Panguitch Lake reopens for fishing after hiatus due to damage

Derick Fox
·2 min read

PANGUITCH, Utah (ABC4) — Panguitch Lake, one of the most popular fishing spots in southern Utah, is open again to fishers after a brief hiatus due to damage to the Panguitch Lake Dam.

Fishers can get on the lake starting Monday, April 22, according to the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. However, the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office is still asking the public to stay away from the dam area of the lake.

Either way, Bryce Canyon County said now is the perfect time to revisit the lake.

“Cast your line into the pristine waters, enjoy the breathtaking scenery and perhaps even land the catch of a lifetime,” Bryce Canyon officials said in an email. “Don’t miss out on the celebrated return of fishing at Panguitch Lake.”

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To celebrate the return of fishing, the Panguitch Lake Resort Ice Off Fishing Challenge also starts on Monday, April 22 and goes until Friday, May 3. The free-to-enter fishing challenge has several prizes available for winners, including a full-day deluxe boating rental, a one-night cabin stay at the resort and resort goodies.

Public access to the lake has been blocked off by law enforcement since the beginning of April, when a crack was found in the expanded portion of the Panguitch Lake Dam. The damage threatened residents of Panguitch, prompting a “Level 2 Emergency Situation,” a flash flood warning and a voluntary evacuation notice.

Law enforcement and emergency management crews quickly worked to stabilize the dam and within days, officials said conditions vastly improved. The evacuation notice was quickly lifted and areas around the dam slowly began reopening.

Emergency crews still remain on the scene and continue to monitor the conditions of the dam, especially as the spring runoff begins. Crews said once the runoff starts to slow down, engineering and plans will be developed for permanent repairs to the cracked areas of the Panguitch Lake Dam.

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