“Stein Day” at the Nordic-style lodge named after the famous Olympic skier, and everything was perfect except for the weather. There was no snow, and none was predicted for the foreseeable future. The sky was a complete blue dome with only a few contrails from passing jets. The doormen and waiters seemed uneasy. There was light traffic at the reception desk. Still, everyone was ready for the holidays. We toasted the memory of Stein in the main lobby. We sang a comical version of “Let It Snow.”
Down at the reception area, I waited for my guide. A few diehard skiers dragged their gear through the immaculate lobby. Pine logs crackled in the fireplace.
In Deer Valley, skiing is the chief economic driver, the king of activities in this part of Utah, and the reason the Stein Eriksen Lodge had just been awarded “Best Skiing Lodge in the World.” But I wasn’t there to ski. I was going fly fishing on the Blue-Ribbon section of the Lower Provo River.
Local Knowledge of the River
Scott Harmon, a guide who floats between several shops in the Park City and Deer Valley area, picked us up right in front of the lodge. He looked a little bit out of place standing among the bellmen in his waders. There were two of us fishing. Outdoor writer Mike Salomone, a guide himself and a frequent contributor to glossy fly-fishing magazines, climbed into the back seat. As we drove to the river, Harmon told us how it was his daughter who made him decide to become a full-time fishing guide. They attended guide school together. Now he has 15 years under his belt.
“She has her own drift boat and floats the Green River whenever she can. Her husband’s a hunting guide,” he said.
The Provo River is an excellent example of how a state can restore a river to create an economic driver for a community. As Harmon tells it, the river wasn’t much in the 1990s. Much of the water was pumped into fields and used for irrigation. But the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources partnered with other agencies and launched a Herculean effort to transform this humdrum river into a world-class fishery that matches the area’s unparalleled skiing.
The dream took time—decades. But now, there are three distinct sections of the river a visiting angler can fish: the wild and wonderful Upper Provo, the easy-to-access Middle Provo, and the trophy Lower Provo. Each has its own distinct character. But they have one thing in common—eye-popping numbers of Trout. While I was in Park City, I heard estimates that were almost too much to believe. Some sections of the Middle Provo have reported nearly 3,500 Trout per mile.
The Provo Bottom Bounce Rig
The Middle Provo was a little off-color, possibly because the area had received ten inches of snow the previous week. Unseasonably warm temperatures melted that early snow, and the runoff was making the water appear murky. We stopped anyway. An angler was in the parking area, already done for the day.
“It’s a bit cloudy, but the fish are still biting,” he said as he peeled off his waders.
Harmon decided to try the Lower Provo. The route took us through a beautiful landscape. We could see the high-country area where Robert Redford had his Sundance Ranch.
“I guided up there a few weeks ago,” said Harmon.
We arrived at the Lower Provo. Our guide set up two folding chairs and dug out a pair of waders for each of us. Pretty soon, we were wading along a stretch of river that seemed far too small to hold thousands of Trout per mile. But as the light slanted and fell upon the water, I saw Brown Trout slurping midges. They rolled, and the sun caught their golden hues. It was December 13, and the Trout were taking dries.
Harmon handed me an Orvis rod already rigged with three tiny nymphs. The Provo Bounce rig is a bit different from what I use in Wyoming. The flies were tied to the main leader, spaced about 12 inches apart. A split shot was crimped on at the very end. Harmon said the rig takes him 20 minutes or more to set up and outfishes inline rigs 2 to 1. There was a size 18 sow bug, a similarly tiny mayfly nymph, and an egg pattern just above the weight.
“Try to use a sweep set—just sweep the rod across your body when you get a hit. It will keep you out of the bushes,” said Harmon.
In no time, Salomone hooked a fish. It turned out to be an enormous Whitefish, a telltale sign that this section of the Provo is clean and well oxygenated. Before Mike could land his fish, I came tight to a Brown that tested my skill.
