Fly Fishing on the Provo River

This section of the Provo River includes some private water, but there is a lot of river with public access that can be fished in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest. The upper Provo also has a lot of small freestone tributaries that flow into it. The best times of year to fish the upper Provo are pre-runoff in the spring, just upstream from the Jordanelle Reservoir, and after spring runoff through late fall. Anglers should pay careful attention to the water temperature during the heat of the summer so as not to stress the trout. A good rule to follow is the warmer it gets, the higher in elevation you should go. As you venture into the headwaters you can find amazing vistas and hungry trout that are eager to take big dries.

A great year-round fishery, the middle Provo River runs from the Jordanelle Reservoir to Deer Creek Reservoir. This section underwent a major stream restoration project after the construction of Jordanelle Reservoir in order to restore the river to its original course. This tailwater section of the Provo offers excellent fishing year-round. Browns, rainbows and whitefish make up most of the gamefish in the middle Provo. One of the best times of the year to fish this blue ribbon river is prior to spring runoff, before the water level rises. This is when the blue wing olive mayflies and pale morning duns are most prolific. The Green Drake hatch is a super busy time on the middle Provo with a lot of fishing pressure, and for good reason. Big browns can be taken with more ease during this time of the year than at almost any other. The middle Provo River sees Drakes anytime from May through July. Throughout the summer there are also excellent hatches of yellow sallies, stones, mayflies and caddis. As the high country loses its snow, a good amount of angling pressure moves up in elevation around the 4th of July through the end of August.

Downstream from Deer Creek Reservoir to the city of Provo is considered the lower section of the Provo River. Fishing year-round is very good on this tailwater. During the warm months, there are a lot of recreational activities on the water, including tubers and boaters. The fish on the lower Provo are used to this and will start to rise shortly after a group of tubers moves through.

March and April provide good small fly action on dry flies. Shortly after this time period, the runoff picks up and water levels can increase depending on release flows from the dam. Once the water level either stabilizes or is reduced for the summer flows, fishing becomes even better. Summer hatches include stones, caddis, and mayflies of many varieties. Small mayfly nymphs and sow bugs on this section tend to produce fish. This section sees a lot of fishing activity due to its easy accessibility. If you are trying to avoid the crowds hit the water early in the morning or just before dark.