The Provo River features a premier blue ribbon trout fishery close to Utah's major cities. Brown and rainbow trout mature to record lengths in the Provo, with a most fish running 18 inches or bigger. In some areas the Provo offers 3,000 or more trout per mile. As a result, the waters of the Provo River provide exceptional recreation.
The Provo River flows through Utah County and Wasatch County, Utah. It rises in the Uinta Mountains at Washington Lake and flows about 70 miles southwest to Utah Lake at the city of Provo, Utah. The main branches of Provo River are the North Fork Provo River and the South Fork Provo River. In the Provo you'll find: Brown Trout, Common Carp, Cutthroat Trout, Mountain Whitefish, Rainbow Trout, Walleye, and White Bass.
Guided Fishing Trips
We offer professionally guided Utah fly fishing trips 12 months a year, on rivers, streams, and ponds near Park City, Utah. Whether you’re here playing golf in the summer, playing ... moreon the ski slopes during the winter or attending the Sundance film festival we have a great alternative for you. Come spend a day you won’t forget fly fishing with our guides.
Provo River is one of the best known fly fishing rivers in Western United States. It is only 20 minutes from Park City and 45 minutes from downtown Salt Lake City. This Blue Ribbon River provides excellent fishing year-round. It originates in the high Uinta Mountains, and is divided into three distinct sections; the upper, the middle, and the lower. The three sections are separated by two reservoirs, the Jordanelle and Deer Creek. Because of these reservoirs the middle and lower sections of the Provo river are classic tail-water fisheries, where the upper is more of a free stone river. These tail-water sections are managed for trophy trout. The water is almost always clear and fishable, and the fish numbers are truly impressive. There are many access points along the 25 miles of river, so if you have any limitations this is a great choice. With its close proximity to Park City this river is ideal for half or full day trips.
The Lower Provo River is a 30-minute drive from Park City and is a true tailwater fishery, which means the fish benefit from cold-oxygenated water all-year round. It flows out of Deer ... moreCreek Reservoir winding down 20 miles to Utah Lake. With the exquisite backdrop of Mt. Timpanogos and the Wasatch mountain range it flows through the Provo Canyon and is described as one large riffle. The Lower Provo River is known for its abundance of large Rainbow and Brown trout, with easy access through a railroad track following the river. The excellent bug life and a year-around diet of sow bugs make the trout fat and healthy. An average size trout on the lower Provo River is approximately 16-18 inches; surely putting a bend in your rod.
The blue-winged olive hatch in the springtime is second to none, making the Lower Provo a guide favorite in the early season. The Lower Provo also gets a heavy hatch of PMDs and caddis in the summer months. Unlike the Middle Provo River, the Lower Provo River provides the ability to float the river. We do the majority of our trips on the Lower Provo River in the spring and early summer. This is due to two factors, the fishing is most active in the early parts of the year before the moss settles in and makes it very difficult to fish. Also the Lower Provo River is a favorite among locals to float down with a tube in the Middle of the summer once school gets out. Park City Fly Fishing Company can get you to all the sweet spots on this incredible fishery.
Because many of our clients fly in from out of town, we provide all the fly fishing equipment you will need. Clients are welcome to bring their own gear. All equipment is high quality and includes:
Waders
Boots
Fly rod and reel
Terminal tackle
Split shot
Indicators
Flies
Of course, all trips include cold or warm drinks depending on the weather. All full-day trips also include snacks and a delicious lunch.
