Bear Lake fishing
Bear Lake was last stocked on May 5, 2026 with 36,557 cutthroat trout (7.7 in. average), according to the Utah DWR fish stocking report. It is a lake in Rich County, Utah, listed by DWR as a Blue Ribbon Fishery. From 2021 to 2026, DWR stocked 764,336 fish here, the most of 8 stocked waters in Rich County.
Latest fishing report
Catches of cutthroat and lake trout have been very good and climbing, with 65 degree surface water on Sept. 9. Troll flatfish, jointed Rapalas or flasher and squid in 65 to 100 feet, or bounce tubes on half-ounce to one-ounce heads tipped with cisco on bottom. The lake is down about 4 feet; limit is two trout.
Low water means launching at the Rainbow Cove or Cisco Beach ramps calls for four-wheel drive.
Our summary of the Utah DWR fishing report dated Sept. 17, 2026, in our own words. Read the original on DWR Fish Utah.
Bear Lake stocking report, last 12 months
| May 5, 2026 | Cutthroat trout | 18,896 | 7.8 in. |
| May 5, 2026 | Cutthroat trout | 4,326 | 7.4 in. |
| May 5, 2026 | Cutthroat trout | 13,335 | 7.8 in. |
| May 4, 2026 | Cutthroat trout | 19,478 | 7.6 in. |
| May 4, 2026 | Cutthroat trout | 17,873 | 7.8 in. |
| April 28, 2026 | Cutthroat trout | 8,926 | 7.8 in. |
| Nov. 12, 2025 | Lake trout | 21,189 | 5.6 in. |
Source: Utah DWR fish stocking report. Stocking data fetched Sept. 25, 2026; newest record dated Sept. 23, 2026. DWR posts stockings after they happen and does not publish schedules.
When is Bear Lake stocked?
Based on DWR stocking records, 2021 to 2025. Stocked in 5 of those 5 years.
2025 stocking: 7 records, first on May 21, last on Nov. 12.
DWR does not publish stocking schedules. Patterns are based on past stocking records and are not a promise of future stocking. Weather, water conditions and hatchery supply change plans. How we read patterns.
Bear Lake stocking profile
- First record in the DWR report: April 16, 2002. Since then DWR has logged 474 stockings here in 25 different years, 4,857,444 fish in all.
- Species stocked 2021 to 2026, by share of fish: cutthroat trout 86% (655,536 fish) and lake trout 14% (108,800 fish).
- Busiest months in the record: April (62% of records) and May (27% of records).
- Stocked fish averaged 7.0 in. from 2021 to 2026 (per-record averages ranged from 4.9 to 8.7 in.). The yearly average was 6.5 in. in 2021 and 7.9 in. in 2025.
- Fish stocked 2021 to 2026: 764,336, the most of 8 stocked waters in Rich County and 13th of 1,068 statewide.
- Nearest other water with a page: Garden City Pond, 5.3 mi away.
- Other water with this name: Bear Lake (G-7) in Summit County, 92.9 mi away. DWR lists them as separate waters (DWR water ids IV405 and II535).
Computed from Utah DWR stocking records (fish counts and average lengths as DWR reports them). Past stocking is history, not a schedule.
Bear Lake stocking history by year
| Year | Records | Fish | Avg. length | Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 6 | 82,834 | 7.7 in. | Cutthroat trout |
| 2025 | 7 | 115,215 | 7.9 in. | Lake trout, Cutthroat trout |
| 2024 | 3 | 122,287 | 6.9 in. | Lake trout, Cutthroat trout |
| 2023 | 3 | 112,058 | 6.6 in. | Lake trout, Cutthroat trout |
| 2022 | 4 | 126,427 | 6.7 in. | Lake trout, Cutthroat trout |
| 2021 | 7 | 205,515 | 6.5 in. | Lake trout, Cutthroat trout |
| 2020 | 9 | 219,157 | 6.9 in. | Lake trout, Cutthroat trout |
| 2019 | 7 | 206,039 | 6.8 in. | Lake trout, Cutthroat trout |
| 2018 | 10 | 198,519 | 6.8 in. | Cutthroat trout |
| 2017 | 9 | 199,214 | 6.8 in. | Cutthroat trout |
| 2016 | 9 | 220,239 | 7.0 in. | Cutthroat trout |
| 2015 | 35 | 256,499 | 6.3 in. | Cutthroat trout |
| 2014 | 11 | 212,026 | 7.0 in. | Cutthroat trout |
| 2013 | 10 | 139,462 | 8.4 in. | Cutthroat trout |
| 2012 | 12 | 252,359 | 6.8 in. | Cutthroat trout |
| 2011 | 10 | 177,349 | 6.8 in. | Cutthroat trout |
| 2010 | 29 | 356,963 | 6.2 in. | Cutthroat trout, Rainbow trout |
| 2009 | 32 | 224,995 | 6.9 in. | Cutthroat trout |
| 2008 | 34 | 171,303 | 7.5 in. | Cutthroat trout |
| 2007 | 40 | 267,165 | 6.1 in. | Cutthroat trout |
| 2006 | 41 | 206,821 | 7.3 in. | Cutthroat trout |
| 2005 | 35 | 215,966 | 6.2 in. | Cutthroat trout |
| 2004 | 40 | 180,519 | 7.8 in. | Cutthroat trout |
| 2003 | 39 | 190,085 | 7.7 in. | Cutthroat trout |
