Yuba Reservoir

About Yuba Reservoir

Yuba Reservoir, officially named Sevier Bridge Reservoir, sits on the Sevier River in central Utah, about 25 miles south of Nephi near the small town of Levan. At 5,100 feet elevation and roughly 22 miles long the reservoir has a maximum depth of 80 feet and a capacity of 250,000 acre-feet. Yuba is the fourth-largest artificial reservoir in the state.

The name itself has an interesting and fun origin story. Local farmers and ranchers building the dam in the early 1900s had to construct it themselves or risk losing their water rights. The crew nicknamed it the “U.B. Dam,” joking that they were “damned if they worked and damned if they didn’t.” Over time, the phonetic sound of that joke got spelled out as “Yuba,” and the name stuck.

History

Yuba Reservoir was built between 1902 and 1917, a genuinely long construction window for a dam of its size. The project nearly met disaster early on: in the spring of 1907, snowmelt filled the reservoir so fast that water began pouring out faster than the spillway could handle. Members of the LDS Church from Deseret, roughly 40 miles to the west, responded to the emergency by blasting a temporary spillway to relieve pressure on the structure before it failed. The reservoir officially opened as a Utah State Park around 1969-1970.

Yuba carries an interesting dual reputation in Utah fishing circles, at different points in its history, it’s been praised as some of the best fishing in the state, and just as often written off as some of the worst, depending on water levels and population cycles in any given year. Recent DWR surveys have leaned toward the positive: a 2024 sampling effort targeting Northern Pike and Tiger Muskie turned up an unexpectedly strong number of Walleye in the 16 to 19 inch range, likely tracing back to a large stocking event in 2018 or genuinely successful natural reproduction since then.

Species Guide

• Northern Pike — Yuba’s signature species, and home to the Utah state record: 26 pounds, 1 ounce, caught here in 2013.
• Walleye — A real, well-established population, with recent surveys showing encouraging growth.
• Yellow Perch — Abundant and easy to catch, especially along structure.
• Tiger Muskie — Present and actively monitored by DWR.
• Tiger Trout and Rainbow Trout — Round out the trout opportunities here.
• Common Carp — Present, as at most lowland Utah reservoirs.
• Channel Catfish

Seasons & Fishing Methods

Winter

Yuba typically stays open water through December, with ice beginning to form in January. Fishable ice (at least 4 inches) can show up by the latter half of January, but ice thickness varies dramatically across the reservoir. The upper end near Painted Rocks and the Sevier River inlet freezes differently than the water closer to the dam. Always check current conditions with Yuba State Park directly before heading out on the ice.

Spring

By March, most of the reservoir has opened back up, and Northern Pike begin spawning in the upper (“up lake”) sections near the inlet. This is exactly the window to target them before they scatter for the season.

Fall

Yuba can draw down significantly in the Fall do to agricultural needs. Although this does not have a significantly negative impact on fishing it does impact facilities, boat ramps and access to the reservoir. Additionally low water levels have a harmful effect on natural reproduction of the resident fish species.

Techniques

Swim baits and crankbaits worked through the shallows are proven producers for Pike, especially as fall approaches and fish feed aggressively. Walleye respond well to trolling crankbaits or bottom bouncers with worm harnesses. 

Facilities & Access

Yuba State Park offers two boat ramps, one at the main park area and one at Painted Rocks. Along with sandy beaches the reservoir serves as a popular warm-weather swimming destination as well as a fishery. It’s also one of the few Utah state parks that allows boat-in camping, a truly unique feature if you want to get away from the main campground areas.

Camping

Three developed campgrounds serve the park: Oasis Campground, Painted Rocks Campground, and Eagle View Campground.

Other Things to Do

Beyond fishing, Yuba draws visitors for swimming, nearby OHV riding, rockhounding, birdwatching, and waterfowl hunting in season. Evidence of ancient Native American activity like rock art, pottery fragments and stone tools can still be found around the reservoir. Visitors are asked to leave anything they find in place and report it to Utah State Parks.

 

My Experience

My brother-in-law Kristian and I have had a love hate relationship with this fishery over the years. We started fishing Yuba with hopes of catching walleye but our strange luck has regularly left us empty handed and we have quickly changing over to Pike fishing. It may just be because that's what we are comfortable with. At one point I managed 2nd place in a Pike tournament and we have been fortunate enough to land some sizable specimen over the years. Don't let me detour you from targeting walleye. I have had friends in the RMA (Rocky Mountain Anglers) who have caught many impressive Walleye from the reservoir. I can tell you location matters on Yuba when targeting Walleye. 

Fishing Regulations

Check the current Utah Fishing Guidebook for current limits. Yuba carries species-specific regulations that can change based on population management goals.

Location

Yuba Reservoir is located in Juab/Sanpete County, about 25 miles south of Nephi off I-15, near the town of Levan.