Fishing Weber River

Weber River

Weather: Mostly Clear, 27F

Just a short 20 minutes northeast of Park City lies another of Northern Utah’s famous Blue Ribbon fisheries — the Weber River. The Weber humbly rises out of various lakes in the northeastern Uinta Mountains. Cool, clear water begins its descent into the “Thousand Peaks Ranch,” one of the first fly-friendly sections of the river’s 125-mile trek toward the Great Salt Lake.

A majority of the Weber is private property, but anglers, the Utah Department of Wildlife Resources and property owners have developed a very accessible solution — the “Walk In Access Program” (WIA). As you explore the true freestone portion of the Upper Weber you may find a variety of trout ready for a meal of hook and feather. Grayling, brook, brown, rainbow and cutthroat trout all share the bountiful pools, runs and riffles that make up this portion before it dumps into Rockport Reservoir.

The first tailwater section of the Weber begins below Rockport, snaking through pastureland between the quaint towns of Wanship and Coalville. By far the most productive section of the river, the “Middle Weber” houses an assortment of insect life with arguably the most famous hatch being the spring emergence of mother’s day caddis. Dry fly-fishing with small, black-bodied caddis flies kick-off the warm season with golden stoneflies, and PMD’s to follow closely behind. Anglers consistently pull large brown trout on streamers and nymphs from the foamy riffles, deep pools and undercut banks near popular WIA like, “Creamery Lane” and “Spring Chicken.”

The second tailwater section of the Weber River is home to some of the biggest trout in the state. It begins its 33-mile journey through Weber Canyon from the spillway of Echo Reservoir. Trout populations are far lower in the “Lower Weber” than in the sections upstream, giving the angler an opportunity to hunt for a trophy-sized brown trout. Sow bugs, scuds and midge larva feed trout year round, making this a great winter fly-fishing option as well. Motivated Utahn’s will enjoy The Greatest Snow on Earth at Snowbasin and Powder Mountain in the morning, and target rocky mountain whitefish and browns on the Weber to round out an amazing day.

See the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Weber River Fishing Report and a map and local regulations.