Thistle Creek
creek in Utah
Thistle Creek is a classic small stream experience, requiring stealth and accurate casting to target trout in its numerous pockets and runs. It's often overlooked but can provide fantastic dry fly action during hatches of small mayflies and caddis.
What's working on Thistle Creek
- 01Excellent fishing conditions with worthy weather and flows.
- 02Active hatches of Pale Morning Duns (PMDs) and Blue-Winged Olives (BWOs) are expected.
- 03October Caddis are making their appearance, offering opportunities for dry fly action.
- 04Subsurface activity from nymphs, midges, and egg patterns is consistent.
- 05Focus on riffle tails, current seams, and heads of deeper pools.
- 06Try nymphing first in the mornings, then switching to dry flies during active hatch periods.
What to tie on
Picked from reports, hatches and the season. Tap a fly for the recipe and where else it works.
Bead Head Woolly Bugger (Olive)
An indispensable streamer for enticing aggressive strikes from trout in the colder fall waters of Thistle Creek, imitating leeches and baitfish.
PMD (Pale Morning Duns)
Pale Morning Duns are actively hatching in fall, providing a key food source for opportunistic feeders on Thistle Creek.
Blood Dot Egg
Fall is egg season on Thistle Creek, and trout will key in on eggs drifting in the water column.
Buy at AmazonOctober Caddis
October Caddis are the largest caddis hatch of the year and are actively on the water in fall, drawing aggressive strikes.
Blue-Winged Olive (BWO) Comparadun
BWOs are a classic fall hatch on Thistle Creek, and this low-profile dry fly is excellent for selective trout feeding on emergers and adults.
Buy at AmazonZebra Midge
Midges are a primary and consistent food source year-round on Thistle Creek, becoming especially crucial in colder fall waters as other hatches dwindle.
Buy at AmazonFlashback Hare's Ear Nymph
This is an excellent general searching nymph, mimicking various aquatic insects and scuds active in Thistle Creek's currents year-round, especially in fall.
Schroeder’s Parachute Hopper
Terrestrial activity can still be strong in early fall along grassy banks of Thistle Creek, offering a substantial meal for opportunistic trout.
Where to fish and who to ask
Highway 6 Bridge Access
Public access points near the Highway 6 bridge provide entry to lower sections of the creek.
Upper Canyon Access
Trailheads and pull-offs in the upper canyon offer more secluded fishing.
Fly shops within 40 miles
Trout Creek Flies
Eddie Robinson's Fly Fishing
Fly Fish Food
Fish Heads Fly Shop
Get Thistle Creek reports by email
Save this water and we'll email you a weekly summary of conditions, hatches and what's working.
Utah season by season
What changes on the water through the year, with the flies for each season.
Read before you go
Winter Fly Fishing: Essential Cold Weather Tips & Tactics
Master winter fly fishing with proven cold weather strategies, gear selection, and tactics for catching trout when temperatures drop.
Fly Line Types Guide: WF, DT, Running & Shooting Heads
Master fly line selection with our comprehensive guide to weight forward, double taper, running lines, and shooting heads for every fishing situation.
Fly Fishing Pack vs Vest: Which Setup Is Right for You?
Compare fly fishing packs and vests to find the perfect gear setup for your angling style and fishing conditions.
Best Fly Fishing Sunglasses: Lens Color & Polarization Guide
Master lens color selection and polarization technology for superior vision and fish detection on the water.
Fly Fishing Nets – Rubber vs. Nylon & Why It Matters for Fish
The net you choose dramatically impacts fish survival. Here's why rubber nets are superior to nylon for catch-and-release success.
Best Budget Fly Fishing Combo Setups for Beginners
Expert guide to affordable fly fishing combos that won't break the bank but deliver quality performance for new anglers.
Quick answers
Common questions about Thistle Creek.
What flies work best on Thistle Creek?
Our top scored fly patterns for Thistle Creek right now are Bead Head Woolly Bugger (Olive) (80% confidence), PMD (Pale Morning Duns) (80% confidence), Blood Dot Egg (80% confidence). These picks are scored from recent fishing reports, hatch data, and seasonal patterns.
What fish species are in Thistle Creek?
Thistle Creek holds Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout. See the species links on this page for fly recommendations and seasonal behavior for each.
Is Thistle Creek fishing well right now?
We publish a fresh bite report for Thistle Creek each week based on recent on-the-water intel. The current report — with conditions, hatches, and what's producing — is on this page.