Terry Ditch

UT Bowfishing

Fishing with archery tackle—also called bowfishing—is allowed in most Utah waterbodies but only for nonprotected, nongame fish such as carp. And within that limitation, there are waters where you may bowfish for carp only (see Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Fishing Guidebook).In most areas, bowfishing is allowed at night with the use of spotlights. There are a few notable exceptions: The tributaries of Utah Lake are closed to bowfishing at night (sunset to sunrise) from May 7 until 6 a.m. on July 9. A few other lakes, including Lake Powell, have closed areas. If you're wondering about a specific waterbody, see the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Fishing Guidebook or call the Division office that manages that particular fishery.You may use a crossbow to take carp at any open water statewide. You may not use a crossbow to take any other species of fish.Please remember that archery tackle and crossbows are considered weapons and cannot be discharged within 600 feet of a structure.

UT Underwater Spearfishing

Underwater spearfishing hours are fromofficial sunrise to official sunset. It is illegal touse artificial light while underwater spearfishing,and free shafting is prohibited.The waters listed below are open to underwaterspearfishing for game fish from Jan. 1through Dec. 31.Unless otherwise noted, you may usespearfishing to take any legal species withinthe daily limits, length limits and seasonalclosures that apply to each waterbody:Big Sand Wash Reservoir (Duchesne County)Blue Lake, for pacu and tilapia only (Tooele County)Brown's Draw Reservoir (Duchesne County)Causey Reservoir (Weber County)Electric Lake (Emery County)Grantsville Reservoir (Tooele County)Jordan River, for northern pike only (Salt Lake and Utah counties)Newcastle Reservoir, for wipers and rainbow trout only (Iron County)Porcupine Reservoir (Cache County)Quail Creek Reservoir, for smallmouth bass only (Washington County)Recapture Reservoir (San Juan County)Sand Lake (Summit County)Smith and Morehouse Reservoir (Summit County)Utah Lake, for northern pike and white bass only (Utah County) Utah Lake tributaries, including but not limited to the following tributaries west of I-15: American Fork Creek, Beer Creek, Dry Creek, Hobble Creek, Spanish Fork River, Spring Creek and Spring Creek Run; for northern pike only (Utah County). Spearfishing is not permitted in the Provo River or Provo River Delta.Willard Bay Reservoir (Box Elder County) Yuba Reservoir (Juab and Sanpete counties)There are a few exceptions to spearfishing regulations:At Fish Lake (Sevier County), you may underwater spearfish for all fish species from 6 a.m. on June 4 until official sunset on Sept. 9.At Flaming Gorge (Daggett County), you can underwater spearfish for burbot from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 24 hours per day. You can also use artificial light while spearfishing for burbot at this reservoir. All possession limits and seasonal closures apply, regardless of the angling technique you use. (This includes the statewide seasonal closure on kokanee salmon from Sept. 10 to Nov. 30, 2024.)Restrictions on spearfishing for bassThe waters listed below are open to underwater spearfishing for game fish from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, but you may not use spearfishing to take largemouth and smallmouth bass from April 1 through June 22, 2024:Deer Creek Reservoir (Wasatch County)East Canyon Reservoir (Morgan County)Echo Reservoir (Summit County)Flaming Gorge Reservoir (Daggett County)Lake Powell (Garfield, Kane and San Juan counties)Pineview Reservoir, except closed year round to the take of tiger muskie (Weber County)Red Fleet Reservoir (Uintah County)Rockport Reservoir (Summit County)Starvation Reservoir (Duchesne County)Steinaker Reservoir (Uintah County) When you are spearfishing for bass at the above waterbodies, all daily limits and length limits apply.