Later summer on Utah’s small streams means that it is terrestrial season. Bring ants, beetles, and hoppers with you. Plan of fishing pocket water for anxiously waiting Brook Trout and Cutthroat Trout. Now through mid October is a great time to get out and explore what the higher elevation streams have to offer. There have been some afternoon thunderstorms rolling into the high country so pack a rain jacket.
Weber River Fishing Report
Water releases from Rockport Reservoir are at 180 CFS. By Coalville the flows are around 178 CFS. Below Echo the Weber is flowing at 486 CFS. It is flowing at 142 CFS once it gets to Ogden. Throughout the I 80 corridor and I 84 canyon stretch to Mountain Green, the Weber is quite fishable right now.
The major summertime hatches have subsided, but you will still see midges early in the morning (size 20-24), PMD activity midday on the cloudy days (size 18-20), and caddis activity in the evenings (size 14-20). You will also see ants, beetles, and hoppers. Fish will be concentrated in the deeper runs as well as in the faster moving pocket water. The faster water is a great option for terrestrial fishing or fishing a dry dropper.
Provo River Fishing Report
Summer is starting to wind down and the kids are starting to go back to school so fishing pressure is starting to slow down. Releases from Jordanelle are at 337 CFS. At Charleston the river is flowing at 190 CFS. Below Deer Creek the flows are at 563 CFS. River temperatures are around 50 F. The tubing traffic on the Lower Provo is not as busy as it was so below Deer Creek is becoming a very fishable option. With the higher flows on the Lower Provo, fish are concentrated in the slower seams and around structure. The flows on the Middle Provo are lower than what they have been so look for fish in deeper runs and in faster moving pocket water.
There are still some PMD’s flying around (size 18-20) on the cloudy days and there is still a fair amount of caddis activity (size 14-18), especially in the evenings. Terrestrials like ants, beetles, and grasshoppers are making their way to the river on the windy days. Midge activity is prevalent in the early morning hours (size 20-24).
Late August is a spotty time of the year on the Provo, but you can still find some great fishing.
Green River Fishing Report
July has produced some of the finest dry fly fishing that I have ever witnessed on the Green River. Night time flows on the Green are around 1,100 CFS. At around 9 AM they increase the flows to about 1,400 CFS. At about 1 PM the flows increase to about 2,100 CFS. The current temperature of the water being released from the dam is 56.3 F.
In the morning you will see a plethora of midges on the water and quite a few caddis as the sun hits the water. Around 10 AM you will start to see PMD’s and Yellow Sallies beginning to hatch. They will stick around until approximately 2 PM. Around 4 PM the caddis will start to come off again and last into the evening. There are still Cicadas around, both the mondos and the clickers. It’s crazy, but I think they will be around until August.
Dry fly fishing has been phenomenal. Fish a big cicada, cricket, or ant until you see fish keying in on the hatch. During the hatch fish are either keyed in on Caddis, PMD’s, or Sallies. Once you hone in on what they are eating, it is game on. After the hatch they will eat the big bug again and then switch to Caddis in the evenings. Dry flies that I like are Chubby Chernobyl Ants in a size 8-12, a Paracricket or PMX in a size 8-10, Peacock Caddis in a size 14-16, Film Critic PMD in a size 16, Yellow Sally in a Size 14. If you have to nymph, fish will eat a scud, gray soft hackle, frenchie, prince nymph, graphic caddis, or a worm. Streamer fishing has been good in the early morning hours before the sun hits the water.
Enjoy the fishing!