Latest Guide Fishing Reports
Guide Reports
Fishing on the Middle Provo is great. Midge hatches are between 11am-2pm. Allows one to take it easy in the morning or ski and fish the afternoons..a great day for any true gentleman ... more:)
Date: Monday, 29 Jan, 2018
Park City Fly Fishing Report Lower Provo River: Is located 30 minutes south of Park City. Fishing again is very slow. We fished the Lower twice since last weeks post. The result was ... moreonly a few fish each trip. The fish we were picking up were in buckets in about 3 feet of water. There are absolutely no hatches happening at this time unless you count 4 lonely midges on the surface. There absolutely no dry fly action at this time and won’t be until probably mid February. The concentration of fish will be in the deep pools and small buckets. The fish that are eating which are very few are coming at the tail-outs of the pools. Try fishing straight upstream to these fish. They are very spooky with only 100 cfs coming down. The fish we are catching are eating size 18 dark grey sows. The fish we have pumped have shown scuds in size 20 or 22 and sows in sizes 14 to 20. We have picked a few up on the rainbow warrior in size 18. Patterns to try in order of effectiveness sows, scuds, rainbow warriors and small dark midge larvae.
MIDDLE PROVO RIVER: Is located 15 minutes from Park City. This River is fishing a lot better than the lower. When I say better I mean catching 5 or 6 fish a trip. The river is sitting around 150 cfs. Like the lower the fish are concentrated in the deep runs and holes. Fishing the tail-outs have been the most effective way to catch fish. There is some midge activity. The crowds get nuts the later in the day you decide to fly fish. Fish thread body midges in sizes 18-26. The colors that are producing are cream and jet black. Using a rainbow warrior or Frenchie is also a good option.
Date: Thursday, 25 Jan, 2018
Spring has sprung and the Blue Winged Olive hatches have begun. Here in Park City, both the middle and lower sections of the Provo River are seeing some nice activity. Though we haven’t ... moreseen any “blanket” hatches yet, we have still seen enough bugs to keep the fish active. Clouds, cool weather and rain will likely produce a decent hatch. Look for stormy weather if you want to experience this. Also, most hatches are occurring in the late afternoon (try 1-4pm as your target window—later is better).
We have found that patience is important, and you should be willing to try various different flies on the BWO lifecycle. If you’re not having any luck with mayflies, we suggest you switch to nymphing when the action is sparse up on the surface. Also be sure to pack cripples and emergers for when the hatch is approaching.
BWO nymphs live in fast moving water and they are great swimmers. When they emerge, they swim straight to the surface and get pushed into slower pools and flats. You may have to explore the river a little bit to find these spots that are perfect for BWO behavior. Look for deep pools, riffles and flats, and don’t be afraid to move around!
This is one of our favorite hatches, and there are a number of reasons why. BWOs mark the beginning of the river coming back to life after the long, dormant winter. They also bring out aggressive feeding tendencies in trout, so the strikes are good. Additionally, the weather is great, and we get to enjoy the wonderful restoration that Spring brings!
We hope you have a great start to your Provo River fly fishing season!
Date: Tuesday, 11 Apr, 2017
Lower The best fishing occurs during the midday. BWO hatches are consistent with the higher temperatures. You might try throwing in some skwala adults and nymphs. Water is being let ... moreout of Deer Creek. Flows are extremely high, ranging from 564 ft3s below Deer Creek to 449 ft3s near Harbor Drive.
Middle
Look for stoneflies in sizes 10 to 12, and use a BWO dropper for best results. Water temperatures average around 43 degrees. Flows are moving extremely fast, with current levels near 267 ft3s and flows near the Jordanelle release at 305 ft3s. The average at Charleston is flows at or around 286 ft3s. Be cautious of the faster currents.
Date: Friday, 13 May, 2016
It has been a long winter in the Park City, Utah area, but in the last couple of weeks it seems like spring is getting the best of winter. This is great news for any fisherman that ... moremight be out here for a ski trip and is looking for another activity. The Middle Provo river flowing below Jordanell Reservoir is at winter flows, which is about 150 CFS (cubic feet a second). The midge fishing has finally started to get active in the past week, and there has also been a spotting of some buffalo midge. Nymph fishing has been most productive in the morning. The best rig for nymphing has been a light nymph rig with black or gray Zebra Midge as your point fly and small size 24-26 thread midge (best colors: red, black, olive and tan). You can look for some good dry fly fishing to start around noon.
