Park City is famous for being a world-renowned ski town, a major venue for the 2002 Winter Olympics, and a host to the Sundance Film Festival. During the summer months, Park City is a destination for mountain biking, and it’s one of only six cities worldwide designated a Gold-Level Ride Center by the International Mountain Bike Association. Perhaps lesser known, Park City also boasts some of the best fly fishing in Utah, right in our backyard.
While it’s a great destination for anyone who loves mountain biking, skiing, or fly fishing, Park City is even more special for those who practice two or more of these activities. Going fishing during your ski or mountain biking vacation is a real option. Let’s take a closer look at fly fishing in Park City.
Park City: A Unique Geography
Park City is a mere 15 miles to the western flank of the Uinta mountains, which supply the headwaters of the Weber and Provo rivers. The Weber flows to the north through Rockport and Echo reservoirs, snaking through picturesque valleys of pasture before making its way through Ogden Canyon to the Great Salt Lake. The Provo River goes south to the Jordanelle Reservoir, through the Heber Valley to Deer Creek Reservoir, and on through Provo Canyon to Utah Lake. These rivers and reservoirs include several Blue Ribbon fisheries and offer anglers the opportunity to practice multiple fishing techniques while targeting different species.
Anglers can pick and choose an area based on their desired species and fishing technique. The middle and lower sections of the Weber and Provo rivers have more brown and rainbow trout. At the same time, anglers exploring the upper sections and headwaters may also find Bonneville cutthroat and brook trout. Mountain lakes in the Uintas and the lower-elevation reservoirs offer excellent still-water fishing with a streamer or dry fly. In addition to the trout species mentioned, anglers can also target mountain whitefish, arctic grayling, walleye, smallmouth bass, and tiger trout on the waters near Park City.
Year-round Fly Fishing in Park City
The Weber and Provo rivers are broken into segments separated by dams and reservoirs. Tailwaters below these dams have regulated flows and relatively stable water temperatures throughout the year. This means that the fish remain active and feeding year-round. Even in the coldest winters, the reservoirs might be capped with ice, but the rivers will still be open and flowing. Trout slow down in the colder weather and feed less actively, but they still need to eat! The cold weather also means fewer anglers and less pressure. Fishing can be really good, and you’ll probably have the river to yourself. Nymphing is a great way to imitate what trout are likely eating during the winter.
Spring and summer bring a progression of insect hatches to the area, starting with blue wing olives and Mother’s Day caddis in May. The green drake is another popular hatch that attracts anglers from June to July, depending on weather and water conditions. Hatches become more prevalent in July with anything from caddis, pale morning dun, to stone flies, and many more.
The warmer months of spring and summer are the most popular seasons for fly fishing in the Park City area. This is also a great time for beginner or novice anglers to practice and hone their skills. With all the hatches, the fish are in prime feeding mode and more likely to eat a less-than-perfect presentation from an inexperienced angler. Hiring a professional guide through Jans is the best way to test the waters and see if fly fishing suits you. With all the gear and equipment provided, beginners can try it out before investing in their own gear. Plus, our guides have a ton of experience working with new anglers, so you’ll have a good chance of actually catching fish!
See for Yourself!
It’s amazing how skiing, mountain biking, and fly fishing complement each other so well in a place like Park City. The Experts at Jans build our lifestyles around the seasonal ebb and flow between these activities, and we’ve built our business around them too. But don’t take our word for it. Give us a call (435-649-4949), and try fly fishing in Park City for yourself!
