Guide To Popular Panfish Fishing Options In Utah

All about fishing for sunfish in UT lakes and ponds.

Throughout the state of Utah you can find waters with populations of sunfish, including bluegill, green sunfish, white bass and yellow perch. Ice fishing for perch and sunfish draws anglers of all ages during winter.

Panfish & Perch Lakes

Panfish seem to be found everywhere. Ponds, creeks, rivers and small lakes generally have one or more species of panfish. Major Utah lakes with a significant population of sunfish include Deer Creek Reservoir, Fish Lake, Jordanelle Reservoir, Lake Powell, Pineview Reservoir, Sevier Bridge Reservoir, Starvation Lake and Utah Lake.

Top Producing Panfish Lures & Bait

Check out the top producing lures and bait for bluegill, redear sunfish, rock bass and warmouth, as well as other smaller sunfish. Click here for the best lures for white bass, yellow bass, white perch and yellow perch.

Click the images and links above for species details.

Utah State Record Sunfish

The state record bluegill was caught from Mantua Reservoir.

The state record green sunfish came from Glassman Pond.

The state record white bass came from Utah Lake.

The state record yellow perch was caught from Yuba Reservoir.

The term "panfish" comprises many species, each called by a variety of names. The bluegill tops the list and is the most common.

One or more species of sunfish populate virtually all warm water streams, ponds and lakes throughout Utah, and around the world for that matter. They can survive in waters that provide their natural food source of minnows, insects, crustaceans and worms. Their competitive nature amongst themselves, for food, makes them relatively easy to catch.

Bluegill Fishing Basics Video

The core principles shown in this video will work for most sunfish, perch and other panfish.

Panfish are prolific spawners and repopulate the waters as fast as they are harvested. A common problem with panfish fishing is that the waters are under-fished causing panfish to overpopulate. As a result they tend to stay small in size due to lack of food source.

Sunfish information in other states.