Fly Fishing Provo River - Middle

Overview

Between Jordanelle Dam and Deer Creek Reservoir, the Middle Provo winds through Heber Valley in restored meanders, riffles and deeper runs. Willows, cottonwoods and grassy banks give this tailwater a different setting from the canyon below Deer Creek Dam. Brown and rainbow trout call for careful presentations along pool edges, bends and bankside cover.

In clear water, watch a feeding lane before making the first cast, and use a longer leader when a delicate dry-fly presentation is needed. When trout are not rising, adjust nymph depth to each run rather than treating the whole river alike. Reservoir releases and seasonal runoff change the current, so read the water in front of you.

Presentations for runs and feeding lanes

Start with the nearest feeding lane and keep the drift free of drag before extending a cast across other currents. Clear water can make the approach as important as the fly: stay low around bankside cover and avoid casting over a feeding fish. Small nymphs can cover deeper runs and pools when surface activity is absent; change depth and weight as the current changes.

Seasonal fly choices

Watch for blue-winged olives in cooler conditions and PMDs or caddis as the weather warms. Small midge patterns remain useful during cold-weather fishing. Summer Trico activity calls for close observation and a delicate presentation rather than a larger attractor by default. Along grassy banks, small hoppers and ants offer another option when terrestrials are active.

Match the insect and feeding behavior you can see instead of relying on a calendar alone. A selective rise may call for a smaller fly or a different drift; when trout stay below the surface, work a nymph through their feeding depth.