This time of year it is really important to have a longer leader and lighter tippet. Typically, we have been using a 12 foot leader and 6-7 x tippet. The flows below Deer Creek Reservoir (the lower Provo River) have also continued to flow at their winter flows which is about 100 CFS. There has been consistent dry fly fishing in the morning with midge clustering on the surface. For the morning dry fly fishing, I have been fishing a tandem rig using a Quiggly Hackle Stacker as my point fly and small size 22 Mother Sucker trailing about 18 inches behind the hackle stacker. Once the sun hits the water, the dry fly fishing in the morning slows down. Not to worry the nymph fishing continues to be solid for the rest of the day. With the low flows, I have continued to have success with that lighter, in-line rig. This year they seem to prefer a larger sow bug in a size 14-16, with a small olive midge emerger size 24-22 trailing behind it.
Date: Sunday, 20 Mar, 2016
In the last Couple of weeks, the fishing on the Middle Provo River has been good to great. The Buffalo midges on the Middle Provo river hit their peak a couple of weeks ago and the ... morehatch is starting to slow down. Not to worry, the Blue Winged Olive hatch on the Middle Provo River is just getting started and should make for some excellent fly fishing in the coming weeks. In the morning, we are still nymphing with a light weight bounce or in-line rig. For nymph fishing, our best flies for the Middle Provo River are size 22-24 thread midge in colors: red, black, grey, brown, and olive. In the afternoon, as the Buffalo midge hatch and the Blue Winged Olive hatch get going, I am switching over from nymph patterns to some bigger offerings. Best nymph patterns in the afternoon on the Middle Provo River have been a size 16-18 black Zebra Midge, 18-20 Grey RS2 and 18-20 black WD-40. The dry fly fishing on the Middle Provo River is excellent in the afternoon. I have had the most success fishing an 11 foot leader with 6-7x tippet. My most productive fly combination is a size 18, black or brown, Mother Shucker dry fly with a size 20 Noseeum Blue Winged Olive or comparadun trailed behind it.
The Lower Provo River is in excellent condition for any of you anglers looking to take a break from the Middle Provo River. You’ll have a chance at catching a fish in the 20-inch range or better. The morning bite has been very consistent with an excellent midge hatch. The last couple of guide trips I have had on the Lower Provo River has been all dry fly fishing. The rig I have had the most success with has been a 12 foot leader with a size 18 cluster midge pattern, with a size 18 comparadun Blue Winged Olive trailed behind it. Anyone looking to just nymph fish, try to find some deeper pools. The fish seem to be very spooky with such low water flows. The best patterns for nymph fishing have been a size 16-18 sow bug as your point fly and a Blue Winged Olive nymph trailing behind it.
Photo Credit: Jeremy Allen
If you are visiting Park City, Utah and looking for an outdoor activity, it might be a surprise to you that the ski resorts are already closed. Not to worry, spring provides some of ... morethe best fly fishing Park City has to offer. The Middle Provo River is still flowing around 150 CFS ( cubic feet per second). The flows on the Middle Provo River should start to increase in flow the next few weeks as we get ready for spring run-off. The best fishing on the Middle Provo River has been in the afternoon. The Blue Winged Olive hatch starts around noon and goes for 2-4 hours depending on the day. For nymphing, Park City Fly Fishing Company guides are having the best success on a 4-6 foot rig with 6x tippet. We are using a Blue Winged Olive nymph like a Barr’s emerger in size 20-22 as our point fly and 22-24 thread midge trailed behind it. The best dry fly fishing is on overcast days. Keep in mind that the hatch usually takes a little longer in the day to get going when it’s not sunny out.
The flows on the Lower Provo River have come up about 60 CFS in the last week. The increase in flows have made fish become more active, feeding on sow bugs and other crustaceans. The flows have also opened up more water to fish as well. With the increased water flows, we are spending more time on the Lower Provo River than anywhere else simply because it has made the fishing the best around. The dry fly fishing has suffered a little bit with the water flow increasing, but the nymph fishing has more than made up for it. We are fishing a double sow bug rig with a size 14-16 sow bug as our point fly and a size 20-22 sow bug trailed behind it. The fishing in the shallows has been excellent. If you shorten your nymph rig and stay close to the bank, you should have an excellent day fly fishing.
