Bess Lake

Bess Lake is a lake in Garfield County, Utah and covers about 4.5 acres, reaches about 9.6 feet at its deepest point and holds roughly 17.1 acre-feet.

Bess Lake is small water, so a careful lap around the bank can show most of the useful cover. With little deep water in Bess Lake, weeds, wind, and water color can matter more than depth alone.

Fish and Baits

Fish listed for Bess Lake include Cutthroat Trout, and Rainbow Trout.

To begin with rainbow trout on Bess Lake, cast a small spoon, inline spinner, light jig, or fly through cool water.

Arctic Grayling, and Brook Trout have also been stocked here; that proves fish were released, but it does not promise that they are still common or easy to catch.

How to Read the Water

At Bess Lake, make one shallow pass and one deeper pass on the same shoreline; that shows whether fish are tight to cover or using the first break.

Season by Season

In spring, start with warming banks, creek mouths, and shallow cover; summer usually pushes the better bite toward the outside weed edge or a nearby drop; fall can bring bait back to windblown points, while winter calls for smaller moves and a slower pace; use the old channel as a guide.

A Simple Tackle Plan

A light spinning rod, thin line, a few small spoons, inline spinners, and jigs cover the listed trout; carry one slightly heavier setup when other fish or windy water call for more control; work the best shade during bright hours, then give low-light water a slower bottom pass.

Record the wind, water color, productive depth, and cover after a bite; those four notes are more useful on the next trip than a long list of spots that did not produce; try deeper shade during summer afternoons, then repeat the depth that gives the first bite.