Utah Fly Fishing Reports

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Green River Fishing Report 07/30/2018

Green River guide Dylan Sondrup with a healthy brown on the A section

Location

Green River Below Flaming Gorge Dam

Overview

The fishing is slowing down, but there are still great days to be had. There has been some water clarity issues on the lower river as we are now in thunderstorm season. Make sure to have a raincoat on the boat as some of these storms can produce strong winds, rain, and hail in the mid to late afternoons. Make sure to ask around when in town to get an up to date report on the water clarity below Red Creek Rapid. With that being said, fishing on the upper river has remained excellent. The dry fly fishing is getting a little tougher as the hatch has slowed down, but make sure to try throwing big terrestrial patterns as the fish are starting to key in on these more than the smaller hatch bugs. There is still some great fishing with caddis in the evenings and a couple PMDs flying around mid-day so make sure to still have some of these patterns to cast to those tricky risers. The nymphing has remained solid all over the river with scuds, midges, and worms ruling the fishes diet. Don’t forget about streamer fishing! Change colors until you can get the fish to commit. Always a great option on the overcast days or when the afternoon thunderstorms come through. That change in the weather can produce some great fishing with streamers! Flows remain steady at 2,200-2,400 CFS and it looks like it is going to stay that way through most of August. We’re happy about that!

Latest Flows

2200 – 2400 CFS.

Fishing

Good, don’t get discourage if it’s tough. Wait for your hour…

Current Hatches

Ants, Crickets, Hoppers (Terrestrials)

Caddis in the evenings

Best Techniques

Streamer fishing, Nymphing, and dry fly fishing

Flies

Streamers:  Articulated Goldie, Circus Peanut, Dungeon, Zonker, Wooly Bugger, Sculpin Leech, Cheech Leech.

Dries:

Para Cricket 10-12

Black or Cinnamon Ant 16

Last Chance Cripple 16

Elk Hair Caddis Tan 14

Morrish Hopper 12

Parahopper 10

Nymphs

16-20

Flashback Scud, Black Zebra Midge, Purple Zebra Midge, Pheasant Tail, Gray Soft Hackle, San Juan Worm

Best Time Of Day

8 AM – 8 PM

Green River Fishing Report 07/19/2018

 

Location

Green River Below Flaming Gorge Dam

Overview

Fishing on the Green remains solid. The flows have been slightly raised to 2,200 during the day with a bump to 2,400 at 4 PM. While the Cicada fishing has ended, the fish are certainly still looking for bugs on the surface. The Yellow Sally hatch has been going on for a couple of weeks now. The fish are still willing to eat the dry fly, but have been shy on the nymphs all throughout the hatch. With the Sally hatch dwindling, the PMDs and Caddis are what the fish have been focusing on. There have been small – medium size fish eating caddis all throughout the day with some bigger fish keying in on them in the afternoon/evening. Lots of fish are eating PMD’s. However, they are in tricky soft water spots that require a long and accurate presentation of the fly. Fishing crippled or spinner versions of these PMD bugs is usually the most effective. Fish are also starting to look for the big bugs. Fishing with Ants, Crickets, and Grasshoppers is just starting to produce. Have faith when fishing these flies. Some of the best fishing of the year occurs when the fish focus in on the terrestrials, and this could happen any day now. Nymph fishing has been extremely effective some days with caddis and pmds. There haven’t been many reports on the streamer fishing but it is always a good idea to try on overcast days and in the evening.  It is also that time of year that Red Creek can blow-out and dump mud and silt into the lower river below Red Creek Rapid. Be sure to ask around when arriving in Dutch John and see if you can get an up to date water report before heading down there.

 

Latest Flows

2200 – 2400 CFS.

Fishing

GREAT

Current Hatches

PMDs, Caddis, Yellow Sallies, Ants, Crickets, Hoppers

Best Techniques

Streamer fishing, Nymphing, and dry fly fishing

Flies

Streamers:  Articulated Goldie, Circus Peanut, Dungeon, Zonker, Wooly Bugger, Sculpin Leech, Cheech Leech.

