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Fishing Flaming Gorge Reservoir: what the data says
38,880-acre reservoir near Manila. The lake tops out around 436 ft. The contours are modeled from the water's real shoreline and maximum depth. Treat them as a rough guide, and never use them for navigation. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
Lake Trout fishing at Flaming Gorge Reservoir
In spring, lake trout run shallow here, mostly 10 to 40 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 50 to 120 ft, and winter fish settle into 20 to 80 ft. Rock reef is the standout, a rock pile at roughly 9.55737364627058 ft, rated prime for fall lake trout. Best bite is early morning. Tie on a white tube jig (deep) or a magnum spoon on downrigger and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Casting spoon over shoals, Jerkbait (shallow) |
| Summer | 50 to 120 ft | dawn | White tube jig (deep), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dusk & dawn | Heavy casting spoon, Jigging rap over reefs |
| Winter | 20 to 80 ft | dawn | White tube jig, Airplane jig |
Kokanee fishing at Flaming Gorge Reservoir
Spring kokanee on Flaming Gorge Reservoir hold shallow, usually 10 to 30 ft. They move out to 30 to 70 ft in summer and finish the year down in 20 to 80 ft. The spot to know is Creek inflow, a inflow / creek mouth in about 8 ft of water that rates prime for kokanee in fall. Plan around early morning in the warm months. Tie on a dodger + pink/orange squid on downrigger or a kokanee bug + corn and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Small dodger + squid (pink), Wedding-ring spinner + corn |
| Summer | 30 to 70 ft | dawn | Dodger + pink/orange squid on downrigger, Kokanee bug + corn |
| Fall | 5 to 40 ft | dawn | Dodger + squid (deeper red/purple), Small spoon |
| Winter | 20 to 80 ft | dawn | Small glow jig + corn or maggot, Tiny spoon |
Smallmouth Bass fishing at Flaming Gorge Reservoir
In spring, smallmouth bass run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. By summer they slide out to 10 to 30 ft, and by winter most fish are in 20 to 45 ft. The spot to know is Rock reef, a rock pile in about 9.55737364627058 ft of water that rates prime for smallmouth bass in spring. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 20 to 45 ft | midday | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Rainbow Trout fishing at Flaming Gorge Reservoir
Start shallow in spring: rainbow trout sit in 5 to 20 ft that time of year. By summer they slide out to 8 to 30 ft, and by winter most fish are in 8 to 40 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Creek inflow: a inflow / creek mouth around 8 ft that scores prime in spring. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Brown Trout fishing at Flaming Gorge Reservoir
Spring brown trout on Flaming Gorge Reservoir hold shallow, usually 3 to 25 ft. By summer they slide out to 25 to 60 ft, and by winter most fish are in 5 to 35 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Creek inflow: a inflow / creek mouth around 8 ft that scores prime in spring. Best bite is after dark and early morning. Summer baits: a spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 25 to 60 ft | night & dawn | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 5 to 30 ft | dusk & dawn | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 5 to 35 ft | dawn | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
Cutthroat Trout fishing at Flaming Gorge Reservoir
Start shallow in spring: cutthroat trout sit in 3 to 15 ft that time of year. They move out to 10 to 35 ft in summer and finish the year down in 10 to 40 ft. Creek inflow is the standout, a inflow / creek mouth at roughly 8 ft, rated prime for spring cutthroat trout. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a trolled spoon (small) or a inline spinner gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Inline spinner (silver/gold), Small spoon |
| Summer | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Trolled spoon (small), Inline spinner |
| Fall | 5 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Casting spoon, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 10 to 40 ft | dawn | Small jigging spoon, Marabou jig |
Flaming Gorge Reservoir also holds burbot (50 to 120 ft in summer), channel catfish (8 to 25 ft in summer), common carp (3 to 15 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Notable structure
- Deep basin: deep basin, around 371 ft
- Old creek channel: creek channel, around 218 ft
- Break off the point: drop-off, around 196 ft
- Main-lake point: point, around 109 ft
- Secondary point: point, around 109 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 89.5927781899713 ft
- Offshore hump: offshore hump, around 73.43021991131494 ft
- Shallow flat: weed flat, around 10 ft
- Rock reef: rock pile, around 9.55737364627058 ft
- Shoreline point: point, around 9.081104469717692 ft
- Shallow flat: weed flat, around 9 ft
- Shallow flat: weed flat, around 9 ft
- Shoreline point: point, around 8.72636129735548 ft
- Rock reef: rock pile, around 8.53545374052687 ft
Common questions
How deep is Flaming Gorge Reservoir?
Flaming Gorge Reservoir is about 436 ft at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
What fish are in Flaming Gorge Reservoir?
Anglers target smallmouth bass, channel catfish, rainbow trout, common carp, lake trout, brown trout, kokanee, burbot, cutthroat trout on Flaming Gorge Reservoir.
Where is the best fishing spot on Flaming Gorge Reservoir?
Rock reef is the top-rated area: a rock pile in about 9.55737364627058 ft of water that rates prime for smallmouth bass in spring. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Flaming Gorge Reservoir?
For lake trout, the summer bite is best in early morning. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Nearby waters
East Park Reservoir · Green River (Flaming Gorge) · Browne Lake · Long Park Reservoir, North Slope · Sheep Creek Lake · Matt Warner Reservoir
See how Flaming Gorge Reservoir stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Utah · best channel catfish lakes in Utah · best rainbow trout lakes in Utah · best common carp lakes in Utah
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