Weber River Dies, Winter water draw down kills insects, brown trout, white fish & rainbow trout

Open letter to the Utah DWR, why did the Weber River have to Die ???

Giant Rainbow & Browns used to live in the Weber River...No Longer.

Several weeks ago I made a fishing pilgrimage to the Weber river where I fished as a boy, young adult, and father with my 5 children. I am used to seeing a reasonable water "draw down" of the Weber for the winter months, but I did not expect to see huge portions of the river dry with only a "trickle" moving along the very deepest part of the once blue ribbon river. Miles of rocks are exposed and dead are the very insects that take 3 years to develop from egg to adult that provide food for the trout. Our mayflies, dragon flies, damsel flies & non biting gnats (to name a few) spend the majority of their life as a larva under water attached to the weeds, now there are none, some nymphs are even attached to the rocks (caddis, rock rollers) they too must still be underwater to survive to adulthood. When the weeds die and the rocks are exposed to air....they die and generations will not be born to replace them. Large fish die, only a limited number of small stunted fish can survive in the shallow holes within the trickle of water that barely still flows.   This is sad to report.



Giant Brown Trout Once Were The Daily Fare On The Now Depleted Weber River

Not only are the insects which our trout depend on for food, but the trout are unable to survive...They live underwater too. Forgive my sarcasm but a drastic change needs to be made immediately. I hope this is just an oversight problem and not the intentional destruction of a once magnificent blue water trout stream.

I quite simply want to know how this problem can be corrected immediately and if there is anything that I myself can do to assist in getting the necessary action to correct this terrible tragedy. I look forward to your written response regarding this matter.  Utah anglers and families deserve our blue ribbon river to be returned to it's once great status

Thank you for your time.

Clyde Wilbur

Readers please email this letter to everyone you know in Utah and to your local legislators to get this problem resolved now before it's too late.

February Ice Free Spring Creek Fly Fishing For Tiger & Rainbow Trout

Mid Winter February Spring Creek Fly Fishing. Near Salt Lake City, Park City, Ogden, Provo Utah private fishing on our 10,000 acre family ranch close to salt lake city international airport, in Tooele County ut. 

"Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after." — Henry David Thoreau

We went "open water" fly fishing Monday February 20, 2012. The date is not generally considered the “hot” time of the year for fishing (unless you want to go ice fishing) but the trip turned rather interesting. It reminded me of the real reasons why I and many others have developed such a passion for fly fishing; reasons that have little to do with catching fish.

"Get Out Of The House...Now"

I have a sneaking suspicion that my wife probably enjoys my getting out of the house as much as I do. Her reasons might be a bit different than mine. I became suspicious of this when she told me: “How can Photo Solitude of fly fishing on ranch in Tooele Utah

Warm February Day

I miss you if you don’t go away?” Aside from that, there is something nice about coming home and having her greet me with a smile – so I know I am not totally unwelcome.

Winter can be daunting; I can stand the cold, snow and, as long as they don’t last for too long, the overcast skies. When I was a boy, my mom would bundle me up against the cold and send me outside to play. The rumors about her tying a bratwurst around my neck are not true – at least to my recollection. We sure had fun playing in the snow till dark or frostbite, whichever came first, sent us in, Bundling up for the winter cold reminds me of those days and my recollections are pleasant.

Fishing Is The Best Therapy For What Ails You, Especially Blue Bird Winter Fly Fishing in Utah!

There is something else about the winter weather. When a storm moves through, it scrubs our air and leaves a kind of clarity in its wake that is refreshing. I like the smell of the air and when we go fishing, we usually roll the windows down and just take in the air. It has a therapeutic, restorative and uplifting effect and we leave the windows down till it gets nice and cold. It awakens us as if we have been lingering in a long hibernation.

Friends, Nature & Sense Of Renewal With No One Around But Your Own Private Party.

To be with friends, on the water, enjoying the stark winter landscape and noticing whatever animal life comes into view reminds me that there are simple things in life which are more important than those which I give so much time and attention.