Dries:

Para Cricket 10-12

Black or Cinnamon Ant 16

Last Chance Cripple 16

Elk Hair Caddis Tan 14

Nymphs

16-20

Flashback Scud, Black Zebra Midge, Purple Zebra Midge, Pheasant Tail, Gray Soft Hackle, San Juan Worm

Best Time Of Day

8 AM – 8 PM

Middle Provo River Fishing Report 07/19/2018

Guide and client playing a fish on the Provo River

Location

Middle Provo River

Overview

The water has come down from the run-off period, but still remains slightly high for normal summer flows. It currently flowing at 500 CFS…350 is our target. We’ve finally begun to fish some dry flies but nymphing still remains most productive. We started to see Green Drakes in early July with the hope that the hatch would explode when the water dropped but…that never happened. There have been some good days with the fish keyed in on Green Drakes but I’d say that it’s going to be a lackluster year for fishing everyone’s favorite giant mayflys. FEAR NOT! There has been some great dry fly fishing in the late afternoon/evenings with PMD and Caddis patterns. We’ve had reports of really thick PMD hatches in the afternoon with fish up all over the river. The famous Middle Provo evening caddis hatches have started to provide fun to those willing to get out there for a couple of hours after work.

Nymph fishing is almost always productive on the Middle Provo. Fishing the deeper pools and runs with a deep nymph rig can produce high numbers some days. Typical patterns such as sow bugs, midges, and worms are always worth giving a shot. PMD nymphs/emergers, caddis larva/pupa, and green drake nymphs are all producing fish as well.

Latest Flows

Dam: 500 CFS

Charleston: 390 CFS

Fishing

Great

Current Hatches

PMDs and Caddis

Best Patterns

Nymphs 18-22

Sow Bug, Ray Charles, Zebra Midges in black or purple, Bling Midge in tan or gray, Cardinal Midge,WD40, prince nymph, birds nest, Splitcase PMD, Tungsten Teaser.

Dries 18-22

Last Chance Cripple PMD, Film Critic PMD, CDC PMD, Para Adams, Peacock Caddis, X Caddis, Cutter Caddis, Elk Hair Caddis.

Best Time Of Day

9 AM – 9 PM.

View archived provo river fishing reports here.

Weber River Fishing Report 07/19/2018

Location

Weber River

Overview

The fishing on the Weber has been great with summer in full effect. Flows have been steady at 200 cfs and the fish are starting to look up. There have been some great PMD and caddis hatches starting in the afternoon and continuing through dusk. Sometimes these fish are tricky, so make sure to have a good presentation. Study the fish before casting and take note of patterns and behavior when they are eating dry flies. This kind of due diligence is usually the difference between anglers that are able to catch these tricky fish and those that are not. Nymphing remains consistent in the mornings with very high catch rates some days. When fishing dry flies – PMDs and Caddis are going to be your go to patterns for this time of year. Come on into the shop and we can help you pick some specific patterns that are effective when fishing these bugs. We aren’t necessarily in terrestrial season yet, but it is never a bad idea to try fishing the big bugs on the banks. When nymph fishing – Sow bugs, caddis larva, pmd emergers, and midges are all producing right now.

Latest Flows

200 CFS below Rockport Reservoir

Fishing

Great

Current Hatches

PMD’s and Caddis

Dries:

  • Last Chance Cripple
  • Tan Elk Hair Caddis
  • CDC PMD

Nymphs:

  • Rainbow Tailwater Sow Bug
  • Buckskin Caddis
  • Flashback PMD Emerger

Best Techniques

Nymphs, streamers, and dry flies

Best Time Of Day

8 AM – Dark

View archived Weber river fishing reports here.

Lower Provo River Fishing Report 07/19/2018

Location

Lower Provo River

Overview

Flows on the lower have come down a bit, but are still a little high at 583 CFS. These flows make wade fishing less productive. Use caution when crossing and getting to your spot. Although the flows are high, the fishing remains very good. There have been good PMD and Caddis hatches in the afternoon with some smaller stoneflies around as well. Nymphing with sow bugs and midges is usually the best approach on the Lower Provo. These fish see a lot of pressure due to the amount of rafters on the river and are usually more willing to eat a nymph during the summer months. The “tuber hatch” is in full effect making the river extremely crowded mid-day. For the most solace, try getting out there early morning or late evening. These times of day can produce some of the best fishing as well.

Recent Flows

580 CFS

Fishing

Good

Current Hatches

PMDs, Caddis, Midges

Best Techniques

Nymphs: Size 18-22

Sow bugs, bling midge, disco midge, juju midge, krystal flash PMD, split case PMD, mayhem emerger, San Juan Worm, Birds Nest, Buckskin Caddis, Kryptonite Caddis

Dry flies: Size 18-24

PMDs, Trailing Shuck PMD, Winger PMD, CDC biot comparadun, Hanging Midge, Silvey’s midge, cluster Midge, Para Adams (small sizes), Peacock Caddis, Pearl Caddis

Streamers : Size 4-12

Zonker, wooly bugger, sculpzilla, sparkle minnow, baby sex-dungeon, slump buster,

Best Time Of Day

For streamers early and late in the day

6 AM – 9 AM

5 PM – Dark

View archived lower Provo fishing reports here.