Green River Fly Fishing

The Beauty Of Green River Fly Fishing

The Green River runs below the Flaming Gorge Dam in northeast Utah. Green River is perhaps the best tail water fishery in the U.S. - some even consider it the best tail water fishery anywhere, period. The Dam holds over 30 miles of water that can be floated and fished from the shore. The river passes through a spectacular red canyon, and this topography makes for some of the most impressive pools. Make sure to look into its clear, greenish beautiful depths and you will then understand how a massive 30-lb. brown trout was caught here in 1996!

The River

This river has stable water temperatures. These stable water temperatures promote dense insect life and create prime spots for trout to inhabit. The river fishing can be divided into three sections:

• The Upper Section - "A Section" or "Red Canyon Stretch"

  This is a 7-mile stretch from the dam to Little Hole. 1000-2000 foot red canyon walls will surround you. The first half of the stretch is usually flat and deep. The second half is more rapid and contains some nice pockets of water, with shallow areas that are well-suited for wading.

• The Middle Section - "B Section" or "Devil's Hole"

  This is an 8-mile section from Little Hole to Indian Crossing in Brown's Park. This park is much less crowded, but also has a huge amount of fish. Three miles downstream, Red Creek can turn into water that is murky or unfishable after the rain falls. The foot trail ends about 3 miles below Little Hole.

• The Lower Stretch - "C Section" or "Browns Park"

  This is the final 17 mile zone that holds perhaps the largest fish. But the quality of fishing in this section is not as consistent. It is also the least crowded of the three stretches that comprise the Green River fly fishing experience. The water and surrounding terrain is flatter then the other stretches. This stretch ends at the Utah/Colorado border.

Access to this wonderful river varies by stretch. The easiest access points are by boat or paved roads. Green River fly fishing can be accomplished by floating or wading and fished year-round. The recommended gear is 4-6 weight, 9 feet or longer.

TIP: Make sure to have medium/thick neoprene waders because of the cold water all year-round.