Southern Utah Fly Fishing Guide, from my past.

I always seemed to be attracted to water, ever since I could remember, I suppose that’s what found me on the banks of a canal in Idaho watching for fish to rise, my family after all had come here to camp, visit friends, and fish: when it became to dark to watch the water any longer I went back to the house, my Fathers friend Chris sat at a desk in a dimly lit room where my siblings and others sat watching TV and playing. my attention was drawn to Chris, he had a desk lamp perched above a vise and was busy tying mosquito patterns and Adams, I remember the tv holding little interest for me, and became fascinated by this man who could make something to catch fish out of feathers and fur, as he finished each fly he carefully placed it in an old film canister and would start another, I was curious but it meant nothing to me till after we had left; there were 11 of us kids and we all piled into the back of a old blue ford truck with a shell on it, that coupled with all the camping gear made for a snug ride as we bounced down dirt roads looking for that magic spot that Daddy always seemed to find, it was there camped against a old fence that we stopped, I remember the old green Coleman cooler, and momma putting together sandwiches for everyone with a loaf of French bread. then going to bed. the next morning it all came together for me,  we crossed the fence, crested a small hill and there on the other side was a river, far more beautiful then the canal I had watched, my father took the time to take each child and help them catch a fish from a beautiful run with the flies from the old film canister, upon making the connection I could hardly wait for my turn to catch a fish, naturally I believed  mine would be the largest, I just knew it,  it was there, with my fathers arms around me, the prickle of his unshaved face, the soft hiss of the fly rod, and the rise of a trout that I knew that fly fishing would always be in my heart.   

Fly Fishing Southern Utah Quiet Fly Fisher

we arrived at the Fremont river at 8:30 this morning, the sky was slightly overcast, and the Trico's were nowhere to be seen...
Yet...
as we set up are rods the clouds parted and the sun broke through, the Caddis and Trico's showed up everywhere... noses started sticking up all over the river... and then... it was on!!!

Southern utah fly fishing report.

Tips for southern utah during the dog days of summer.

As the summer stretches out the hatches remain strong on most waters in southern utah, 

The insects that are tied to the water like the caddis and May flies ect continue to hatch and often in good numbers, however the size of the emerging insect is often considerably smaller then ones that occured early on in the season. They also tend to hatch earlier in the day and then return in the evening, most hatches start at sun up and are finished by 10 am . Then are noticed again at 7 to 8 pm till dark. So if you go during these dog days of summer ... Get out early... Or sleep in, then hit the water in the cool of the evening. 

Sevenmile creek and the sevenmile road is under construction, stay off it and give those guys a chance to work with out worrying about you. Hit this water on the weekends or after 5 pm when there    

Is no work up there. The brook trout fishing is starting to pick up, use h & l variant or royal wullf, also caddis.

Um creek.

Fishing is best early early early in the morning.... Or late evening... Caddis has been are fly of choice.

Millmeadow, fishing has been hit and miss... We found that fishing was good using sz 10 olive buggers, and soft hackles sz 12. And zug bugs, double renegades also worked great late in the evening.

Forsyth.

The reservoir is low, fishing has been slow, zug bugs and pheasant tail nymphs have worked best for us.

Thousand lakes mtn.

Fishing has been good on  some lakes and slow on others,  the damsel flies are out and fishing has been best right along the weed beds. Watch for cruising feeding fish and cast to them.

Boulder mtn.

The mtn has had a lot of fishing pressure this year, it seems I could always find some where quiet... Not this year...  Be prepaired for company if you go.

That being said the fishing has been great this summer...  This is the time of year to really focus on the Baetis hatches, they often hatch at the exact same time each day, finding the time table for your favorite lake can be key to having success on the mtn at this time of year.

Call or text questions to mike, be aware that I'm often out on the mtn myself, text is often best or email...  Mikejames@scinternet.net.      435 616 2319 .... Thanks guys and good luck out there on the water.

A beautiful morning on the Fremont river, the trico hatch was superb, there were rising fish everywhere....   Check out are trip this morning...

