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Utah Division of Wildlife Resources fish culturalist Liz Bergin shows a rainbow trout being raised at the Springville Hatchery on Tuesday, March 31, 2026.

Jacob Nielson, Daily Herald

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Utah Division of Wildlife Resources fish culturalist Liz Bergin shows a rainbow trout being raised at the Springville Hatchery on Tuesday, March 31, 2026.

Jacob Nielson, Daily Herald

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Utah Division of Wildlife Resources fish culturalist Liz Bergin shows a rainbow trout being raised at the Springville Hatchery on Tuesday, March 31, 2026.

Jacob Nielson, Daily Herald

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The fish may be biting earlier than normal this season in lakes and ponds across Utah, and there’s a big reason why.

Drought conditions have lowered water levels at the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources’ 12 hatcheries — which rely on groundwater sources — leading to overcrowding, according to DWR hatchery coordinator Richard Hepworth.

High temperatures melting the ice in lakes and ponds earlier than normal give the fish a place to go.

“We plan for plenty of water, have plenty of fish, and then we get in these situations that cause us to be somewhat overcrowded at our hatcheries,” Hepworth said. “It can stress the fish, so we’ve got to watch a lot of our numbers really closely. … And the good news is, in a year like this, waters are open, we can get fish out early. We can reduce the crowding at our hatcheries.”

The result is well-stocked waters as April begins.

“Get out early and enjoy it,” Hepworth said. “The fish are getting stocked, there’s lots of fish out there. Get out right now. It’s the perfect time to get out and start catching fish.”

There is a catch, however. An early start may lead to an early end. Hepworth said there’s concern about water levels later in the summer due to the low snowpack, so officials anticipate anglers will harvest the fish before conditions worsen.

“It’s really hard to predict the weather, especially looking months ahead. But if we stay in these drought conditions, we’re going to have low water situations in a lot of places in Utah that are going to be tough on fish. So get out early,” he reemphasized.

The fish raised and stocked more than any others in the state is rainbow trout, which are grown at cold-water hatcheries throughout the state, including in Springville. The fish are out in full force right now, Hepworth said.

Walleye will also start coming out soon, and catfish will follow later, according to Hepworth.

“They’re going to do much better in the warmer temperatures, but those will be starting to come out, probably late May, early June,” he said.

Here’s where to find fish in Utah County and nearby lakes right now:

Bartholomew Park Pond, Springville

• 835 rainbow stocked March 11

Canyon View Park Pond, Spanish Fork

• 428 rainbow stocked March 10
• 428 rainbow stocked March 16

Deer Creek Reservoir, Wasatch County

• 22,236 rainbow stocked from Jan. 12 to March 18

Highland Glen Park Pond, Highland

• 288 brook trout stocked Jan. 21
• 673 rainbow stocked from March 10-23

Manila Creek Park Pond, Pleasant Grove

• 1,201 rainbow stocked from Feb. 23 to March 19

Provo River Delta, Provo

• 500 rainbow stocked March 2
• 499 rainbow stocked March 17

Salem Pond, Salem

• 288 brook trout stocked Jan. 21
• 330 rainbow stocked March 18

Spanish Oaks Reservoir, Spanish Fork

• 2,795 rainbow stocked from Feb. 23 to March 30

Spring Lake, Spring Lake

• 297 rainbow stocked March 18

Strawberry Reservoir, Wasatch County

• 150,000 kokanee stocked March 9
• 23,222 kokanee stocked March 11

Will Creek Pond (Lehi)

• 499 rainbow stocked March 10
• 499 rainbow stocked March 16