| 2002 | 32 | 198,428 | 6.8 in. | Cutthroat trout |
All stocking records 2021 to Sept. 24, 2025 (23)
| June 24, 2025 | Cutthroat trout | 27,409 | 8.5 in. |
| June 24, 2025 | Cutthroat trout | 6,882 | 8.7 in. |
| June 24, 2025 | Cutthroat trout | 14,165 | 8.6 in. |
| June 23, 2025 | Cutthroat trout | 24,980 | 8.6 in. |
| June 23, 2025 | Cutthroat trout | 13,452 | 8.5 in. |
| May 21, 2025 | Cutthroat trout | 7,138 | 7.2 in. |
| Nov. 13, 2024 | Lake trout | 15,187 | 5.5 in. |
| May 1, 2024 | Cutthroat trout | 5,716 | 7.1 in. |
| April 30, 2024 | Cutthroat trout | 101,384 | 7.1 in. |
| Nov. 21, 2023 | Lake trout | 17,058 | 5.7 in. |
| May 9, 2023 | Cutthroat trout | 50,825 | 6.8 in. |
| May 8, 2023 | Cutthroat trout | 44,175 | 6.8 in. |
| Nov. 14, 2022 | Lake trout | 19,263 | 6.0 in. |
| May 10, 2022 | Cutthroat trout | 28,014 | 6.8 in. |
| May 10, 2022 | Cutthroat trout | 23,490 | 7.1 in. |
| May 9, 2022 | Cutthroat trout | 55,660 | 6.8 in. |
| Nov. 15, 2021 | Lake trout | 36,103 | 4.9 in. |
| May 12, 2021 | Cutthroat trout | 28,213 | 6.8 in. |
| May 12, 2021 | Cutthroat trout | 6,764 | 6.8 in. |
| May 11, 2021 | Cutthroat trout | 12,460 | 6.8 in. |
| May 11, 2021 | Cutthroat trout | 56,115 | 6.8 in. |
| May 10, 2021 | Cutthroat trout | 12,460 | 6.8 in. |
| May 10, 2021 | Cutthroat trout | 53,400 | 6.8 in. |
Fishing rules
- Trout limit: 2.
- Bonneville cisco that get snagged during normal, legal fishing may be kept.
- Bonneville cisco may be taken with a handheld dipnet whose opening is no more than 18 inches in any dimension; when dipnetting through the ice, hole size is not limited.
- Ice fishing for anything other than cisco: hole no wider than 18 inches.
- A valid Utah or Idaho fishing or combination license is good on both the Utah and Idaho sides of the lake (license details on p. 8).
- Up to two poles are allowed on all open parts of the Utah side; using more than one pole on the Idaho side follows Idaho rules.
- No multipoint hook with a weight fixed directly to its shank, or with a weight hanging below it, unless the hook sits on an unweighted dropper line at least three inches long.
Rules summarized in our own words from the 2026 Utah Fishing Guidebook. DWR can change rules mid-year: check the current guidebook and its updates at wildlife.utah.gov/guidebooks before fishing. See statewide limits.
Access and facilities
- Other activities
- Cycling, Hiking, Mountain biking, OHV or 4WD trails, Swimming, Waterskiing, Wildlife watching
- Boating
- Hand launch, Boat ramp, Fuel, Pump-out
- Facilities
- Restrooms, Covered picnic area, Drinking water, Fire rings, Showers, Electrical hookups
- Camping
- Primitive tent camping, RV camping, Camp host
- Accessible
- Restrooms, Showers, Trails/shoreline paths
Facility list from DWR Fish Utah. Check with the land manager before you go; facilities close seasonally.
Email me when Bear Lake is stocked
Email me when Bear Lake shows up in the DWR stocking report. Alerts start once we switch on email; your choices are saved now.
"Was stocked" alerts come from new rows in the DWR stocking report. "Often stocked around now" heads-ups come from past stocking records only. DWR does not publish stocking schedules, so a heads-up is never a promise. We store your email only for these alerts; ask us to delete it at [email protected]. Privacy.
Bear Lake questions
When is Bear Lake stocked?
DWR does not publish stocking schedules. Past records show Bear Lake was stocked in early May (4 of the last 5 years) and mid November (4 of the last 5 years). The most recent stocking in the DWR report is dated May 5, 2026.
What fish are in Bear Lake?
DWR lists bonneville whitefish, cutthroat trout and lake trout as likely catches and bear lake whitefish and bonneville cisco as possible. Since 2021 DWR has stocked cutthroat trout and lake trout.
Are there special fishing rules at Bear Lake?
Yes. The 2026 Utah Fishing Guidebook lists rules for this water, summarized on this page. Check the guidebook and DWR updates before fishing.
Stocking: Utah DWR fish stocking report, fetched Sept. 25, 2026. Size, program, species and facilities: DWR Fish Utah. Location: Utah DWR, USGS NHD. Rules: 2026 Utah Fishing Guidebook. Page built Sept. 24, 2026. Found an error? [email protected]. Verify rules with DWR before fishing.