Fishing

Fishing at Palisade State Park is an angler’s paradise, whether you prefer casting from the shore or venturing out on a boat. Please note that only electric motors are permitted on the lake to ensure a peaceful and eco-friendly experience.

Palisade Reservoir is home to a diverse array of fish species. Anglers can look forward to catching Rainbow Trout, Tiger Trout, and the occasional Cutthroat Trout. Additionally, the reservoir hosts Black Crappie, Wiper, and Bluegill, adding to the excitement of your fishing adventure. You’ll also find a few Goldfish, which have made their way into the reservoir.

To help you identify these species, we’ve provided pictures and descriptions below. Remember, the daily limit for trout at Palisade Reservoir is four fish. Enjoy your fishing experience and respect the guidelines to preserve the lake’s vibrant ecosystem for future generations.

Black Crappie

The Black Crappie is a popular game fish known for its distinctive dark, mottled pattern on a silvery-gray to dark green body. They have a compressed, deep body with a slightly protruding lower jaw. Black Crappie are typically found in clear, vegetated waters of lakes, reservoirs, and slow-moving rivers. They feed primarily on small fish and insects and can be caught year-round, making them a favorite among anglers.

Bluegill

The Bluegill is a popular freshwater fish recognized by its deep, flattened body and distinctive dark spot at the base of its dorsal fin. They are typically olive-green with dark vertical bars along their sides and a yellow to orange belly. Bluegill are often found in warm, slow-moving waters with abundant vegetation, such as lakes, ponds, and streams. They feed on small insects, crustaceans, and plant matter.

Bonneville Cutthroat Trout

The Bonneville Cutthroat Trout originally inhabited the Bonneville Basin. They are characterized by sparsely scattered, large, and very distinctive round spots over the upper body, with few spots on or near the head. Their coloration is a subdued silver-gray to charcoal on the upper body, with shades of bronze and pink appearing on their flanks during spawning.

Goldfish

Native to Asia, the Goldfish is a nonnative fish often found in various water locations throughout Utah. Though similar to carp, Goldfish can be distinguished by their upper jaw and the absence of barbels. These fish can grow to be quite large in size.

Rainbow Trout

A Rainbow Trout is characterized by a dark green to bluish back with silvery sides and a distinctive pinkish to reddish horizontal band running along its body. Its belly can range from white to silvery, and the fish is typically marked with irregular and profuse black spots on the head, back and sides. The pelvic and anal fins are translucent pink to gray-green and tipped in white. The coloration of a river-dwelling Rainbow Trout is often more vibrant compared to its lake-dwelling counterparts. Additionally, Rainbow Trout tend to have a fairly blunt snout.

Tiger Trout

The Tiger Trout, a hybrid between a Brown Trout and a Brook Trout, is known for its unique, dark maze-like pattern that covers its brownish-gray body. Its belly is yellowish-orange, as are the pectoral, pelvic and anal fins. The tail fin of the Tiger Trout is square-shaped.

Wiper

The Wiper, a hybrid between a Striped Bass and a White Bass, is a robust and powerful fish known for its aggressive nature. They have a streamlined, silver body with dark horizontal stripes running along their sides, and a slightly deeper body compared to their parent species. Wipers thrive in the open waters of lakes and reservoirs and often form large schools. They are opportunistic feeders, preying on smaller fish, insects and crustaceans.

Get the most recent fishing updates for Palisade State Park from the Division of Wildlife Fishing Report!