Joes Valley Reservoir fishing
Joes Valley Reservoir was last stocked on Sept. 16, 2026 with 27,250 splake (4.0 in. average), according to the Utah DWR fish stocking report. It is a 1,200-acre reservoir in Emery County, Utah, listed by DWR as a Blue Ribbon Fishery. From 2021 to 2026, DWR stocked 529,742 fish here, the most of 15 stocked waters in Emery County.
Recent stockings at Joes Valley Reservoir
- Sept. 16, 202627,250 splake, 4.0 in. average
- Sept. 15, 202627,784 splake, 4.0 in. average
- June 23, 202625,029 rainbow trout, 2.9 in. average
- June 22, 20261,608 tiger muskie, 7.5 in. average
- Sept. 29, 20251,530 tiger muskie, 10.5 in. average
- Sept. 18, 202524,285 splake, 4.1 in. average
Newest first, from the Utah DWR stocking report. Full stocking history.
Joes Valley Reservoir facts
- Last stocked
- Sept. 16, 2026 (55 days ago): 27,250 splake
- Stockings in 2026
- 5 (81,671 fish): 55,034 splake, 25,029 rainbow trout and 1,608 tiger muskie
- County
- Emery County
- Size
- 1,200 acres
- DWR program
- Blue Ribbon Fishery
- Stocked since 2021
- rainbow trout, splake and tiger muskie
- Likely catch (DWR)
- cutthroat trout, splake and tiger muskie
- Average size stocked
- 3.8 in. (2021 to 2026)
- County rank
- Most fish of 15 stocked waters in Emery County since 2021
- Name in DWR report
- JOES VALLEY RES
- Nearest water
- Straight Canyon Creek, 2.6 mi
- Rules
- Water-specific rules in the 2026 guidebook
Latest fishing report
Fall outlook: before daylight, splake cruise shallow shorelines to feed on Utah chub, which gather to spawn in weedy or rocky shallows. DWR suggests dead chub as bait: a piece of chub meat about 1 inch by 1 inch on a 1/8 or 1/4 ounce jig head, cast out and left to rest on the bottom. From shore, tube jigs or swimbaits with a chub meat tip also work, DWR says, and because most fish hug the bottom, the jig should be kept close to it on the retrieve. Crankbaits in black and white or silver and white are other lures to try. Rainbow trout fishing is typically good at this time of year: from shore, standard trout tactics such as worms, PowerBait, spinners and spoons apply, and trolling pop gear with a worm, or spoons, can reach fish holding in deeper water. For tiger muskie, DWR says to look along rocky shorelines in 5 to 15 feet of water, where the majority are feeding on crayfish and Utah chub, and calls this a perfect chance to fish for them with a fly rod. Casting large streamers measuring 4 to 10 inches along rock outcroppings should give the best results, and swimbaits or crankbaits that imitate chubs, in black and white or silver and white, are another option. DWR expects the tiger muskie to move into shallower water as fall goes on. Cutthroat trout reproduce on their own, spawning in the tributaries, and DWR suggests tactics similar to those for splake: chub-meat-tipped tube jigs and crankbaits.
This report is more than 60 days old. Conditions have likely changed.
Our summary of the Utah DWR fishing report dated Sept. 4, 2026, in our own words. Read the original on DWR Fish Utah.
Joes Valley Reservoir stocking report, last 12 months
| Sept. 16, 2026 | Splake | 27,250 | 4.0 in. |
| Sept. 15, 2026 | Splake | 27,784 | 4.0 in. |
| June 23, 2026 | Rainbow trout | 25,029 | 2.9 in. |
| June 22, 2026 | Tiger muskie | 800 | 7.4 in. |
| June 22, 2026 | Tiger muskie | 808 | 7.6 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.
Joes Valley Reservoir stocking profile
- First record in the DWR report: July 30, 2003. Since then DWR has logged 113 stockings here in 24 different years, 1,430,739 fish in all.
