NORTHERN UTAH REPORTS
Updated: March 17th, 2025
By: Nick Teynor
*FYI: Spawning time for the local brown trout should be done, but 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.*
Hello All,
We're half-way through March, and it sure feels like Spring is right around the corner with these warm days we've been having. It's only a matter of time before the local Blue Wing Olive mayflies start hatching! However, for the next week or so, Winter is still here and the midge fishing on the local tailwaters has been good. Last couple of trips out I have seen more fish up and feeding on a variety of different sizes of midges, including the "Buffalo" midges, which finally started to show up with some consistency. As of today, Jordanelle and Deer Creek reservoirs have some open water on them, and prospecting with streamers, balanced leeches, and chironomids 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 148 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 March, 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, Baetis (B.W.O.) nymphs, 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 or two.
Lower Provo:
The Lower's flow is around 134 CFS out of Deer Creek. At these flows the fish will seek out deeper water to winter over in, and river structure such as rocks, and foam / bubble lines are still what I'd focus on fishing. Midges (#18-#26) will definitely be of importance to both anglers and fish for the rest of the Winter season. Nymphing in the deeper holes with a variety of midge larva and pupa patterns, small sow bugs, Baetis (B.W.O.) nymphs, and small attractor nymphs can be effective. Blue Wing Olive mayflies have been sporadically popping off during the warmer parts of the day, and the hatch should only get stronger as we get closer to April. 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 move fish too.
Weber River:
The Weber River between Rockport and Echo reservoirs is now flowing at 22 CFS at Wanship, and 33 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. 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 1 CFS, which is a not fishable flow. Heading down towards Morgan and Ogden wouldn't be a bad option if you're trying to find better fishing flows, and the flies to use will be identical to what we are fishing on the Weber between Rockport and Echo Reservoirs.
Green River Below Flaming Gorge:
As of right now, the flows on the Green below Flaming Gorge are flowing at/around 830 CFS from 12 AM - 6 PM, then bumping to 1,450 CFS during the night. Flows can change on a dime, so make sure to check the flows before you go. 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 sow bugs/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 community ponds/lakes and reservoirs are starting to open up, 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. If you fancy a road trip, heading to the San Juan or Lee's Ferry isn't a bad idea if you're in search of warmer weather. Some of the reservoirs down in Southern Utah are starting to, or are already iced off, which can lead to good fishing opportunities if chasing "Ice Off" conditions is your game.
Fishing Tip(s):
Winter season hatches are significantly impacted by the weather conditions on the day you go fishing. The colder the weather is, usually the better the fishing conditions will be during the warmest and/or most comfortable parts of the day. Also, keep in mind that the warmer the weather conditions are, the earlier the midge hatch will begin, and that melting snow can negatively impact fishing by making water temperatures drop during the warmer parts of the day, which will negatively impact fishing the farther you are downstream of the source reservoir. Leader and tippets will need to be fine, and I'm typically fishing 9' 5X or 6X 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:
Mole Midge / Mole Fly (#18-#24)
Hi-Vis Griffiths Gnat (#18, #22)
Mother Shuckers (#20-#24)
No Mercy Midge (#24-#26)
Black Parachute Midge (#22, #26)
Morgan's Midge (#22, #24)
Befus BWO Emerger (#18, #22)
Mickey Mouse BWO Cripple (#18-#20)
Purple Rooster / Purple Haze (#14-#18)
Para. Adams (#12-#20, #22-#26)
Baetis Swinger (#18)
BWO Soft Hackle (#18)
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)