There are several great fishing spots in and round the Grand Staircase National Monument. Below is a list of some of the more notable areas with some information about each.

Barker Reservoir

Site description: This area is an extreme southeast extension of Boulder Mountain. The area was developed for sport fishing recreation beginning with a Utah Division of Wildlife Resources project that dates back to 1959. At that time, water rights were acquired from the local irrigation company allowing storage for fisheries in the headwaters of the North Creek drainage.

Fish-able lakes include: Barker Reservoir, Lower Barker Reservoir, Blue Lake, Flat Lake, Yellow Lake, Joe Lay Reservoir, Dougherty Basin Lake, Tall Four Lake, Round Willow Bottoms Reservoir, Long Willow Bottoms Reservoir, and other beaver ponds. The gravel access road extends to within a few hundred feet of Barker and Lower Barker Reservoir, and a trail system provides walk-in access to the other waters.

The Barker reservoirs provide good fishing for rainbow and brook trout. Arctic grayling were introduced into the two Barker reservoirs in 2006 on an experimental basis. These fish will still be very small in 2007 and will likely not reach catchable size until 2008 or after. Flat, Yellow, and Joe Lay contain brook trout. Dougherty Basin and Tall Four contain native Colorado River cutthroat trout originating from local streams and are used as brood stock lakes.

• Location: Southern Utah, Garfield County, NW of Escalante
• Size: 1-12 acres
• Elevation: 9500-9850 ft
• Likely catch: Brook Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout, Tiger Trout
• Regulations: Most waters have general state-wide rules, but some seasonal closures. Restrictive catch and release rules apply at Dougherty Basin Lake – see the current fishing proclamation for details.

Wide Hollow Reservoir

Site description: Because of its relatively low elevation, Wide Hollow Reservoir is accessible year-round. It is especially popular in early spring when other higher elevation locations are still frozen.

Bank bait fishing is popular for trout. A bobber and worm combination is effective for bluegill and a good method for kids. This method also works well in shallow water. Float tubes and small boats can be used to access all areas of the reservoir and can be effective tools for the more serious bass angler.

• Location: Southern Utah, Garfield County, W of Escalante
• Size: 145 acres at full pool
• Elevation: 5,931 ft
• Likely catch: Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, Rainbow Trout
• Regulations: General state-wide rules apply. Trout limit of 4, largemouth bass limit of 6, and bluegill limit of 50. See the current Utah Fishing Guide (proclamation) for details.

Otter Creek Reservoir

Site Description: Otter Creek Reservoir has a well-deserved reputation as one of the best trout producers in southern Utah. When conditions are right, the reservoir is one of the most popular fisheries in the state and literally pumps out thousands of pounds of rainbow trout a year. Located about 50 miles south of Richfield, it is one of the oldest dam projects in Utah. At full pool it covers over 2,500 acres and is one of the primary irrigation storage reservoirs in the Sevier River basin. It is one of the most productive lakes in Utah, with stocked rainbow trout gaining over an inch a month at times.

This is a good spot for both shore and boat anglers. Try powerbait or worm and marshmallow combination off any of the points on the west side or near the dam and campground. Trolling popgear and a worm or any popular lure or spinner is also effective.

Smallmouth bass have been a recent addition to the sport fishery at Otter Creek Reservoir. Bass were introduced as a biological control to keep the numbers of Utah chub in check. The combination rainbow trout and smallmouth bass has worked well at a number of other waters in the state and angler interest in smallmouth continues to grow.

• Location: Piute County
• Size: 5 sq. miles
• Elevation: 6,400 feet
• Likely catch: Rainbow Trout
• Regulations: General statewide regulations, including a limit of four trout and six bass