Provo River

[FishOn!]

Without giving any reports about when do the good midge hatches start up on the Provo, and the BWOs start around March right?...I can't remember which month I got it good (BWO) last year. If emails are more appropriate here then respond accordingly..thanks.

[Jason]

Well, the midges are active all winter but they do tend to get good during February and March. The baetis start popping in March, depending on the weather, and continue on into May. The last few years its varied quite a bit due to weather, spring runoff, water temp, etc, but the months mentioned above should give you an idea.

[Marty]

More than likely you won’t see BWOs until the first part of April this year, may be even later. There are a lot of factors that come into play for all the hatches during the year. Weather is one, but has very little effect on when the different insects start to hatch. Weather has more effect on the amount of hatching insects. Hatches are triggered consistent with the calendar give or take a week or two. There is no scientific basis for this next statement, just many years of documenting when the hatches start on the Provo. I have found over the years the amount of snow fall has a major impact on the start times for the early hatches of stones and mayflies. The deeper the snow on the banks the later the hatches. You will see some early mayflies, but look close they are not always Batis and some anglers confuse the big black midge for a mayfly. Maybe we should start a pot, my picks are 4-7-05 for the blue wings on the Middle, 4-1-05 on the Lower.

[RAW]

Maybe the amount of snow makes the runoff higher and colder for a longer period of time thus delaying the hatch a little?

[Utah DaveII]

March 17 give or take a day.

[Mike]

On March 17th, I'll throw down a Guinness! It seems like there's almost always at least sporadic baetis activity by about that time in March, particularly on the Lower.

[Rod]

Saint Patty's Day:
Plant your peas in the garden in the a.m. hit the BWO on the Provo early afternoon

[baetisman]

Several years ago I fished an amazing baetis hatch on President's Day. It is a more guaranteed event later on, but it can happen earlier if the conditions are right.

[ARW]

Its been a damn long time. What have you been up to?


I live in Idaho Falls and have a real job. Anna and the kids are doing well. I hope the same for your family.


Allan W.

[Curtis Fry]

March 20th. I've kept fairly meticulous records myself over the past number of years and I haven't seen many March's go by without a nice hatch or two....and this year's snow on the banks isn't significantly higher than last year from what I remember. In fact, in an area I fished yesterday, the snow was way lower than last year.

Guess we'll see....

(and yes I remember a couple of good Pres day hatches, so don't rule out Feb!)

[Marty]

I guess we have to define Hatch, I have seen Batis on the water during the last week in January. I was fishing Ed’s slot on the lower last winter. There was a good midge hatch and fish were on top. I started to see a bigger bug on the water and thought it was the big black midge. After a closer inspection I could see the insect was a mayfly. I changed to a Batis pattern, but was not able to bring a fish to the fly. I have also fished at the start of the Batis hatch when the little mayflies blanked the water with no response from the fish. It takes a number of days with consistent hatches before the fish will key in on the new arrivals. I have fished many Batis hatches when the only productive fly was the midge pattern that was working the week before. The weather pattern here in Utah is on a 7-8 year cycle. This winter is far from over and I am still waiting for the big black midge to start. Everything is going to be a little late this year. I am sticking to the first part of April for consistent hatches that bring fish to the surface and I am talking about on the Middle. The Lower is a whole different story.


My guess for the Drakes is June 26, I have taken a number of samples and have seen good numbers of drakes, even in the silted areas.

[sparkledun]

Do the big hogs come up to dine on the baetis on the surface or do you have to get them with baetis nymphs?

[Curtis Fry]

Guess we're fishing different areas of the river then Marty. I've seen and fished a decent Baetis hatch many times in March on the LP -- even in Feb during the Pres day hatch. Fish coming to take naturals as well as my fly.

So I guess everyone has a different experience to draw on....good to hear your personal perspective though.

[cheech]

As far as midges on the Middle... Those dang fish rise every single day for at least an hour or two to the midges. I love not having to nymph all winter long. I fish with my big black bunny midge, they're HUGE #28.

[Curtis Fry]

So who guessed closest? I was off by a few days. Looks like Mike or UDIVMXL gets the prize...

[Grizz]

Last weekend was a trip. 4 waters & a baetis hatch on every one. Even after the front moved in Sunday, a small trib to a larger waterway popped with sail boats. There is a smaller water up north that's been going strong with baetis for over 3 weeks. Huge morphed out G-Gnats & #16 Bw's, it sure will get your spring blood pumpin'.

What's next? STONES!!!!!!! Ya BABY! I'll give the Webe & ProNo drainages 2 weeks & we start seeing early black/brown Skwala's.....Good time to be tossin' big stone fly imitations fer sure! March Browns, blanket midge hatches, Bw's, Stones, streamers & ice off ops. Over the next 12 weeks, fishing choices are endless, although 50% or more of the anglers will be slapping the water on the ProNo. ;-)

peace

[Boomer]

Last Thursday 3/10 I did well with an CDC transitional dun (RS2) in olive #24 on the middle section. Fish were rising like crazy although I did not see many bugs on the water. The rises were more just under the surface than on top. The action lasted at least 2 hours and I was glad to notice that the size of the fish seems to have increased. Fished in shirt sleeves and sunscreen!

[Curtis Fry]

That reminds me. For those of you that have a digital camera, try taking some pictures of the Baetis duns in the various areas you're fishing. I want to try and compare dun colors across the different areas of the river. I've just noticed some different shades of bugs this year already. I'll be out "collecting" samples this week and next.

So if you get any pics, just e-mail them to me and I'll post the results for everyone...

[ute]

How many Er Flies do you go through during a good beatis hatch. Do you use floatant on them, or do you fish them sub surface. Personally I have found that a Mike's purple and black works much better to represent the true size and color of the Provo River Beatis. If Marty says 4/5/05, I'll say 4/6/05 or the first thursday in April which ever comes first.

[Curtis Fry]

If Marty says 4/5/05, I'll say 4/6/05 or the first thursday in April which ever comes first.

Ute, I take it you haven't been up to the LP in the past week or two....

[John Bell]

This is all I am saying

[Jason B]

send me an e-mail
i have been on the river all week
troutzep@aol.com

[Lonnie]

This is all I am saying

Nuff Said !!!

[ute]

Nope, haven't fished that ditch in about 4 or 5 years, just doesn't seem I have had the time.