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Brown Trout

Brown Trout

Brown Trout are a non-native European species introduced to Utah in the 1880s that have become one of the state's most popular and successful game fish.

Originally from Germany, these adaptable predators now thrive throughout Utah's cold-water fisheries, from high alpine lakes to major tailwater rivers.

Scientific Name: Salmo trutta

Physical Characteristics:
  • Distinguished by their golden-brown bodies with black and red spots surrounded by pale halos, and can live over 10 years while growing to more than 20 inches in wild Utah waters.

What to know

Habitat Distribution

  • Widely distributed across the state, thriving in tailwaters like the Green, Provo, and Weber Rivers, as well as reservoirs and high-elevation lakes in the Uinta and Boulder Mountains.

Key Locations

  • Green River below Flaming Gorge (12,000 trout per mile with crystal-clear water), Middle and Lower Provo River sections accessible via U.S.-189, Weber River from Coalville to Morgan, Sevier River near Marysvale for less pressured fishing, and high-elevation lakes in the Boulder and Uinta Mountains.
  • The Fremont River offers exceptional brown trout fishing in a unique desert setting, though access is challenging.

Brown Trout FAQ

Answers from onWater's species guide.

What flies work for Brown Trout in Utah?

Elk Hair Caddis (#12-16) for versatile imitation of multiple insects; Blue Wing Olives (#18-22) during winter/spring hatches; Pheasant Tail Nymphs (#16-22) as the most productive subsurface pattern; Chernobyl Ants (#8-12) for summer terrestrial fishing; and Woolly Buggers (#4-8) in black, olive, or white for streamer...

When is the best time to fish for Brown Trout in Utah?

Spring (March-May) offers excellent opportunities as browns actively feed on Blue Wing Olives and midges during the warmest parts of the day (12:30-3:00 PM).

How do you catch Brown Trout in Utah?

Euro-nymphing with tungsten patterns in spring, hopper-dropper rigs in summer, swinging sculpins at dusk in fall, and winter midge fishing with tiny patterns (#20-24) on light tippet. Night fishing with mouse patterns during full moons can produce monster browns.

What do Brown Trout eat?

Aggressive carnivores that adapt their diet based on size and season. Young browns primarily eat aquatic insects like mayflies, caddisflies, and midges, while mature fish (12+ inches) become increasingly piscivorous, feeding on sculpins, crayfish, smaller trout, and even rodents.

Where do Brown Trout live in Utah?

Widely distributed across the state, thriving in tailwaters like the Green, Provo, and Weber Rivers, as well as reservoirs and high-elevation lakes in the Uinta and Boulder Mountains.

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