I sit down on a bench and watch as the orange sun arcs toward the blue Mountains. The snow reflects the orange and blue in alien colors - as the waning warmth of the sun starts to ebb away. As the sun slips away, everything seems like it is refreezing in the spreading darkness. In the chill, I think of the water, fish and friends and I remember winter is not forever.

Foot note...There are those days in Winter when it is all about catching the fish too. It's just the mind set we go out with or change depending on our mood at the time we reach our destination. Either way, have a great time enjoying your commune with the out of doors.

Photo enjoying fly fishing in the evening at sunset

Check out Fenwicks Fly Fishing Secrets & Tips In Previous Blogs Posted On This Site.

See More Trophy Tiger Trout & Rainbow Trout At Our Website:

http://www.trophytroutschool.com

Photo Spawning Mid Winter Tiger Trout Male

Dove Creek West @ Hogans Ranch in Tooele County is open year rouund to the public by advance reservation.  Salt Lake City & Park city resorts and hotels are less than 1 hour drive to the ranch.  Fly fishing guides and instructors are avialble but not requred on our wild spring creek fly fishing waters for giant rainbow trout, cuttbows, record size tiger trout. 

Best Year Round Open Water Fly Fishing In Utah, Especially Winter Tiger Trout Spawn

The best Winter (open year round too)  open water fly fishing for trophy Tiger and Rainbow Trout is found in Tooele near Salt Lake City only a 45 minute drive to the best private fishing waters in Utah. Park City hotels and lodging is only about 1 hour away from the best utah fly fishing.  The good news is even though huge trout are located on a family ranch the general public has access to the 10,000 acre ranch with advance reservations.  Fishing fun for the whole family (no license required).

Blue bird fly fishing days seem to come ever so slowly in Utah.  Except this winter has been extremely mild for our guests.  Luckily the Hogan ranch in Tooele County is so near to Salt Lake City, Utah, Davis & Weber County I can drive here in less than an hour and spend my time on a private family ranch that is open for trout fishing year round by advance reservations. 

Buck Tiger Trout showing off his stripes and full colors complimented by a hump back and kipe jaw.  What a beautiful trophy trout caught in Tooele at Dove Creek Ranch home of Trophy Trout School @ Hogan Ranch Park Cities choice for best year round fly fishing.  Fly fishing lessons and guides available by requesst at the ranch.

It is never crowded at Dove Creek West Ranch due to a reservation of only 1 reservation per day for a group of 1 to 5 anglers.  Daily imited Reservations control allows the fish to rest and fishermen to enjoy the solitude provided by private waters surrounded by a 10,000 acre ranch.  Private waters meanssolitude for our fly fishing guests as you take in the beauty of the ranch and the quiet meadows with natural flowing spring creek waters full of trout just for the taking.

Dove Creek West ranch is part of the 10,000 acre Hogan cattle ranch in Tooele county and is home to Trophy Trout School, a professional fly fishing guide service that is available year round for ranch guests.  Guests can either fly fish with or without a guide at the ranch. All things trophy trout are ready for your fishing enjoyment year round at Hogan Ranch.  Home to record size tiger & rainbow trout.

Photo of a fat Trophy Rainbow Trout Caught on a winter day near Tooele 23" of pure muscle and fight.

Toothy Doe Tiger Trout may not have the brilliant orange colors of a buck buy she has plenty of fight and attacked this small chironomid in the corner of her mouth in mid winter utah private ranch waters fly fishing.

Yes it can be cold fly fishing in Winter But Giant Fat Buck Trout like this 22" monster warm more than just the heart.  Trophy Trout School is the best year round fly fishing on private still waters in Utah and is near all major and local cities Salt Lake City, Park City, Provo, Orem, Ogden, Layton, Bountiful, Heber, Tooele, Grantsville.  Located a short 45 minutes from Salt Lake International Airport. No license requred, open 7 days a week year round.

