Lake Trout Fishing at Fish Lake, Utah: A New Challenge for Bass Anglers

If you're a bass angler looking to expand your fishing horizons, few Utah fisheries offer a more unique opportunity than Fish Lake. Nestled in the heart of the Fishlake National Forest, this high-elevation lake is famous for producing giant lake trout—often called mackinaw—and offers a completely different fishing experience from chasing largemouth or smallmouth bass.

After spending most of our time targeting bass across Utah, we decided it was time to see what all the hype was about. Fish Lake delivered.

Why Fish Lake?

Located at nearly 9,000 feet in elevation, Fish Lake is Utah's largest natural mountain lake and one of the state's premier coldwater fisheries. The lake supports rainbow trout, splake, kokanee salmon, yellow perch, tiger muskie, and, most notably, trophy-sized lake trout. Some mackinaw caught here have exceeded 30 pounds, with fish over 20 pounds landed every year.

For bass anglers accustomed to casting shoreline structure and weed edges, Fish Lake feels like a completely different world. Instead of shallow flats and docks, you're targeting deep water, underwater points, and steep drop-offs.

What Are Lake Trout?

Lake trout aren't actually trout at all. They are members of the char family and thrive in cold, deep water. Unlike bass, which spend much of their time relating to visible cover, lake trout often suspend over deep basins or hug bottom structure hundreds of feet below the surface.

Fish Lake's deep, cold water provides ideal habitat for these fish throughout the year. During summer, many lake trout move into deeper water where temperatures remain cool.

Our First Attempt

Coming from a bass fishing background, our instinct was to fish visible structure. That quickly changed.

Local anglers pointed us toward deep-water humps and drop-offs where lake trout were holding near the bottom. Electronics became far more important than casting accuracy. Instead of flipping jigs into cover, we were watching sonar screens and dropping baits directly to fish.

The biggest adjustment was patience. Lake trout fishing often feels more like hunting than traditional bass fishing. You spend time locating fish, positioning your boat, and working specific depths before getting a bite.

But when the rod finally loads up, you understand why so many anglers become obsessed with mackinaw fishing.

Best Techniques for Fish Lake Lake Trout

Vertical Jigging

One of the most effective methods is vertical jigging heavy spoons or tube jigs directly beneath the boat. Once fish are located on sonar, anglers drop lures to the appropriate depth and work them with aggressive lifts and pauses.

This technique allows you to target fish holding tight to structure or suspended over deep water.

Trolling Deep Water

Many anglers troll large plugs, spoons, or dodger-and-lure combinations along deep contours. Trolling helps cover water and locate active fish, especially during summer when lake trout can spread out.

Ice Fishing

Fish Lake is one of Utah's most popular ice fishing destinations. In fact, ice fishing pressure has often exceeded summer fishing pressure in recent years. Lake trout, splake, perch, and rainbow trout are all popular winter targets.

When to Fish Fish Lake

Lake trout can be caught year-round, but many anglers find spring and fall especially productive. Cooler water temperatures often bring fish into more accessible depths.

Summer fishing can still be excellent, but electronics become increasingly important as fish move deeper into the water column.

Winter offers another opportunity entirely, with anglers targeting mackinaw through the ice.

More Than Just Lake Trout

One of the best parts about Fish Lake is the variety.

While targeting lake trout, you may also encounter:

• Rainbow trout
• Splake
• Kokanee salmon
• Yellow perch
• Tiger trout
• Tiger muskie

Fish Lake is one of Utah's most diverse mountain fisheries and offers something for nearly every angler.

Regulations and Conservation

Before planning a trip, always check current Utah fishing regulations. Fish Lake has specific rules regarding lake trout harvest and size restrictions that can change over time. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources regularly updates regulations to maintain a healthy fishery.

Should Bass Anglers Try Lake Trout Fishing?

Absolutely.

Bass fishing and lake trout fishing couldn't be more different, which is exactly why every bass angler should try it at least once.

You'll learn new skills, become more proficient with electronics, and experience a style of fishing that feels completely different from working shoreline cover for bass. And when you hook into a powerful Fish Lake mackinaw, you'll quickly understand why anglers travel from all over the West to fish this remarkable Utah lake.

For us, it was a reminder that some of the best fishing adventures happen when you step outside your comfort zone.

Fish Lake may not have largemouth bass, but it offers something just as exciting: the chance to catch the fish of a lifetime.