NORTHERN UTAH REPORTS
Updated: January 7th, 2024
By: Nick Teynor
Hello All,
*FYI: Spawning time for the local brown trout is starting to wind down, but it's still important 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.*
Winter is here, and there have been a few fish up and feeding on Midges on the local tailwater fisheries. As of today, Jordanelle and Deer Creek reservoirs have little to no ice on them, and prospecting with streamers can move some 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 152 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 slower, deeper water, and river structure such as rocks, foam and bubble lines is what I'd focus fishing around. As we get into January and even February, you'll want to make sure you have your Midge nymphs and dries (#18-#28), and Midge Soft Hackles (#18-#22). If there is nothing obvious hatching nor fish rising consistently, nymphing with a variety of midge larva and pupa patterns, small sow bugs, and small attractor nymphs have been proven to motivate a fish or two to eat. Swinging a Soft Hackle on a slow, controlled, down-and across swing has been effective prior to and after the daily hatches, and fishing streamers in the deep pools low and slow can potentially move a fish.
Lower Provo:
The Lower's flow is around 143 CFS out of Deer Creek. At these flows the fish will seek out deeper water to winter over in, and the weed growth should continue to break up as winter progresses. River structure such as rocks, and foam / bubble lines are still what I'd focus on fishing in/around. Midges (#20-#28) will definitely be of importance to both anglers and fish for the rest of the Winter season. The weeds can make nymphing a challenge, but nymphing in the deeper holes with a variety of midge larva and pupa patterns, small sow bugs, 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 in the deep pools low and slow can potentially move a fish too.
Weber River:
The Weber River between Rockport and Echo reservoirs is now flowing at 25 CFS at Wanship, and 31 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 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 .7 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 970 CFS - 1,900 CFS from roughly 7 AM - 10PM. If you're heading to the Green I'd make sure to bring midge nymphs and dries (#18-#26), attractor dry fly patterns like a Para. Cricket (#16), Parachute Adams (#14-#22), and Purple Rooster/Purple Hazes (#14-#18). 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:
Some of the local lakes and reservoirs are still open, and the fishing can be good at times with a variety of streamers, chironomids, and balanced leeches as long as there is open water to fish. 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, sparser and/or smaller flies. Cloudy, stormy, or windy days-fish darker and/or larger flies.
Fishing Tip(s):
Now that we're in the Winter season, the hatches we fish will be determined based on the weather conditions for that day. The colder the weather gets, the better the fishing conditions will be during the warmest/most comfortable parts of the day. Leader and tippets will need to be fine, and I'm typically fishing 9' 5X leaders then tapering down to 6X-7X tippets depending on how sunny or cloudy the day is. Sunnier the day, the more delicate leader and tippet. Cloudier the day, you can usually get away with fishing 6X tippets.
FLY RECOMMENDATIONS:
Hi-Vis Griffiths Gnat (#18, #22)
Mother Shuckers (#22-#24)
No Mercy Midge (#24-#26)
Black Parachute Midge (#26)
Morgan's Midge (#24)
Purple Rooster / Purple Haze(#14-#18)
Para. Adams (#12-#20, #22-#26)
Snipe and Purple (#16)
Syl's Midge (#18)
Red Ass Soft Hackle (#18)
Black Magic Soft Hackle (#18)
Red Hot Spot Spider Soft Hackle (#14)
Bling Midges (#22, #24)
Buckskin Nymph (#20-#22)
Zebra Midges (#16-#22)
Juju Baetis (#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)
Copper John Midge (#22)
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)