Free Resource · Updated 2026
The complete fly hatch chart for Utah's world-class tailwaters and mountain freestone streams. From the Green River's legendary PMD and caddis hatches below Flaming Gorge to the wild rainbows of the Provo, the freestone Logan River, and the remote Fremont — select your stream below for peak hatch timing, fly pattern recommendations, and current month highlights for 2026.
Utah Hatch Calendar — Quick Reference
Identifying the hatch is vital, but most days require versatile patterns that trigger strikes even when the water looks quiet. For a curated list of high-percentage patterns that belong in your box year-round, see our guide to the best trout flies in Utah, featuring our top 5 essential picks for these waters.
Utah Streams
Green River · Provo River
Cold, regulated dam releases create the most productive and consistent dry fly conditions in Utah. The Green River below Flaming Gorge is one of the most celebrated tailwaters in the West, supporting year-round midge and BWO fishing with PMDs and caddis as the summer highlights. The Provo tailwater runs from Deer Creek Dam through Heber Valley and is Utah's most accessible major tailwater. Both rivers fish well across a longer season than any freestone stream.
Logan River · Weber River
Cache Valley and Wasatch Front freestone streams that follow the rhythms of snowmelt and air temperature. The Logan River through Logan Canyon is a productive canyon stream with excellent Green Drake and caddis hatches in June. Spring runoff can blow out flows in May during heavy snow years — once flows settle, fishing is outstanding through October. The Weber provides accessible Wasatch Front fishing with a solid summer hatch calendar anchored by PMDs and caddis.
Fremont · Beaver · Strawberry · Price
Streams draining the high plateaus of central and southern Utah offer wild trout in spectacular canyon and meadow settings with surprisingly productive hatch calendars. The Fremont through Capitol Reef and the Beaver in the Tushar Mountains see far less pressure than the famous tailwaters. Callibaetis hatches make the Strawberry River particularly productive in late summer. These streams often run lower and clearer than their northern counterparts through the peak summer months.
The Why Behind the Chart
Chironomidae
The year-round foundation of tailwater dry fly fishing on the Green River and Provo River. Midges emerge throughout the day in cold months, with activity concentrated in late morning and early afternoon when surface temps rise. On the Green River, midge cluster hatches from November through March can bring hundreds of trout to the surface in the slower sections. A Griffith's Gnat fished in the surface film is the workhorse pattern. Match midge pupa size to the natural for selective fish.
Recommended: #20–26 Zebra Midge, Griffith's Gnat, RS2
Ephemerella infrequens
Utah's premier summer dry fly hatch and the defining event on the Green River's A Section below Flaming Gorge. PMDs fire from mid-morning through early afternoon throughout June and July, drawing large rainbows and browns out of the weed beds and into steady surface feeding lanes. Green River fish are heavily pressured — fish PMD cripples and emergers in the film rather than high-riding duns for the best results. On freestone streams, PMDs arrive in late June and fish with less selectivity.
Recommended: #16–18 PMD Comparadun, Sparkle Dun, CDC Cripple
Brachycentrus sp. / Hydropsyche sp.
Utah's most broadly distributed hatch and the engine behind the famous Mother's Day Caddis emergence in late April and May on the Green River. Dense caddis populations on the Green River provide some of the most active dry fly fishing of the year when swarms of adults skitter across the surface triggering aggressive rises. Elk Hair Caddis fished with a slight wake or skated is deadly during peak emergences. Freestone streams like the Logan, Fremont, and Beaver have strong evening caddis hatches throughout the summer.
Recommended: #14–16 Elk Hair Caddis, X-Caddis, CDC Caddis
Drunella grandis
A standout event on Utah's freestone mountain streams, particularly the Logan River and Fremont River. Large, olive-bodied mayflies emerge mid-day in June and trigger some of the most aggressive surface feeding of the season — trout that have been sipping midges and Baetis suddenly commit fully to large dry flies. The hatch progresses upstream and to higher elevations as water temps warm through June into early July. Wild fish on freestone streams are far less selective about imitations than tailwater trout.
Recommended: #10–12 Green Drake Comparadun, Paradrake, Olive Wulff
Tricorythodes sp.
