This past weekend a friend and I decided to make a trip up to the Duchesne river and do some fly fishing. This was our first time fishing the Duchesne river so we weren’t sure what to expect. We ended up fishing the North Fork and we were super pumped when we found some fish and ended up having a great day on the river. Below are some the details and logistics of where we went, what we used, and how we caught fish on the Duchesne river.
About The Duchesne River
The Duchesne River is a tributary that drains the southwest slope of the Uinta mountains into the Green River and is a popular fishing spot for many local fishermen. The main river, North Fork, and the West Fork, combine for more than 80 miles and offer some divers fishing opportunities. The river’s excellent hatches produce some nice sized trout and good numbers are also found here. Fishing can be good here most of the year but the best time to visit is July through September. Here is a quick overview of each arm of the Duchesne River:
Main River – The main river has some nice size trout as well as some great areas to fish. The bigger fish will most likely be found here. However, private property owners have closed off access to a large portion of the main Duchesne river making many parts tough to access. The areas that you are able to fish often get hit pretty hard but can hold some quality fish.
North Fork – Access to the North Fork is a lot easier and is a great place to catch natural trout. This is a popular area of the river to fish for both the avid and beginner anglers. It also has some solid camping areas which make it a great spot for an overnight trip. The lower portions of the North Fork receive the most fishing pressure but if you head higher upstream you can find some great spots that aren’t as pressured.
West Fork – The West Fork is another popular alternative to the main river. A well-presented fly will most certainly catch fish in this small stream. You may not get the size you would on the main river, but the trout will be less selective and easier to catch. This section is also covered with a lot of brush making shorter, accurate casts key.
Types of fish: Rainbow, cutthroat, browns, bookies, and white fish
Best time to fish: June to September
Recommended Flies: Elk Hair Caddis, Spent Partridge Caddis, Goddard Caddis #12-14, Dave’s Hopper Parachute Hopper #6-8,
Duchesne River Fishing Report
Overall we had a successful day fishing the North Fork of the Duchesne River. We ended up catching 30 fish between the two of us (28 rainbow 2 brook trout and a few lost browns). We caught all of our fish using dry flies and we had a great time exploring new water. Here are some of the specific details of the conditions we faced, where we fished, and what we used to catch fish on the North Fork of the Duchesne River:
Conditions
We couldn’t have asked for a better day to be out on the river. It was a bit chilly early on in the morning, but it heated up pretty quick and we enjoyed sunny skies and little to no wind the whole day. Here are some of the specific weather details:
- Weather: Air temperature around 87 degrees, skies mostly sunny with some clouds.
- Wind: Very little wind
- Water Clarity: Clear
Where We Fished
Iron Mind Camping Area
We started the day off by fishing just off the Mill Flat camping area and worked are way north for a couple of miles. This ended up being a great spot and we ended up catching 15 smaller rainbows in areas that had deeper pools and heavier current. All of the fish we caught were on a caddis fly size 14-16. The bite seemed to slow down around 11:00 so we took a quick lunch break and headed to find some new water.
Mill Flat Camping Area
After lunch we decided to head further north and see if we could locate some brook trout and browns. We tried to pull off in a few different spots around the Mill Flat camping area but we had trouble finding parts of the river that look good and that were not overwhelmed with campers and other fishermen. After about an hour or so we headed back down to find some more rugged areas to get away from the crowds. This ended up being a great move.
North of Aspen Campground
After having no success in a few areas, we were able to find a nice spot just north of the Aspen campground that was a little tough to get to but ended up being well worth the effort. We had a lot of success throwing terrestrials in deeper pools. We caught around 15 fish in the area with all of them being caught on hoppers.
What We Used
Caddis – Caddis size 14-16 worked really well early in the morning until about 11:00 am. The Caddis bite really seemed to slow down as we got later into the day.
Recommendation: elk hair caddis or corn fed caddis in size 14-16
Hoppers – Once the Caddis bite stopped, we switched things up and tried some hoppers (size 12-14) and the change paid off with some nice sized brook and rainbow trout.
Recommendation: parachute hoppers and chubby Chernobyl’s in tan size 12-16
Ants – We got a few bites throwing some ants but weren’t able to land anything on them. Once we figured out that the trout were hitting on the hopper we switched from the ant and never turned back.
Recommendation: Bionic ants in size 12-14
Duchesne River Fishing Tips
During our short time on the river I was able to experience and learn a lot. I consider myself primarily a bass fisherman and I am fairly new to fly fishing. However, my buddy I was fishing with has a lot more experience and was able to teach me a few things. Here are some quick tips that were key for us to be able to locate and catch trout on the Duchesne River:
Heavier Current – In the summertime trout tend to find pools and runs near heavier current and this was definitely the case during our trip. Most all of the fish that we caught were in areas with deep pools and strong current. The stronger current provides trout with cooler water temperatures, more oxygen, and more food. We caught the most fish when we were able to find these type of areas.
Deep Pools – All of the fish we caught were in deeper water. Deeper water and heavy current is key in the summer. If you toss a well presented fly in the deeper pools, you are almost guaranteed to catch a fish.
Short Casts – My fishing experience in small streams and rivers is limited, but I learned quickly on this trip short cast is all you really need in small streams and rivers. Early on in the day I kept trying to make long casts in hopes of not spooking the fish. But I would get hung up more and found it wasn’t necessary. I had the most success with well positioned short casts which also made it easier to have a good fly presentation.
Be stealthy – Being as quiet and stealthy as possible was key in being able locate and catch fish. We made sure every area was fished before moving on up the river. There were several times this ended up being the difference in catching fish.
Work upstream – I found this out the hard way. When possible always try and work upstream. It’s much easier to present your fly casting upstream compared to downstream. Your fly will have less drag and in turn you will be more successful.
Mix It up – If something isn’t working make sure to switch it up. We made the mistake of fishing an ant and a certain type of hopper for too long. If we would have switched earlier, we would have had an even better day. If you find areas where you know the fish should be and they aren’t reacting, try mixing things up until you can find what they are keying on.
Final Thoughts
We had a great time tossing flies on the North Fork of the River. The summer is always an awesome time fish the Duchesne Reservoir and I can’t wait to get back out there. I hope you have found this information to be insightful and that it helps you in some way on your next fishing trip. If you enjoy fishing for trout in Utah be sure to check out our article: The 12 Best Trout Fishing Destinations in Utah for some other great Utah fishing spots. See you out on the water.
Tight Lines!
