How to Fish Lake Bonneville

Lake Bonneville fishing FAQ

How do you catch Smallmouth Bass on Lake Bonneville in Spring (Pre-Spawn)?

Water temp 52-60°F. Fish are staging near spawning areas but still actively feeding, primarily relating to boulder fields and rocky structure Actively feeding during warming trends, with a mix of bottom-feeding and suspended fish chasing baitfish Key locations: Boulder fields and rocky areas in pre-spawn staging zones; Secondary points with rock-to-gravel transitions; Protected rocky coves that warm quickly. Best techniques: Tubes worked slowly around boulders, Finesse Jigs with subtle bottom contact, Drop Shot with subtle movements in deeper staging areas. Primary forage: Shad suspended near structure, Perch relating to rocky areas, Crawfish emerging from winter patterns. Best bait colors: Natural Shad Colors, Natural Craw Colors, Dark Neutrals.

How do you catch Sturgeon on Lake Bonneville in Spring (Pre-Spawn)?

Water temp 45-55°F. Pre-spawn sturgeon are becoming more active as water temperatures rise, primarily feeding in deeper areas near rocky structure and transitional zones Fish are making feeding movements from wintering holes to pre-spawn staging areas, following shad and crawfish forage Key locations: Deep boulder fields and rocky structure in 20-40 feet of water; Transition areas between rocky structure and deeper basins; Areas where deep water meets prominent points with rock structure. Best techniques: Live Bait Rigs with heavy weights fished directly on bottom near structure, Vertical Jigging Deep (20'+) with large soft plastics or cut bait. Primary forage: Shad schools congregating in deeper water, Crawfish emerging from winter dormancy in rocky areas. Best bait colors: Natural Shad Colors, Natural Craw Colors, Dark Neutrals.

How do you catch Smallmouth Bass on Lake Bonneville in Spring (Spawn)?

Water temp 56-65°F. Smallmouth bass are in spawn/pre-spawn mode, actively defending nesting areas near boulder-rich areas and transitioning between staging and spawning locations Fish are showing dual feeding patterns - some actively pursuing shad while others focusing on bottom-oriented prey like crawfish, as evidenced by recent catch reports Key locations: Boulder fields and rocky areas, particularly those adjacent to spawning flats; Submerged vegetation near hard bottom areas; Transition areas between shallow spawning flats and deeper staging areas. Best techniques: Drop Shot with finesse presentations, working slowly through boulder fields, Hard Jerkbaits worked with longer pauses to target pre-spawn fish, Ned Rigs dragged slowly along bottom structure, Texas Rigs worked through vegetation mimicking crawfish movement. Primary forage: Shad schools in pre-spawn staging areas, Crawfish emerging in rocky areas and vegetation, Small bottom-dwelling baitfish near structure. Best bait colors: Natural Craw Colors, Natural Shad Colors, Pink Colors.

How do you catch Sturgeon on Lake Bonneville in Spring (Spawn)?

Water temp 45-55°F. Sturgeon are moving to shallow spawning areas near rocky shorelines and river mouths, typically holding in pre-spawn staging areas at moderate depths before moving shallower Fish are more active in cooler water temperatures, showing increased feeding activity as they prepare for spawning Key locations: Rocky shorelines and boulder fields in 15-25 foot depths for pre-spawn staging; Shallow rocky flats and gravel areas in 5-15 feet for active spawning; Tributary mouths and current areas with rock or gravel bottom. Best techniques: Live Bait Rigs with heavy weights positioned near boulder fields, Vertical Jigging Deep (20'+) in staging areas, Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19') as fish move shallower. Primary forage: Shad schools in deeper staging areas, Crawfish becoming active in rocky areas, Various bottom-dwelling organisms in gravel spawning areas. Best bait colors: Natural Shad Colors, Vibrant Craw Colors, Dark Neutrals.

How do you catch Smallmouth Bass on Lake Bonneville in Spring (Post-Spawn)?

Water temp 58-65°F. Post-spawn smallmouth actively feeding and recovering, transitioning from spawning areas to early summer patterns Fish are showing aggressive feeding behavior around grass edges and boulder areas, particularly on moving baits as evidenced by spinnerbait success Key locations: Grass edges adjacent to boulder fields where recent catches have been reported; Rocky points and transition areas near spawning flats; Secondary points with mixed grass and rock structure. Best techniques: Spinnerbaits worked along grass edges and over boulders, Soft Jerkbaits for suspended fish transitioning between areas, Tubes worked around boulder fields. Primary forage: Shad - primary forage based on recent fishing reports, Crawfish - abundant in rocky areas during this season. Best bait colors: Natural Shad Colors, Vibrant Craw Colors.

How do you catch Sturgeon on Lake Bonneville in Spring (Post-Spawn)?

