Small Stream Fishing Report

With Utah sitting somewhere between 93 and 258 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 or spring creeks as well as rivers with paved roads leading to them.

May is a great time to be adventurous. The Provo is busy with the baetis and midge hatches popping off. Baetis and midges are hatching on a lot of other rivers as well. Who knows, depending on where you are at, you might stumble upon a Stonefly or early caddis hatch or maybe even cicadas. 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.

Southwest Wyoming Fishing Report

Signs of Spring are starting to show themselves in Southwest Wyoming, but there is still a lot of snow out there. Snowpack in the Upper Green River Drainage is at 103 percent of normal, the Lower Green River Drainage is at 106 percent, and the Upper Bear Drainage is at 117 percent. The day time temperatures are still chilly and the water temps are still quite low. Therefore, 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. Flows below Fontenelle Reservoir have been around 1420 CFS.

There has been a lot of midge activity on the days that the wind doesn’t blow the bugs off the water and lots of baetis are around as well. If you are nymphing, scuds, San Juan worms, midges, and baetis will get the job down. The dry fly fishing is pretty subpar, but if you see some fish rising you can get them with a cluster midge or a baetis cripple. The streamer fishing has been good. Fish the slower, deeper runs with darker streamers and you should have some success.

Green River Fishing Report

Streamflows below Flaming Gorge Dam are at 968 CFS and should remain that way until sometime in May. The Upper Green River Drainage is sitting at 107 percent of average snowpack and the Lower Green River Drainage is sitting at 117 percent of average. River temperatures are still around 39 degrees Fahrenheit.

With the constant changing of the weather patterns, fishing can be fantastic or just good. In the mornings and the afternoons the midge hatch has been pretty thick. Around 12:30, more and more blue winged olives are showing up every day. This is starting to make for some good fishing on Lower A and Upper B. As the hatch continues to get thicker the fishing will be getting better and better. In short, fish are still honed in on midges and scuds in the morning. In the afternoon, the fish are feeding on the baetis moving around. The streamer bite has still been pretty good on the Upper River on overcast days with the white Sculpzilla, the Articulated Goldie, and the Olive Peanut Envy.

Due to melting snow up in Wyoming, Red Creek is flowing and the lower river is pretty off color. Therefore, the fishing has been consistently inconsistent on the lower river. If the river clarity is good, the streamer bite has been decent and you will see fish feeding on baetis in the afternoons.

For dry dropper fishing, I am always a fan of the Chubby Chernobyl Ant. Mainly because it is ridiculously easy to see, but even during this time of the year a fish will occasionally eat it. I am fishing either a zebra midge or baetis between 2 to 3 feet below the dry.

There is no shortage of flies that will catch a fish during a midge or baetis hatch. Some of my favorite dries are a peacock cluster midge, Matt’s Midge, the Mother Shucker, CDC Baetis Dun, the Film Critic, or a Baetis Cripple.

When I am nymphing on Upper A, I’m fishing a small gray scud and a zebra midge. Once the Baetis hatch gets going on Lower A and Upper B, I am still nymphing a zebra midge because of all the midges still around and a baetis emerger. The Radiation Baetis and a Flashback Pheasant Tail have been my go to emerger patterns lately.

Provo River Fishing Report

April is here, but it is still snowing. The Provo River Drainage is looking at a snowpack that is 160 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 202 CFS. Below Deer Creek Reservoir the flows are at 111 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.