Date: Thursday, 14 Apr, 2016
Utah fly fishing in the springtime can produce some of the most exciting fishing opportunities of the year. As the weather gets warmer and winter snow pack starts to melt, we start ... moreto see the rivers in the Park City area increase in water flows or CFS (Cubic Feet per Second). Many anglers think that when the bigger water rises that the Utah fly fishing is done until summer but that couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, spring is some of the most productive times to fish the Provo River, Weber River and other remote streams in Utah and Wyoming. Most of our streams in and around Park City are known as tail-waters (water comes from a dam), which means they are controlled flows. Unlike free-stone streams where the water is directly effected from natural snow pack, tail-waters tend to be less effected by spring time run-off and are more productive with higher flows. When the water starts to rise, tons of trout food like sow bugs, scuds, worms, stoneflies and mayfly nymphs get dislodged from the rocks and it sets up a feeding frenzy for the trout.
I want to share a few tips for fishing the higher water in the spring time. As the water increases in flows, the trout get pushed to the edges of the river. With the stronger current, the fish don’t have the sustained strength to stay in the middle of the river and feed. It is really important as an angler to stay on the bank or close to the bank and fish the inside edges of the river. Surprisingly, you’ll want to fish a shorter nymph rig, about 5-7 feet, now that the fish are pushed into the shallows. This time of year, it is always a good idea to check the water flows before you get out to the river. One thing to keep in mind is that it might not always be safe to cross the river with the higher flows. Please exercise caution, and approach the stream wisely. For more information on fishing in the spring check out my seasons page.
Date: Saturday, 23 Apr, 2016
Three person half day on the Provo River
A half day on the lower Provo river. Things included: Rod, reel, flies, waders and boots...
WADE FISHING TRIPS IN PARK CITY, UTAH Wade fishing is the essential fly fishing experience. You find yourself in a secluded location and cast a line to entice rising fish. Your guide ... morewill provide direction and guidance to help you make your catch and master the art of fly fishing.. Wade fishing is the best selection for a high level of instruction. Our full day trips take you on a local river such as the Provo, stopping at all the best spots to hook trout. Nearly all of our local rivers and streams are exclusively accessed through wading.
WADE FISHING TRIPS IN PARK CITY, UTAH Wade fishing is the classic experience. Walk to a secluded location along the banks of a local river such as the Provo river. While on the way ... moreyou can dissect every pool, riffle and rock while your guide offers instruction and assistance. Wade fishing is the best selection for a high level of instruction. These trips are available for either a half or full day. Nearly all of our local rivers and streams are exclusively accessed through this method.
The Provo River is a great fishery located next to major cities. It is considered a Blue Ribbon fishery with good reason. Full of brown, rainbow, and cutthroat trout it can be fished ... moreduring every season. It starts high up in the mighty Uinta Mountains and works its way down through two reservoirs and finally empties into Utah Lake. The river is broken into three sections namely the Upper, from the Uinta Mountains to Jordanelle Reservoir, the Middle, from Jordanelle Reservoir to Deer Creek Reservoir, and the Lower, from Deer Creek down to Utah Lake. I guide on the Middle and the Lower where fish counts are the highest.
The Middle Provo
Winding its way through beautiful Heber Valley the middle Provo is a great piece of trout water. After a river reconstruction done about 7 years ago the river has many access points and great holes to fish. The river is full of bug life which sustains a large population of Brown and Rainbow Trout. Amazing hatches of midges, and blue wing olives seem to bring every fish in the river to the surface.