So it snows when you fly fish in Winter, no problem when you catch the biggest wildest trophy Tiger and Rainbow Trout in Utah.  Fly fishing guides get snowed on along with the guests at trophy trout school @ Dove Creek West, Hogan Ranch.

Fat Tooele Winter Rainbow being released back into the safety of his private waters at Hogan ranch in Tooele County and reflects the best year round fly fishing in the state of Utah for wild trophy trout. Near Park City, Salt Lake Htoels & airport.

As the Winter fly fishing day comes to an end another trophy trout school rainbow is gently returned to his home at Dove Creek West Ranch in Tooele to live, eat and grow to be caught another day.

www.trophytroutschool.com

Year Round Fly Fishing Tips With Free Hatch Chart & Trout Hot Spot In Utah Hogan Ranch

Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer Fly Fishing Tips

Check out the Free Utah Hatch Chart & Fishing Location For Huge Fall, Winter, Sping & Summer Rainbow Trout Close To Salt Lake City Utah
(see end of this article for details and location)

Ah... the cool days of fall arrived in Utah and that means only one thing. Photo Huge Fall Rainbow Trout Caught On Midge Pattern Near Salt Lake City, Utah
The trout are eating everything in sight to fatten up for the long winter. The frosty nights are quickly taking their toll on the grasshoppers, ants, beetles, damsel flies and every other terrestrial you can name. They are all going the way of the world. But don’t despair fall creates some of the best fly fishing you can imagine or experience in Utah since the trout are aggressive and ready to take your presentation. If you love fly fishing in Salt Lake, Park City, Layton, Bountiful, Heber, Ogden, Tooele or Logan Utah you will love this article about Fall fly fishing at Dove Creek West @ Hogan Ranch home to Trophy Trout School which is open year round for giant tiger and rainbow trout fly fishing.  Near Park City, Salt Lake City and the salt lake international airport.  No fishing license required.

Hungry Trout Means Active Trout

Don’t get me wrong, not every presentation you make will be answered with a resounding “smack” as a giant trophy hammers your fly, there are still times of inactivity and as a fisherman you still have to look for the active feeders. But with a little advance preparation you can be assured of a fishing trip that will result in some very nice “hook ups” with some very big trophies.

Hatch Times Are Important In The Summer, Spring, Fall & Winter

In the lower elevations for waters around Salt Lake, Ogden, Provo, Orem, Park City, Heber, Bountiful, Layton and Tooele the trout will be rising to Photo Fall Trophy Rainbow Trout
Caught With May Fly Midge flies and a few final hatches of may flies usually between 10:00 a.m. -2:00 p.m. on any given day. This is due to the fact that the sun has had a chance to warm the water’s surface a few degrees and the mature aquatic nymphs begin their migration from the mud and aquatic vegetation to the water’s surface and the “hatch” begins.

What Triggers The Fly Hatch Process In Utah Waters

There are a couple of different ideas as to what really triggers the hatch. One is the maturity of the nymph and the fact that air bubbles form under the shuck and lift the transformed nymph to the surface. The other real factor is the water temperature. When an area of water reaches a somewhat warmer temperature and maintains that temperature range there will be a hatch. You could even include the two by allowing the gases to expand as the water temperature increases. Both factors are important and as fly fishermen we benefit no matter what the combination of causes are and we catch fish!

Best Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring Hatch Times

On most rivers, the heaviest midge hatches occur in the late fall and early spring. The best time of day is usually from midmorning to mid and late afternoon when the sun is warming the cool surface water. When there is a midge hatch on some fertile waters like the Green River, Provo River, Weber River, San Juan or the Colorado River, the water column can be thick with drifting pupae. Sometimes it looks as if there are millions of tiny specks drifting with the current there is “food” everywhere. Lakes & ponds also offer a fertile environment for larger midges that grow long and fat in the calmer waters.

No Hatch No Problem…Or You Can Just Go Home!

