Tips for creek, river fishing in Utah this summer

Salt Lake City — While there are many great reservoirs and ponds where you can fish in Utah, the Beehive State also offers excellent river and river fishing. If you’re planning to go creek or river fishing this summer, here are a few things to know.

Where to go

When it comes to fishing opportunities, Utah offers everything from small streams to larger rivers, and the experience will vary based on the size of the water. If you’re interested in fishing smaller streams, some notable options include:

• Currant Creek (Juab and Utah counties)




• The Left and Right Forks of Huntington Creek (Emery County)




• The Right Fork of the Logan River (Cache County)




• Mill Creek near Salt Lake City (Salt Lake County)

“In general, anglers fishing small streams should expect to be fishing around a lot of brush and as a result, shorter rods are recommended for this type of fishing,” said Randy Oplinger, Coordinator of the Fishing Line. sportfish from the Utah Division of Natural Resources. “Fishing in small streams is difficult, but anglers can be rewarded with high catch rates of fish, even if they are typically small fish.”

If you want to fish a moderately sized stream, here are some good options:

• The East Fork of the Sevier River (Piute and Sevier Counties)




• Duchesne River (Duchesne County)




• Logan River (Cache County)




• Blacksmith Fork River (Cache County)

Moderately sized streams are usually large enough to have room to stream. These streams also usually allow fishermen to wade through, allowing further access to various points in the river.

For fishing opportunities in larger rivers, anglers should check the following:

• Weber River (Weber County)




• Provo River (Utah County)




• Green River (Emery County)

« The Green River is especially notable because it’s the best drift boat fishing opportunity in Utah, » Oplinger said. « Fishermen should also keep in mind that large rivers can sometimes be difficult to wade due to their size and faster flowing flows, but they are typically home to larger fish. »

Fishing tips

Many streams and rivers in Utah provide opportunities to catch various species of trout, including cutthroat, brook, brown, rainbow, and tiger trout. Upland whitefish can also be caught frequently in Utah’s streams and rivers.

“Many of these fish can be fly-fished, using a variety of flies,” Oplinger said. “Using nymphs can be an effective option because fish spend around 90% of their time feeding below the surface, which is where nymphs live. Dry and ground flies are also great fun to use when fishing and they’re often easier to fish with because you can see the fish actually catch the fly on the surface. However, they can be a more challenging option. »

Another effective method is to combine both options and use an « eyedropper »: use a dry fly on the surface as an impact indicator and also use a subsurface nymph.

“People typically associate streams with fly fishing,” Oplinger said. “But, having said that, anglers who prefer spinning tackle can also catch a lot of trout using spinners. You can also cast flies using a spinning rod if you use a bobber. Simply attach the fly with a section of leader under the bobber, and use the bobber as a strike indicator. Creek fishing is fun because it provides unique strategy gameplay. To be successful as a creek fisherman, you must be intimately aware of the habitat, what the fish eat, and how they involve the fish ». You also need to focus on how to present your flies to the fish in a way that looks as natural as possible. This makes stream fishing an exciting mental and physical challenge. »

Safety information

Due to last winter’s heavy snowpack, some Utah streams and rivers are still higher than normal for this time of year. Anglers should be very careful if fishing in a river or stream this year.

« Remember that water tends to move faster than it appears, » Oplinger said. « Always use caution before attempting to wade through a stream while fishing. It’s a good idea to bring along one other person when fishing or engaging in other recreational activities near water. If you are unable to bring along a friend, always tell someone where you’re going fishing and when you plan to come home. »

Anglers can find more information on the DWR website about the great creek fishing opportunities Utah has to offer. THE Utah Cutthroat Slam website also provides additional information on stream fishing in the state.

“There are thousands of miles of publicly accessible waterways in Utah, and you have the opportunity to catch not only lots of fish, but a diverse array of species in our waterways,” Oplinger said. « Utah is truly one of the best creek fishing states in the country. »