Fishing Reports

Northern Utah Fishing Reports: May 30th, 2025

Hello All,

With warmer air temps comes our Spring run-off, so check the flow gauges before you head out. Take a look at our [WR]FAQ: High Water (linked below) for some ideas for this time of year. Reservoirs are a great option this time of year and Jordanelle and Deer Creek reservoirs are wide open, Strawberry Reservoir is iced-off, and prospecting with streamers, balanced leeches, and chironomids are moving fish. 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.

*FLOW UPDATE: The flows on the Middle Provo have dropped to 300 CFS out of Jordanelle Reservoir, and have bumped to over 1,100 CFS out of Deer Creek Reservoir. We don't know how long they will keep the Middle Provo at this low flow, but it's a safe bet that the flows will go up again in the next couple of days-weeks. So before you go, check the river gauge or give us a call before heading out. Spring run-off is still going, so checking the river gauges before heading out can save you time and gas money!*

*FYI: Spawning time for the local brown trout has been done for a moment, but Rainbows and Cutthroat will be starting to ge the itch here soon, so it's still important to be aware of where we are fishing and stepping so we don't crush their eggs. If you're not sure what a spawning redd is, and why it's important to leave them be, we've written articles on why it's important to leave any spawning trout alone, which you can read here. The folks over at Redington also made a little video on the why leaving spawning trout alone is so important to the long-term health of any fishery. You can view that here.*

Provo River

Middle Provo:

As of today the Middle Provo is currently 304 CFS out of Jordanelle, and 178 CFS at River Road. This is once again a super fishable flow, but I would not expect it to last, so take advantage of it while you can!!! At these flows fish will hang around river structure such as rocks, drop-offs and shelfs, log jams, and side channels. With this drop in flows, I wouldn't be surprised to see some Mother's Day Caddis leftovers popping off, along with leftover Spring Blue Wing Olive mayflies, so make sure you come prepared with both nymph and dry patterns for these bugs. When high water returns, it will signal the start of the "worm hatch", so a variety of San Juans and Squirmy worms wouldn't be a bad idea for the forseeable future. Nymphing with worm patterns (#12-#18), sow bugs (#12-#16), Baetis (B.W.O.) nymphs, cased Caddis patterns or attractor/perdigon/jig head style nymphs can motivate a fish or two to eat. As we get closer to June, starting to prospect with stonefly patterns (#12-#16) and Green Drakes (#12-#14) may move fish too. Fishing streamers during the low-light periods of the day can potentially move a fish or two.

Lower Provo:

The Lower's flow is around 1,126 CFS out of Deer Creek. There will be some who will try to fish the river at this level, but the reality is that this is not a safe or good fishing flow. Once the flows drop back between 500 CFS-700 CFS, then the Lower will be worth checking out. When the flows eventually drop, the fish will seek out structure along the rivers edge, and structure such as drop-offs, pools, rocks, and foam / bubble lines are still what I'd focus on fishing. Nymphing along the rivers edges with a variety of sow bugs, Pale Morning Dun mayfly (P.M.D.) nymphs, worm patterns, and attractor nymphs can be effective. If you don't want to look at a bobber, fishing streamers can move fish too.

WEBER RIVER

The Weber River between Rockport and Echo reservoirs is now flowing at 206 CFS at Wanship, and 215 CFS at Coalville. This is a very fishable flow for the Middle Weber, but since it [the Weber] has a narrower streambed, it is pushy in places. So make sure you take your time when wading! The Summer hatches haven't started yet, but it's not a bad idea to come prepared with Pale Morning Dun (P.M.D.) mayfly nymphs and dries in #16-#18, Yellow Stonefly nymphs and dries in sizes #12-#16, San Juan worms, sow bugs, Hare's Ears, Pheasant Tails, and Copper Johns are good option over there for nymphing. Fishing a streamer low and slow through the deeper holes can also potentially move a fish or two, and isn't a bad option to try-especially if nothing else is working. Flows out of Echo Reservoir to Henefer are now currently at 365 CFS, which is a pushy flow, and the fish will be forced right to the rivers edge to find structure to hang out around. Heading down towards Morgan and Ogden the flows are higher, and more tricky to fish and wade. In short, use caution, and don't put yourself in danger!!! Flies to use for the Lower Weber will be identical to what we are fishing on the Weber between Rockport and Echo Reservoirs.

GREEN RIVER

The Green's flows are now at 890 CFS from roughly 1 AM-4:30 PM, and are bumping to 2,450 CFS starting at around 5 PM. If you're heading to the Green I'd make sure to bring midge nymphs and dries (#18-#26), Blue Winged Olive mayfly nymphs and dries (#18-#22) for the cloudy days, attractor dry fly patterns like Deer Hair Ants (#12-#16), Bionic Ants (#12-#16), Para. Crickets (#12-#16), Peacock PMXs (#12-#16), Parachute Adams (#14-#22), and Purple Rooster/Purple Hazes (#14-#18). No word on Cicada's being around in noticeable numbers, but if it's a hot, windy afternoon-I'd put a #10-#12 Cicada on and trail a small ant or beetle pattern behind it 18"-24". Dry-Dropper fishing with attractor nymphs like "Frenchies", Perdigons, olive or tan sow bugs/scuds, Blue Wing Olive nymphs (i.e. RS-2, Juju Baetis, Barr's BWO Emergers, etc.) and a variety of sizes and colors of Zebra Midges can work well if there are no signs of fish feeding off of the surface. If it is super windy, cloudy, not much surface activity, etc.-fishing a streamer can be effective.

OTHER WATERS

Many of the local community ponds/lakes and reservoirs are fishing, and can be good at times with a variety of streamers, chironomids (large lake midges), and balanced leeches. If you're stumped about what size and colors to fish, remember to keep it simple. Bright day, bright fly. Dark day, dark fly. Sunny and calm, I like to fish sparser and/or smaller flies. Cloudy, stormy, or windy days I like to fish darker and/or larger flies. Warm-Water fish species such as carp, sunfish, and bass are great options to fish for during the Mid-Spring to Early Summer, and can be a welcome change from fishing high water on our local streams during run-off. If you fancy a road trip, heading down to check out some of the streams and reservoirs down in Southern Utah can potentially lead to good fishing opportunities, and less people.

Tips

For fishing streamers, I like to run a 7.5' 2X leader, and 2X-4X tippets. For my "all-around" Summer leader, I use 7.5'-9' 4X leaders, and I'm typically fishing 9' 5X leaders then tapering down to either 5X-6X tippets for smaller Caddis and Pale Morning Duns.

Fly Recommendations

Dry Flies:

Hi-Vis Griffith's Gnat (#18-#22)

Para. Adams (#12-#20, #22-#26)

Deer Hair Ant (#12-#16)

Peacock PMX (#10-#16)

Chubby Chernobyl (#10-#16)

Olive X-Caddis (#16)

Hemingway Caddis (#16)

Spent Partridge Caddis (#16-#18)

Nymphs:

Squirmy Worms (#12)

San Juan Worms (#12-#16)

Split Case PMD (#16-#18)

Prince Nymphs (#12-#16)

Pheasant Tail Nymphs (#12-#22)

Hare's Ear Nymphs (#12-#18)

Cased / Un-Cased Caddis Larva (#14-#18)

Zebra Midges (#16-#22)

Soft Hackles:

Olive Graphic Caddis (#16)

Partridge & Yellow (#14-#16)

Partridge & Olive (#14-#16)

March Brown Spider (#14-#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 (#6)