Enjoying the perfect cool weather is just not enough on a fishing day and if there is no apparent hatch occurring it is time to go nymphing. I know there are dry fly fishing purists who would rather not catch a fish and go home before they would even place a nymph in their fly box and this is fine for some, but as for me and my associates we use every form of fly we can get our hands on. This includes dries, nymphs, wet flies, streamers etc… we fish them all! So if you are so inclined tie one of these critters on and get into the water and have some fun.

A Good Pattern For A Dry Fly When There Is No Hatch

Try a Bear’s paw when no specific hatch fly is present. This two headed creation in size #20-26 is a great midge imitator. You can also fish it as a wet fly in the film of the water. Trout remember the tasty midges they have been feeding on and this pattern is a sure fire winner in my book.
The Griffith’s gnat is another great midge pattern like the bear’s paw for imitating midges that are clustered together in a mating ritual. This type of pattern screams “come and get it” to those hungry trout.

Free Hatch Chart With Patterns For Year Round Fly Fishing Success In Utah Waters

Check out my Fall hatch chart for additional tips to help you find those sometimes elusive Fall trout.

http://trophytroutschool.com

Still Water Fly Fishing Tips For Success Or How To Catch Trophy Trout

Still Water Fly Fishing Tips & Techniques For Catching Trophy Trout

Best Still Water Location In Utah For Tiger Trout & Rainbow Trout. Year Round Fly Fishing Near Park City, Salt Lake City, Provo, Orem, Layton, Ogden, Bountiful, Tooele Utah. Fishing Tips & Fly Hatch Chart available with fishing destinations in Utah. Fall and Winter Fly Fishing Secrets Included.  Great West Desert Utah fly fishing for trout in natural spring creeks located on dove creek west on Hogans Ranch home of trophy trout school.

Fly fishing on a stream or river shares some very common techniques for presenting your dry fly, nymph or streamers to awaiting trout. You experience the standard riffles Photo TrophyRainbow Trout producing an abundance of insects like a moving buffet table, runs that carry the insects away from the river bed mud, rocks, & weeds where they grow and mature until they are washed downstream. These usually shallow yet highly productive areas of the rivers and streams have the water moving over them like a large conveyor belt that collects any insect that is not secured to the bottom rocks and weeds and quickly dispatches the unsuspecting full course meal into the water seams to be delivered the hungry trout waiting downstream.

Seams Provide A Calm Feeding Environment For The Trout Below

Seams are an area located between fast moving and slower moving currents of water. The seam is visibly distinguishable to the human eye and can be easily located where the faster current passes the slower current . The seams surface can appear at times as if it is barely moving, especially compared to the main current located on its side. This is a place big trout can and do easily lie in wait completely protected by structure on the bottom and rise up as the main course arrives. These big boys control the “holes” they lie in and will drive off

Photo Big Rainbow Trout Caught Fly Fishing On Still Waters

smaller fish to protect their territory. After all there world is one where the fittest survive. So the big trout can easily gobble up the assorted buffet as the insects helplessly pass by.

And The Food Goes Round & Round Like On A Lazy Susan

Along this same river course we have eddies that create deep pools with a back current that traps insects in an endless swirl until a wise trout willingly slurps them up. This is another protected area for the trophy trout to live in. The lazy Susan is the perfect bug trap and the water current resistance that overwhelms the insects in an inescapable spin provides minimal resistance to the large and powerful fish swimming below. Making the trapped insects an easy meal that requires the trout to use minimal energy to catch and devour. But change the setting to a small lake or even a large one like Strawberry and a whole new approach to the sport of fly fishing is required if you want to be successful and catch some very large fish on a fly.

What Is So Special About Still Water Trout?