- Species stocked 2021 to 2026, by share of fish: splake 63% (331,731 fish), rainbow trout 30% (159,566 fish) and tiger muskie 7% (38,445 fish).
- Busiest months in the record: July (32% of records) and June (24% of records).
- Stocked fish averaged 3.8 in. from 2021 to 2026 (per-record averages ranged from 1.4 to 11.6 in.).
- Fish stocked 2021 to 2026: 529,742, the most of 15 stocked waters in Emery County and 17th of 1,076 statewide.
- Nearest other water with a page: Straight Canyon Creek, 2.6 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 Joes Valley Reservoir stocked?
Based on DWR stocking records, 2021 to 2025. Stocked in 5 of those 5 years.
2025 stocking: 6 records, first on June 16, last on Sept. 29.
DWR does not publish stocking schedules. This is past stocking, not a promise. How we read patterns.
Joes Valley Reservoir stocking history by year
| Year | Records | Fish | Avg. length | Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 5 | 81,671 | 3.7 in. | Splake, Rainbow trout, Tiger muskie |
| 2025 | 6 | 81,753 | 4.3 in. | Tiger muskie, Splake, Rainbow trout |
| 2024 | 6 | 105,310 | 3.5 in. | Splake, Rainbow trout, Tiger muskie |
| 2023 | 5 | 99,910 | 3.3 in. | Rainbow trout, Splake |
| 2022 | 5 | 78,347 | 3.4 in. | Rainbow trout, Splake, Tiger muskie |
| 2021 | 11 | 82,751 | 4.6 in. | Rainbow trout, Splake |
| 2020 | 5 | 83,250 | 3.3 in. | Rainbow trout, Splake, Tiger muskie |
| 2019 | 4 | 40,042 | 5.0 in. | Rainbow trout, Splake |
| 2018 | 4 | 84,690 | 3.2 in. | Rainbow trout, Splake, Tiger muskie |
| 2017 | 5 | 64,198 | 2.9 in. | Splake, Brook trout, Tiger muskie |
| 2016 | 4 | 70,915 | 3.1 in. | Splake, Tiger muskie |
| 2015 | 4 | 53,838 | 3.0 in. | Splake, Tiger muskie |
| 2014 | 2 | 29,905 | 4.9 in. | Splake, Tiger trout |
| 2013 | 2 | 39,440 | 2.8 in. | Splake, Tiger muskie |
| 2012 | 1 | 3,002 | 2.3 in. | Tiger trout |
| 2011 | 4 | 57,138 | 3.9 in. | Tiger muskie, Splake |
| 2010 | 6 | 58,417 | 3.5 in. | Tiger muskie, Splake |
| 2009 | 3 | 34,430 | 3.8 in. | Splake |
| 2008 | 2 | 20,020 | 5.2 in. | Splake |
| 2007 | 4 | 29,200 | 5.5 in. | Splake |
| 2006 | 2 | 68,278 | 3.8 in. | Tiger trout, Splake |
| 2005 | 8 | 71,722 | 5.0 in. | Tiger trout, Splake |
| 2004 | 9 | 62,512 | 5.1 in. | Tiger trout, Splake |
| 2003 | 6 | 30,000 | 5.9 in. | Splake |
All stocking records 2021 to Nov. 10, 2025 (33)
| Sept. 29, 2025 | Tiger muskie | 1,530 | 10.5 in. |
| Sept. 18, 2025 | Splake | 24,285 | 4.1 in. |
| Sept. 16, 2025 | Splake | 15,543 | 4.1 in. |
| Sept. 16, 2025 | Splake | 15,543 | 4.1 in. |
| June 16, 2025 | Rainbow trout | 12,426 | 4.2 in. |
| June 16, 2025 | Rainbow trout | 12,426 | 4.2 in. |
| Sept. 19, 2024 | Splake | 17,459 | 3.8 in. |
| Sept. 18, 2024 | Splake | 18,802 | 3.8 in. |
| Sept. 16, 2024 | Splake | 18,802 | 3.8 in. |
| April 25, 2024 | Rainbow trout | 12,470 | 3.6 in. |
| April 25, 2024 | Rainbow trout | 12,470 | 3.6 in. |
| April 24, 2024 | Tiger muskie | 25,307 | 3.0 in. |
| July 11, 2023 | Rainbow trout | 10,786 | 4.0 in. |
