Green River Fishing Report

From the Bureau of Reclamation:

“Starting June 8, 2026, Flaming Gorge Dam releases shall begin ramping up to approximately 4,600 cfs for the SMB flow experiment. The experiment is scheduled to last 72 hours and ramp down will begin on June 11, 2026. Reclamation has coordinated with Western Area Power Administration to create the hourly scheduled release pattern for the ramp down period. Please note that releases in this schedule include fluctuations for power generation. Release for June 13, 2026, and thereafter will be covered in a separate notification.

This release plan is subject to change depending on evolving river conditions and weather forecasts.

Those recreating on, working around, or traveling to the Green River below Flaming Gorge Dam should monitor river conditions.

View hourly water release schedules for Flaming Gorge Dam by visiting the Colorado River Basin Forecast Center website: GRZU1

Current Status

As of May 7, 2026 (end of day), Flaming Gorge Reservoir pool elevation is 6019.99 feet, which amounts to 79 percent of live storage capacity. Unregulated inflow volume for the month of April is approximately 51,190 acre-feet (af), which is 41 percent of the average unregulated inflow volume.

The May unregulated inflows into Flaming Gorge for the next three months projects to be much below average. May, June, and July forecasted unregulated inflow volumes are 70,000 af (28 percent of average), 175,000 af (45 percent of average), and 84,000 af (42 percent of average), respectively.

Drought Response Actions

Between 660,000 and one million acre-feet of additional water is being delivered from Flaming Gorge Reservoir to Lake Powell through April 2027 to help keep Lake Powell above critical elevations.

When these supplemental releases began, Flaming Gorge Reservoir was approximately 82% full, holding approximately 3.01 maf of water.

Reclamation and its partners are working to reduce recreational impacts as much as possible.

Recreationists below Flaming Gorge Dam should review posted information, closely monitor changing conditions, and use extreme caution when recreating in or around the Green River below Flaming Gorge Dam. Water will be colder than usual and will run high and swift during periods of elevated releases.

These actions are part of the Drought Response Operations Agreement (DROA), a component of the 2019 Colorado River Drought Contingency Plan for the Upper Colorado River Basin. To read more about the need for 2026-2027 supplemental releases, visit: Reclamation Acts to Protect Colorado River System During Historic Drought.

Reclamation previously implemented DROA operations in 2021 and 2022.

HELPFUL LINKS

• To view the most current reservoir elevation, content, inflows and releases, visit: Flaming Gorge Reservoir Data.

• For more information about boat ramp elevations and operability, visit: U.S. Forest Service: Flaming Gorge Recreation Updates.

• For information about flows below the dam, visit the Colorado Basin River Forecast Center’s GRZUI Reservoir Outflow Hydropgraph: GRZU1”

What this means:

Flows are going to increase to 4,600 CFS on the evening of June 8 and remain there through June 11. During that timeframe, water temperatures will drop. After the small mouth bass event, water temps will go back to around what they are now and we will have a consistent flow pattern again. Water temperatures are currently hovering around 52 degrees Fahrenheit.

Currently cicadas are on the menu. The most cicada activity is throughout the canyon on the A section. There are some cicadas on B and a few on C. If you aren’t in an area with cicadas, fish an ant or a beetle.

Red Creek is currently running low and clear.

Current water year to date precipitation in the Upper Green River Drainage is 98 percent of normal. Current water year to date precipitation in the Lower Green River Drainage is 92 percent of normal.

Southwest Wyoming Fishing Report

From the Bureau of Reclamation:

“As of May 7, 2026, the Fontenelle Reservoir pool elevation is 6478.92 feet, which amounts to 46 percent of live storage capacity. Inflows for the month of April totaled approximately 45,915 acre-feet (af) or 54 percent of average.

Current releases are 800 cfs. This release is expected to remain constant through May.

The May final forecast for unregulated inflows into Fontenelle for the next three months projects much below average conditions. May, June, and July Most Probable inflow volumes amount to 65,000 af (37 percent of average), 165,000 af (54 percent of average), and 79,000 af (47 percent of average), respectively.

Please refer to the following link for Green River flow projections, through Green River, WY, provided by the Colorado River Basin Forecast Center: CBRFC Green River, WY Projection.

