Green River Fishing Report

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.

Southwest Wyoming Fishing Report

In an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19, The Wyoming Department of Health finds it necessary to protect the health of the public by implementing emergency measures to close all restaurants, bars, theaters, gymnasiums, child care facilities, K-12 schools, colleges, universities, and trade schools, in the State of Wyoming, through April 17, 2020.

There are some signs of Spring making their way into Southwestern Wyoming. Some of these signs include melting snow, mud, and run off on the warmer days. If you are going to head this way, dress warm and expect to still find frozen guides throughout the early morning hours. If you are wade fishing be mindful of where you are driving. Icy and snowy roads in the morning can become mud pits in the afternoon. Flows below Fontenelle Reservoir are around 1,030 CFS. Snowpack in the Upper Green River drainage is currently sitting at 105 percent of normal and 114 percent of normal in the Lower Green River drainage.

With the warming temperatures, expect the Green River to start turning off color from Slate Creek down. River temperatures are still quite cold so think scuds and midges if you are nymphing. Expect fish to be holding in drop offs and deep seams. Some Baetis are starting to show up, but they won’t be of much significance for a few more weeks. Streamer fishing has been decent. White and gold, ginger, olive and copper, and black have been my go to colors up North.

Green River Fishing Report

Signs of Spring are starting to show up on the Green River in Utah. There is some snow forecasted for later this week and weekend, but we are still seeing highs in the 40’s and low 50’s. Snowpack is currently sitting at 102 percent of average in the Upper Green River drainage and 111 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 a few more weeks. 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.

Southwest Wyoming Fishing Report

There are some signs of Spring making their way into Southwestern Wyoming. Some of these signs include melting snow, mud, and run off on the warmer days. If you are going to head this way, dress warm and expect to still find frozen guides throughout the early morning hours. If you are wade fishing be mindful of where you are driving. Icy and snowy roads in the morning can become mud pits in the afternoon. Flows below Fontenelle Reservoir are around 892 CFS. Snowpack in the Upper Green River drainage is currently sitting at 102 percent of normal and 111 percent of normal in the Lower Green River drainage.

With the warming temperatures, expect the Green River to start turning off color from Slate Creek down. River temperatures are still quite cold so think scuds and midges if you are nymphing. Expect fish to be holding in drop offs and deep seams. Some Baetis are starting to show up, but they won’t be of much significance for a few more weeks. Streamer fishing has been decent. White and gold, ginger, olive and copper, and black have been my go to colors up North.