Provo River Fishing Report

As of May 21, the Governor of the State of Utah has moved from the State’s risk management from the Moderate Risk Category of COVID-19 response to a Low Risk Category. There are still certain areas that are in the Moderate Risk Category. Please practice social distancing while recreating and traveling around outdoors. More information can be found here: https://coronavirus.utah.gov/utahs-health-guidance-system/

Summit, Wasatch, and Utah County have all moved to the same Low Risk Guidelines that the Governor has put into effect.

Releases from Jordanelle Reservoir are at 1,000 CFS. At Charleston the river is flowing at 969 CFS. Below Deer Creek Reservoir the flows are at 809 CFS.  The entire Provo River is running pretty high so be mindful when wading if you choose to fish the Provo. River temperatures are currently around 42 degrees Fahrenheit. Snowpack in the Provo River drainage is currently sitting at 52 percent of average.

Due to warming temperatures the Upper Provo and parts of the Middle and Lower Provo can turn cloudy with runoff throughout the late morning and into the afternoon hours.

Look for midge and Baetis activity during the middle of the day. Depending on the conditions and hatch that day, the dry fly fishing can be great between 9 AM and 5 PM. High pressure days or storm days have produced the best fishing. Days with a dropping barometric pressure have produced the most difficult fishing conditions. The nymphing has started to heat up considerably. When the midge and Baetis hatch goes off the fish will be very active. If there is no hatch, the streamer fishing can be decent this time of the year.

When fishing the Provo, have small sow bugs (18-20), bling midge (22-26), cardinal midge (22-26), zebra midge (18-22), buckskin caddis (18), prince nymph (18), Baetis nymphs (18-22), and pheasant tail (18-22). For dries, have a few small midges like the Mother Shucker in gray or black (20-24) and some Baetis dry flies (18-22).

Weber River Fishing Report

As of May 21, the Governor of the State of Utah has moved from the State’s risk management from the Moderate Risk Category of COVID-19 response to a Low Risk Category. There are still certain areas that are in the Moderate Risk Category. Please practice social distancing while recreating and traveling around outdoors. More information can be found here: https://coronavirus.utah.gov/utahs-health-guidance-system/

Morgan, Weber, and Summit County have all moved to the same Low Risk Guidelines that the Governor has put into effect.

Spring is here and the days are much warmer and longer than they have been.

Above Rockport Reservoir, flows are around 177 CFS, but be mindful that the daytime heat can cause snow to melt and the river to become cloudy with runoff as the day progresses. Water releases from Rockport Reservoir are at 185 CFS. By Coalville the river is flowing at 98.3 CFS. Below Echo Reservoir the Weber is flowing at 409 CFS. The river is flowing at 197 CFS along I 84 near Mountain Green and at 106 CFS once it gets to Ogden. These flows are pretty good for some quality angling. Current snowpack in the Weber River Drainage is sitting at 24 percent of normal.

Midge, Caddis, and a few remaining Baetis are around, Yellow Sallies and PMD’s are just around the corner.

If you are going to try and fish the Weber, bring some Peacock Caddis (16-18), X Caddis (16-18), sow bugs (16-18), zebra midges (18-22), other assorted midges (18-24), Baetis nymphs (18-20), caddis larva (16-18), and some small streamers like a Zonker or Sculpzilla in white, olive, or black.

Small Stream Fishing Report

As of May 21, the Governor of the State of Utah has moved from the State’s risk management from the Moderate Risk Category of COVID-19 response to a Low Risk Category. There are still certain areas that are in the Moderate Risk Category. Please practice social distancing while recreating and traveling around outdoors. More information can be found here: https://coronavirus.utah.gov/utahs-health-guidance-system/

Certain areas are on a stricter lockdown than others, be mindful of this. Some National Parks and National Monuments are still shut down. Check with current county, state, and federal restrictions before heading out to a fishery.

With Spring in full bloom here in Utah, it is time to test out some of our smaller fisheries. Certain fisheries are closed until the second Saturday in July for the Cutthroat spawn. Check the Utah fisheries proclamation before heading out. With the warming temperatures, expect runoff to make freestone streams cloudy and unfishable as the day progresses. If you are headed to a freestone, plan to go early or on a colder day. Access to a lot our smaller tailwater and freestone rivers will also be limited because of snow. With that being said, there are some areas in Northern, Central, and Southern Utah that are accessible to fish. Look for fisheries with paved access if you are planning on venturing out and let someone know where you are planning on going incase you are headed somewhere without cell service

When venturing out on Utah’s small streams in the early season, it is good to have a variety of flies in your arsenal. Depending on where you are at you might find midges, blue wings, Skwalla Stones, or even an early caddis hatch. Being runoff season, fish will also be willing to eat a San Juan Worm. If you aren’t productive with any of those flies, try to swing a streamer through some of the deeper runs.

Green River Fishing Report

As of May 1, the Governor of the State of Utah has moved from the State’s risk management from the High Risk Category of COVID-19 response to a Moderate Risk Category. There are still A LOT of restrictions in place, but we are allowed to move about a little bit more freely. More information can be found here: https://coronavirus-download.utah.gov/Health/Phased%20Health%20Guidelines%20V4.0.1.pdf

Certain areas are on a stricter lockdown than others and out of state travel is strongly discouraged.

The Tri County Region has moved to the same Moderate Risk Guidelines that the Governor has put into effect.

Spring is here on the Green River in Utah. We are seeing highs in the 60’s and low 70’s with the occasional Spring storm passing through. Snowpack is currently sitting at 104 percent of average in the Upper Green River drainage and 93 percent of average in the Lower Green River drainage. The release out of Flaming Gorge Reservoir is currently at 950 CFS. The water currently being released from the dam is around 42.6 degrees Fahrenheit.

The lower flows have made the fish suspend and look towards Baetis and midges on the surface. Look for fish to be rising in the slower seams and eddies. There has been a steady midge hatch everyday. On cloudy days the Baetis hatch has been very thick. My go to dry flies have been a Trailing Shuck Baetis and a Cluster Midge. For nymphs this time of the year, you will want to have small gray scuds (18-20), small gray and brown WD 40’s (20-24), gray soft hackle (18-20), zebra midge (18-20), Frenchie (16), Baetis nymphs (16-18), Prince Nymph (16) and a variety of San Juan Worms from Secret Riffle down.

With the warming temperatures and low flows, Red Creek has been running off color. The streamer bite is okay below Red Creek, but river clarity is not very ideal.