One word can sum it all up, S-I-Z-E- this is the key. “There’s Huge trophy trout in them there lakes and ponds”. These still water fish have an abundance of food in the virtually still water, the weed beds serve as a brood nursery for insects and produce lots of oxygen while cleaning the water of c02, ammonia and other waste created by the trout. Weed beds also provide protection and shade from the overhead sun and birds of prey. This life of leisure is the perfect setting for creating fat and happy trophies. This is the exact reason why fly fishing in still waters is such a phenomenal experience. Size really does matter when you catch wild trophy trout. The bigger the better!  This is West Desert Utah's best fly fishing for big tiger trout and monster raninbow trout on the fly.

How To Find Big Fish In Still Waters (To Be Continued In Our Next Blog)

For Still Water Locations & More Trophy Trout Fly Fishing Information & Photo's (Park City fishing locations, along with Salt Lake City Fly Fishing & Best Still Water Fishing In Utah).

Check Out Our Website:

http://trophytroutschool.com/

copyright © 2009-2012 TrophyTroutSchool.com

Winter Secrets To Catching Spawning Tiger Trout And Pre-Spawn Rainbow Trout Fly Fishing In Utah

Winter Fly Fishing For Spawning Tiger Trout And Staging Rainbow Trout Secrets Of Fly Fishing Utah Style

Dry flies with a dropper can be deadly during the winter tiger trout spawn run especially when the waters are full of huge rainbow trout gaining weight for the own spawn in just a few weeks.

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This is a beautiful example of a late winter spawning tiger trout.  Note the deep orange belly and red fins trimmed with a white stripe on the leading edge of each fin.  The male or buck also takes on the kipe jaw and almost jet black color on his lower jaw.  This buck trout was taken while dry fly fishing and using a midge dropper at Dove Creek West located at Hogan ranch in Tooele Utah near Salt Lake City on private waters that are available to the general public.  Midge hatches  occur year round especially on winter and spring days in the late morning or early afternoon.  The dry fly on top with a dropper creates the impression of a cluster of midges stuck in the meniscus just below the surface as the dry fly rides really low in the water.  The dropper is allowed to free float below the cluster and takes on the appearance of a struggling cluster of emergers.  This deadly combination is a great treat for hungry spawning tigers that are devouring every fly in sight to put on weight for the spawn as well as after the spawn to increase their spent energy.

Streamers Are A Favorite Pre Spawn Fly For Trout

The still waters are gin clear on this mid winter day and the sky is clear as reflected in this photo of a huge buck rainbow trout who attacked this streamer that was being worked slowly along the bottom of the deep pond he share with other massive trout especially tiger trout.  When fishing still Waters with a streamer remember unlike a stream or river still waters means just what the name implies.  Still and Slow....so fish don't need to move fast for a good meal.  They are surrounded by tons of natural food year round so a fast retrieve may induce an occasional strike, it is the slow moving flies that appear as the norm in these still water conditions for the truly trophy trout.

Scuds, Sow Bugs & Leeches Too 

The year round daily fair for still water trout is scuds, sow bugs, leeches and don't forget the all important damsel fly.  A pair of scuds will produce over 10,000 young per year!  So the next time you want to get the main dish down to a trout remember the lowly scud.  Sow bugs and leeches are just as productive and provide a rounded out meal for our friends with fins.  The greatest predator in the still waters in the Damsel fly nymph.  They move all over the weed beds devouring all the other nymphs and scuds they can find.  They are big and ferocious and attack insects even bigger than they are.  Again this is a very slow moving aquatic insect that needs to be fished slow in and around the weed beds.  This is where the trophy rainbow and tiger trout hang out to find them  Photo taken at Tooele Utah near Salt Lake City Courtesy Trophy Trout School.   www.trophytroutschool.com

Use My Local Year Round Hatch Chart With Best Imitations

Pre spawning hen rainbowow trout is only about 24" but big enough to put up an outstanding fight on my Damsel fly nymph with 5x tapered leader and extra long tippet to reach deep in the weeds for still water fly fishing.  Moving slow the olive green damsel fly appears to crossing the weed bed foraging for food just like this trout who was looking for her next meal.  Fishing near Park City means getting away from the frozen lakes and on the other side of the salt lake city valley to private waters at Dove Creek West home of the trophy trout school.  Where you find qualified guides, fly fishing instructors and huge tiger trout with monster rainbow trout.  Private waters here are open year round for your fly fishing adventures and day trips of fly fishing vacations

Free Year Round Utah Fly Fishing Hatch Chart


http://sites.google.com/site/trophytroutschool/fly-hatch-chart

Tight Lines.....

