Fishing the High Uintas: Bear River, Blacks Fork and Whiterocks drainages

Updated resources and tips from DWR biologists

By Darby Doyle
Communications Team Coordinator

Searching for crisp air, fall foliage, spectacular mountain views and fun fishing? Autumn is the perfect time to venture into the High Uintas for some high-elevation lake fishing before the snow flies.

To help anglers find their next favorite fishing spot, our biologists have recently published revisions of three popular DWR fishing pamphlets. They're now available for free on the DWR website:

• Lakes of the High Uintas: Bear River Drainage
• Lakes of the High Uintas: Blacks Fork Drainage
• Lakes of the High Uintas: Whiterocks River Drainage

Prepare for your trip

A trip into the High Uintas can be very enjoyable, but may be uncomfortable or hazardous for unprepared travelers. Keep in mind that weather any time of year can be unpredictable in the mountains, and many of these waterbodies are in remote areas with limited or no cellular service.

Before you head into the field, review current regulations in the Utah Fishing Guidebook. And check out updated fishing forecasts at the DWR Fish Utah interactive map for these Blue Ribbon fisheries (see entries for the Bear River, Blacks Fork and Whiterocks drainages for more information).

Biologists' highlights from the High Uintas guides

In the Bear River drainage, DWR sportfish biologist Matt McKell recommends getting away from the crowds to improve fishing success. Says McKell, "One challenge with the Bear River drainage is the proximity to the Mirror Lake Highway, where many lakes that are within a short distance from the highway see a lot of fishing pressure." His recommendations:

• Bourbon Lake is not far from the Mirror Lake Highway and provides high catch rates for small but healthy brook trout.
• BR-2, a nearby unnamed lake, is very similar.
• It's a fairly long hike, but McPheters Lake provides anglers an opportunity to catch larger-than-average tiger trout and cutthroat trout.

The Blacks Fork Basin is an isolated drainage on the north slope of the Uinta Mountains. The terrain is rugged and composed of narrow river valleys and steep rocky ridges with extensive areas of alpine tundra. Recreational use and fishing pressure are relatively low compared to more accessible areas of the Uintas. If you've never been to this area, McKell recommends checking out Dead Horse Lake: "It's in the headwaters of the Blacks Fork drainage. The views are worth the hike, and the cutthroat will be too!"

Due to the relative ease of vehicle access and close proximity to Vernal — the largest town in the Uintah Basin — the Whiterocks River drainage is one of the most popular fishing areas along the south slope of the Uinta Mountains. DWR Assistant Aquatic Manager Garn Birchell recommends these spots for anglers to visit:

• Angel Lake is a relatively accessible lake with naturally reproducing grayling and can produce fast fishing for this species.
• Watkins Lake produces quality brook trout. It's located via a short hike from ATV-accessible Cliff Lake.

Learn more

• Purchase fishing maps and books at the Utah Department of Natural Resources Map & Bookstore
• Fishing for beginners: How to get started
• Sign up to receive seasonal fishing forecasts
• See how we use airplanes to stock fish at remote locations
• Visit the online fish stocking report to see the latest details about where and when we've stocked fish around the state!

Darby Doyle

A communications coordinator with the Salt Lake office outreach team, Darby Doyle joined the DWR in 2021. She's an editor for the DWR wildlife blog and annual guidebooks, and chips in as a backup public information officer when needed. An avid fly angler and self-admittedly mediocre hunter, Darby enjoys gardening, harvesting and butchering game from her family's hunts all over the Western U.S. and spending time outdoors with the family's goofy Labradors.