Description:
NOTE: Willard Bay is currently being partially drained to fix a leak recently found in the dike. Levels are extremely low and will remain so until the dike is fixed. (Last updated 1/2/2007)- Current Water Level: 44% - Last Updated May 31, 2007
- Elevation: 4,223 ft.
- Surface Area: 10,000 acres
- Volume Capacity: 193,300 acre-feet
- Max. Depth: 36.1 ft.
- Avg. Depth: 19.4 ft.
Willard Reservoir is a portion of the Great Salt Lake that was diked off and dewatered. It was then filled with water from the Weber River that would otherwise have flowed into the Great Salt Lake, and stored for irrigation and other uses as may be needed on the northern Wasatch Front.
Willard Bay is a very popular reservoir with both boaters and fishermen. Willard is currently the only place in Utah where you can catch a Wiper - a hybrid between a white bass & a Striped Bass. Wipers are known for being aggressive fighters, and are very popular with local Utah anglers.
The Northeast corner of the reservoir has traditionally been a good place to catch crappie. Most years the water is high enough to provide flooded stickups, where crappies prefer to spawn. However, in low water years, they have to settle on using some gravel and weed beds...and not much of that. When this happens, there is likely to be a poor spawn with low recruitment.
Wipers are caught all over the reservoir, with trolling being the most popular method to catch them. A popular place to troll is past 'the lightpole', the light pole that is out on the dike.
Fish Species:
Current Regulations:
- Wiper limit: 6 fish
- Crappie limit: 10 fish
- Walleye limit: 6 fish, but only 1 over 20 inches
- CLOSED to the possession of gizzard shad (dead OR alive)!
- Two poles may be used if a 2-pole permit is purchased
Click here to view current conditions at Willard Bay. You can view and even control a webcam provided by www.utahlakeview.com to view ramp and weather conditions before you go.
