Silver Lake (Big Cottonwood Canyon) fishing

Silver Lake (Big Cottonwood Canyon) was last stocked on July 28, 2026 with 500 rainbow trout (10.8 in. average), according to the Utah DWR fish stocking report. It is a lake in Salt Lake County, Utah. From 2021 to 2026, DWR stocked 52,097 fish here, the 5th most of 38 stocked waters in Salt Lake County.

Salt Lake County

Stocking data fetched Nov. 10, 2026.

Last stockedJuly 28, 2026105 days ago, rainbow trout

Fish stocked in 202610,0167 records

Records since 202137History back to 2002

SizeApproximately 10 acresas listed by DWR

Recent stockings at Silver Lake (Big Cottonwood Canyon)

July 28, 2026500 rainbow trout, 10.8 in. average
July 22, 20263,012 cutthroat trout and 2,000 brook trout, 2.4 in. average
July 14, 20261,001 rainbow trout, 11.2 in. average
June 23, 20261,501 rainbow trout, 10.7 in. average
June 10, 20261,002 rainbow trout, 10.6 in. average
May 20, 20261,000 rainbow trout, 10.4 in. average

Newest first, from the Utah DWR stocking report. Full stocking history.

Silver Lake (Big Cottonwood Canyon) facts

Last stocked: July 28, 2026 (105 days ago): 500 rainbow trout
Stockings in 2026: 7 (10,016 fish): 5,004 rainbow trout, 3,012 cutthroat trout and 2,000 brook trout
County: Salt Lake County
Size: Approximately 10 acres
Stocked since 2021: rainbow trout, brook trout and cutthroat trout
Likely catch (DWR): brook trout and rainbow trout
Average size stocked: 8.1 in. (2021 to 2026)
County rank: 5th most fish of 38 stocked waters in Salt Lake County since 2021
Name in DWR report: SILVER L-BRIGHTON
Nearest water: Twin Lakes Reservoir, 0.8 mi
Rules: Statewide rules (no water-specific entry in the 2026 guidebook)

Silver Lake (Big Cottonwood Canyon) stocking report, last 12 months

Silver Lake (Big Cottonwood Canyon): DWR stocking records since Nov. 10, 2025, newest first.

July 28, 2026	Rainbow trout	500	10.8 in.
July 22, 2026	Cutthroat trout	3,012	2.0 in.
July 22, 2026	Brook trout	2,000	3.0 in.
July 14, 2026	Rainbow trout	1,001	11.2 in.
June 23, 2026	Rainbow trout	1,501	10.7 in.
June 10, 2026	Rainbow trout	1,002	10.6 in.
May 20, 2026	Rainbow trout	1,000	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.

Silver Lake (Big Cottonwood Canyon) stocking profile

First record in the DWR report: June 6, 2002. Since then DWR has logged 168 stockings here in 25 different years, 242,724 fish in all.
Species stocked 2021 to 2026, by share of fish: rainbow trout 69% (36,079 fish), brook trout 23% (12,034 fish) and cutthroat trout 8% (3,984 fish).
Busiest months in the record: July (44% of records) and June (33% of records).
Stocked fish averaged 8.1 in. from 2021 to 2026 (per-record averages ranged from 2.0 to 15.2 in.). The yearly average was 9.3 in. in 2021 and 8.0 in. in 2025.
Fish stocked 2021 to 2026: 52,097, the 5th most of 38 stocked waters in Salt Lake County and 112th of 1,076 statewide.
Nearest other water with a page: Twin Lakes Reservoir, 0.8 mi away.
Other water with this name: Silver Lake (American Fork Canyon) in Utah County, 7.2 mi away. DWR lists them as separate waters (DWR water ids IV420 and V761).

Computed from Utah DWR stocking records (fish counts and average lengths as DWR reports them). Past stocking is history, not a schedule.

When is Silver Lake (Big Cottonwood Canyon) stocked?

Based on DWR stocking records, 2021 to 2025. Stocked in 5 of those 5 years.

early to mid Junestocked in 4 of the last 5 years, mostly rainbow trout.

late June to early Julystocked in 5 of the last 5 years, mostly rainbow trout and brook trout.

mid Julystocked in 5 of the last 5 years, mostly cutthroat trout and rainbow trout.

late July to early Auguststocked in 4 of the last 5 years, mostly rainbow trout.

2025 stocking: 5 records, first on June 12, last on July 28.

Years with a stocking in each third of the month, 2021 to 2025:012345

DWR does not publish stocking schedules. This is past stocking, not a promise. How we read patterns.