Southern utah fishing report fly fishing

U.m creek and seven mile.
 Both stream continue to fish really well with dry flies.
We have been using fat alberts and caddis on um, seven mile we have used royal wullfs and h&l variants.
Upper Fremont.
has increased flows from Johnson valley reservoir, fishing remains good though with a variety of dries,new have caught them on caddis. Fat alberts, h&L variants, and Adams.
Millmeadow reservoir.
 There has been a lot of pressure on millmeadow the last couple of weeks. Fishing has been good for some fat rainbows and good browns.  We have done best with olive buggers trailed with double renegades and pheasant tail nymphs.
Thousand lakes mtn.
Fishing has been good at all the lakes ... The damsels are coming off good now and the fishing has been dang fun throwing dries, we have also used the damsel nymphs with good success.

Boulder mtn.
The Baetis hatches are in full swing, the fish are actively feeding on them. Do your best to immitate the adults and the emergers.  The damsel flies are ON too, the lakes that have good hatches are bringing some great fish up, and they are crushing the adults.
Call or text 435 616-2319 for up todate conditions.

Fly Fishing Southern Utah (Boulder Mtn Area)

U.M Creek.
  The dry flies have been actively hatching for the last week, Caddis, Stone Flies, P.M.D's and even a small handful of drakes.
on the nicer days the trout have been hitting almost anything big and bushy on top, fish the seams close to the banks and be ready.
early morning hours have found the fish holding tightly to the bank and more likely to intercept a pheasant tail dropper rather then the dry.

Fremont River.
   The Caddis, Stone Flies, and Baetis, have been coming off in great numbers on the upper fremont
and the fish have been actively feeding on them. the water level is up due to increased flows from Johnson Valley reservoir, this causes the water to be slightly stained, the fish still actively feed though and it's well worth the trip.

Millmeadow/Forsyth
 both reservoirs are dropping from irrigation releases.
the fishing has been better at millmeadow so far this spring with some very nice browns and rainbows being caught, forsyth has been slower this spring, we have used a zugbug on both reservoirs for the best results.

Johnson Valley.
there have been a few smaller musky caught, the water seems to be a little more murky this year,
patience has paid off though. we throw sz 4 black and green zonkers.

Fishlake.
reports remain good for those fishing the twin creeks area, there has been a hatch of baetis in the mornings and the fish have been actively feeding on them.

Thousand Lakes Mtn.
the fishing has been good at all lakes.
The damsel flies are just starting to come off, as the hatch increases it brings some of the best dry fly action. with big rainbows and cut's crushing the adults off the weed beds. currently we have been stripping brown leech patterns with good results.

BOULDER MOUNTAIN.
fishing has been great in the fishcreek beaver dam areas,  using a renegade, and baetis imitations.
we have also used mohair leeches with good results, Blind Lake has been really good this early summer too, everybody we saw and talked to was catching fish, we fished mohair leeches and prince nymphs, brown buggers, baetis nymphs, Chernobyl ants, and renegades and did really well, having a float tube is an added bonus on this lake.
access is possible to most of the top. fishing has been good at several of the lakes we have made it to so far with minimal winter kill.

Southern Utah Fly Fishing Boulder Mountain Flies.

BOULDER MOUNTAIN
The Snow is finally receding on the mountain and access is always improving, most of the lakes below the rim are accessible and the fishing has been good, early season fishing on the Boulders can be both good and bad, being prepared with the right flies is always a good thing.
with the ice newly off most of the lakes the water remains cold, and before it warms the hatches remain suppressed, the fish are feeding though, mostly on leeches, having a good selection of patterns is a must.

  Thousand Lakes Mtn.
the lakes here warm much quicker then those on the boulder, this often results in better spring fishing,
currently the Solomon lakes basin and round lake are fishing well, access is good,  the fishing has been good with light olive and tan leech patterns as well as pheasant tail nymphs.

FREMONT RIVER.
the upper fremont is now running high due to releases from Johnson valley reservoir,
these increased flows will likely remain most of the summer to meet irrigation demands down stream.
with the flows up swinging a bugger is often very affective, using a large attractor fly on the surface and a sz. 14 caddis nymph below can be very affective.