Green River Fishing Report

Flows have changed quite a bit since my last report. The steady release on 968 CFS is no longer the case. The nighttime flow is 950 CFS, it increases to 2,025 CFS at 8 AM, and then to 2,500 CFS at 5 PM. The Upper Green River Drainage is sitting at 103 percent of average snowpack and the Lower Green River Drainage is sitting at 106 percent of average. River temperatures are around 43 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 great 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

The Provo River Drainage is looking at a snowpack that is 155 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. Flows are beginning to increase on the Provo, but are currently at great levels for fishing. On the Middle Provo, releases out of the Jordanelle Reservoir are at 302 CFS and the flows at Charleston are at 311 CFS. Below Deer Creek Reservoir the flows are at 328 CFS. The river temperature is around 39 degrees Fahrenheit.

The midge hatch is still around, but not as intense as it was a couple of weeks ago. The baetis are also still showing up on cloudy days. 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. There are also some Skwala stoneflies that show up on some bright sunny day. Keep an eye out for those.

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.

Weber River Fishing Report

Water releases from Rockport Reservoir are at 215 CFS. By Coalville the flows are around 273 CFS. Below Echo the Weber is flowing at 183 CFS. Throughout the I 84 canyon the Weber picks up a lot more water and is flowing at about 1,200 CFS once it gets to Ogden. Snowpack in the Weber River Drainage is sitting at 139 percent of normal. Due to snowmelt the Upper and Lower Weber are kind of out of the picture for fishing, but it is game on between Wanship and Coalville.

When 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 and dark midges earlier in the day. I would cover that activity with a size 22 gray WD40 or a smaller zebra midge. 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.

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.