Trout Gear for Utah Waters
What you need for the Provo, Deer Creek, and beyond.
Utah has some of the best trout fishing in the West. From the blue-ribbon Provo River to the alpine lakes of the Uintas, the variety is staggering — and so is the gear selection at big-box stores. Here's what actually works.
The Setup
For most Utah trout water, you want a 5-6 weight fly rod (9 feet) or a light to medium-light spinning rod (6'6" to 7'). Pair it with 4-6 lb line. Trout have good eyesight — lighter line gets more strikes.
Flies That Work on the Provo
The Provo River is world-famous for a reason. These four patterns cover 90% of days:
- Elk Hair Caddis (size 14-18) — the summer evening hatch staple
- Parachute Adams (size 16-20) — matches almost any mayfly
- Pheasant Tail Nymph (size 16-20) — dead drifted, deadly year-round
- Zebra Midge (size 18-22) — winter and tailwater essential
Spin Fishing for Trout
Not a fly angler? No problem. A light spinning rod with 4 lb line and these lures will put trout in the net:
- Panther Martin spinners — gold blade, black body, size 2-4
- Thomas Buoyant spoons — 1/6 oz, gold/red
- Small Rapalas — floating, size F5 in brown trout pattern