A summer morning staple on the Green River and Provo River tailwaters. Trico spinner falls happen at first light and can draw dozens of trout into steady surface feeding in the flats — but the window is narrow, often lasting only 90 minutes before the hatch ends. Approach slowly and target individual risers with size #22–24 spent spinners on 6X tippet. Green River Trico fishing in August can be extraordinary on the slower sections between Little Hole and Indian Crossing.
Recommended: #20–24 Trico Spinner, CDC Trico, Black Beauty
Baetis sp.
Utah's most reliable shoulder-season hatch — active on every stream type from the Green River tailwater to remote plateau freestone creeks. BWOs love overcast, drizzly, and windy days when other hatches won't fire. On the Green River and Provo River, Baetis can hatch in every month with fall emergences often the most intense of the year. September and October BWO fishing on Utah streams offers some of the best and least crowded dry fly opportunities of the entire season.
Recommended: #18–22 Sparkle Dun, CDC Emerger, Parachute BWO
Utah's fly fishing is anchored by two world-class tailwaters — the Green River below Flaming Gorge Dam and the Provo River below Deer Creek Reservoir. Both rivers support year-round fishing with diverse hatch calendars. The Green River is especially renowned for its dense midge and BWO populations in winter and spring, and its extraordinary PMD and caddis hatches from May through September.
The Mother's Day Caddis emergence on the Green River in late April and May is one of the most exciting hatch events in the state — dense caddis swarms trigger violent surface feeding from large rainbows and browns. PMD hatches peak in June and July on the Green River's famous A Section, providing the most technical and rewarding dry fly fishing of the year. Trico spinner falls in July through September add another dimension to the summer fishing calendar.
Utah's mountain freestone streams — the Logan, Fremont, Beaver, and Strawberry — offer outstanding Green Drake and caddis hatches in June and July with less pressure and spectacular scenery. Fall BWO and Autumn Caddis extend the dry fly season on all Utah streams through October. Use FlyFishFinder to track flows and plan around the peak hatch windows.
See Live Utah River Conditions →Common Questions
The A Section — from Flaming Gorge Dam to Little Hole — is the most productive and most fished dry fly water on the Green River. Dense populations of rainbows and browns rise to PMDs, caddis, and BWOs throughout the season. The B Section from Little Hole to Indian Crossing sees less pressure. All three sections fish well May through October.
Pale Morning Duns on the Green River typically start in late May and run through August, peaking in June and July. The hatch fires mid-morning through early afternoon. Green River trout are heavily pressured and often selective — fish PMD emergers and cripples in the film. Use 5X tippet and leaders of 9–12 feet in the clear tailwater.
The Provo River below Deer Creek Reservoir is a productive tailwater with year-round fishing. Midges are the year-round foundation. The lower canyon section between Heber and Provo offers excellent PMD and BWO fishing with fewer crowds than the Green River. The Provo is more accessible for anglers in the Salt Lake City and Utah Valley areas.
Utah freestone streams respond well to attractor patterns between hatches — Royal Wulff, Stimulator, and Parachute Adams are year-round staples. PMD Comparaduns (#16–18) cover the main mayfly hatch in June–July. Elk Hair Caddis (#14–16) is indispensable in summer. Green Drake imitations (#10–12) fish well in June on the Logan and Fremont. BWO Sparkle Duns (#18–22) handle spring and fall.
June and July offer the best dry fly action statewide — PMDs and caddis peak on tailwaters, Green Drakes fire on the Logan and Fremont, and flows have stabilized after spring runoff. The Green River fishes well May through October. September and October offer excellent BWO fishing with fall foliage and far fewer crowds than peak summer.
Parachute Adams (#14–16) and Royal Wulffs cover most attractor situations on the Logan. Green Drake Comparaduns (#10–12) are key in June during the hatch. PMD Sparkle Duns (#16–18) fish well July through August. Elk Hair Caddis (#14) in the evenings is reliable all summer. BWO Emergers (#18–20) produce well during overcast fall days.
FlyFishFinder combines hatch knowledge with live gauge alerts, Prime condition indicators, and real angler intel — so you show up on the right day, not the wrong one.
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