Best Rivers to Fly Fish in Utah
If you enjoy fly fishing, Utah offers an abundance of excellent destinations. No matter if you are a novice or expert angler, there’s sure to be a spot that works for you.
The Provo River is a prime spot to fish for rainbow, brown, and the occasional cutthroat trout. This river boasts an abundant ecosystem with multiple hatches available throughout the year, and this is a small part of why it’s one of the best rivers to fly fish in Utah.
Provo River
Near Salt Lake City, Utah, the Provo River is one of the premier fly fishing destinations in America. It is definitely one of the easiest to access and best rivers to fly fish in Utah. It divides into three distinct sections – Upper, Middle and Lower.
One of the renowned features of the Provo River is its year-round hatches and abundance of aquatic insects. These include an abundant population of sow bugs and midge larva which attract trout to the river year-round. My go-to fly here for nymphing is the sow bug in sizes 14-20.
The lower section of the Provo River is one of my favorite places to fish. That said, it can get very crowded in the summertime with the “tube hatch.” Tubers flock to the lower Provo in the summer. I’ll tell you from personal experience, this can be quite annoying when looking to get out on the river for a relaxing day. In the heat of summer, it is best to get out early, or make your way up to the middle to avoid the crowds.
Anglers from around the globe flock to the Middle Provo River, which boasts 3,000+ trout per mile. With its easy access and consistent fishing pressure, this stretch of river has earned itself a place in America’s top ten Blue Ribbon fisheries.
The Upper Provo River, rises in the Uinta Mountains and flows to the Jordanelle Reservoir, and is renowned for its exceptional dry fly fishing. Additionally, this section of river features other aquatic species like trout, brook trout and cutthroats. This is a great place to get out in wilderness, away from the crowds in the middle and lower Provo River.
Weber River
The Weber River runs 125 miles from the Uinta Mountain Range to Great Salt Lake. It offers an abundance of waterways, from its headwaters in northwest ridges of the mountain range to its productive tail waters that flow through idyllic farm and ranch land.
Utah anglers enjoy this section of the Weber River because it’s less crowded than other popular Utah rivers such as Provo and Green Rivers.
Furthermore, it offers the chance to catch some truly trophy brown trout as well as rainbow and cutthroat trout.
The Middle Weber section is a productive tailwater that fishes well most of the year. Some good flies to throw are the San Juan worm and wooly bugger. When fishing during winter months, try switching up your fly selection to small midge and mayfly patterns for maximum success.
Green River
The Green River, (one of Utah’s largest rivers) cuts a path through the state as it drops nearly 3,000 feet from Flaming Gorge Reservoir to its confluence with the Colorado River. This section of the Green River is renowned for its towering canyon walls, thrilling whitewater rapids, and great wildlife viewing opportunities. This is also what makes an ideal jump-off place for a float trip.
Green River, Utah, is an ideal base for exploring the canyon country surrounding it. It was also featured in the book: 50 Places to Fly Fish Before You Die. That was reason enough for me to book a float trip.
The Green River flows through a series of canyons, most of which can be explored on flatwater float trips. Many of these slow-moving sections make for an unforgettable day-long or extended float through Utah’s stunning canyon country. The river is broken up into 3 sections. A, B, and C sections.
There are plenty of local guide that will give you the best chance of getting into fish on the river. Check out TroutBum’s Guide Service for the Green River to get more info, and book your next guided trip.
Logan River
The Logan River in Utah is one of the premier fly fishing destinations. Its crystal clear freestone river features cascading pocket water, rapid riffles and eddy lines with abundant insect hatches for brown trout, rainbow trout, cutthroat trout and brook trout alike.
In the upper reaches of the Logan River, Bonneville cutthroat trout populations reach historic highs. In these high-elevation reaches, densities can exceed 3,000 fish per linear km.
Some smaller impoundments are stocked with catchable rainbows and browns for summer fishing, but above them the river is mostly wild trout habitat. Caddis flies are common throughout the river system, especially beginning around mid-July when trout begin feeding heavily on them.
Final Thoughts
Having fly fished in a lot of different states, Utah has some of the best rivers to fish. With effortless access to Blue Ribbon Fisheries and the sheer amount of fish in the water, even the most novice of fisherman can catch a fish here. If you are planning a trip, and love fly fishing… it’s definitely worth getting out on the water.
You may not find the “secret spots” without a guide, but there are plenty of easy-access spots to get in and grab some fish. One thing I know: you’re going to have a good time regardless of which river you’re on. I’m also fairly confident, you’ll get a fish or two while you’re out on the water. See you out on the river.