Winter Fishing on Provo River

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Winter Fishing on the Provo

By Matt Selders, Four Seasons Fly Fishers
(Four Seasons Fly Fishers is located in Heber and offers guide service and supplies. Their guides are on the water every day and so they have up to date info on hatches and conditions. They are always willing to share info: 435-657-2010.)

The morning air was crisp in my lungs. No one in sight. The weather report called for blue skies and temperatures slightly warmer than average. A midge landed on my hand as I fit the ferrules together on my fly rod. A quick glance at the stream made my heart skip a beat. There were fish rising, big fish. I counted five rises in just a few seconds. I couldn’t get my waders on fast enough.

"Slow down," I cautioned myself as I crept down the bank. Adrenaline was coursing through my veins as I watched two large bruisers eating midges. "What size of fly are they eating?" A small fly, size 22 midge adult, black, floated past on the surface of the water. I pulled out a matching pattern from my fly box, and tied it to my 6x, 3lb leader. Anticipation was killing me as I heard the familiar sound of a trout sucking a small dry from the surface of the water. After one agonizing minute, the fly was attached to tippet. I paused to take in my surroundings, my breathing slowed momentarily. The sun peeking through the trees made a beautiful design of shadows on the river bottom. I began to cast my delicate fly, hoping to fool a brute, a winter trout.

Winter fly fishing is a sport unto itself. Many anglers fish only two or three seasons out of the year. But, there are Four Seasons. In my opinion, winter is the best of the four. The fly fishing opportunities are great. Casting a big green drake dry to fish rising everywhere and hooking up to 40 is awesome fun in June. Conditions are perfect most of the time in the summer. But, hooking up to a big brown on a size 22 or smaller fly, sight fishing, slowing stalking your favorite run, and landing a fish on 3lb test tippets, that’s a challenge. It is what we practice all summer long for. When you catch four or five fish in the middle of winter, that is really something to brag about.

The more adverse weather that we encounter in winter makes fishing more interesting. It is colder fishing, period. If you dress properly, however, you will stay warm and have a great day, regardless of how the fish catching was. Stocking caps, fleece pants and jackets (windproof are the best), long underwear, thicker socks and good fleece or wool gloves are needed. I also like to carry one time use pocket hand warmers. There is one reason people don’t fly fish as often in the winter, the cold. If you layer your clothes and stay dry, you will stay warm.

Your fly rod and fly reel need to be able to handle lightweight tippets (leaders). The better rods to use in winter are often referred to as Midge rods. The have lighter actions and are usually 4 weights or 3 weights, although a 5 weight will work. A reel needs to have a good, smooth drag system. If you hook a big fish and have a reel that does not operate well in the cold, you will lose the fish. Sealed disc or conical drags are the best, hands down. A great outfit would be a G-Loomis Steamdance GLX 8’6" #4 with a 1.5 Lamson Lightspeed. They balance well and won’t break the finest of leaders.

Breathable waders are a must. They breathe off bodily moisture and help to keep your skin dry. The also fit more like a pair of ski pants. They allow for more layers, without constriction of blood flow. You will stay warmer in a good pair of breathable waders than any other wader type. Match it with a good, breathable wading jacket or windproof fleece jacket for the best outer layer possible. Felt sole shoes will still provide the best traction in the river, but they do pick up snow when they are wet.

Gloves can make or break your day. I have tried tons of gloves. The very best out there are made by Glacier Glove. They make a glove that is primarily windproof fleece but has a thin, fleece-lined, neoprene palm. The finger-tips on your pointer finger and thumb fold back so you can tie knots. They keep my hands at a comfortable temperature all day if I keep them dry. Wool gloves are a great alternative to the more expensive fleece. I recommend fingerless without a flip over mitten. The fly line will constantly get trapped behind the flip mitten and annoy you to death. Whatever you glove choice, make sure to keep them dry. Take off your gloves before handling fish. Slip them in your pocket or just inside your waders. Your hands will be cold for a minute or two afterwards but when you slip them back into your warm, dry gloves you will thank me.

Fly choice is going to be easy. A local fly shop can tell you when the hatches are happening. It will be midges from December until mid-March. Midges are small, #18-#24 are common. Make sure to be prepared to throw a nymph or two as well when there is no hatch. The dries will only last an hour or so each day. Make sure you have all different colors and sizes, too. These fish can be very picky in winter. Make a slow, calculated approach to every potential spot. If you spook a run, they may not eat again for 10 minutes. Take your time and watch the run for subtle indications of how the fish are feeding. They may be breaking the surface but are they eating emergering insects or adults?

The sun has finally met the Western Horizon. I am tired, sore shouldered, a little colder, and the time has run out of the day. I am also content. I fooled seven nice brown trout and one hard fighting rainbow. I caught fish on dries, nymphs and emergers. I lost one big brown, fourth cast of the day. A glance around reveals the trail back to the truck. I am reluctant to leave, but eager to come back, soon.