Green River Fishing Report

From the Bureau of Reclamation:

“As of February 4, 2022, Flaming Gorge Reservoir pool elevation is 6017.75 feet, which amounts to 77 percent of live storage capacity. Unregulated inflow volume for the month of January is approximately 33,000 acre-feet (af), which is 82 percent of the average January unregulated inflow volume.

The winter base flow period started on December 1, a +/-25 percent base flow period. Winter average daily releases are planned to meet dry hydrologic condition targets in Reach 2 (900 cfs to 1,100 cfs includes flows from the Yampa River). The daily average release of approximately 850 cfs is planned to be maintained through February.

The February forecast for unregulated inflows into Flaming Gorge for the next three months projects below average conditions. February, March, and April forecasted unregulated inflow volumes amount to 31,000 af (68 percent of average), 77,000 af (73 percent of average), and 95,000 af (76 percent of average), respectively..”

What this means:

Current daytime releases out of Flaming Gorge Reservoir are at 867 CFS. River temperatures are approximately 38.1 degrees Fahrenheit. Current snowpack in the Upper Green River Drainage is sitting at 83 percent of normal. Current snowpack in the Lower Green River Drainage is sitting at 88 percent of normal.

There is some midge and some mayfly activity, but winter on the Green is all about the streamer fishing. With the lower flows I have been using lighter sink tips or you can even get away with a floating line. Black, gray, and ginger have been my go to colors lately. Winter streamer patterns that I like are the peanut envy, gonga, dungeons, and sculpzillas.

Southwest Wyoming Fishing Report

From the Bureau of Reclamation:

“As of February 2, 2022, the Fontenelle Reservoir pool elevation is 6483.59 feet, which amounts to 53 percent of live storage capacity. Inflows for the month of January totaled 29,000 acre-feet (af) or 95 percent of average. 

Fontenelle’s releases will be maintained at 825 cfs through the winter base flow period. These releases will be maintained until March or April when the ice along the Green River begins to melt.   

The February final forecast for unregulated inflows into Fontenelle for the next three months projects below average conditions. February, March, and April inflow volumes amount to 22,000 af (77 percent of average), 40,000 af (70 percent of average), and 60,000 af (71 percent of average), respectively.”

What this means:

Releases from Fontenelle Reservoir are currently at 787 CFS. Snowpack in the Upper Green River Drainage is currently at 83 percent of normal. Snowpack in the Lower Green River Drainage is currently at 88 percent of normal.

As with the Green below Flaming Gorge you will see some midge activity during the day. If you are nymphing plan on having a variety of scuds, midges, and blood midges. Although not as productive as the streamer bite is on the Utah Green in the winter you can still have some fantastic streamer fishing below Fontenelle as well. Look for fish in the slower, deeper water. Black, gray, olive, and ginger are my go to winter colors. Some of my favorite patterns are the peanut envy, dungeon, sculpin leech, and the sculpzilla.

Green River Fishing Report

From the Bureau of Reclamation:

“As of February 8, 2021 Flaming Gorge Reservoir pool elevation is 6024.71 feet, which amounts to 84 percent of live storage capacity. Unregulated inflows for the month of January is approximately 31,500 acre-feet (af), which is 78% of the average January unregulated inflow volume.

The winter base flow period started on December 1. Winter average daily releases will meet moderately dry hydrologic condition lower targets in Reach 2 (1,100 cfs to 1,500 cfs, includes flows from the Yampa River). The daily average release of 1,000 cfs will be maintained through February, which is near +25% of the winter base flow.

The February final forecast for unregulated inflows into Flaming Gorge for the next three months projects below average conditions. February, March, and April forecasted unregulated inflow volumes amount to 33,000 af (74% of average), 75,000 af (73% of average), and 90,000 af (64% of average), respectively.

The February water supply forecast of the April through July unregulated inflow volume into Flaming Gorge Reservoir is 500,000 acre-feet (51% of average). Current snowpack is 88% of median for the Upper Green Basin.”

What this means:

Current daytime releases out of Flaming Gorge Reservoir are at 917 CFS. In the evening flows are increased to 2,100 CFS around 7 PM and drawn back down to 917 CFS around 10 PM. River temperatures are approximately 39.2 degrees Fahrenheit. Current snowpack in the Upper Green River Drainage is sitting at 75 percent of normal. Current snowpack in the Lower Green River Drainage is sitting at 79 percent of normal.

There is some midge and some mayfly activity, but winter on the Green is all about the streamer fishing. With the lower flows I have been using lighter sink tips or you can even get away with floating line. Black, gray, and ginger have been my go to colors lately. Winter streamer patterns that I like are the peanut envy, gonga, dungeons, and sculpzillas.

Southwest Wyoming Fishing Report

From the Bureau of Reclamation:

“As of February 7, 2021, the Fontenelle Reservoir pool elevation is 6477.89 feet, which amounts to 44 percent of live storage capacity. Inflows for the month of January totaled 25,000 acre-feet (af) or 82 percent of average. 

Fontenelle’s releases are currently set at 825 cfs. This release is scheduled to be maintained through the Fall/Winter operation period, which typically ends in late March or early April when ice on the Green River begins to thaw.

The February final forecast for unregulated inflows into Fontenelle for the next three months projects below average conditions. February, March, and April inflow volumes amount to 22,000 af (80 percent of average), 39,000 af (74 percent of average), and 55,000 af (64 percent of average), respectively. 

The 2021 water year unregulated inflow volume is forecasted to be 659,000 af (61 percent of average) based on the February forecast.“

What this means:

Releases from Fontenelle Reservoir are currently at 778 CFS. Snowpack in the Upper Green River Drainage is currently at 85 percent of normal. Snowpack in the Lower Green River Drainage is currently at 83 percent of normal.

As with the Green below Flaming Gorge you will see some midge activity during the day. If you are nymphing plan on having a variety of scuds, midges, and blood midges. Although not as productive as the streamer bite is on the Utah Green in the winter you can still have some fantastic streamer fishing below Fontenelle as well. Look for fish in the slower, deeper water. Black, gray, olive, and ginger are my go to winter colors. Some of my favorite patterns are the peanut envy, dungeon, sculpin leech, and the sculpzilla.