Due to COVID-19, Utahns are expected to stay home whenever possible. The directive includes specific instructions for all individuals, as well as high-risk individuals (60 years and older and those with serious underlying medical conditions), and children. The directives regarding hygiene, gatherings, travel, and outdoor recreation are effective immediately.
According to the State of Utah, traveling to engage in recreational and outdoor activities is considered essential travel, therefore I am updating our fishing reports. The TriCounty Health Department has instituted the same proclamation as the State of Utah for Duchesne, Uintah, and Daggett Counties.
Signs of Spring are starting to show up on the Green River in Utah. We are seeing highs in the 40’s and low 50’s with the occasional Spring storm passing through. Snowpack is currently sitting at 105 percent of average in the Upper Green River drainage and 115 percent of average in the Lower Green River drainage. The daily average release out of Flaming Gorge Reservoir is currently at 2,150 CFS. The current flow pattern is a double peak in flows. At 6 AM the flows are increased to 2,700 CFS and then they drop around 1 PM to around 1,300 CFS. The flow increases again to around 2,700 CFS around 5 PM then drops back to 1,300 CFS at midnight. It is expected to remain there until the end of March. The water currently being released from the dam is around 39 degrees Fahrenheit.
The streamer fishing continues to be decent, but there has been a bit more pressure on the river than a few weeks ago. My best colors have been ginger, white and gold, olive and copper, gray, and black. A decent midge hatch is happening during the warmest part of the day. Look for fish to be rising in the slower seams and eddies. We have also seen a few blue wings starting to show up, but don’t expect a great Beatis hatch for another week or so. For nymphs this time of the year, you will want to have small gray scuds (18-20), small gray and brown WD 40’s (20-24), gray soft hackle (18-20), zebra midge (18-20), Frenchie (16), Prince Nymph (16) and a variety of San Juan Worms from Secret Riffle down.
With the warming temperatures, Red Creek has been running off color. On most days, the lower river is still fishable. Especially with darker colored streamers. Below Indian Crossing there has been quite a bit of moss floating in the river. This has made the streamer fishing down on C a little difficult, but still manageable.