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This is Fred Ball for Zions Bank, speaking on business.
Back in the 1950s and '60s, about 12 miles of the upper Provo River was channelized to reduce flooding. The project, however, devastated the river's natural resources and killed off much of the aquatic life.
But today, that section of the Provo is being restored, the aquatic life has returned and it all has Mark Forslund smiling. Mark is an expert fly fisher. He's been conducting fishing guides since 1983, long before the sport became a popular pastime. And now, Mark has just opened Four Seasons Fly Fishers, a fly fishing store in Heber.
Mark said starting the company was something he had long considered. He had worked for 14 years guiding some 1200 tours on the Green River below Flaming Gorge. He moved to Salt Lake in 1996 and began conducting tours on the Provo and Green River in Wyoming. With the Provo rated as one of America's 10 best trout streams, Mark chose to set up shop in Heber where the river's at its best.
Mark's Four Seasons Fly Fishing shop resides in a 1928 home he restored. The shop offers everything a fly fisher would want and features an impressive display box of 500 different fly patterns that concur with local hatches. And patrons can tie flies at the shop, as well.
Mark has also teamed with several renowned fishing guides to offer full- and half-day tours on the Provo and other area lakes and rivers. Among the guides are authors Larry Tullis and Steve Cook. Larry writes for several fly fishing magazines, and Steve has written two well-known books: Fly Fishing the Rocky Mountains and the Utah Fishing Guide. Overnight guests can stay at Johnson Mill Bed and Breakfast, the only lodging directly on the river.
There will also be destination trips to Chile and the Sea of Cortez in Baja California. The trips to Baja begin mid-May and continue through August. Mark is planning trips to Chile for next February.
Well, I wish Mark the best with the Four Seasons Fly Fishing shop, and I'm happy to see the Provo River's excellent fishing has been restored.
For Zions Bank, I'm Fred Ball. I'm speaking on business.
