*PSA: November-January is the spawning season for the local Brown Trout, which means we as anglers and good stewards of the resource will need to watch where
we are stepping AND fishing in order to make sure we don't negatively impact the spawn. We have posted multiple social media posts, and written multiple blog posts about why it is important to leave ANY and ALL spawning fish alone, but if you haven't seen them or understand why leaving spawning fish alone matters, you can read about why we need to respect spawning fish by clicking on the link I've provided for you Here.*
Novmeber is here, and with it comes the back half of the Fall fishing season. Most if not all of the local tailwater fisheries have dropped their output to winter flows, which has made sections of the Weber too low to fish in our eyes, make sure you check the river gauges before heading out.
The best information for river flows on the Middle and Lower Provo are through the CUWCD Wesbite. You can find that info Here.
For flow information on a majority of the smaller streams in the state, we use the USGS Website. You can find that info Here.
For flow information on other tailwater fisheries in the state, and surrounding states, we use the USBR website. You can find that info Here.
Blue Wing Olive Mayflies, and Midges are still hacthing on the local tailwaters, and will be the major hatches driving our dry fly-fishing opportunities for the rest of the year. Fishing lakes, ponds and reservoirs from shore or by boat is really starting to turn on as well, so don't be afraid to get out to you favorite stillwater fishery with a variety of streamers and see what you can find. If you're unsure of how to fish the local lakes, ponds, and reservoirs during the Fall, I wrote a blog post talking about fishing the remaining hatches AND fishing stillwaters for the remainder of the year. You can find all sorts of helpful tips and fly suggestions by following the link to the blog post below. If the Fall hatches are a little lackluster, fishing streamers during periods of low-light or storms, or swinging soft hackles pre-hatch and post-hatch through the deep holes and pools on the local tailwater fisheries can move fish when nothing else seems to work.
It's still been busy out there with other anglers, and based on my personal experiences in the last couple of weeks, some of you REALLY need to read up on river etiquette! Be self aware while on the water, spread out, ask people if they're ok with sharing the water with you before just jumping in, give each other space, and treat others as you'd like to be treated; there is plenty of room for everyone. If you are intent of fishing a specific piece of water; get there early! If you're having a hard time finding space; fish the pockets, edges and banks that are often overlooked. As always, in order to avoid bad river etiquette, it's important to know the basic ins an outs of how to interact with each other on the water. Check out this video from Redington on basic fishing etiquette Here.
Middle Provo:
As of today (November 4th), the Middle Provo is flowing at 148 CFS out of Jordanelle. This is the Winter flow for the Middle Provo, which means fish will start to pod up in deeper water to shelter in until the Spring, so focusing on the deeper runs, pools, and pocket water is where I'd be fishing. I'd recommend you look out for Midges (#20-#26), and Blue Wing Olive mayflies (#20-#24) in the late morning through the afternoon. The river remains busy, especially on these warmer than normal Fall days, but getting up to the river a little earlier in the morning or in to the evening, and taking a walk can help you find some solitude. Swinging soft hackles prior to and after the hatch be worth trying if nothing else is going on-especially during the low-light periods of the day.
Lower Provo:
The Lower's flow is currently flowing at 160 CFS out of Deer Creek. The weeds from the summer are still around, which means nymphing and streamer fishing at these flows will mean picking off weeds every other cast if you're fishing with too much weight. With these current conditions, the fish will begin to seek out deeper channels and holes to winter over in, and other super fishy structure such as drop-offs, pools, rocks, and foam / bubble lines are always good places to fish. Be on the lookout for fish up and eating Midge adults, pupa, and larva (#20-#26), Blue Wing Olive mayfly dries and nymphs (#20-#24), sow bugs, and attractor nymphs. If you don't want to look at a bobber, swinging soft hackles or fishing streamers can move fish too.
