SLC Fishing Report: Mild Weather, Ample Daylight, and Hungry Fish Before Fall

Friday morning, September 5th, and this is Artificial Lure bringing you Salt Lake City’s freshest fishing report. We've had a string of mild nights, and today’s weather is shaping up beautifully—sunny skies, low humidity, a gentle breeze, and highs in the upper 70s. Sunrise came early at 6:55 AM, and we’re expecting sunset at 7:52 PM, giving anglers plenty of daylight for one last big summer outing before the fall chill really sets in. No need to check the tides here—these lakes are all freshwater—but water levels at some reservoirs are a little low after this hot stretch, so keep an eye out for exposed structure and shallow-water fishing opportunities. Local reports from Utah Lake and Oquirrh Lake highlight decent action on channel catfish, common carp, bluegill, and the always-popular largemouth and smallmouth bass. Anglers at Utah Lake have been hauling in solid cats at night on cut bait and stink baits. Early risers are picking off bluegill and crappie in the shallows near weed beds using live worms and small jigs. At Blackridge Reservoir in Herriman, families are having luck tightlining bits of nightcrawler for panfish and tossing swimbaits or soft plastics for the occasional bass. The north end rocks and inlet areas have been especially productive as the water warms up midmorning. The Provo River is running clear and is a consistent hotspot, especially early or at dusk. Fly fishers drifting beadhead nymphs and dry flies have been rewarded with steady action on rainbow and brown trout. Streamers fished deep through pockets have turned up some husky fish, especially on overcast evenings. Pack a handful of elk hair caddis or a #16 Blue Wing Olive if you’re chasing rising fish near the riffles. For bass fanatics, pros at Fishbrain note that soft plastics like 5” Senkos, Yamamoto Slinkos, and the Big Bite Baits Scentsation Cliffhanger Worm excel for both largemouth and smallmouth this week. Ned rigs and Texas rigs fished slowly off rocky points have led to strong hook-ups, especially in clearer water. Spinnerbaits and vibrating jigs in shad or green pumpkin are triggers for reaction bites when the wind kicks up in the afternoon. Catfish are still going strong at night, particularly on Utah Lake with chicken liver or fresh-cut shad. If you’re targeting carp—especially at Pelican Lake—Utah DWR is actively encouraging a heavy harvest to control their numbers. Bowfishing is popular, but traditional corn or dough baits will do the trick just fine if you’re set up along the reeds. Recent catch info from local shops spotlights good numbers of channel cats up to 10 pounds, common carp by the armload, crappie in the 10- to 12-inch range, and smallmouth bass over 15 inches in the deeper rocky pockets. Top recommended baits: - Nightcrawlers and mealworms for panfish - Soft plastic worms and swimbaits for bass - Cut bait or chicken liver for cats - Corn or dough baits (or try fly gear!) for carp A couple of hot spots to put on your map: - The Lindo This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.