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Provo River - August 27, 2010Report by Steve Schmidt
A little weather in the forecast should keep a few bodies off the Provo River this weekend and into the early part of the week, but shouldn't have much of an impact on the fishing. We should see good PMD hatches with some moisture in the air. Brandon went out earlier the other day and hit some nice browns up on PMD spinners prior to work. With the late start to the summer, we are expecting September to be better than usual. So far, so good! What to expect: The terrestrial fishing is really starting to pick up. It is a little later than usual, but that will only help make September a better month. We still have good and consistent PMDs and caddis hatches that are producing at times excellent dry fly, nymph and soft hackle fishing. Hoppers are fishing better on the Middle Provo compared to the Lower Provo because of all the fields that surround the middle section of this river, however ants and beetles are other terrestrials you should be fishing. Look for morning and evening spinner falls and the hatch to begin in the afternoon. Many of you are missing opportunities by not paying attention to the spinners. As I mentioned earlier we have been getting into some nice spinner falls on both sections before coming into work. For some reason in Utah flyfishers don't focus on these early morning opportunities. We love that fact, more water for us to fish with no one around. In other parts of the west, their days focus more on the spinner falls than the often inconsistent hatches. Caddis hatches are at their peak and as we get into late September will begin to taper off. On many of our rivers and the Provo River we have excellent hatches of this prolific insect. Depending on the weather, expect this insect to be on the water just about any time of day. Riffle water during the heat of the day is the type of water and structure I look for in the heat of the afternoon for emerging caddis. Morings and evenings I prefer areas that are heavily vegatated.
Bug Stuff: PMD's and a variety of caddis flies are providing excellent fishing. Terrestrials are also becoming a factor that will hold true well into September. Ants and beetles are as important as hoppers and often get overlooked as viable producers. At the moment, we are having the best success with smaller hopper patterns; #12-#14. PMD's are popping on both sections of the Provo and are providing really great dry fly and nymph fishing. At this late juncture you should have #16 & #18. Expect spinners on the water around 7 or 8am. By late morning the nymphs will become active, and expect duns early afternoon and lasting until late into the day. I prefer cripple or emerger patterns to have the best success in those sections of the Provo River that are calm and slow flowing. In the faster sections, where there is some structure to the current, sparkle duns or extended body patterns. Caddis are also doing quite well and are holding up as we end the month. Having a #14 tan and a #16 Olive pattern will cover the bulk of the hatches we are currently fishing. A little more variety in your pattern sizes will add to your success, but these colors and sizes are the bread and butter of our selections. Although caddis hatches occur late afternoons there are other opportunities to fish them as well. First light is one of the very best We are again out of Rene Harrop's new book: Learning from the Water. We
should have more signed copies by the first of the week. There is a reason this book is so popular. It will really help elevate your game. There are a variety of caddis hatching on both sections of the Provo River. The Lower Provo is loaded with Hydropysched caddis. This is a free living caddis that is prolific in the west. Nymph patterns for these are rather simple and green to olive green. Pupa patterns should also be olive green. The Middle Provo has more case makers such as the ones in this photo taken from the Middle earlier in the year. This is the Western Weedy Water Sedge.
Patterns you'll want to have for the Provo River: Dry Flies: for the upcoming plethora of hatches here are some patterns we recommend. Don't get caught without a some variety of patterns given all that will be hatching thru June. Dry Emrgers: Last Chance Cripple PMD, PMD CDC Captive Dun , CDC Last Chance Cripple Drake, Drake Quiggly Cripple, Hair Wing Dun, Split Back PMD, Lawsons Emerging Caddis, Blooms Caddis, Goddard Caddis, Spent Partridge Caddis, Sylves Emerging Caddis (love this pattern). Nymphs: Beaverhead PMD, Greg's Cased Caddis, Sow Bugs, Olive/Natural WD-40's, Pheasant Tails, Green Caddis Larvae, Betts Free Living Caddis, Yuba Pupa.
Streamers: Still worth chucking when before and after the Midges are out, but they aren't producing like they had been earlier in November and even more so in October. If you've run into Matt lately he put a 29" Brown to the bank fishing streamers the other day. That will get your attention. Sex Dungeons This is also a very good pattern selection for Lower Provo River or wherever you may wander in Utah or the West this time of year.
Hope you are getting out some. The surrent forecast is a little rough, but by the beginning of the week the weather is going to improve. If we can assist you as you head out the door please either contact us info@wrflyfisher.com or (801)521-6424,or better yet stop in.
If you want to learn more about fishing the Provo River this time of year, I can think of few other ways than taking a Provo River Guide trip with one of our licensed and insured Provo River Guides. They are excellent teachers and very good flyfishers in their own right. They would enjoy nothing better than helping you improve your skills and working to make your day a great success. Visit our website for rates and more information of guiding the Provo River.
If you are visiting from out of state and don't have time to visit the shop before heading over to the Green the following link will take you to where you can get an On-Line Utah Fishing License. You'll also be able to secure additional helpful information regarding the states fishing.
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