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Fishing Reports

Northern Utah Fishing Reports: May 27th, 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, but we don't know if they will raise the flows in the next couple of days-weeks, so 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 598 CFS out of Jordanelle, and 506 CFS at River Road. This is once again a fishable flow, for now, but you'll still need to pick and choose your locations well in order to be safe and find some fish. At these flows, the fish be pushed right to the rivers edge, and will hang around river structure such as rocks, drop-offs and shelfs, log jams, and side channels. High water signals 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 495 CFS out of Deer Creek. At these flows 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 midge larva and pupa patterns, small sow bugs, P.M.D. nymphs, worm patterns, and small attractor nymphs can be effective. If you don't want to look at a bobber, swinging a Soft Hackle on a slow, controlled, down-and across swing has been effective at times when there is no obvious signs of bugs hatching, and fishing streamers can move fish too.

 


WEBER RIVER

The Weber River between Rockport and Echo reservoirs is now flowing at 177 CFS at Wanship, and 193 CFS at Coalville. This is a very fishable flow for the Middle Weber, but since it [the Weber] has a narrower streambed, it is a little 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 225 CFS, which is a pushy but fishable flow, and worth checking out before the Spring run-off occurs. 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), 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). 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 fishing dry-dropper rigs, 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:

 

 Mother Shuckers (#20-#24)

Befus BWO Emerger (#18, #22)

Mickey Mouse BWO Cripple (#18-#20)

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

Little Olive Skwala (#12)

Hemingway Caddis (#16) 

Spent Partridge Caddis (#16-#18)

 

Nymphs:

 

Zebra Midges (#16-#22)

Juju Baetis (#20-#22)

Barr's BWO Emerger (#18-#22)

Prince Nymphs (#12-#16)

Pheasant Tail Nymphs (#12-#22)

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

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

Soft Hackles:

 

Olive Graphic Caddis (#16)

Baetis Swinger (#18)

BWO Soft Hackle (#18)

Pheasant Tail Soft Hackle (#18-#14)

Olive Sparkle Soft Hackle (#16)

Red Hot Spot Spider Soft Hackle (#14)

Streamers:

 

Leeches (#8-#12)

Olive and Rusty Sculpin

Patterns (#6-#12)

Platte River Spider (#4)

Shiela Scuplin (#6)

Sculpzilla (#6)


[WR]F.A.Q: High Water

If you're heading out to fish the local rivers or streams, check out our new: [WR]F.A.Q - Western Rivers Frequent Angling Questions feature on High Water. This new blog feature seeks to break down and de-mystify some of our favorite local angling opportunites, techniques and gear throughout the season.


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