Jordanelle Reservoir is a reservoir in Utah, near Wasatch County.
Stocking records show that the following fish or strains were stocked here. A historical stocking does not by itself prove that a self-sustaining population remains today.
Jordanelle Reservoir is a Provo River reservoir in Wasatch County, Utah. At capacity it covers about 3,068 acres and holds roughly 320,300 acre-feet.
Wind can change Jordanelle Reservoir quickly, so pick one manageable section and learn it before crossing open water. Deep water at Jordanelle Reservoir gives fish room to move away from shore as summer heat and bright light build.
Jordanelle is a Provo River holdover reservoir built to store water through long dry cycles. Steep points, flooded river turns, broad coves, and changing levels support both trout and bass patterns.
Smallmouth bass fit rock and sharp points, trout use cool open water and river influence, and perch or panfish need smaller jigs near cover. Kokanee should be searched for away from the bank.
Reclamation lists about 3,068 acres and 320,300 acre-feet at capacity. The dam stands upstream from Heber City and helps regulate water that once depended on many smaller headwater reservoirs.
Utah’s catch-and-release smallmouth bass record came from Jordanelle. Fish the lower step of a rocky point, not only the visible shoreline rock, when larger bass are the goal.
Water released from the reservoir feeds the Provo River below. Near the river end, flow and cooler water can create a different trout plan than the clear, steep dam-side basin.
Fish listed for Jordanelle Reservoir include Black Crappie, Bluegill, Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Common Carp, Cutthroat Trout, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Kokanee Salmon, Rainbow Trout, Utah Chub, Utah Sucker, Wiper, and Yellow Perch.
To begin with yellow perch on this water, keep a small jig tipped with a worm or minnow close to bottom on a shelf.
At Jordanelle Reservoir, try this for black crappie: fish a small jig or minnow around wood, weeds, and sharp little drops.
At Jordanelle Reservoir, try this for bluegill: use a small jig, worm, or tiny plastic around green weeds and protected pockets.
At Jordanelle Reservoir, try this for smallmouth bass: drag a tube or Ned rig across rock and the hard edge of a point.
Other targets listed here include Largemouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, and Common Carp; give each one its own bait and depth instead of trying to catch everything with the same rig.
Channel Catfish, Splake, and Tiger Muskie have also been stocked here; that proves fish were released, but it does not promise that they are still common or easy to catch.
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; try firm bottom before soft silt, then fish the edge from top to bottom.
Start here: early in the year, protected water and the first warm afternoon can be the best clues; as the water heats up, check deeper edges without assuming every fish is on the bottom; cooling fall water often makes points and firm banks useful again.
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; check a protected pocket after sunrise, then use the same depth on the next similar feature.
At Jordanelle Reservoir, 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.
Keep the first hour simple: use one moving bait to find active fish, slow down with a jig or natural bait on the best edge, and repeat the same setup when two bites come from matching depth and bottom during that part of the trip; keep one slow bait ready.
The key difference is that jordanelle is a Provo River holdover reservoir built to store water through long dry cycles.
For a first trip, smallmouth bass fit rock and sharp points, trout use cool open water and river influence, and perch or panfish need smaller jigs near cover.
Do not let the largest depth or an old stocking note replace current water conditions, food, and the confirmed fish list; work the best shade during bright hours, then keep the bait near useful cover.
Explore nearby waters, including local Featured destinations. Check each page for access and fishing restrictions.
Distances are straight-line estimates between mapped water locations.