If you are trying to get after it on some of Utah’s smaller streams, definitely focus on tailwater fisheries with paved roads leading to them because most mountain streams are frozen over and the access roads are covered with several feet of snow. With most of the state sitting between 102 and 166 percent of normal snowpack, we should have a good amount of water this summer. This is great news because last year was the driest water year on record in Utah.

Winter small stream flies that I like are scuds, prince nymphs, midges, especially the blood midge, this time of the year, and smaller streamers, especially sculpin or leech patterns that are slowly dredged through deeper holes. As the days warm up look for baetis to start coming off mid day.