Enjoy The Mid Winter Fly Fishing Video Shot At Dove Creek West Hogan Ranch  Home Of Trophy Trout School.


www.trophytroutschool.com

Want to learn how to fish with nymphs and dry fly combinations??

Contact: cgwilbur@trophytroutschool.com

for complete details

What I love about fishing

Utah fly fishing tournament information: http://trophytroutschool.com/ (see promotions page for details).

Year Round Invitational Fly Fishing Tournaments Held Every Month Beginning Saturday November 21, 2009 Private Still Waters Located 45 Minutes From Salt Lake City, Tooele, Park City, Heber, Ogden, Layton, Bountiful, Layton, Orem, Provo. Huge Tiger Trout & Rainbow Trout. Find out how you can participate NOW!!!

What I Love About Fishing

Photo Spawning Tiger Trout

By

Fenwick Fleigenbinder

On Tuesday, My fishing buddy and I took a trip to our favorite lake. We got home tired, muddy, worn out and completely happy. That got me thinking - what is about fishing that makes me enjoy it so much? I came up with a few answers,

Night, I enjoy getting up early in the morning (4:00 AM) it is still night and you cannot tell the time of day by the darkness - midnight looks the same as 3:30 AM.. The streets are practically deserted. If there is no moon, its absence gives me hope for the days fishing, and if there is a moon, I consider it a valued companion. It seems as if the world is mine, well, mine and a few other early risers. We night people seem to share some secret known only to those who are acquainted with this dark time and make out way to our various tasks; my task is fishing.

Photo Spawning Rainbow Trout

The water, prior to any hint of sunrise, is a dark and silent mystery. And yet, I know the fish are there using the darkness to find their food and do the fishy things fish do when they are on their own. But in the few last moments of night before the slightest lightening begins to occur, it seems as though the darkness is permanent and sunrise will never come. When I look to sky again, there it is; that slight soft shift from black to gray that reassures me that dawn is coming.

People, who love the sky love sunsets, but the purists, the ones who really know the night, love the sky before dawn. Where sunset is a benediction of good day, the relaxation of all the days stresses, worries and culmination of its blessings, the sky before dawn is the portent of things to come, it is when all things prepare for what is next.

I can’t really liken anything to sunrise. It is the metaphor to which all things beginning, renewing, auspicious and favorable are compared. And, after the sunrise, the warmth of the day seeps through out coats until our feet and hands and bodies are comfortable again.

By this time, with luck we have already landed a fish or two. The water gives up its living jewels and each creature is a marvel of color and efficiency. When I see the fish revive and swim away, I am glad it still lives,

It is funny how catching fish is not as important as it used to be, But, with time, cost and other commitments lessening and restraining the time I have to go fishing, the time spent now seems more intense and real than when it seemed I had all the time in the world and my whole life ahead of me. But within those moments - it is just me and the water, the fish or a good friend, now that seems more than enough.

Check out our website and year round fly fishing now open to the public by reservation. Our 10,000 acre ranch is a family run operation open year round to trophy Tiger Trout and Rainbow trout fly fishing, our stillwaters don't freeze in the Winter (spring creek fed). We are only minutes from Park City, Heber, Salt Lake, Tooele, Orem, Provo, Layton, Ogden, Roy, Bountiful, Logan and Ogden. All roads are paved and well maintained year round. Advance reservations are required. Come experience fly fishing at it's finest, all rainbow trout and tiger trout 3-10 Lbs. each!!

Catch the fish of a lifetime every time you hook one of these monsters!

http://trophytroutschool.com/