Bear Lake fishing

Bear Lake fishing is stocked with Cutthroat Trout and Lake Trout on a natural lake. Also recorded: Bonneville Cisco, Bonneville Whitefish, and Bear Lake Whitefish. It is stocked about 6.7 times a year since 2016, most often in May and November. Species guides list dawn as the active times.

Bear Lake
Photo: Rockclaw1030, CC0
Last stocked
May 5, 2026
· Cutthroat Trout
Plants on record
74
Since 2016
Species stocked
2 (+3 also recorded)
Average size
7 in
Elevation
5,928 ft

Fish at Bear Lake

2 stocked · 3 confirmed present

Lake Trout Stocked · 7 plants · last November 12, 2025 Best: dawn

Last stocked November 12, 2025 · avg 5.7 in · 7 plants

Best: dawn

Lake Trout species guide

How Bear Lake is stocked

Source: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.

Birch Creek Reservoir (33.8 mi), Hyrum Reservoir (37.7 mi), Mantua Reservoir (46 mi), Causey Reservoir (50 mi), and Lost Creek Reservoir (55.5 mi) were stocked more recently. Mantua Reservoir is also stocked with Cutthroat Trout, Causey Reservoir is also stocked with Lake Trout and Cutthroat Trout, and Lost Creek Reservoir is also stocked with Cutthroat Trout.

Fish stocked in 2016

220,239

Fish stocked in 2017

199,214

Fish stocked in 2018

198,519

Fish stocked in 2019

206,039

Fish stocked in 2020

219,157

Fish stocked in 2021

205,515

Fish stocked in 2022

126,427

Fish stocked in 2023

112,058

Fish stocked in 2024

122,287

Fish stocked in 2025

115,215

Fish stocked in 2026

82,834

Stocking history

Source: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
May 5, 2026Cutthroat Trout4,3267.44 inreport
May 5, 2026Cutthroat Trout13,3357.76 inreport
May 5, 2026Cutthroat Trout18,8967.77 inreport
May 4, 2026Cutthroat Trout17,8737.8 inreport
May 4, 2026Cutthroat Trout19,4787.64 inreport
April 28, 2026Cutthroat Trout8,9267.77 inreport
November 12, 2025Lake Trout21,1895.64 inreport
June 24, 2025Cutthroat Trout14,1658.56 inreport
June 24, 2025Cutthroat Trout6,8828.74 inreport
June 24, 2025Cutthroat Trout27,4098.54 inreport
June 23, 2025Cutthroat Trout13,4528.47 inreport
June 23, 2025Cutthroat Trout24,9808.62 inreport
May 21, 2025Cutthroat Trout7,1387.19 inreport
November 13, 2024Lake Trout15,1875.49 inreport
May 1, 2024Cutthroat Trout5,7167.12 inreport
April 30, 2024Cutthroat Trout101,3847.12 inreport
November 21, 2023Lake Trout17,0585.7 inreport
May 9, 2023Cutthroat Trout50,8256.75 inreport
May 8, 2023Cutthroat Trout44,1756.75 inreport
November 14, 2022Lake Trout19,2636.03 inreport
May 10, 2022Cutthroat Trout23,4907.07 inreport
May 10, 2022Cutthroat Trout28,0146.77 inreport
May 9, 2022Cutthroat Trout55,6606.77 inreport
November 15, 2021Lake Trout36,1034.93 inreport
May 12, 2021Cutthroat Trout6,7646.85 inreport
May 12, 2021Cutthroat Trout28,2136.85 inreport
May 11, 2021Cutthroat Trout56,1156.85 inreport
May 11, 2021Cutthroat Trout12,4606.85 inreport
May 10, 2021Cutthroat Trout53,4006.85 inreport
May 10, 2021Cutthroat Trout12,4606.85 inreport
November 9, 2020Lake Trout23,5795.95 inreport
November 4, 2020Cutthroat Trout21,5253.01 inreport
July 28, 2020Cutthroat Trout16,9057.45 inreport
July 28, 2020Cutthroat Trout44,1607.45 inreport
July 28, 2020Cutthroat Trout13,8697.45 inreport
July 27, 2020Cutthroat Trout22,0807.45 inreport
July 27, 2020Cutthroat Trout44,9547.45 inreport
July 27, 2020Cutthroat Trout16,5607.45 inreport
July 27, 2020Cutthroat Trout15,5257.45 inreport
November 21, 2019Lake Trout12,1595.95 inreport
November 12, 2019Cutthroat Trout20,3703.01 inreport
May 16, 2019Cutthroat Trout40,9897.35 inreport
May 15, 2019Cutthroat Trout41,2427.35 inreport
May 14, 2019Cutthroat Trout10,0947.35 inreport
May 14, 2019Cutthroat Trout40,8097.35 inreport
May 13, 2019Cutthroat Trout40,3767.35 inreport
November 12, 2018Cutthroat Trout25,3002.96 inreport
May 10, 2018Cutthroat Trout11,4737.4 inreport
May 9, 2018Cutthroat Trout23,6517.4 inreport
May 8, 2018Cutthroat Trout23,2637.4 inreport
May 8, 2018Cutthroat Trout11,5797.4 inreport
May 7, 2018Cutthroat Trout22,5927.4 inreport
May 7, 2018Cutthroat Trout11,8267.4 inreport
May 3, 2018Cutthroat Trout23,2987.4 inreport
May 2, 2018Cutthroat Trout22,9457.4 inreport
May 1, 2018Cutthroat Trout22,5927.4 inreport
October 30, 2017Cutthroat Trout19,6462.96 inreport
May 17, 2017Cutthroat Trout14,7356.97 inreport
May 16, 2017Cutthroat Trout27,3656.97 inreport
May 16, 2017Cutthroat Trout53,5526.97 inreport
May 15, 2017Cutthroat Trout49,8896.97 inreport
May 5, 2017Cutthroat Trout1,1318.22 inreport
May 4, 2017Cutthroat Trout16,4488.22 inreport
May 4, 2017Cutthroat Trout8,2248.22 inreport
May 4, 2017Cutthroat Trout8,2248.22 inreport
November 3, 2016Cutthroat Trout9,9953.9 inreport
November 2, 2016Cutthroat Trout30,2583.27 inreport
May 12, 2016Cutthroat Trout27,0237.77 inreport
May 11, 2016Cutthroat Trout40,8097.77 inreport
May 10, 2016Cutthroat Trout39,6507.77 inreport
May 9, 2016Cutthroat Trout39,1627.77 inreport
May 5, 2016Cutthroat Trout6,6698.17 inreport
May 4, 2016Cutthroat Trout8,8918.17 inreport
May 4, 2016Cutthroat Trout17,7828.17 inreport

