional Bonneville Cutthroat Trout and thriving Kokanee Salmon population. The reservoir is the anchor of the Strawberry Valley fishery and one of the most-visited fly fishing destinations in the Intermountain West. The Bonneville Cutthroat at Strawberry are the reservoir's signature fish — wild, large-average-size cutthroat that average 16–20 inches with trophy specimens exceeding 24 inches regularly encountered by skilled stillwater anglers. The reservoir's cold, productive water supports dense populations of scuds, midges, and Callibaetis mayflies that fuel exceptional cutthroat growth rates. Kokanee Salmon provide an entirely different fishery from July through their fall spawning run in September and October. These landlocked sockeye salmon — non-native but thoroughly established — average 14–18 inches and provide spectacular sport on small wet flies and bright attractor patterns during their summer feeding period. Float tube and small boat fishing dominate at Strawberry — the reservoir's size and depth make wading of limited value except in the shallow bays and inlet areas during spring. The Strawberry Inlet arms (Soldier Creek and the Strawberry River inlet) are particularly productive in early season before the lake opens fully.

Fishing Techniques

🚣

Float Tube / Pontoon

The standard approach. Work the weed edges and drop-offs with Chironomid suspenders or slow-stripped Callibaetis nymphs.

⛵

Boat Fishing

Motors allowed. Troll Woolly Buggers and Marabou patterns along depth contours for larger cutthroat. Early season trolling is particularly effective.

🎣

Inlet Wading

Soldier Creek inlet and Strawberry River inlet provide excellent wade fishing in spring. Spawning runs concentrate fish in accessible water.

Hatch Chart

Chironomid/Midge
Callibaetis
Damselfly
Scud (year-round)
Leech
Kokanee (trolling)

Peak

Active

Absent

Fly Patterns

Chironomid/Midge

Zebra Midge #14-18 (suspended) · Black/Red Chironomid #14-18 · Mercury Chironomid #16-18

Callibaetis

Callibaetis Nymph #14-16 · Callibaetis Sparkle Dun #14-16 · CDC Callibaetis Emerger #14-16

Damselfly

Olive Damsel Nymph #10-12 · CDC Damsel Dry #10-12 · Swimming Damsel #10-12

Scud

Olive Scud #12-16 · Gray Scud #12-16 · Pink Scud #14-16

Leech

Woolly Bugger #6-10 (olive/black) · Marabou Leech #6-10 · Mohair Leech #8-10

Kokanee

Carey Special #10-12 · Doc Spratley #10-12 · Bead-Head Prince #12

Species

Bonneville Cutthroat Trout

The reservoir's prized fish. Wild fish averaging 16–20 inches with trophy fish over 24 inches. Utah's native cutthroat subspecies. Aggressive Callibaetis and scud feeders.

Kokanee Salmon

Landlocked sockeye averaging 14–18 inches. Best July through September. Spectacular fall spawning run in September–October concentrates fish in inlet streams.

Rainbow Trout

Present in limited numbers. Stocked periodically. Supplement the cutthroat fishery in accessible shore areas.

Access Points

📍 Strawberry Bay Marina

Primary boat launch and facilities. Marina, camping, and boat rentals available. US-40 east of Heber City, then UT-40 south. The main access hub.

📍 Soldier Creek Inlet

North end of the reservoir. Excellent early season wade fishing when cutthroat stage near the inlet. Campground with direct access.

📍 Renegade Point

Good shore and float tube access on the south side. Less crowded than the marina area. Excellent Callibaetis hatch fishing in early summer.

Pro Tips

→Suspended Chironomid fishing under an indicator is Strawberry's deadliest technique — match the depth of the weed edges (typically 8–14 feet) for best results.
→The Strawberry River inlet arm in early May before the main reservoir opens produces some of the year's largest cutthroat as fish stage near the inlet.
→Callibaetis hatches peak from 10am–2pm on calm summer days — watch for rising fish and switch from nymph to dry when you see surface activity.
→Kokanee fishing peaks in July and August before their fall spawning run — small bright Carey Specials and Doc Spratleys trolled slowly are the standard approach.

Regulations

Utah fishing license required. Strawberry Reservoir has special regulations including a slot limit for cutthroat trout — check UDWR Central Region regulations carefully before fishing. Motor restrictions may apply in designated areas. A Heritage License is required in addition to standard license for some seasons.