Utah's Secret Season

Middle Provo

The middle Provo is the comeback story of a historically battered and now restored river. In recent times, tons of silt has run through the river thanks to area construction projects, but it has rebounded strongly over the past three years.

This tailwater starts at Jordanelle Reservoir and runs approximately 10 miles through the Heber Valley before pouring into Deer Creek Reservoir north of Charleston. After World War II, the Bureau of Reclamation dredged and channelized the middle Provo for flood control, leaving behind a muddy ditch. Jordanelle Dam was completed in the early 1990s, and the Provo River Restoration Project (PRRP) commenced in 1999 to bring the river back to its “natural” state.

Today, the restored middle Provo feels like a well-designed golf course, with signature trout stream features including meandering side channels, a nearly natural floodplain, new streamside vegetation—

cottonwoods and willows—and abundant public access. Parking areas include Jordanelle, Cottonwood, and River Road in the upper reaches, and Midway Lane and Charleston accesses to the south.

After several years of trout-suffocating low summer flows, the Jordanelle Dam outflow is now set to a 100 cfs minimum flow, like the lower river. With the new flow regime, and the extensive, multimillion-dollar makeover nearing completion, Schmidt says the middle Provo is fishing well, and his regular river seining reveals good macroinvertebrate growth, including significant spikes in mayfly, stonefly, and caddis densities.

To date, the PRRP has cost close to $55 million, of which $42 million has been spent for land acquisition to establish the public corridor and angler access sites. Money comes from the federally funded ($3 billion) Central Utah Project.

Baseline monitoring of riparian habitat, physical features, sensitive species, and related studies are underway. For more detailed project information, see mitigationcommission.gov.

Schmidt says, “With the diversity in the habitat that Mark Holden and his [Utah Reclamation Mitigation & Conservation Commission] staff have designed, we’ve seen the insects rebound and diversify. It’s still a young stream, but given what I’ve observed, the upside is tremendous for the habitat, trout, and wildlife that this river corridor supports.”

Brown trout dominate the middle Provo, with more than 3,000 per river mile, averaging 12 to 16 inches, with the occasional 18- to 20-incher. Fly fishers see more rainbows from March through May, when they migrate upstream from Deer Creek Reservoir to spawn.

Last February, we found deep snowbanks but also abundant midges and rising trout—similar to the lower Provo. Wind-free, overcast days were ideal for dry-fly fishing, especially from late morning to midafternoon.

Gray or black #18-26 flies such as the Parachute Adams, Double Midge, Befus Para-emerger, Harrop CDC Midge, Morgan’s Midge, Zebra Midge, Next to Nothing, and Black Beauty Emerger caught rising trout. We fished 5X tippets, but fussy trout demanded 6X and 7X. Before, after, and even during the hatch, gray, olive, and brown scud and sow bug patterns (#14-18) took fish subsurface. BWO nymphs were also productive, as were San Juan Worms and egg patterns.

To get there, take I-80 east from Salt Lake City and merge onto US 40 east toward Heber. The River Road exit leads to the Midway access. It’s about a 50-minute drive through scenic country flanked by Park City-area peaks, as well as the backside of Alta ski resort.

Gear

Use 8½- to 9-foot, medium-action rods—and reels with smooth drags—to protect thin tippets and prevent small flies from tearing out of a trout’s mouth. A 3- to 4-weight is perfect on both the lower and middle stretches. Go with a 5-weight for subsurface fishing—chucking nymphs, split-shot, or streamers—or if it’s windy.

Frozen rod guides are normal at this time of year, especially on cold mornings and again near dusk. If the forecast is for temperatures below freezing, use Pam vegetable spray or a guide antifreeze such as Stanley’s Ice-Off Paste by Loon Outdoors.

Unfortunately, frozen parts also come in the human variety. Dress in warm synthetic layers, so you can easily strip clothes off and put them back on as temperatures fluctuate through the day.

Invest in snowshoes or rent a pair for your winter fly-fishing excursions. Morning treks are easy when the snow is firm, but as the top layers soften, typically around noon, you will sink, making walking difficult. With a good pair of snowshoes you’ll stay on top, making getting out at day’s end safer and faster.

Other Waters

Along with the lower and middle Provo, you can add the Green and Weber rivers to the list of Utah winter/spring fly-fishing destinations.

The Green River below Flaming Gorge Dam in eastern Utah can provide reliable midge hatches in February, and you won’t find much in the way of river traffic until March, when the Blue-winged Olives emerge. When nothing is hatching, wading anglers still find good nymph and streamer fishing.

Streamer fishing from a drift or pontoon boat is also good this time of year. Winter flows are generally steady and low, averaging between 800 and 900 cfs. The high red rock canyons of the Green keep the river out of the sun through most of the day in early spring, and as a result the Green is colder than the Provo. Be prepared.

The Weber River is a long, complex system starting in the Uinta Mountains and eventually pouring into Great Salt Lake, below Ogden. Its best winter fly-fishing stretch is the tailwater below Rockport Reservoir downstream to Coalville. The Weber also has excellent midge populations, with fishing similar to what you find on the Provo.

The Trifecta

The benefits of a late winter/spring trip are if the snow doesn’t fall, you’ll often find good fly fishing on the rivers.

On the other hand, if it’s a hefty snow season, the hills can be stellar, while the rivers sleep under lengthy cold spells. As long as you arrive with an open mind and a fluid itinerary, you won’t be disappointed. You may even hit pay dirt a trifecta of midges, deep powder, and sun.

Geoff Mueller is the managing editor of Fly Fisherman.

OUTFITTERS

Western Rivers Flyfisher

Salt Lake City

(800) 545-4312

Trout Bum 2

Park City

(877) 878-2862

Four Seasons Fly Fishers

Heber City

(800) 498-5440