Ice Fishing For Rainbow Trout on Strawberry Reservoir

Strawberry Reservoir is probably the most popular ice fishing destination in the state of Utah. The fish are big, the reservoir is big, and its not to far of a drive from most of the state. Ice also stays on the water until well into April most years, and occasionally into May. I’m writing this in the middle of April, and this year we may have ice until the middle of June. Targeting Rainbow Trout while ice fishing on Strawberry Reservoir is a blast, and is one of my favorite winter and spring traditions. I’ve put together a guide on how you can specifically catch more rainbows through the ice.

How to Catch More Rainbows and Less Cutthroats

Strawberry can grow some nice cutthroats, but if you’re trying to catch some fish to take home for dinner, pulling more and more cutthroats through the ice isn’t as productive. Finding a slot buster can be hard. If I’m looking for eaters, I am there targeting rainbows. I’ve fished Strawberry quite a bit, and I’ve also studied the forums to see what other people are doing to have success. This article puts all of this together to help you land more rainbows.

Depth:

I’ve had more luck with rainbows fishing close to the bottom at Strawberry. Usually there are fish within the bottom 5 feet, and then there are some about 10-15 feet down when I’m ice fishing. When I’m targeting the lower fish, I catch more rainbows. When I’m at strawberry ice fishing, I like to fish in 20-30 feet of water while ice fishing.

Use the Right Bait:

Rainbow trout at times prefer different baits than cutthroat trout. The go to bait ice fishing at strawberry are white jigs, but these will catch just about everything. Rainbow trout may be more likely to go for powerbaits or worms, while cutthroat trout may prefer the flashy jigs and baits. Experiment with different types of bait to see what works best. It can also vary day by day.

Fish in the Right Areas:

Rainbow trout and cutthroat trout often prefer different areas of the lake. For example, research has shown that rainbow trout may be more likely to hang out in faster-moving water, while cutthroat trout may prefer slower-moving water. Try fishing in different areas to see where you have the most success. I fished as near as I felt comfortable getting to the inlet by the ladders one day and only caught rainbows that day. Different areas of the lake are thought to have higher populations of rainbows as well. People claim that Renegade has more rainbows. I tested this during the summer, out trolling, and I caught a lot more rainbows there as well, so I think that holds true. I just don’t usually go all the way out there. It’s a couple miles ride on a snow machine, or a miserable hike to get out there. Most of the rest of the lake can be hit or miss for rainbows. If they’re there, they’re there.

Adjust Your Fishing Techniques:

Different fishing techniques can be more effective for different types of fish. For example, if you’re catching a lot of cutthroat trout using a certain technique, try switching it up to see if you can catch more rainbow trout.

Quality of Rainbow Trout at Strawberry

The rainbow trout at Strawberry are some of the best tasting fish I’ve ever caught, especially during ice fishing season. They were extremely fat, and were delicious. These 3 fish were all about 16-18″ long and fed my family of 4 for 2 meals. The fish are really healthy. Additionally, having the fish go directly on ice after catching them really helps with maintaining the highest quality cooking product. There is little to no chance of spoilage. This latest batch of trout my wife thought tasted the most like store bought salmon of any fish I’ve caught. That’s a complement from here. She is picky on fish. I think kokanee are better, but these fish were the closest to kokanee I’ve ever had trout taste.

Utah Kokanee Fishing Regulations

Fishing regulations can change at any time, so we recommend that you check on the latest Utah fishing regulations before you hit the lake.

Strawberry Reservoir Cutthroat Trout Regulations

• No more than 2 of your limit of 4 trout/kokanee may be cutthroat trout under 15 inches, and no more than 1 may be a cutthroat trout over 22 inches.
• All cutthroat trout from 15 to 22 inches must be immediately released.
• Anglers are encouraged to voluntarily release all cutthroat trout.
• trout and salmon may not be filleted, and the heads or tails may not be removed in the field or in transit.
• Any trout with cutthroat characteristics (not necessarily jaw slashing) is considered to be a cutthroat trout.

Fishing regulations can change at any time, so we recommend that you check on the latest fishing regulations before you hit the lake.