The Provo Bounce rig became dear to me as I caught Rainbows and Browns into the afternoon. Switching out the egg pattern for a San Juan Worm, I hooked a Trout that ran all over the pool and eventually broke off. This was the only fly I lost—a record for me. I could hear Salomone hooting from upstream. He was battling his own Rainbow.
Before long, the canyon walls were casting long shadows on the river.
“I have one more place to show you,” said Harmon.
We drove a mile down a two-track to an enormous pool where beavers had done some engineering. Here, the Lower Provo swelled like an egg swallowed by a bull snake. Really, it was like a tiny lake. A few teal were floating in the inlet. They flushed when we opened the truck doors. Switching over to small streamers that resembled a fly called the Halfback, we caught small Browns until the fading light told us the day was over. We had dinner at Glitretind to attend. (Glitretind is the award-winning restaurant at the Stein Eriksen Lodge.)
A little red-faced from having been on the river all day, Salomone and I joined our party and sat down to a meal among friends. They asked about the fishing. Our words proved insufficient. We fumbled for our phones and showed them the gorgeous Trout that live just downstream from the ski town.
Three Sections to Experience
Guides like Harmon are true professionals who create experiences for visiting anglers based on what they want to do. Though we fished the Lower Provo, our guide told us about all the different opportunities one can find in the Deer Valley area.
The Upper Provo is a freestone river with wild populations of Cutthroat and Brook Trout. Fed by snowmelt and freshets, this river is unbelievably beautiful. To reach the public sections, you take the Mirror Lake Highway into the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest. Summertime means dry-fly fishing. The upper section is where you can truly get away from the crowds and find pods of rising fish.
The Middle Provo is closest to town, easily accessible, and full of willing fish. Here is where the Provo Bounce rig comes into play. Anglers use 5X leaders and all the usual suspects as flies: Prince Nymphs, sow bugs, eggs, Pheasant Tails, and Hare’s Ears. You watch a brightly colored indicator for the slightest take and try to use a downstream set, as Harmon says. You’ll see guides and anglers at the obvious pools. Possibly, you’ll even run into neighbors, as this section is fished heavily by locals.
The Lower Provo, known for bigger fish and the occasional Kevin Costner sighting, is where you might hook a true giant. They say there are fish that push past 24 inches here. Just below the dam at Deer Creek Reservoir, this tailwater is known for massive insect hatches. When we fished it in December, the flows were super low—150 CFS. Harmon said he likes it in the spring when the flows top 1,000 CFS and the fish spread out to feed. The Provo Bounce rig is the way to go here. We rarely snagged the bottom, and we caught fish on various flies, but especially the simple San Juan Worm.
Other Opportunities near Park City
The Weber River, known for wild Trout populations, is an underappreciated gem just 25 miles from Park City. A Walk-In Access Program makes private land accessible to anglers. Grayling, Brook Trout, and Browns are available here in Blue-Ribbon numbers.
Massive Jordanelle Reservoir is home to a prolific Smallmouth Bass fishery. Fly anglers and spin casters can catch Smallmouths, Brown Trout, and Rainbows by fishing the Provo River inlet. In the springtime, the big Rainbows prowl the shoreline within easy sight-casting distance. They will take streamers and conehead Woolly Buggers.
This area is full of wonderful side trips and outdoor adventures. Salomone and I spent a day trap shooting at the Kama Valley Lions Gun Club. This is a top-notch facility with professional staff who can teach you the subtle habits of an expert marksman. Shane will show you how to swing through your target. Pretty soon, they’ll have you believing you’re not so bad. But we know the truth. Your bad habits will return as soon as you leave Utah.
Have you ever been fishing on the Provo River? Which section do you prefer? Any tips or tricks you’d like to share? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below!
The post Fly Fishing for Trout on the Provo River: Three Sections You Need to Fish in 2026 appeared first on FishingBooker Blog.
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