Gunlock Reservoir sits nestled in the arid, red rock landscape of southwestern Utah, northwest of St. George. The reservoir is the centerpiece of Gunlock State Park, offering visitors year-round recreation, including boating, swimming, and fishing. Its clear blue waters and mild climate make it a popular escape. The park provides facilities like a boat ramp and designated day-use areas. This setting provides an ideal environment for a thriving warm-water ecosystem, which supports a diverse population of fish species.
Dominant Game Fish
The primary draw for many anglers visiting Gunlock Reservoir is Largemouth Bass. These predatory fish are flourishing, with recent surveys indicating a healthy presence of various size classes, including individuals reaching six pounds and 20 inches. Largemouth Bass associate with the reservoir’s abundant structure, such as submerged brush, rocky points, and steep ledges, where they ambush prey. During warmer months, anglers find them in depths ranging from four to fifteen feet, concentrating around cover or near drop-offs.
Channel Catfish represent the reservoir’s other dominant game fish. These catfish are well-suited to the warm-water conditions and are generally nocturnal, making them active during nighttime and twilight hours. Channel Catfish are bottom-feeders that utilize their sensory barbels to locate food, including crayfish and small fish. They tend to inhabit the deeper pools and runs, seeking out cover in the form of log jams or undercut banks.
Panfish and Forage Species
The reservoir’s various panfish, most notably Bluegill and Black Crappie, support the larger predators. These species form the base of the aquatic food web, serving as a primary food source for the Largemouth Bass population. Black Crappie are numerous, often congregating in schools around submerged brush and other vertical structures. Crappie commonly move to suspend over deeper water, typically six to twenty feet, making them a target for those fishing with small jigs or minnows.
Bluegill are prevalent in the shallower, vegetated coves and along the shoreline, making them easily accessible for bank anglers. These smaller sunfish can also be found suspended over deeper sections of the reservoir, but they are most often targeted near cover. The reservoir ecosystem also contains common rough fish, such as Common Carp, which are non-game species that contribute to the overall biomass of the fishery.
Essential Fishing Regulations and Access
Anglers intending to fish Gunlock Reservoir must possess a valid Utah fishing license. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) establishes specific regulations for the reservoir. Currently, the daily limit for Largemouth Bass is six fish of any size, a regulation designed to encourage harvest and maintain a healthy growth rate.
The regulations for panfish are specific to Gunlock, with the daily limit for Black Crappie set at 100 fish, a significant increase over the statewide limit. This high limit is a management tool to reduce population density and improve the average size and condition of the remaining Crappie. Access to the reservoir is managed by the State Park, requiring a day-use entry fee, which includes the main boat ramp. Visitors should also be aware of seasonal boat ramp hours and the state’s mandatory Quagga mussel decontamination requirements for all watercraft entering the reservoir.