As the weather begins to warm and Spring gets closer. I can’t help but think of two different forms of fly fishing I love very much, Spring Blue Winged Olives and Ice Off Stillwater. They differ in almost every form, but maybe that’s why they work so good together. So for the next 3 months if you look in my messy Denali you will see a 9ft 3&4wt and a 9 ft 6&7wt which are the perfect rods for most Utah waters and for the soft gentle cast of a bwo dry fly and the heavy articulated streamer that catch the biggest fish as the ice peels back. So here is a look at the top bwo fisheies and early ice off lakes.

1. BWOs- Provo River(lower & middle) – The middle as we speak is still seeing great hatches of little bwos #20 or smaller. Come middle to late March keep your eyes out for the larger #16, 18 bwos. The littles trouts spashy rise forms is a give away that the bigger bugs are emerging and the fish are getting as excited as u. The Lower is one of my favorite spring time fisheries. It sees a blanket hatch of bwos and buffalo midges by mid to late March. It can be so much fun that you will be missing work to be there when the hatch startes. It least I know I will.

2. BWOs- Green River- This is a later hatch, but depending on the weather and the water temps. I have been lucky to see a couple march bwo hatches. They are only on the cloudest, rainest and worst days, but if you dare make the trip. You will be into some of the best fly fishing in the world and only a few other die hards around. If the bwos elude you, the midges won’t. March is midge fishing on the Green and thing else is a real bonus, which you won’t really need one with all the midges. Don’t forget streamers they kill it in the winter on the Green.

3. BWOs- Small Creeks- Utah is home to 1000′s of small creeks that line our wasatch front as well as almost every mtn valley. Before run off these creeks can offer amazing bwo fishing and the fish are half as picky as the Provo and Green. This is a great place to start or take a kid fishing. Do your homework and pay your dues to find out which creeks have the best early bwos. It will payoff for yrs or even generations to come.

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1. Ice Off- Minersville- Once known as the premeire fly fishing stillwaters in the west. Minersville has had its far share of ups and downs. Its starting show signs of improvement and if the heavy Rainbows are any indication of its health it looks like it is worth the trip. Ice is off and the fishing has been good. Try dark leeches and other streamers as well as chronomids. Fishing early and late have been the best from shore. Durning the day get out on the pontoon and try a little deeper.

2. Ice Off- Otter Creek- Ice Off is usually around mid to late March. It is a great place to fish to catch a monster rainbow. Most fly fishers fish from shore with dark streamers(I like bright colors personally) and chronomids. As the Rainbows move in shallow to spawn they get very aggressive this is the time to target them. When they are spawning move on to another lake and let them do their thing.

3. Ice Off- Strawberry Reservoir- This is by far the most famous Ice Off fishing in the state, which it should be. Large Cutthroats and Rainbows patrol the edges of the ice waiting for an easy meal after a long hard winter under the ice. This usually occurs in late March or April depending on the weather and it usually only lasts a couple days to a week. So when you hear Ice Off is on at The Berry drop everything and get up there. If you wait until the weekend it usually is too late. If you hit it right fishing is simple. Dark Leeches our the ticket on an imtermidate sink line. Slow strips and hold on!