Access and facts

Water type
natural lake
Nearest town
Garden City
Shore access
Yes
Boat ramp
Yes
Fee required
Yes
Facilities
camping, dock, restrooms

Bear Lake State Park has a marina and Rendezvous Beach on the south end, with camping at Big Creek, Birch, Cottonwood and Willow, plus primitive east side beaches at Cisco Beach, First Point, Rainbow Cove and the Eden areas. Day-use fees range $10 to $30 depending on season and area.

Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.

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Advisories, closures, regulations and water conditions change. Check the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources before you go.

About Bear Lake

Photo of Bear Lake
Rockclaw1030, CC0
Photo of Bear Lake
kla4067, CC BY 2.0
Photo of Bear Lake
Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0

Nearest lakes

Birch Creek Reservoir 33.8 mi last stocked June 22, 2026 Hyrum Reservoir 37.7 mi last stocked May 12, 2026 Mantua Reservoir 46 mi last stocked September 29, 2026 Causey Reservoir 50 mi last stocked July 13, 2026 Lost Creek Reservoir 55.5 mi last stocked June 24, 2026

Common questions

What fish are at Bear Lake?

Fishing Bear Lake usually means Cutthroat Trout: Cutthroat Trout accounts for 67 of 74 plants on record, ahead of Lake Trout. Cutthroat Trout was last stocked May 5, 2026, averaging 7.1 in. Lake Trout was last stocked November 12, 2025, averaging 5.7 in. Bonneville Cisco, Bonneville Whitefish, and Bear Lake Whitefish are recorded here outside the stocking reports.

When is Bear Lake stocked?

Last stocked May 5, 2026. It is stocked about 6.7 times a year since 2016, most often in May and November.

How big are the fish stocked at Bear Lake?

Stocked fish average 7 in. Cutthroat Trout average 7.1 in. Lake Trout average 5.7 in.

How do you get on Bear Lake?

Shore fishing is available, there is a boat ramp, and a fee is required. The nearest town is Garden City. Facilities include camping, dock, and restrooms. Bear Lake State Park has a marina and Rendezvous Beach on the south end, with camping at Big Creek, Birch, Cottonwood and Willow, plus primitive east side beaches at Cisco Beach, First Point, Rainbow Cove and the Eden areas. Day-use fees range $10 to $30 depending on season and area.

Which lakes near Bear Lake were stocked more recently?

Birch Creek Reservoir (33.8 mi), Hyrum Reservoir (37.7 mi), Mantua Reservoir (46 mi), Causey Reservoir (50 mi), and Lost Creek Reservoir (55.5 mi) were stocked more recently. Mantua Reservoir is also stocked with Cutthroat Trout, Causey Reservoir is also stocked with Lake Trout and Cutthroat Trout, and Lost Creek Reservoir is also stocked with Cutthroat Trout.

Sources (6) +