Silver Lake (Big Cottonwood Canyon) stocking history by year

Silver Lake (Big Cottonwood Canyon): DWR stocking records per year. Fish counts are totals of all records that year; average length is weighted by the number of fish.
Year	Records	Fish	Avg. length	Species
2026	7	10,016	6.6 in.	Rainbow trout, Cutthroat trout, Brook trout
2025	5	7,072	8.0 in.	Rainbow trout, Brook trout
2024	5	6,991	8.0 in.	Rainbow trout, Brook trout
2023	5	9,000	8.6 in.	Rainbow trout, Brook trout
2022	5	9,040	8.2 in.	Rainbow trout, Brook trout
2021	10	9,978	9.3 in.	Rainbow trout, Cutthroat trout, Brook trout
2020	8	12,018	6.6 in.	Cutthroat trout, Rainbow trout, Brook trout
2019	8	12,760	7.5 in.	Cutthroat trout, Rainbow trout, Brook trout
2018	7	8,996	8.7 in.	Rainbow trout, Brook trout
2017	6	8,201	7.5 in.	Rainbow trout, Brook trout
2016	7	11,044	7.2 in.	Brook trout, Rainbow trout
2015	6	8,506	8.1 in.	Rainbow trout, Brook trout
2014	6	8,643	8.1 in.	Rainbow trout, Brook trout
2013	6	9,059	8.6 in.	Rainbow trout, Brook trout
2012	7	8,658	8.7 in.	Rainbow trout, Brook trout
2011	6	8,708	8.3 in.	Rainbow trout, Brook trout
2010	6	9,542	9.3 in.	Rainbow trout, Brook trout
2009	6	9,647	8.8 in.	Rainbow trout, Brook trout
2008	6	9,500	9.1 in.	Rainbow trout, Brook trout
2007	6	9,386	9.4 in.	Rainbow trout, Brook trout
2006	5	7,881	9.0 in.	Rainbow trout, Brook trout
2005	4	7,575	8.6 in.	Rainbow trout, Brook trout
2004	9	13,499	9.3 in.	Rainbow trout, Brook trout
2003	13	13,503	9.1 in.	Rainbow trout, Brook trout
2002	9	13,501	8.2 in.	Rainbow trout, Brook trout

All stocking records 2021 to Nov. 10, 2025 (30)

Silver Lake (Big Cottonwood Canyon): DWR stocking records 2021 to Nov. 10, 2025.

July 28, 2025	Rainbow trout	502	10.8 in.
July 15, 2025	Rainbow trout	750	10.3 in.
July 1, 2025	Rainbow trout	1,500	10.3 in.
June 25, 2025	Brook trout	2,000	3.0 in.
June 12, 2025	Rainbow trout	2,320	9.5 in.
July 31, 2024	Rainbow trout	502	10.5 in.
July 11, 2024	Rainbow trout	1,500	10.2 in.
July 1, 2024	Brook trout	1,991	2.9 in.
June 26, 2024	Rainbow trout	1,500	10.2 in.
June 18, 2024	Rainbow trout	1,498	9.8 in.
Aug. 14, 2023	Rainbow trout	1,001	10.1 in.
Aug. 9, 2023	Rainbow trout	999	10.1 in.
July 14, 2023	Brook trout	2,002	2.7 in.
July 3, 2023	Rainbow trout	2,000	10.4 in.
June 28, 2023	Rainbow trout	2,998	10.2 in.
July 19, 2022	Rainbow trout	1,002	9.8 in.
July 6, 2022	Rainbow trout	1,342	9.4 in.
June 27, 2022	Brook trout	2,040	2.8 in.
June 21, 2022	Rainbow trout	1,984	10.4 in.
June 8, 2022	Rainbow trout	2,672	9.4 in.
Aug. 3, 2021	Rainbow trout	1,001	11.2 in.
July 20, 2021	Cutthroat trout	243	15.2 in.
July 20, 2021	Cutthroat trout	243	15.2 in.
July 20, 2021	Cutthroat trout	243	15.2 in.
July 20, 2021	Cutthroat trout	243	15.2 in.
July 20, 2021	Rainbow trout	1,001	11.5 in.
June 30, 2021	Rainbow trout	1,002	10.4 in.
June 29, 2021	Brook trout	2,001	2.8 in.
June 21, 2021	Rainbow trout	2,000	10.1 in.
June 2, 2021	Rainbow trout	2,001	9.7 in.

Fishing rules

No water-specific entry for Silver Lake (Big Cottonwood Canyon) 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.

Access and facilities

Other activities: Mountain biking, Wildlife watching
Accessible: Fishing piers, Restrooms, Trails/shoreline paths

Facility list from DWR Fish Utah. Check with the land manager before you go; facilities close seasonally.

Email alerts

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Silver Lake (Big Cottonwood Canyon) questions

When is Silver Lake (Big Cottonwood Canyon) stocked?

DWR does not publish stocking schedules. Past records show Silver Lake (Big Cottonwood Canyon) was stocked in early to mid June (4 of the last 5 years), late June to early July (5 of the last 5 years), mid July (5 of the last 5 years) and late July to early August (4 of the last 5 years). The most recent stocking in the DWR report is dated July 28, 2026.

What fish are in Silver Lake (Big Cottonwood Canyon)?

DWR lists brook trout and rainbow trout as likely catches. Since 2021 DWR has stocked rainbow trout, brook trout and cutthroat trout.

Sources

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.