The Weber River between Rockport and Echo reservoirs is now flowing at 26.6 CFS at Wanship, and 26.7 CFS at Coalville. We're not fising the river at these flows, and for those anglers that are continuing to fish it, we'd recommend moving on after cacthing a couple of fish in a hole, in order to help ease the fishing pressure, and help keep the fishery healthy for the remainder of the low water season. Flows out of Echo Reservoir to Henefer are now currently at 2 CFS, which is NOT a fishable flow. Hence, we aren't fishing it. Heading down towards Morgan and Ogden the flows are low for this time of year at Morgan (69 CFS @ Morgan), and below normal at Gateway/Uinta (65 CFS @ Gateway). The lower stretches of the Weber are very rocky, and can be tricky to wade. Flies to use for the Lower Weber will be identical to what we are fishing on the Middle and Lower Provo.
The Green's flows are settled back to 820 CFS for the forseeable future, likely for the Winter. Midges (#20-#26) and Blue Winged Olive mayflies (#20-#24) are present in the mid-morning-afternoon, and as long as things stay warm, you could still potentially move a fish on ant and or cricket pattern during the warmest parts of the day. If you get desperate or for some reason hate watching trout sip down a bug off of the surface, dropping a Frenchie (#16-#20), Zebra Midge (#16-#20), Perdigon (#14-#20), or small mayfly or attractor nymph off the back of your dry fly will pick up fish as well. With the change of the seasons, there are more storm systems coming through, I wouldn't hesitate to try a streamer in the early mornings, evenings, and when there are clouds and/or rain around. Swinging a mouse during the low-light hours would also be another fun thing to try.
If you're headed over there, make sure to stop in and see the crew at WRF Guides (435-790-6465) for all of your shuttles, last minute flies and tackle, and most up to date reports!
The Mirror Lake Highway is still fishing well, but things are getting closer and closer to wrapping up as the weather gets colder and snowier. The lakes and ponds are what I'd focus on, and if you can't get a fish to move on the dry, throw on a small leech or bugger pattern and start working around structure, inlets/outlets, and drop-offs.
Local reservoirs (i.e. Strawberry, Scofield, etc.) are starting to really turn on, but like any fishery, it can be a little hit or miss at times. Fishing a variety or streamers or mouse patterns in the early mornings and evenings, and fishing a variety of Chubby Chernobyls, and larger soft-hackles can also be effective during the late-mornings and afternoons-especially if there is a breeze.
For fishing streamers and giant to large dry flies, I like to run a 7.5' 2X leader, and 2X-4X tippets. For my "all-around" Fall-Winter leader, I use 7.5'-9' 5X leaders and 5X-7X tippets to cover the Midge and Blue Winged Olive mayfly nymphs and dries, and anything else small that I want to fish.
Dry Flies:
Morgan's Midge (#22, #24)
Griffith's Gnat (#18-#22)
Parachute Adams (#14-#26)
Black Para. Midge (#22, #26)
Drymerger BWO (#22)
No Hackle BWO (#22)
CDC Thorax BWO (#22)
Quill Body CDC BWO (#20-#22)
Deer Hair Ant (#16)
Chubby Chernobyl (#10-#16)
Nymphs:
Gray RS-2 (#24)
S.H.E. (#22)
Barr's BWO Emerger (#20-#22)
Duracell (#16)
Blowtorch (#16)
Juju Baetis (#22)
Tungsten Shady BWO (#20, #22)
Split Case BWO (#22)
Prince Nymphs (#16)
FB Pheasant Tail Nymphs (#18-#22)
Hare's Ear Nymphs (#18)
Caddis Larva (#14-#18)
Zebra Midges (#16-#22)
Soft Hackles:
Pulsating Emerger (#18, #22)
Lucent Tag SH (#20)
Black Magic Soft Hackle (#18)
Red Ass Soft Hackle (#18)
Baetis Swinger (#18)
BWO Ultra Soft SH (#16)
Snipe and Purple SH (#16)
Partridge and Peacock (#16)
Partidge & Orange (#14-#16)
Pheasant Tail Soft Hackle (#14-#18)
Olive Sparkle Soft Hackle (#16)
Streamers:
Leeches (#8-#12)
Olive and Rusty Sculpin
Patterns (#6-#12)
Platte River Spider (#4)
Shiela Scuplin (#6)
Sculpzilla (#8)
Balanced Leeches (#10-#14)
Wooly Bugger (#8-#12)