West Fork Reservoir

West Fork Reservoir in Garfield County is a reservoir in Utah and covers about 0.7 acres, reaches about 9.3 feet at its deepest point and holds roughly 3 acre-feet.

Because this water is small, one weed edge or deeper pocket can hold much of the day’s activity; watch for food before choosing lure depth. This water is shallow, so weeds, wind, and water color can matter more than depth alone; use a moving lure to search.

Fish and Baits

The fish mix here is not confirmed, so check fresh local information before choosing a target or keeping a catch; begin over firm bottom, then make one pass close to bottom.

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; test the quiet side before the windy side, then keep the first route short.

How to Read the Water

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; begin over firm bottom, then use a smaller lure in clear water.

Season by Season

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; work the best shade during bright hours, then separate open-water fish from bank fish.

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 rock and weeds as separate patterns, then test a point before fishing a featureless bank.

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; use water color to choose the first lure, then use wind to narrow the search.