Dark Canyon Lake fishing
Dark Canyon Lake was last stocked on Sept. 10, 2026 with 2,002 arctic grayling (1.8 in. average), according to the Utah DWR fish stocking report. It is a lake in San Juan County, Utah. From 2021 to 2026, DWR stocked 14,201 fish here, the 9th most of 16 stocked waters in San Juan County.
Recent stockings at Dark Canyon Lake
- Sept. 10, 20262,002 arctic grayling, 1.8 in. average
- July 6, 2026506 rainbow trout and 400 tiger trout, 7.1 in. average
- June 1, 20261,007 rainbow trout, 10.4 in. average
- July 28, 2025683 rainbow trout, 10.7 in. average
- July 17, 2025503 tiger trout, 3.0 in. average
- June 18, 2025823 rainbow trout, 10.3 in. average
Newest first, from the Utah DWR stocking report. Full stocking history.
Dark Canyon Lake facts
- Last stocked
- Sept. 10, 2026 (61 days ago): 2,002 arctic grayling
- Stockings in 2026
- 4 (3,915 fish): 2,002 arctic grayling, 1,513 rainbow trout and 400 tiger trout
- County
- San Juan County
- Stocked since 2021
- rainbow trout, tiger trout and arctic grayling
- Average size stocked
- 7.0 in. (2021 to 2026)
- County rank
- 9th most fish of 16 stocked waters in San Juan County since 2021
- Name in DWR report
- DARK CYN L
- Nearest water
- Blue Lake (San Juan County), 1.2 mi
- Rules
- Statewide rules (no water-specific entry in the 2026 guidebook)
Dark Canyon Lake stocking report, last 12 months
| Sept. 10, 2026 | Arctic grayling | 2,002 | 1.8 in. |
| July 6, 2026 | Rainbow trout | 506 | 10.5 in. |
| July 6, 2026 | Tiger trout | 400 | 2.8 in. |
| June 1, 2026 | Rainbow trout | 1,007 | 10.4 in. |
Source: Utah DWR fish stocking report. Stocking data fetched Nov. 10, 2026; newest record dated Nov. 19, 2026. DWR posts stockings after they happen and does not publish schedules.
Dark Canyon Lake stocking profile
- First record in the DWR report: May 6, 2002. Since then DWR has logged 74 stockings here in 25 different years, 60,100 fish in all.
- Species stocked 2021 to 2026, by share of fish: rainbow trout 58% (8,282 fish), arctic grayling 21% (3,013 fish) and tiger trout 20% (2,906 fish).
- Busiest months in the record: July (50% of records) and June (36% of records).
- Stocked fish averaged 7.0 in. from 2021 to 2026 (per-record averages ranged from 1.8 to 10.7 in.). The yearly average was 5.7 in. in 2021 and 8.6 in. in 2025.
- Fish stocked 2021 to 2026: 14,201, the 9th most of 16 stocked waters in San Juan County and 280th of 1,076 statewide.
- Nearest other water with a page: Blue Lake (San Juan County), 1.2 mi away.
Computed from Utah DWR stocking records (fish counts and average lengths as DWR reports them). Past stocking is history, not a schedule.
When is Dark Canyon Lake stocked?
Based on DWR stocking records, 2021 to 2025. Stocked in 5 of those 5 years.
2025 stocking: 3 records, first on June 18, last on July 28.
DWR does not publish stocking schedules. This is past stocking, not a promise. How we read patterns.
