best cat fishing near Salt Lake

[Okiecatman]

I will be moving to Salt Lake City area around mid March I'm leaving some very excellent catfishing here in Oklahoma I was hoping to find someone there that would be decent any help would be appreciated
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[SkunkedAgain]

Hey OKcatman, great to have you joining us. First off there are channel cats in Utah and close to SLC. I'm not sure of the cat size you're used to, but I expect ours are probably smaller than what you're used too. But we have fun with them just as well and we have a big catfish contest on BFT each summer. Last years reigning champion hails from just south of SLC in Utah Lake. Best fish was 32" last year with the best 3 fish total at 92" if I remember correctly. BLK correct me if I missed your score. Anyway Jordon River has cats on the west side of SLC, further north Willard bay has the tastiest cats but not as big and further north the Bear River has some cats. There is a fairly active cat crew that's very willing to help get you going with Tube Dude even doing white paper write ups about local ponds and techniques. If you're into local in town cats there are many community ponds with catfish as well. So what I'm trying to say is you don't have to turn to a trout fisherman if you don't want to.

What part of OK were you from? I get sent to Ok city for work quite often I may need to pick your brain before my next trip so I know where to try after work. Anyway welcome to the Utah board and we hope you enjoy the area, we sure do. Later J
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[Okiecatman]

I'm from about an hour and a half east of Oklahoma City about 13 miles north of Tulsa we have excellent catfishing here blue Cats flatheads and channel cat a lot in the range of 25 to 70 pounds if you get to Oklahoma before I move I would be more than happy to put you on Catfish here and not much chance of me turning into a trout fishermen although I would like to see what all Utah has to offer I attached a few pictures of what were used to down here if you make it before I move I'm sure its a lot different up there
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[Okiecatman]

sorry new to this still trying to figure out how to post
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[wagdog]

Even though I'm from Texas, I'll still help out an Okie. I've lived here in Utah since 2004. I thought all there was to fish for was trout so I didn't start fishing until 2007 when I picked up a fishing guidebook at Sportsmans Warehouse. Here's the deal:

1. You won't be catching any blue cats or flat heads. There are channel cats and bullheads. Utah Lake and Willard Bay both have plenty of channel cats that are great eating.

2. There is lots of decent fishing for other warm water species: bluegill, black crappie, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, yellow perch

3. You can't use live bait. You can't use minnows that you caught at Lake Whatever and use them for bait at Lake Whatever if they are alive. Gotta be dead or you could get a ticket. You can use cut bait but bluegill aren't allowed to be used as bait.

4. You can put out a trot line if you buy the permit. I believe you are limited to 15 hooks.

5. If you stay here long enough, you should try ice fishing just for fun.

I hear you about not wanting to be a trout fisherman. I was the same way. However there are lots of opportunities to catch big fish if you are willing to give trout fishing a try. Fish Lake and Flaming Gorge both have big lake trout in them. That is more of a drive for you than going to Utah Lake or Willard Bay for some channel cats though. There are lots of places to catch trout if you get to the point that you just want to go catch SOMETHING.

I didn't eat trout for the first two years that I fished for them. I ate a newly stocked trout from a lake in the Uinta mountains years ago as a teenager and swore I would never do that again. Because of this forum and good fishing buddies, I've realized that the body of water the trout comes out of has a huge impact on the quality and flavor of the meat. Deep reservoirs with lots of forage (like Deer Creek and Starvation) produce some tank rainbow trout that have bright red to orange meat like salmon. Very good smoked, baked, steamed, and FRIED.

Hope you stick around and enjoy fishing out here. It has been a blast for me.
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[albinotrout]

Welcome to BFT and Utah. You have been given several gear places to try for cats. There are others but they are a bit of a drive. Looking forward to seeing you on the catfish contest. Go team south!
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[SkunkedAgain]

Yeah, you will likely have to down scale your catfish gear... Most of the fish here run 24" or so and are around 4 -5 lbs... The bigger fish hit 10-12 lbs... You hear stories of bigger fish, but I've never seen a verified fish over 15 lbs... But I think you'll find lots of stuff to try and enjoy... Good luck and keep in touch... If I get out there I'll contact you a head of time... Thanks J
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[Kent]

Welcome to BFT and thanks for posting.

Maybe I'm unusual, but if I were moving to a new part of the country I would first want to target fish that I have not already been catching. I would eventually likely also get around to fishing for the fish that I am used to catching, but I would first want to experience catching new species of fish.
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[setthehook]

Welcome!!

we do have some monsters here!
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[SkunkedAgain]

When did you guys pull in that second one? Was it from the same pond? Nice fish. Now remind me what the first one weighed? It's the state C&R record right? Later J
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[setthehook]

Second one I caught several years ago. Yes They both came out of the same stretch of the bear. First one measured 36" it was been beaten as the state c&r record in 2015 by a 1/2". both fish where 25+lbs.
I'm hoping that cutler comes back this year. Fishing surely declined since all the dam draining.
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[SkunkedAgain]

Wow they sure are nice fish, didn't see it had been beat, but it's still a dang nice fish, both of them are. I'm with you hoping for better cat years to come. Last year was tough for me, fished way more and only found 27 - 28" ers as my biggest for the year and the best was on a set line so it didn't count for the contest. Let's hope next year will improve. Later J
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[makinawfisher19]

You could probably catch some catfish at Utah Lake or the Bear river near Brigham City.
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[Okiecatman]

I am looking forward to the new species of fish but first and foremost I'm always looking for places to catch cats
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