Provo River Fishing Report

April is here, but it is still snowing. The Provo River Drainage is looking at a snowpack that is 144 percent of average. This is great news, given the past few years. Check the weather and layer accordingly. It could be 60 degrees or it could be 20 degrees on the river. On the Middle Provo, releases out of the Jordanelle Reservoir are at 143 CFS and the flows at Charleston are at 203 CFS. Below Deer Creek Reservoir the flows are at 107 CFS. The river temperature is around 38 degrees Fahrenheit.

The midge hatch is still around, but not as intense as it was a couple of weeks ago. That’s okay though. The baetis are here. Mayflies love riffles so if you see any sign of baetis (bugs that look like sailboats on the water) you should get to a riffle tail out as soon as possible. In that water you can fish dry flies, swing soft hackles, or nymph.

Flies I like this time of year:

Dries: Cluster midge, Matt’s midge, CDC baetis dun, and Baetis cripple.

Nymphs: Juju Baetis, zebra midge, cardinal midge, and a sow bug.

If you are fishing streamers, I always go small on the Provo. Sculpzillas and Zonkers in white, black, or olive are my spring time favorites.

Small Stream Fishing Report

With Utah sitting somewhere between 111 and 205 percent of average snowpack, snow is still the major issue when it comes to access on many of Utah’s smaller streams. Focus on tailwater fisheries as well as rivers with paved roads leading to them. I’ve seen some cars stuck in some precarious places as of late.

With that being said, April is a great time to begin to be adventurous. The Provo is busy with the baetis and midge hatches popping off. Baetis and midges come off on a lot of other rivers as well. Who knows, depending on where you are at, you might stumble upon a March Stonefly or early caddis hatch as well. When exploring, be mindful of the weather and that if a river is crystal clear in the morning, runoff could cause it to become unfishable in the afternoon.

I like to fish small streams with a dry dropper rig this time of the year, unless fish our rising. If they are rising you should probable tie on something that matches the hatch. Some of my favorite point flies are a peacock cluster midge in a size 16 or a Paracricket or PMX in a size 12-14. It terms of droppers, I like a size 18-20 zebra midge, size 18 pheasant tail, or a size 16 prince nymph. If you are fishing streamers, think smaller. A Scuplizza or Zonker in white, black, or olive should do the trick.

Weber River Fishing Report

Water releases from Rockport Reservoir are still at 25.1 CFS. By Coalville the flows are around 65 CFS. Below Echo the Weber is flowing at 1.75 CFS. Throughout the I 84 canyon the Weber picks up more water and is flowing at about 125 CFS once it gets to Ogden. Eventually these flows will ramp up since the Weber drainage is sitting at 133 percent of normal snowpack.

I like to give the fish a rest when the flows are this low, but that’s just me. If you are fishing trying to fish the Weber this time of the year, you will find the fish heavily concentrated in the deeper runs. They love sow bugs, especially the tailwater sow in a size 16 or 18. You will see some baetis activity, but not nearly as much as you will find on the Provo. Usually a purple or natural juju baetis in a size 18 will do the trick. There is also some spring midge activity on the Weber. Again not nearly as much as on the Provo, but fish will hone in on smaller gray midges earlier in the day. I would cover that activity with a size 22 gray WD40. I have heard of a few people throwing streamers on the Weber. The white or natural zonker as been the streamer of choice for those anglers.

Any day now the flows will begin to ramp up. Spring is in the air. Look for caddis activity to start heating up in the coming weeks.

Southwest Wyoming

Contrary to popular belief, it is still winter in Southwest Wyoming. Fish are still holding in deeper, slower, winter holding water. Lots of whitefish are sitting in the riffles. If that’s what you are into, get after it.

Snowmelt has been leading to blowing out of rivers in the afternoons. Stay high to avoid runoff. Most of Wyoming’s drainages are sitting at about average. Although it was ridiculously cold this Winter, it did not snow as much as it has in years past.

There has been a lot of midge activity on the days that the wind doesn’t blow the bugs off the water and some baetis are showing up. If you are nymphing, scuds are king. The dry fly fishing is pretty subpar. With that being said, the streamer fishing has been fantastic. Fish the slower, deeper runs with darker streamers and you should have some success.