Currant Creek Reservoir

CURRANT CREEK RESERVOIR


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This medium sized reservoir in northeastern Utah was one of my earliest fishing holes since I got back into the game. Almost always sure to keep me busy, the gorgeous cutthroat were always a draw and I've made it a point to visit this gem of a lake several times per year.








About 10 minutes east of the Soldier Creek Dam turnoff at Strawberry Reservoir, a lonely gas stations appears on the left. A small, poorly marked road cuts up a canyon from there to the north for 19 miles until arriving at the dam of Currant Creek Reservoir.

The first 13 miles of the road are paved (since 2010) and the last stretch is improved gravel, although it can really rattle a vehicle with its notorious washboard surface.

The road continues past the dam and eventually wraps its way around to the far side of the lake, where a campground, picnic areas, and a boat ramp can be found.

The views along the route can be quite spectacular with a beautiful creek valley and sandstone rock formations.








My favorite areas to fish are either on the northernmost inlets there are several, or hiking around to the steep side, near the outcropped rock.

On the steep end, there always seems to be a good number of fish up and down the water column. Most of my time here has been spent unhooking 13-17 inch fish.

Lures will work most of the time, but if they're deep, a good old nightcrawler about 2 feet off the bottom usually keeps my rod dancing. If, for some reason, they won't eat the worm, tipping the hook with a chartreuse sparkle power egg will surely hit pay-dirt.

The red area below has been my most productive spot on that side of the lake.



The north end is a different type of fishing altogether. It's a shallow area that gets overridden by vegetation as the summer wears on. By fall, fishing the main channel is virtually the only way to have any luck.

My preference is to walk the length of the piped-in inlet (fed by the Duchesne River) casting spinners as I make my way to the spill zone, where further access is prohibited. As the water tumbles down the steps and into the pool, plenty of fish lurk with open mouths and quick reflexes.

As that "stream" section enters the lake, a clear channel can easily be fished from the shoreline. This spot can save the day if other areas of the lake aren't cooperating.

Now this isn't a lake that is known for trophy fish, but more for its charm and placid location.





The usual catches, and what originally kept me coming back, are beautiful cutthroat trout with an occasional rainbow in the mix. Tiger trout were introduced later and have since become instrumental in the transformation of the fishery that I've noticed.

Here's an idea of what used to be considered a decent sized fish for the lake:





The larger sizes started coming in 2009 for me. Here are some beauties from that year:





My 2010 season showed me how well the tigers were eating and I must say that I'm impressed.





Yet another reason to keep coming back to Currant Creek Reservoir (as if I needed one).


With the tigers putting on weight quickly, some very large specimens will likely be a reality for some lucky fishermen.

In November of 2010, the lake gave me a gift that I'll never forget. While fishing a minnow near the inlets, I witnessed a large body flash in and out of view, taking my shiner with it. My hook set well and a tug of war was on with something much larger than anything I'd ever seen or heard of at CCR. After the battle was over, this 24 inch toad of a cuttie graced my hands and placed a very happy memory into my mental archives.


I couldn't believe that what I was holding actually came out of that lake! After all of the hours spent enjoying myself at Currant Creek Reservoir, it was about time that I found the hog.


A new era is upon Currant Creek and the future looks bright for this peaceful reservoir at the base of the Uintas.