Green River Fishing Report

From the Bureau of Reclamation:

“As of March 8, 2023 (end of day), Flaming Gorge Reservoir pool elevation is 6005.73 feet, which amounts to 67 percent of live storage capacity. Unregulated inflow volume for the month of February is approximately 58,000 acre-feet (af), which is 73 percent of the average February unregulated inflow volume. The current average daily release is 1,175 cfs.

The 2022 Drought Response Operations Agreement (DROA) Plan for May 2022 through April 2023 has been amended to suspend 2022 DROA Plan releases for the remainder of March and April 2023. The suspension of 2022 DROA Plan releases occurred on March 6, 2023. A total DROA release of approximately 463 kaf occurred under the 2022 DROA Plan. The approved Amendment is posted at https://www.usbr.gov/dcp/droa.html pages. The 2023 DROA Plan is under discussion and proposals developed will be provided through processes outlined in the DROA Framework.

A new operation will be finalized in early May 2023, and this will contain an operation plan from May 2023 through April 2024.

The March forecast for unregulated inflows into Flaming Gorge for the next three months projects slightly below average. March, April, and May forecasted unregulated inflow volumes amount to 105,000 af (99 percent of average), and 125,000 af (100 percent of average), and 210,000 af (84 percent of average), respectively.”

What this means:

Maintenance on the dam should have been completed by April 1 so we should see a consistent flow of 800 - 850 CFS for the foreseeable future. River temperatures are approximately 38.3 degrees Fahrenheit. Current snowpack in the Upper Green River Drainage is sitting at 108 percent of normal. Current snowpack in the Lower Green River Drainage is sitting at 137 percent of normal.

It is Spring, but it definitely doesn’t feel like Spring yet this year. While fronts are passing through expect incredibly windy conditions. There are areas around Dutch John with a ton of snow still. The dirt stretch of road down to Brown’s Park will be incredibly muddy for quite some time as nighttime temperatures become close to or above freezing. Also expect Red Creek to be flowing for quite some time rendering the lower river unfishable. These are all good things for the long term, but a bummer for the short term. We needed the moisture.

Fishing has been good on the Upper River and it will just get better as the hatches get stronger. Baetis are moving and there is a thick midge hatch everyday. You can also still get the job done on the streamer, but as real bugs begin to take over trout’s diets the bite will no longer be as good as it was a few weeks ago.

For nymphs: Zebra midges size (18-20) in a variety of different colors, blue wing patterns size (16-18) in dark olive of black color ways. Purple usually works as well, but I haven’t had much luck on purple yet this season (it’s still very early). Scuds always produce on the stretches of water close to the dam size (18-20).

For dries: Blue wing cripples size (16-18), Cluster midges size 16, a variety of other smaller midge patterns will work as well, a Paracricket or chubby in a size 12 will cover the winter stone flies or will hold up a dry dropper rig.

For streamers: Usually this time of the year is all about olive, but white, gold, and black will also work.

Southwest Wyoming Fishing Report

From the Bureau of Reclamation:

“As of March 5, 2023, the Fontenelle Reservoir pool elevation is 6475.61 feet, which amounts to 41 percent of live storage capacity. Inflows for the month of February totaled approximately 27,760 acre-feet (af) or 97 percent of average.

Winter release has been set at 950 cfs to meet spring elevation targets and are forecasted to remain at this level through winter, subject to hydrology. The winter release is planned to be maintained until March or April when the ice along the Green River begins to melt.

The March final forecast for unregulated inflows into Fontenelle for the next three months projects below average conditions. March, April, and May Most Probable inflow volumes amount to 45,000 af (79 percent of average), 70,000 af (83 percent of average), and 125,000 af (71 percent of average), respectively.”

What this means:

Releases from Fontenelle Reservoir are currently at 952 CFS. Snowpack in the Upper Green River Drainage is currently at 108 percent of normal. Snowpack in the Lower Green River Drainage is currently at 137 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 spring colors. Some of my favorite patterns are the peanut envy, dungeon, sculpin leech, and the sculpzilla.