The Lower Provo
Dumping out of Deer Creek Dam the lower Provo cascades its way through the impressive Provo Canyon. Huge limestone cliffs hang thousands of feet above you as large brown trout eagerly eat your fly. This is where I started learning how to fly fish. I have spent many days chasing these trout and have had much frustration and joy here. The lower Provo is much swifter then the middle section and offers great nymphing opportunities. The sow bug is the king when nymphing here and midges and mayfly nymphs work well. With seasonal hatches of midges, BWO, PMD, and a great caddis hatch fishing on top can be great as well.
Most fish average 12-17 inches in this section with fish over 20 possible. A 18 pound hog was caught out of this section 12 years ago. With the Lower Provo being only 10 minutes outside of Orem and Provo it gets lots of fishing pressure. I love to fish it in the fall through early spring to avoid the people hatch. In winter you can have whole sections to yourself and pick and choose where you want to fish. A real treat for putting up with cold hands for a few hours.
We offer professionally guided Utah fly fishing trips 12 months a year, on rivers, streams, and ponds near Park City, Utah. Whether you’re here playing golf in the summer, playing ... moreon the ski slopes during the winter or attending the Sundance film festival we have a great alternative for you. Come spend a day you won’t forget fly fishing with our guides.
Provo River is one of the best known fly fishing rivers in Western United States. It is only 20 minutes from Park City and 45 minutes from downtown Salt Lake City. This Blue Ribbon River provides excellent fishing year-round. It originates in the high Uinta Mountains, and is divided into three distinct sections; the upper, the middle, and the lower. The three sections are separated by two reservoirs, the Jordanelle and Deer Creek. Because of these reservoirs the middle and lower sections of the Provo river are classic tail-water fisheries, where the upper is more of a free stone river. These tail-water sections are managed for trophy trout. The water is almost always clear and fishable, and the fish numbers are truly impressive. There are many access points along the 25 miles of river, so if you have any limitations this is a great choice. With its close proximity to Park City this river is ideal for half or full day trips.
(1)
- Expert guide
- Flies, tippet, and leader
- Drinks
- Lunch and snacks for full-day trips
The Lower Provo River is a 30-minute drive from Park City and is a true tailwater fishery, which means the fish benefit from cold-oxygenated water all-year round. It flows out of Deer ... moreCreek Reservoir winding down 20 miles to Utah Lake. With the exquisite backdrop of Mt. Timpanogos and the Wasatch mountain range it flows through the Provo Canyon and is described as one large riffle. The Lower Provo River is known for its abundance of large Rainbow and Brown trout, with easy access through a railroad track following the river. The excellent bug life and a year-around diet of sow bugs make the trout fat and healthy. An average size trout on the lower Provo River is approximately 16-18 inches; surely putting a bend in your rod.
The blue-winged olive hatch in the springtime is second to none, making the Lower Provo a guide favorite in the early season. The Lower Provo also gets a heavy hatch of PMDs and caddis in the summer months. Unlike the Middle Provo River, the Lower Provo River provides the ability to float the river. We do the majority of our trips on the Lower Provo River in the spring and early summer. This is due to two factors, the fishing is most active in the early parts of the year before the moss settles in and makes it very difficult to fish. Also the Lower Provo River is a favorite among locals to float down with a tube in the Middle of the summer once school gets out. Park City Fly Fishing Company can get you to all the sweet spots on this incredible fishery.
Because many of our clients fly in from out of town, we provide all the fly fishing equipment you will need. Clients are welcome to bring their own gear. All equipment is high quality and includes:
Waders
Boots
Fly rod and reel
Terminal tackle
Split shot
Indicators
Flies
Of course, all trips include cold or warm drinks depending on the weather. All full-day trips also include snacks and a delicious lunch.
Days: Weekly on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
- All Gear
- 1 Guide per 2 fisherman
Half Day Fishing Trip Near Park City Utah During your half day fishing trip we prefer to give you an address where you can meet us near the river or if you need to be picked up, we ... morecan accomodate that for you at no charge. We will meet you and have all your gear/waders/boots/rods etc ready for your 4 hours on the water. Our guarantee: "no fish, no pay!"
Days: Weekly on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
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