Bear Lake
A large natural lake straddling the Utah and Idaho line, with Garden City on the Utah shore and the upper 21 feet used as water storage. Known for its turquoise water, it holds four fish found nowhere else plus Bear Lake cutthroat and big lake trout.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Cutthroat Trout
Bear Lake strain of Bonneville cutthroat. Troll or jig rocky drop-offs; shore anglers do well in early spring and late fall.
Lake Trout
Deep water in summer; jig or troll near the bottom. Ice fishing can be good in cold winters.
Bonneville Cisco
Small endemic fish that spawn along rocky shores in January. Dipnetting is legal; see the rules.
Bonneville Whitefish
Endemic whitefish caught on small baits near the bottom.
Boat launches
4 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- Bear Lake State Park MarinaMarinaUtah State Parks, Garden City. 7-lane ramp, slips and park office; open year-round, feeDirections ↗
- First PointFeeUtah State Parks Eastside launch off Cisco Road. Open year-round, feeDirections ↗
- Cisco BeachFeeUtah State Parks Eastside launch off Cisco Road. Open year-round, feeDirections ↗
- Rainbow CoveFeeUtah State Parks Eastside launch off Cisco Road. Open year-round, feeDirections ↗
Size & creel limits
Special rules for this lake, confirmed from official state regulations. Minimum size and daily limit.
| Species | Min size | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|
| Trout Bear Lake trout limit | See Utah rules book ↗ | 2 / day |
| Bonneville Cisco Snagged cisco may be kept; handheld dipnet allowed, opening no more than 18 in | See Utah rules book ↗ | See guidebook |
Other species in this lake: look up the limits at Utah Division of Wildlife Resources ↗
Bait & tackle nearby
Closest shops to the lake and its boat launches. Call ahead for live bait and hours.
- Bear Lake State Park MarinaNearbyGarden City(435) 946-3343Directions ↗
Local tips
- Utah and Idaho rules and licenses both apply depending on where you fish; check the reciprocal permit rules before crossing the line.
- Cisco come in close along rocky shores in January; bring a dipnet with an opening no more than 18 inches.
- Wind can whip up big waves quickly on this open lake; launch early and watch the afternoon forecast.
View on interactive map
Zoom and pan on a street, satellite or terrain map. Red pins are boat launches.
More Utah lakes
Strawberry Reservoir Yuba Reservoir (Sevier Bridge) Starvation Reservoir Jordanelle Reservoir Deer Creek Reservoir Scofield Reservoir Echo Reservoir Sand Hollow Reservoir All Utah lakes →
Always wear a life jacket and check your state's current regulations before you fish.