It has been incredibly cold and windy on the Upper Green this winter so there is a lot more ice build up along the river and deeper snow drifts on roads then in years past. Make sure you have the appropriate gear and long tow straps to launch and load a boat.

Green River Fishing Report

From the Bureau of Reclamation:

“As of February 6, 2023 (end of day), Flaming Gorge Reservoir pool elevation is 6006.93 feet, which amounts to 68 percent of live storage capacity. Unregulated inflow volume for the month of January is approximately 38,000 acre-feet (af), which is 94 percent of the average January unregulated inflow volume. The current average daily release is 1,760 cfs. A winter baseflow operation will continue until February 28, 2023.

Pursuant to the 2022 Plan, which was approved by the Upper Division States, the Upper Colorado River Commission, and the Department of the Interior, an additional 500 thousand acre-feet (kaf) will be delivered from Flaming Gorge Reservoir from May 2022 through April 2023 to Lake Powell. This volume was added to the spring periods by increasing the Larval Trigger Study Plan (LTSP) releases to 8600 cfs for 7 days, a 3-day smallmouth bass flow spike, as well as the summer-winter base flow period. The winter base flow will continue through February 28, 2023. This 2022 Plan will end on April 30, 2023. Under a Drought Response Operations Plan adopted in 2022, the total release volume at end of day (2/6) is ~421 kaf. The total release volume under this same plan in WY2022 is 193 kaf and CY2022 is 354 kaf. A new operation will be finalized in early May 2023, and this will contain an operation plan from May 2023 through April 2024.

Below is a description of the 2022 spring operation to determine summer, autumn and winter base flows (July 2022 through February 2023). The observed 2022 April through July unregulated inflow volume into Flaming Gorge Reservoir was 552,000 acre-feet (57% of average), a moderately dry hydrologic classification. Due to spring flows being greater than 14,000 cfs for more than 4 days in Reach 2, per the 2022 Plan, an average hydrologic operation was conducted for summer, autumn, and winter base flow.

The February forecast for unregulated inflows into Flaming Gorge for the next three months projects slightly below average. February, March, and April forecasted unregulated inflow volumes amount to 38,000 af (84 percent of average), 100,000 af (94 percent of average), and 120,000 af (96 percent of average), respectively.”

What this means:

The Bureau of Reclamation is currently operating a double peak flow throughout the day. The flow is fluctuating between 1,200 CFS and 3,000 CFS. River temperatures are approximately 37.9 degrees Fahrenheit. Current snowpack in the Upper Green River Drainage is sitting at 98 percent of normal. Current snowpack in the Lower Green River Drainage is sitting at 127 percent of normal.

You might see some midge activity at some point in the day, but Winter on the Green is all about the streamer game especially with the double peak in flows. The streamer bite can be fantastic while the flows are up. Depending on the day, colors will change. Generally speaking on dark or cloudy days throw dark colors and bright and sunny days throw bright colors.

Southwest Wyoming Fishing Report

From the Bureau of Reclamation:

“As of February 5, 2023, the Fontenelle Reservoir pool elevation is 6480.59 feet, which amounts to 48 percent of live storage capacity. Inflows for the month of January totaled approximately 32,458 acre-feet (af) or 107 percent of average.

Winter release has been set at 950 cfs to meet spring elevation targets and are forecasted to remain at this level through winter, subject to hydrology. The winter release is planned to 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 Most Probable inflow volumes amount to 26,000 af (93 percent of average), 45,000 af (79 percent of average), and 70,000 af (83 percent of average), respectively.”

What this means:

Releases from Fontenelle Reservoir are currently at 973 CFS. Snowpack in the Upper Green River Drainage is currently at 98 percent of normal. Snowpack in the Lower Green River Drainage is currently at 127 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 spring colors. Some of my favorite patterns are the peanut envy, dungeon, sculpin leech, and the sculpzilla.

It has been incredibly cold and windy on the Upper Green this winter so there is a lot more ice build up along the river and deeper snow drifts on roads then in years past. Make sure you have the appropriate gear and long tow straps to launch and load a boat.