Fishing on the Provo River in the winter can be excellent fly fishing if you know how to pick the right fly. In the winter, on the Provo River, everything lines up for the die-hard fly fisherman. Not a lot of people fish this time of year, complaining it is too cold, and the result is that you have low competition for good holes. It's a beautiful sight.
Also, the water levels are low, and the cold BIG fish aren't fighting quite so hard so they can conserve energy. This is the time of year to get out and catch your trophy fish! The one question anglers ask Utah Pro Fly Fishing most often is: What fly should I put on during the winter months? After reading this article, you will know what to use on the Provo River during the winter months, and after your next winter trip, it might even become your favorite time of year to fish, just like it is mine.
During the winter months, midges are still hatching every day, and the river system sees a bounty of this insect in the waters, since the fish are eating them daily it is always a good bug to start fishing with during the winter months. You should buy a stomach pump and try pumping a fish during the winter. You will find that the number one food staple during this time is either Midges or Sows.
There are two different major food sources in the winter for hungry trout on the Provo River; they are Midges and Sow Bugs. Midges during this time of year are very small insects, and the imitation of this insect is a hook size #18-22 with thread and wire wrapped around the hook, it's a simple, effective pattern (remember the larger the number means, the smaller the hook size).
Let's talk about the famous Provo River Sow Bugs; these bugs look like underwater potato bugs that you play with when you are a kid. I always buy my flies from Rainy's Flies: You can go to Cabela's to buy the same patterns I fish with, they are Haslam's PR Sow Bug and Hindmarsh's Dead Sow. When you get to the river use the Sow bug as the attractor fly (or the one that is tied on first), then tie on about 16 inches of size 5x tippet and put on your midge. You should always put on at least two size BB weights 16 inches above the attractor fly as well.
The nice thing about midges is that there are numerous sizes and colors. If you aren't catching fish, try a different style. I like to fish a premium midge fly tied from Rainy's called "Nicks Flashlight Midge" (which you can buy if you e-mail me at Justin(at)utahproflyfishing com). It is a black and red midge pattern, very simple in design, but is one of the most effective, deadly midge patterns out there. It has a couple of interesting pieces on it I haven't seen any other fly.
Also, the water levels are low, and the cold BIG fish aren't fighting quite so hard so they can conserve energy. This is the time of year to get out and catch your trophy fish! The one question anglers ask Utah Pro Fly Fishing most often is: What fly should I put on during the winter months? After reading this article, you will know what to use on the Provo River during the winter months, and after your next winter trip, it might even become your favorite time of year to fish, just like it is mine.
During the winter months, midges are still hatching every day, and the river system sees a bounty of this insect in the waters, since the fish are eating them daily it is always a good bug to start fishing with during the winter months. You should buy a stomach pump and try pumping a fish during the winter. You will find that the number one food staple during this time is either Midges or Sows.
There are two different major food sources in the winter for hungry trout on the Provo River; they are Midges and Sow Bugs. Midges during this time of year are very small insects, and the imitation of this insect is a hook size #18-22 with thread and wire wrapped around the hook, it's a simple, effective pattern (remember the larger the number means, the smaller the hook size).
Let's talk about the famous Provo River Sow Bugs; these bugs look like underwater potato bugs that you play with when you are a kid. I always buy my flies from Rainy's Flies: You can go to Cabela's to buy the same patterns I fish with, they are Haslam's PR Sow Bug and Hindmarsh's Dead Sow. When you get to the river use the Sow bug as the attractor fly (or the one that is tied on first), then tie on about 16 inches of size 5x tippet and put on your midge. You should always put on at least two size BB weights 16 inches above the attractor fly as well.
The nice thing about midges is that there are numerous sizes and colors. If you aren't catching fish, try a different style. I like to fish a premium midge fly tied from Rainy's called "Nicks Flashlight Midge" (which you can buy if you e-mail me at Justin(at)utahproflyfishing com). It is a black and red midge pattern, very simple in design, but is one of the most effective, deadly midge patterns out there. It has a couple of interesting pieces on it I haven't seen any other fly.
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