Since I have a Type-A personality, I didn’t know what to expect when I embarked with All Seasons Adventures, a local outfitter, for a fly-fishing excursion on the nearby Provo River. For those who don’t quite know what fly-fishing is all about, and I was one of them, it’s a form of angling in which an artificial lure, or “fly,” is used to catch a fish. All Seasons Adventures typically takes its guests to some great local streams that are referred to as “blue-ribbon.” The Provo River, where I went, happens to be one of them.

Justin, a guide for this local outfitter, picked us up at our door and drove us along the Jordanelle Reservoir, all the way down to the road to Midway, where we eventually stopped at a secluded parking lot, tucked away along the Provo River. There, we were outfitted with all the necessary gear starting with waterproof waders and wading shoes. In terms of personal difficulty, getting in and out of the intimidating waders was the highest challenge of the day. Once strapped into these protective garments we were given rods and disappeared into the woods coming out on the river bank.

The sun was shining; the temperature absolutely perfect and the ambient air was just cooled enough by the cold mountain water. Justin began by telling us about fish eating habits and the conversation quickly turned into an entomology lesson about all of the creatures, big and small, that are part of a Utah trout diet.  Justin literally left no stone unturned as he picked up a variety of rocks from the river bed and showed us that they represented a well-stocked pantry for all fish swimming in the Provo River.

Soon, it was time to get acquainted with the rods, the lines and the different types of lures. At that point, we were told to get into the element and our guide warned us to walk very carefully, one step at a time, making especially sure to only take the next step when the other foot felt fully anchored on the river bed. Now, with our group in the midst of the cool river, with water well above our knees, Justin explained to us what “catch and release” was all about and how it was an essential practice in recreational fishing for conserving the fish population.

Finally, we went over casting. By that time I had received so much information that I felt overwhelmed and ready to mix it all up. That’s when Justin re-assured us that being a bit confused wasn’t as bad as we thought, and that all these bits of data would fall into place as soon as we began practicing. Began we did; quite tentatively at first and then gaining confidence until we almost felt we had done it for a lifetime.

Justin had also warned us that patience was the key to success and that catching a fish was a statistical number’s game. As the morning unfolded, time flew so fast that I couldn’t believe I had been in the water for more than one hour, until our guide summoned us to move to another spot. There were only three in our group and were able to spend quality, one-on-one time with Justin who emphasized that – as a matter of policy – All Seasons Adventures had never more than three guests per guide.

Soon someone in the group felt the tension on the rod and realized he had a bite. This was fish number one and a large one to boot! The fish was aptly netted by Justin and the lucky fisher had the chance to release it into its natural habitat. As the morning came to a close, eight fish had been caught by the group, but I could unfortunately lay claim to only one of them! Soon, time sped on and suddenly it was early afternoon when we packed up, took of the waders (which again was the hardest part of the job) and left the beautiful Provo River.

I surprised myself by having remained so calm, so quiet, so patient, and for once let time go by just like the flow of the river, without realizing that I had spent about four solid hours just concentrating on some elusive trout… I sure didn’t expect to be “hooked” on this fly-fishing proposition, but had been smitten and never did I feel the urge of checking my phone the whole time I was in the water. This, in and of itself, should be considered a remarkable achievement!

So whether you’ve already tried fly-fishing or are a complete novice, this is the kind of experience you’ll want to repeat again and again. With such a pristine river only minutes away, all you need is to sign-up for a half-day or full-day trip and your fly fishing experience will become a memory that you will be eager to share with everyone you know.

If you are not quite sure yet about the idea, All Seasons Adventures, offers Casting Clinics late afternoon and early evening, not far from your Deer Valley summer home, just by the Deer Valley Plaza, where Central Reservation check-in and Deer Valley Grocery~Café are located. These Casting Clinics will teach you how to cast a dry fly, tie a knot, you’ll learn about entomology and the rest of it. Just call All Seasons Adventures at 435-649-9619 or visit them on the web at www.allseasonsadventures.com

Check out the video below for more fly-fishing with All Seasons Adventures!