First Lake

First Lake is a lake in Iron County, Utah and covers about 0.5 acres, reaches about 6.1 feet at its deepest point and holds roughly 1.2 acre-feet.

The small size of First Lake makes quiet casts and short moves more useful than carrying a pile of tackle. With little deep water in First Lake, weeds, wind, and water color can matter more than depth alone.

Fish and Baits

The fish mix here is not confirmed, so check fresh local information before choosing a target or keeping a catch; fish one point at two depths, then use the old channel as a guide.

At First Lake, begin with one slow bottom presentation and one moving bait, then let bites show whether fish are holding close to cover or roaming open water.

How to Read the Water

Use wind as a clue; a light push can carry food toward a bank, but hard wind may muddy it, so look for a clean edge near a point or protected pocket; change depth before changing the whole spot, then make the next cast parallel to the edge.

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; cast across the point tip, then separate open water from cover.

A Simple Tackle Plan

A medium spinning rod, 8-pound line, a small box of jigs, a few crankbaits, and a simple bottom rig cover most situations; change depth or speed before changing every piece of tackle; check the downwind corner for food, then let a light jig fall beside the break.

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 the strongest cover, then follow bait before changing areas.