NORTHERN UTAH REPORTS
Updated: November 19th, 2024
By: Nick Teynor
Hello All,
*FYI: Fall is spawning time for the local brown trout, and it's time to be aware of where we are fishing and stepping. 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.*
Fall fishing weather has finally arrived! There have been fish up and feeding on Midges, and the Fall Blue Wing Olive mayflies have begun popping off, especially when we have cloudy or cool conditions. With the cooler mornings and evenings of Fall, prospecting with streamers on lakes and reservoirs can move some good quality 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. The folks over at Redington Fly Gear have a nice little video on the subject.
Check these gauges for updates on water levels!
1) Central Utah Water Conservancy District
Fishing Conditions Summary
Middle Provo:
As of today the Middle Provo is currently 151 CFS out of Jordanelle Reservoir, and 134 CFS at River Road. At these flows, and especially on sunny days the fish will want to be in the deeper water, and river structure such as rocks, log jams, foam and bubble lines, etc. is what I'd focus fishing around. As we get into November you'll want to make sure you have your Blue Wing Olive nymphs, cripples, and dry flies with you (#20-#24), Midge nymphs and dries (#18-#24), and Blue Wing and Midge Soft Hackles (#18-#22). If there is nothing obvious hatching nor fish rising consistently, fishing a large Parachute Adams along the rivers edges and softer water, and/or dropping a small mayfly, midge, or attractor nymph off the the back would be a good idea. Swinging a Soft Hackle on a slow controlled swing down-and across has been effective prior to and after the daily Fall insect hatches.
Lower Provo:
The Lower's flow is around 141 CFS out of Deer Creek. At these flows the fish will seek out deeper water to winter over in, and the weed growth from Summer will make fishing tricky until the colder water temps break up the weeds. River structure such as rocks, log jams, and foam / bubble lines are still what I'd focus on fishing. Blue Wing Olive mayflies (#20-#24) and midges (#20-#24) will definitely be of importance to both anglers and fish for the rest of the season. The weeds will make nymphing a challenge, but 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 in the mornings and evenings.
Weber River:
The Weber River between Rockport and Echo reservoirs is now flowing at 25 CFS at Wanship, and 30 CFS at Coalville. This is a barely fishable flow for the Middle Weber, so we'd recommend anglers move on from hole to hole after catching a couple of fish so as to not stress them out. We'd also recommend you come prepared with small Blue Wing Olive nymphs and dries (#18-#22), midge nymphs and dries (#18-#24), and nymphs such as sow bugs, Hare's Ears, Copper Johns, etc. Flows out of Echo Reservoir to Henefer are now currently at 1.1 CFS, which is a not fishable flow.
Green River Below Flaming Gorge:
As of right now, the flows on the Green below Flaming Gorge are flowing at/around 850 CFS - 1,750 CFS from roughly 7 AM - 10PM. If you're heading to the Green I'd make sure to bring attractor dry fly patterns like a Para. Cricket (#14-#16), Parachute Adams (#14-#22), Purple Rooster/Purple Hazes (#14-#18), and Chubby Chernobyl's in Purple and Black (#12-#16). When we get some cloudy, cooler weather, the Fall Blue-Wing Olives (#18-#22) should become more important to both angler and fish. Dry-Dropper fishing with attractor nymphs like "Frenchies", Perdigons, olive or tan scuds, Blue Wing Olive nymphs (i.e. 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:
With the nights getting cooler, fish in the local lakes and reservoirs will start to hang around in the shallows in the mornings, cool afternoons and evenings, and fishing from the shore can be good. Taking a drive up to the Uinta Mountains to get some fishing in before Winter shows up is still an option as long as the Mirror Lake Highway is open, and could result in seeing a few less people.
Fishing Tip(s):
Now that we're officially in Fall, the hatches we fish will be determined based on the weather conditions for that day. Cloudy, cooler days usually lead to really good mayfly hatches. Leader(s) I'd recommend for fishing the local waters during this time of year are 7.5' 2X leaders and tippet for fishing streamers and big dry flies, 7.5'-9' 4X leaders for fishing dries, dry-droppers, light nymph rigs, and 4X-6X tippets. My choice of tippet off of my leader is based on whatever size of fly I need to throw. This simple leader/tippet system allows me to adjust to whatever fishing conditions I encounter, and simplify what I need to take with me fishing. The only other tips I can offer are the following: Be prepared for dynamic weather changes, check the river flows before you head out, and make sure you respect each others space when out on the water!!!
FLY RECOMMENDATIONS:
Befus BWO Emerger (#22)
Turkey Baetis Cripple (#20-#22)
Vis-A-Dun BWO (#18-#22)
Winger BWO (#22-#24)
Purple Rooster / Purple Haze(#14-#18)
Para. Adams (#12-#18, #22-#26)
Purple, Duracell, Peacock Chubby Chernobyl (#12-#14)
Buckskin Nymph (#20-#22)
Zebra Midges (#16-#22)
Juju Baetis (#20-#22)
Split Case BWO Nymph (#20-#22)
Barr's BWO Emerger (#18-#22)
Pheasant Tail Nymphs (#18-#22)
Hare's Ear Nymphs (#18)
Cased / Un-Cased Caddis Larva (#16-#18)
Prince Nymphs (#14-#18)
Copper John Midge (#22)
Blowtorch (#16)
Leeches (#8#-#12)
Olive and Rusty Sculpin Patterns (#6-#12)
Platte River Spider (#4)
Sow Bugs (#16#20)
Soft Hackle Sow Bugs (#16, #20)
San Juan Worms (#12-#16)