Utah Bound

[NJpatbee]

About the best thing I can say about turning 60 this past weekend is that my family is sending me to Salt Lake City for some fly fishing and site-seeing. It includes one outing with a guide and I will spend another day fisihing on my own, and two days to see the sites.

I have never fished West of, well... Western PA. I will be in Salt Lake City from 4/25 - 4/30, and any fly fishing (or site-seeing) advice would be welcome. I know of the Provo River but I am open for exploration.

 

[flyI4]

I've been to that area a couple times your going to love it.

First things first is don't be afraid to go big. the Browns in the provo love streamers(big ones like size 0-2) sculpins are especially good out there and fishing two streamers at a time on 1x tight to the banks will draw a lot of strikes.

Olives will definitely be hatching out there then too. They arent as picky as eastern fish, but they're not easy either. CDC patterns work well out there, and if the bugs are small, small nymph droppers will work on almost every fish. You usually can get away with a size bigger fly out there, so if the olives are tiny don't drive yourself nuts try going a little bigger and work your way down. If they're being picky its probably midges on the provo, go small with zebra midges griffiths gnats, ect.

Not sure if its your game, but eggs/sanjuans ect will slay fish out there, and the west is way more open to fishing that kind of way than our snobby eastern brethren. Keep an eye out for the gravel areas(bows spawning) and you'll see fish staging, and other fish eating behind them. Good situation for teasing them out with a streamer(browns) as well as dropping in the flashier goods.

Goodluck and take some pics.

The weber out there is another killer stream, and pretty close to where you'll be.(and its possible you'll be over seeing the sights real quick once you start fishing)

 

[Johnny Utah]

Bring tricos!

 

[danme]

Fish the GREEN RIVER -- I have read and heard many many great things about the particular river

I hope you have the trip of your life -- Good Luck and Tight Lines

Peace
Dan

 

[Zonk]

The late March early April season on the Provo is well known for its midge and BWO hatches. So well known that you should expect to see others from different parts of the country sharing the Provo with you. Fish are pressured so expect the fishing to be very technical. I'm presuming you could still catch these hatches in late April but check with the Trout Bum flyshop in Park City to be certain. I'd mapquest Heber City, which should be a little over a half hour from Salt Lake, and should put you in the middle of the Middle Provo. Public access is exceptionally good in the Middle Provo. Lower Provo is also good last time I was out there (about 7-8 years ago) but if memory serves the public access wasn't as good. Unfortuneately I think there was a negative court ruling in Utah that has limited the public access.

 

[MACFLY]

Provo will be the most accessible. I prefer the middle section and its possible you will hit it pre spawn for the rsinbows. The green is amazing but quite a long drive from SLC. I wouldnt spend the time when you have good fishing close by. As for guides you can use western rivers fly fishers. Great shop and great guides. Google the name for the exact url.
That time of year its about access and depending on snowpack you have some greàt options. Currant creek is one as is Strawberry river. They are smaller creeks with some great fishing. There are other options as well if y are rally adventurious.I can hook you up with my brother if you are interested. He can give you some places on your non guided days. Pm me if interested.
QUOTE=NJpatbee;195520]About the best thing I can say about turning 60 this past weekend is that my family is sending me to Salt Lake City for some fly fishing and site-seeing. It includes one outing with a guide and I will spend another day fisihing on my own, and two days to see the sites.

I have never fished West of, well... Western PA. I will be in Salt Lake City from 4/25 - 4/30, and any fly fishing (or site-seeing) advice would be welcome. I know of the Provo River but I am open for exploration.[/QUOTE]

 

[Johnny Utah]

I would pack midges, and the infamous pink worm.

 

[G Lech]

A friend of mine has been out that before and he has shown me pics of some very impressive fish with size 20 and 22 flies their mouths.

 

[MACFLY]

You would be shocked at the size of some fish that come out of some small creeks out there. Utah has some very under fished locations. Another option is falcons which offers some phenomenal fishing on medium sized streams couple with gorgeous scenery.

 

[NJpatbee]

Thanks for the info. I was thinking of a 7 1/2' 4 wt. for a smaller creek or an 8 1/2' Sage for a 5/6 for the mid-sized waters. Sound reasonable?

 

[Zonk]

I'd recommend checking with a local flyshop to see if the smaller creeks are accessable that time of year. I'm sure the Weber will be open along with the Provo, but the creeks may not be due to snowfall, unplowed roads, etc.