Dark Canyon Lake stocking history by year
| Year | Records | Fish | Avg. length | Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 4 | 3,915 | 5.3 in. | Arctic grayling, Rainbow trout, Tiger trout |
| 2025 | 3 | 2,009 | 8.6 in. | Rainbow trout, Tiger trout |
| 2024 | 3 | 2,001 | 8.0 in. | Rainbow trout, Tiger trout |
| 2023 | 1 | 501 | 3.0 in. | Tiger trout |
| 2022 | 3 | 3,509 | 8.9 in. | Tiger trout, Rainbow trout |
| 2021 | 3 | 2,266 | 5.7 in. | Arctic grayling, Tiger trout, Rainbow trout |
| 2020 | 3 | 2,009 | 8.2 in. | Rainbow trout, Tiger trout |
| 2019 | 3 | 2,420 | 8.9 in. | Rainbow trout, Tiger trout |
| 2018 | 3 | 2,481 | 8.6 in. | Rainbow trout, Tiger trout |
| 2017 | 3 | 2,398 | 8.4 in. | Rainbow trout, Tiger trout |
| 2016 | 3 | 2,407 | 8.6 in. | Rainbow trout, Tiger trout |
| 2015 | 3 | 2,436 | 7.9 in. | Rainbow trout, Tiger trout |
| 2014 | 3 | 2,523 | 7.3 in. | Rainbow trout, Tiger trout |
| 2013 | 3 | 2,355 | 7.4 in. | Tiger trout, Rainbow trout |
| 2012 | 2 | 1,900 | 10.5 in. | Rainbow trout |
| 2011 | 3 | 2,395 | 9.2 in. | Tiger trout, Rainbow trout |
| 2010 | 4 | 2,406 | 8.8 in. | Rainbow trout, Tiger trout |
| 2009 | 4 | 2,417 | 9.4 in. | Rainbow trout, Tiger trout |
| 2008 | 3 | 2,373 | 8.7 in. | Tiger trout, Rainbow trout |
| 2007 | 3 | 2,382 | 9.1 in. | Tiger trout, Rainbow trout |
| 2006 | 3 | 2,386 | 8.9 in. | Tiger trout, Rainbow trout |
| 2005 | 3 | 2,381 | 8.9 in. | Tiger trout, Rainbow trout |
| 2004 | 3 | 2,902 | 9.1 in. | Tiger trout, Rainbow trout |
| 2003 | 3 | 2,925 | 8.8 in. | Rainbow trout, Tiger trout |
| 2002 | 2 | 2,403 | 10.0 in. | Rainbow trout |
All stocking records 2021 to Nov. 10, 2025 (13)
| July 28, 2025 | Rainbow trout | 683 | 10.7 in. |
| July 17, 2025 | Tiger trout | 503 | 3.0 in. |
| June 18, 2025 | Rainbow trout | 823 | 10.3 in. |
| July 9, 2024 | Rainbow trout | 500 | 9.7 in. |
| June 11, 2024 | Tiger trout | 501 | 2.3 in. |
| June 11, 2024 | Rainbow trout | 1,000 | 9.9 in. |
| July 18, 2023 | Tiger trout | 501 | 3.0 in. |
| July 7, 2022 | Tiger trout | 502 | 2.8 in. |
| July 6, 2022 | Rainbow trout | 1,500 | 9.6 in. |
| June 28, 2022 | Rainbow trout | 1,507 | 10.2 in. |
| Sept. 23, 2021 | Arctic grayling | 1,011 | 2.6 in. |
| July 20, 2021 | Tiger trout | 499 | 4.5 in. |
| July 8, 2021 | Rainbow trout | 756 | 10.5 in. |
Fishing rules
No water-specific entry for Dark Canyon Lake in the 2026 guidebook: statewide limits apply unless a group entry (such as a drainage) covers it.
From the 2026 Utah Fishing Guidebook, in our own words. Rules can change mid-year: check wildlife.utah.gov/guidebooks before fishing.
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Dark Canyon Lake questions
When is Dark Canyon Lake stocked?
DWR does not publish stocking schedules. Past records show Dark Canyon Lake was stocked in mid to late June (3 of the last 5 years) and early to mid July (5 of the last 5 years). The most recent stocking in the DWR report is dated Sept. 10, 2026.
What fish are in Dark Canyon Lake?
Since 2021 DWR has stocked rainbow trout, tiger trout and arctic grayling.
Stocking: Utah DWR fish stocking report, fetched Nov. 10, 2026. Location: Utah DWR, USGS NHD. Rules: 2026 Utah Fishing Guidebook. Page built Nov. 10, 2026. Found an error? Tell us. Verify rules with DWR before fishing.