Little Dell Reservoir
Today’s report
Little Dell Reservoir is a fair bet today. The DWR last stocked brook trout (6,960 fish) on June 25. Overnight's forecast: mostly clear, 34°F.
- calm, fishable weather
Fishing Little Dell Reservoir: what to know
Little Dell is the flood-control reservoir in Parleys Canyon just 20 minutes from downtown Salt Lake, managed as a Bonneville cutthroat trout conservation water. No motors, a quiet shoreline trail, and native cutthroat — it's the closest thing to a backcountry trout lake inside the city limits.
Ice-out in April through November; best in spring and fall when the cutthroat are shallow. Summer fish early or late.
Little Dell is artificial flies and lures only with a catch-and-release rule for cutthroat — a fly rod with a leech or a small streamer from shore or a float tube is the standard approach. Check the regulations section below.
Current conditions
Stocking
Last stocked Jun 25, 2026 — brook trout (6,960 fish).
| Date | Species | Quantity | Avg length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 25, 2026 | brook trout | 6,960 | 3.3" |
| May 27, 2026 | cutthroat trout | 3,147 | 6.43" |
| May 20, 2026 | cutthroat trout | 3,509 | 6.93" |
| May 20, 2026 | cutthroat trout | 9,030 | 6.93" |
| May 13, 2026 | cutthroat trout | 1,591 | 6.62" |
| May 13, 2026 | cutthroat trout | 2,603 | 6.58" |
| Oct 29, 2025 | cutthroat trout | 352 | 3.22" |
| Oct 14, 2025 | cutthroat trout | 1,573 | 3.37" |
Best time to fish Little Dell Reservoir
The DWR has stocked Little Dell Reservoir 33 times over the last 5 seasons, and 82% of those plants landed in May, June, October — the freshest fish and the easiest bite usually follow within a week or two of a stocking.
Species
Location
Nearby waters (within ~25 mi):
Regulations
- CLOSED to the possession of cutthroat trout or trout with cutthroat markings.
- All cutthroat trout must be immediately released.
- Artificial flies and lures only.
Special rules from the 2026 Utah Fishing Guidebook. Statewide daily limits apply to anything not listed. Rules change — always verify in the current guidebook before you fish.