Ogden River Fishing Report for South Fork (Nov/Dec 2025)

What began as a simple fly-color experiment quickly turned into something much more meaningful. Over the course of roughly two weeks, I spent 13.5 hours on the water, fishing three different stretches of the Ogden River on the South Fork, returning for three separate 90-minute sessions at each location. I limited myself to a single fly per session. I just used three flies total, all the same pattern and weight, differing only in color. I carefully recorded every fish landed, every fish rolled, along with weather changes and river conditions. While the original goal was to test fly color, the real story that emerged was far more encouraging: consistent fish activity, predictable feeding behavior, and strong overall fishing success that pointed to something bigger—a river that is healthy, resilient, and fishing well across multiple sections and conditions.

Location: Ogden River - South Fork

All of the fishing for this study took place on the South Fork of the Ogden River, focusing on three well-known and highly productive stretches: Magpie Campground, Botts Campground, and Meadows Campground. Each of these locations sits on U.S. Forest Service land, meaning public access is clearly established and easy to navigate. This time of year, with the campgrounds closed for the season, pressure is light and access to the river is excellent—parking is straightforward, walk-ins are short, and long stretches of fishable water are available without crowds. For anglers looking to explore these areas in more detail, our Access Guide breaks down each access point individually. During the study, the river was running low and exceptionally clear, making wading simple but fish far more aware of their surroundings. Success required a quiet approach: wearing drab, neutral clothing, moving deliberately, and paying close attention to keeping shadows off the water made a noticeable difference in avoiding spooked fish and maintaining productive drifts.

When the results were broken down by location, clear differences began to emerge between the three stretches of the South Fork. While all three areas produced fish consistently throughout the study, some sections clearly held higher concentrations of actively feeding trout than others.

Magpie Campground proved to be the least productive stretch during the testing period. Out of the 36 total fish recorded, 9 fish (25%) were caught in this section, resulting in a catch rate of 2 fish/hour.

The Meadows Campground stretch finished a close second, but only marginally outperformed Magpie. A total of 10 fish (28%) were landed here, translating to a 2.2 fish/hour catch rate.

The most productive water by a wide margin was Botts Campground. Nearly half of all fish recorded during the study, 17 out of 36 fish (47%) came from this single stretch. That equates to an impressive 3.8 fish/hour, significantly outperforming the other locations. Fish in this section appeared more willing to move to the fly and showed consistent feeding behavior across multiple sessions, pointing to a combination of favorable structure, depth, and current speed.

Taken together, these results suggest that while the South Fork is fishing well throughout, Botts Campground currently offers the highest concentration of actively feeding fish, making it a standout option during low, clear conditions.

Technique, Flies, Success Rate

All of the sessions were fished using a euro-nymphing setup, which proved to be well suited for the low, clear conditions encountered throughout the study. I used a 10’ 3-weight rod paired with a level line, followed by 24 inches of 4X sighter material and 24 to 30 inches of 6X tippet. This setup allowed for direct contact with the flies, precise depth control, and immediate strike detection, critical factors when fishing wary trout in shallow, clear water.

To maintain consistency, I limited fly choice to a single pattern: Perdigons tied on a size 18 jig hook with a 2.3 mm inverting bead. Each fly weighed 2.6 grains, ensuring identical sink rates and drift characteristics. The only variable was body color, with three versions used throughout the study: orange, green, and purple tinsel bodies.

From a results standpoint, all three flies were effective, reinforcing the overall health of the river and the willingness of fish to feed under a range of conditions. The green Perdigon was the least productive of the three, accounting for 10 of the 36 total fish (28%), with a catch rate of 2.2 fish per hour. While it consistently moved fish, fewer takes translated into landed fish compared to the other colors.

The orange and purple Perdigons finished in a dead tie for top performance. Each accounted for 13 fish (36%), producing a catch rate of 2.8 fish per hour. Both colors generated confident takes across multiple sessions and locations, suggesting that presentation and drift mattered more than color alone. Taken together, the results point to a consistent pattern of success driven by solid technique, controlled depth, and careful approach, further evidence that the South Fork is fishing well and supporting active, healthy trout.

Fish Species, Weather and Water Conditions

Across all sessions, the overall landing efficiency remained high, reinforcing the effectiveness of both technique and presentation. Out of 36 total fish encountered, 27 were successfully landed, resulting in a 75% landing rate. In low, clear water where fish are easily spooked and hooksets can be unforgiving, this level of conversion suggests consistent contact, solid hook penetration, and cooperative fish behavior.

The species mix also provided insight into the health and diversity of the South Fork. Brown trout dominated the catch, accounting for 19 of the 27 landed fish (70%), which aligns with expectations for this section of river and reflects a stable, self-sustaining population. Cutthroat trout made up 5 fish (19%), offering encouraging signs of species variety, while whitefish accounted for the remaining 3 fish (11%), further reinforcing the presence of a balanced and functioning river ecosystem.

Weather conditions played a noticeable role in overall success. While fish were caught under a range of conditions, overcast days clearly stood out, producing 61% of all fish landed. Sunny conditions accounted for 17% of the catch, followed by partly sunny conditions at 14%, while light rain produced just 8% of the total fish. The higher success rate during overcast periods likely reflects reduced light penetration, increased fish comfort, and longer feeding windows, factors that are especially important in low, clear water.

In contrast, water conditions remained remarkably consistent throughout the study. The river stayed clear from start to finish, and flows ranged narrowly between 4.11 and 4.16 CFS. This stability made it easier to isolate other variables, and it suggests that flow and clarity were not significant drivers of success during this period. Instead, the results point more strongly toward weather-driven light conditions and overall fish behavior as the primary influences.

Taken together, the species distribution, landing efficiency, and weather-driven results paint a positive picture: a river that is healthy, diverse, and fishing predictably well.

Tips for Success

What began as a controlled experiment ultimately highlighted something more encouraging than any single data point: the South Fork of the Ogden River is fishing well and showing clear signs of stability and health. Over nearly two weeks and 13.5 hours on the water, fish were encountered consistently across multiple locations, weather conditions, and fly colors. The high landing rate, diverse species mix, and predictable feeding behavior all point to a river that is supporting active trout and rewarding anglers who approach it thoughtfully.

While no single fly color emerged as a definitive winner, the results reinforced that presentation, approach, and timing matter far more than minor variations in pattern color, especially under low, clear conditions. Success was most consistent during overcast periods, and certain stretches, particularly Botts Campground, produced noticeably higher catch rates, suggesting strong holding water and favorable structure.

Tips for Fishing the South Fork Right Now

• Prioritize overcast days when possible. Reduced light levels clearly extended feeding windows and improved catch rates.

• Fish quietly and deliberately. Low, clear water makes trout easy to spook, move slowly, wear neutral clothing, and keep your shadow off the water.

• Use a tight-line or euro-nymphing approach. Direct contact and precise depth control were key to consistent hookups.

• Focus on depth and drift before fly selection. All three flies caught fish; proper presentation made the difference.

• Target productive water. Deep slots, subtle seams, and slower holding areas, especially in the Botts Campground stretch produced the most reliable action.

• Stay adaptable. Even with stable flows, small changes in light and weather influenced success more than expected.

Overall, this study reinforced a simple but important takeaway: the South Fork rewards patience, precision, and awareness. Anglers willing to slow down, observe conditions, and fish with intention will continue to find consistent success, clear evidence that the river is in good shape and fishing well this time of year.