Trout Tales Utah Winter Fishing Report

Report Summary

The new year is here and we have been greeted with an amazing sequence of winter storms! The weather phenomenon, known as the "Atmospheric River" has been dumping fresh  snow throughout the state, setting our rivers and streams up nicely for the coming spring and summer months. 2016 was a great season, and although we had yet another one of the hottest years on record, we are looking forward to the amount of water we will have throughout the 2017 prime fishing season.

Before we get too far ahead of ourselves, lets us fill you in on whats happening now and what we are looking forward to in February, March and April (our prime winter fishing months). We focus our energy during these months on the Middle and Lower Provo River as they are the most consistent tailwater fisheries we have. On the "Lower" the rainbows and browns continue to chow sow bugs and midges, but as temperatures start to rise so will the amount of insects we will be seeing in the drift.

Little bumps in water and air temperatures trigger some very aggressive feeding by the Rainbow trout as they stock up before their spring spawn. We don't actively target spawning fish, but the pre-spawn Rainbows are a blast to target with light nymph rigs and small midge and BWO dry patterns. The Brown Trout wont skip any meals either as they huddle into the slow moving runs and for the drifting buffet of bug life.

The Middle Provo fishes well throughout the winter as well. The river is pretty much all brown trout at this point and they are still very surface oriented. If you're into small flies and picky fish, the Middle can be a dry fly guy's paradise. These fish are very particular about what they eat, as even in the winter months they see a few anglers trudging on the banks. Nymphing will work as well, and so will streamers in the dark, slow runs. Fish the slow water, look for noses in the heads and tails of the runs and strip those streamers slowly as you work through the guts. Be sure to be extra stealthy as you approach each spot. Walk slowly, wade quietly and work your very hardest on those dead drifts. With low flows, these diva trout will see you coming from a  mile away.

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LOWER & MIDDLE PROVO

FLOWS:
LOWER PROVO: 99 CFS from Deer Creek (minimum winter flows)
MIDDLE PROVO: 148 CFS from Jordanelle (minimum winter flows)

FLIES:

NYMPHS: 
- Sow Bugs (MOSTLY ON THE LOWER, BUT WILL WORK ON MIDDLE TOO. CLOSER TO JORDANELLE. | Size: 18, 20, 22 | Colors: Dark, Light, Rainbow
- Midges | Size: 20, 22, 24, 26 | Colors: Olive, Black, Cream, Brown, Grey
- Blue Wing Olives | Size: 18, 20, 22 

DRY FLIES:
 - Midges | Size: 18, 20, 22, 24 | Patterns: Morgans Midge, CDC Midge, Transitional Midge, Bunny Midge, Griffiths Gnat, Double Midge, Midge emergers and adults
- Blue Wing Olives (March and April) | Size: 18, 20, 22 | Patterns: Last Chance Cripple BWO, Visidun BWO, Bars Emerger BWO, Comparadun BWO, Challenged Baetis. Cripples and Adults...

STREAMERS: Medium to small size streamers work best. Stay away from the big stuff when the water drops below 40 degrees.

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PHOTOS FROM RECENT GUIDE TRIPS

COME FISH WITH US THIS WINTER