| July 11, 2023 | Rainbow trout | 10,175 | 4.0 in. |
| June 12, 2023 | Splake | 24,318 | 3.3 in. |
| June 12, 2023 | Splake | 29,181 | 3.3 in. |
| June 12, 2023 | Splake | 25,450 | 3.0 in. |
| Sept. 21, 2022 | Rainbow trout | 12,690 | 3.9 in. |
| Sept. 20, 2022 | Rainbow trout | 12,690 | 3.9 in. |
| July 22, 2022 | Splake | 22,292 | 3.6 in. |
| July 18, 2022 | Splake | 20,675 | 3.6 in. |
| May 24, 2022 | Tiger muskie | 10,000 | 1.4 in. |
| July 27, 2021 | Rainbow trout | 1,624 | 9.6 in. |
| July 27, 2021 | Rainbow trout | 1,624 | 9.6 in. |
| July 19, 2021 | Rainbow trout | 760 | 11.6 in. |
| July 19, 2021 | Rainbow trout | 760 | 11.6 in. |
| July 14, 2021 | Rainbow trout | 1,360 | 11.6 in. |
| July 14, 2021 | Rainbow trout | 12,528 | 4.4 in. |
| July 14, 2021 | Rainbow trout | 12,528 | 4.4 in. |
| June 21, 2021 | Rainbow trout | 3,380 | 10.5 in. |
| June 15, 2021 | Rainbow trout | 3,840 | 10.0 in. |
| June 1, 2021 | Splake | 20,468 | 2.9 in. |
| June 1, 2021 | Splake | 23,879 | 2.9 in. |
Fishing rules
- Only 1 trout over 18 inches; it counts toward the statewide trout limit.
From the 2026 Utah Fishing Guidebook, in our own words. Rules can change mid-year: check wildlife.utah.gov/guidebooks before fishing. See statewide limits.
Access and facilities
- Boating
- Hand launch, Boat ramp
- Accessible
- Restrooms, Picnic tables, Limited wheelchair access, Trails/shoreline paths
- Facilities
- Covered picnic area, Drinking water, Fire rings
- Other activities
- Hiking, Mountain biking, OHV or 4WD trails, Cycling, Swimming, Waterskiing, Wildlife watching
- Camping
- Primitive tent camping, RV camping, Backpacking
Facility list from DWR Fish Utah. Check with the land manager before you go; facilities close seasonally.
Email me when Joes Valley Reservoir is stocked
Email me when Joes Valley Reservoir shows up in the DWR stocking report. You confirm by email first and can unsubscribe in one click.
"Often stocked around now" heads-ups come from past records only, never a promise. We use your email only for these alerts. Privacy.
Joes Valley Reservoir questions
When is Joes Valley Reservoir stocked?
DWR does not publish stocking schedules. Past records show Joes Valley Reservoir was stocked in mid June (3 of the last 5 years), mid July (3 of the last 5 years) and mid September (3 of the last 5 years). The most recent stocking in the DWR report is dated Sept. 16, 2026.
What fish are in Joes Valley Reservoir?
DWR lists cutthroat trout, splake and tiger muskie as likely catches and rainbow trout and tiger trout as possible. Since 2021 DWR has stocked rainbow trout, splake and tiger muskie.
Are there special fishing rules at Joes Valley Reservoir?
Yes. The 2026 Utah Fishing Guidebook lists rules for this water, summarized on this page. Check the guidebook and DWR updates before fishing.
Stocking: Utah DWR fish stocking report, fetched Nov. 10, 2026. Size, program, species and facilities: DWR Fish Utah. 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.