Water temp 48-62°F. Post-spawn sturgeon are actively feeding to recover energy, primarily targeting shad and crawfish in rocky areas Fish are transitioning from deeper winter haunts to moderate depths, following optimal temperature zones Showing increased activity levels with warming water, but still preferring cooler, deeper sections Key locations: Deep boulder fields near drop-offs in 20-35 foot range; Rocky points and irregular shoreline features with access to deep water; Channel edges with rocky structure adjacent to spawning areas. Best techniques: Live Bait Rigs with heavy weights positioned near bottom structure, Vertical Jigging Deep (20'+) with large soft plastics, Trolling Deep (20'+) along contour breaks near rocky structure. Primary forage: Shad schools congregating in pre-summer patterns, Crawfish becoming more active in rocky areas, Various bottom-dwelling forage fish in rocky habitat. Best bait colors: Natural Shad Colors, Natural Craw Colors, Dark Neutrals.

How do you catch Smallmouth Bass on Lake Bonneville in Summer?

Water temp 65-71°F. Actively feeding on mixed forage including shad schools and crawfish, with frequent chasing behavior in open water and around structure Utilizing multiple depth zones throughout the day, moving deeper during bright conditions and pursuing bait in the water column Key locations: Boulder fields and rock piles where crawfish are present; Open water areas with active shad schools; Deep rocky points with access to both shallow and deep water. Best techniques: Umbrella Rigs when fish are actively chasing shad schools, Structure Jigs worked through boulder fields, Deep Diving Crankbaits (13'+) along rocky points, Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) for matching various forage. Primary forage: Shad schools, Crawfish in rocky areas, Perch around structure. Best bait colors: Natural Shad Colors, Natural Craw Colors, Natural Baitfish Colors.

How do you catch Sturgeon on Lake Bonneville in Summer?

Water temp 65-75°F. Sturgeon are typically holding in deeper, cooler water during summer months, making feeding forays into medium depths during low-light periods Fish are more active during dawn and dusk, following shad schools and feeding on crawfish in rocky areas Key locations: Deep boulder fields adjacent to flats where shad schools congregate; Rocky points and deep structural transitions in 20-35 foot depth range; Deep water sections near river channel bends with rocky substrate. Best techniques: Live Bait Rigs with heavy weights positioned just off the bottom, Vertical Jigging Deep (20'+) with large soft plastics or cut bait. Primary forage: Shad schools in open water and along depth transitions, Crawfish in rocky areas and boulder fields. Best bait colors: Natural Shad Colors, Natural Craw Colors, Dark Neutrals.

How do you catch Smallmouth Bass on Lake Bonneville in Fall?

Water temp 54-65°F. Fish are actively feeding on baitfish schools, following shad movements to deeper main lake areas Transitioning between summer and winter patterns, making frequent depth changes based on water temperature and baitfish location Key locations: Deep rocky points adjacent to main lake areas where baitfish schools congregate; Steep break lines with boulder structure in 15-25 foot range; Secondary points with mixed rock and grass in transition areas. Best techniques: Drop Shot with small profile baits worked slowly near bottom structure, Blade Baits worked vertically through suspended baitfish schools, Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) retrieved at varying speeds to match baitfish movement. Primary forage: Shad schools moving to deeper water, Crawfish remaining active on rocky structure, Small perch around grass edges. Best bait colors: Natural Shad Colors, Natural Craw Colors, Metallic Colors.

How do you catch Sturgeon on Lake Bonneville in Fall?

Water temp 48-58°F. Sturgeon are transitioning to deeper winter holding areas, feeding heavily on shad schools to build energy reserves for winter Most active during low-light periods, moving between deep holding areas and feeding zones around structure Key locations: Deep boulder fields near channel edges in 20-35 feet of water; Rocky points and drop-offs where shad schools congregate; Deep holes adjacent to rocky structure. Best techniques: Live Bait Rigs with heavy weights (1-3 oz) positioned directly on bottom, Vertical Jigging Deep (20'+) with large soft plastics or cut bait. Primary forage: Shad schools congregating in deeper water, Crawfish in rocky areas. Best bait colors: Natural Shad Colors, Natural Craw Colors, Dark Neutrals.

How do you catch Sturgeon on Lake Bonneville in Winter?

Water temp 45-52°F. Sturgeon are concentrated in deeper, stable temperature areas during winter, moving less but still feeding opportunistically Most active during early morning hours as evidenced by the 6 AM success in fishing report Key locations: Deep boulder fields where shad concentrate in winter; Deep holes near rocky structure providing winter holding areas; Channel edges with rocky substrate where forage gathers. Best techniques: Live Bait Rigs positioned near bottom structure, Vertical Jigging Deep (20'+) with heavy presentations, Trolling Deep (20'+) along channel edges. Primary forage: Shad congregating in winter schools, Crawfish in rocky areas, Small bottom-dwelling fish. Best bait colors: Natural Shad Colors, Natural Baitfish Colors, Dark Neutrals.