Once again the winter weather is acting more like Spring giving Utah fly fishers endless opportunities to enjoy our states great outdoors and of course fly fishing. So hang up the skies and snowboards and hit the water this week. Weather is looking great with sunny/cloudy skies in the mid 40s throughout the upcoming week. February is a favorite month for midge fishing and honestly is the best. Warmer weather + hungry trout = An Epic Midge Hatches. So here are this weeks tops picks:
1. Middle Provo River- Consistency is the best word to explain the MP. Everyday from 12-3pm you will run into a midge hatch, if you walk enough river. This fish get fished to a lot so make sure you are using a long leader (Min 9ft, I like 12+) and light tippets 5-7x. This set up will allow you to get a better drift and not spook so many fish with your fly line.(Know as Lining) As far as flies you have to go small(20-24). Griffith Gnats, Orange Ashers, WD-40s, Zebra Midges are classics that will always work, but don’t forget to use emergers that hang in the surface film. Trout can’t resist them.
2. Green River- Got a report from last week floated the A section. Midge fishing was remarkable with hundreds of fish on top. Small midges did the trick. (see above) Got sick of midge fishing, so they switched to streamers and caught fish on dark purple streamers on the last half of the float. Had the river to themselves almost the whole weekend. I will be up there this Fri-Sat and will report how it was on the forum page.
3. Current Creek- Hit Current Creek on my way back from Vernal. It fished great with a dry dropper. Not much midge action, since it was late afternoon, but sight fishing the shallows was a blast with a little foam midge and #22 zebra midge. Most took the zebra. The foam midge worked as a indicator, that wouldn’t spook the weary fish.
4. South Slope Unita Streams- For you anglers that have snowmobiles. There is no better place to take advantage of the snow than the Unitas. With limited access you can have the river to yourself and the fishing is just half the fun.
5. Lower Provo River- Fished the LP this week, walked a few river miles looking for any sign of a hatch, but the midges were few and far between. Euro nymphed (French Style) the way back and picked up fish on Egan’s Sow Bug and a Tung Zebra Midge. (Red and Black) The LP is hit and miss with Midges, but you can always count on fish eating nymphs in the seams and drop offs. Deep runs are also very productive.