Welcome to High Country Fly Fishers

March Meeting

March Guest Speaker is Mike Hadley of the Utah DWR

Buffalo Midge Day on the Middle Provo River

Join HCFF’s Walk & Wade Society February Outing

Saturday, February 28, 2026

Late winter on the Middle Provo River offers one of the most exciting and reliable dry-fly opportunities of the year—the Buffalo Midge Hatch. As water temperatures climb into the low 40s, trout often rise eagerly to feed, creating classic surface action that rivals spring hatches.

We’re planning a club fishing day to be on the water when it happens.

Why this day matters

The Buffalo Midge hatch is short-lived, weather-dependent, and highly anticipated. When it comes off, the river can light up with steady risers and confident eats—often in the middle of winter. It’s one of those days where timing, observation, and good presentations are rewarded.

What to expect

• Late-morning to early-afternoon action as water temperatures rise
• Opportunities for true winter dry-fly fishing
• Trout feeding on emergers and adults in the surface film
• A great chance to fish alongside fellow club members and share insights

Gear & prep notes

• Midge dries and emergers, typically sizes 16–18
• Long leaders with light tippet (6X–7X recommended)
• Be ready to adjust—hatches often come in waves
• Cold-weather layers and waders strongly advised
• Check out YouTube Videos on the Buffalo Midge Hatch

The plan

Sign-up and the Safari Leader will provide the specifics via email.

If you’ve ever wanted to see trout rising in February—or you already know how special this hatch can be—this is a day you won’t want to miss. Join us on the water and let’s see if the Buffalo Midges show up right on cue.

Contact Pat Ronneburg if you’d like to help out or have questions.

Jordanelle Marina – Winter Report (Jan 27, 2026)

Four of us—Jack C, Dr. Gene, Cal M, and I (John Schultz)—fished from the main marina at Jordanelle yesterday. We were on the water by about 10:00 a.m., with air temperatures hovering around 30°F and water temperatures near 35°F. Visibility was roughly six feet, and there was a fair amount of floating ice, likely formed overnight. Despite that, there was plenty of open water to fish, and by the time we wrapped up around 3:00 p.m., most of the ice had disappeared.

I started with an Energizer Bunny on my Type 4 line and a Chinchilla with coral on my Intermediate line. On my very first cast, fishing about 20 feet of water, I hooked a skinny but strong 20-inch brown on the Type 4 line—never a great omen, I’m afraid. After that, my biggest fish for the rest of the day was about a 15-inch rainbow, and I didn’t get a single touch on the Intermediate until around 2:30.

Gene picked up a rainbow shortly after my first fish, but overall the fishing was slow early on. Eventually, Gene tied on his electric purple fly and started catching fish fairly consistently. Jack followed suit, and both of them were picking up fish on a mix of Intermediate and Type 4 lines. In the afternoon, after my Energizer stopped producing, I shamelessly bummed a fly from Gene—and then rediscovered another one he had previously given me—which finally resulted in two fish on my Intermediate. Thanks, Gene! I believe I heard him mention landing an 18-inch rainbow as well.

We ended the day with 29 fish total, if I’m remembering correctly—and I was third from the top, which says plenty about how the day went for me.

It was a beautiful day overall, with very little wind. A handful of boats were on the water, mostly targeting kokanee, and the folks we talked with seemed to be doing quite well. I also noticed one angler fly fishing from shore and watched him land a fish, though I’m not sure how his day turned out overall.

All in all, it was another very unusual opportunity to be on the water in late January, made even better by excellent company.

Wasatch Expo April 9, 10, 11, 2026

One of our major activities each year is the Wasatch Fly Tying and Fly Fishing Expo, which features 100 exhibitors, 50 fly tyers, educational workshops, casting demos, raffles, silent auctions, and other activities for children and adults. HCFF has participated in planning and conducting the Expo for over 10 years.

Adam Eakle, one of our greatest supporters and host of “KSL Outdoors,” a weekly TV show, featured High Country and the Expo on his December 6, 2026, episode, “Strawberry Stillwater with High Country Fly Fishers.”

The Expo is a joint venture of four Trout Unlimited chapters and two Fly Fishers International chapters, with net proceeds going to support fisheries-related conservation, education, and outreach.

HCFF members hold leadership positions in the joint venture. If you would like to assist in the planning of the Expo, please contact Eric Luna or Bill Quapp. Specific skills needed are project management, audio/video setup, and website support.

Conservation Update

Soapstone Creek Restoration Update

Restoration efforts on Soapstone Creek—an important tributary of the Upper Provo River impacted by the 2024 Yellow Lake Wildfire—continue to gain momentum. Project funding has reached $24,590, with an additional $45,000 in potential U.S. Forest Service support expected to be confirmed in May.

Volunteer workdays are planned for August, including a large coordinated effort involving up to 100 volunteers, with on-site food and possible grant-sponsored refreshments.

High Country Fly Fishers contributed early leadership through a $10,000 Trout Unlimited Embrace-a-Stream grant, helping launch rehabilitation work and position the project for broader state and federal support. Together, these combined resources mark an important step toward restoring habitat and long-term resilience in the Upper Provo watershed.

50% Discount for new Trout Unlimited Membership

Click the button below to receive a 50% first-time discount on your first year of Trout Unlimited membership.
With your membership, you’ll enjoy a subscription to Trout magazine, discounts on travel and fishing gear, and many other valuable benefits.