To view the most current reservoir elevation, content, inflow and release, click on: Fontenelle Reservoir Data.”

What this means:

Water releases from Fontenelle Reservoir are currently around 633 CFS.

The flows are low, but consistent. Sow bugs, baetis, worms, and midges have been working best. On some days there have been windows of dry fly activity with terrestrials. The streamer fishing continues to produce with sculpin, baitfish, and crayfish patterns.

Current water year to date precipitation in the Upper Green River Drainage is 98 percent of normal. Current water year to date precipitation in the Lower Green River Drainage is 92 percent of normal.

Green River Fishing Report

From the Bureau of Reclamation:

“As of March 04, 2026 (end of day), Flaming Gorge Reservoir pool elevation is 6022.73 feet, which amounts to 82 percent of live storage capacity. Unregulated inflow volume for the month of February is approximately 42,030 acre-feet (af), which is 93 percent of the average unregulated inflow volume.

As of March 1st, operations have entered the transition period. The current average daily release is 800 cfs and this release is expected to be maintained through the end of April, pending hydrology.

The March unregulated inflows into Flaming Gorge for the next three months projects below average. March, April, and May forecasted unregulated inflow volumes 80,000 af (75 percent of average), 95,000 af (76 percent of average), and 135,000 af (54 percent of average), respectively.

To view the most current reservoir elevation, content, inflow and release, click on: Flaming Gorge Reservoir Data.”

What this means:

Currently, Flaming Gorge Reservoir is operating a daily average release of 854 CFS. Water temperatures are currently hovering around 41 degrees Fahrenheit.

This unseasonable weather has been quite interesting or alarming to say the least. There have been very thick midge hatches in the morning followed by a decent Baetis hatch in the afternoon. The nymph fishing has been quite productive with scud, midge, and Baetis patterns. The dry dropper fishing has been decent in the afternoons with either a double dry or a point fly with an emerging Baetis pattern. The most impressive fishing has been the single point dry fly fishing. It’s March so I don’t expect the terrestrial fishing to continue for much longer, but I guess we should capitalize on the moment until the weather hopefully returns to normal.

The streamer fishing has been good on all three sections of the Green River. Try nymphing a smaller bugger under an indicator in the big back eddies where you see fish podded up. White, gold, ginger, silver, and black have all been productive. Lighter colors during the main portions of the day and black in the early morning and afternoon light.

Red Creek is currently running low and clear.

Current snowpack in the Upper Green River Drainage is at 71 percent of normal. Snowpack in the Lower Green River Drainage is sitting at 40 percent of normal. Current water year to date precipitation in the Upper Green River Drainage is 106 percent of normal. Current water year to date precipitation in the Lower Green River Drainage is 96 percent of normal.

Southwest Wyoming Fishing Report

From the Bureau of Reclamation:

“As of February 09, 2026, the Fontenelle Reservoir pool elevation is 6480.97 feet, which amounts to 49 percent of live storage capacity. Inflows for the month of January totaled approximately 32,146 acre-feet (af) or 106 percent of average.

Current releases are 800 cfs. This release is expected to remain constant throughout the winter base flow period, pending significant hydrologic changes or emergencies. The winter base flow is typically from mid-November to mid-March, pending icing conditions on the Green River downstream of the dam this coming spring.

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 25,000 af (88 percent of average), 50,000 af (88 percent of average), and 75,000 af (89 percent of average) respectively.

Please refer to the following link for Green River flow projections, through Green River, WY, provided by the Colorado River Basin Forecast Center: CBRFC Green River, WY Projection.

To view the most current reservoir elevation, content, inflow and release, click on: Fontenelle .”

What this means:

Water releases from Fontenelle Reservoir are currently around 850 CFS.

Fish have moved into their winter holding lies. Look for trout in deeper, slower runs. Even with the warmer temperatures, there has been minimal midge activity. As with most winters on the Wyoming Green, the fishing is better the closer you are to the dam. The streamer fishing has been consistently decent as of late. I have found silver, ginger, pearl, white, gold, and black to be the best colors, with olive occasionally making an appearance.

Current snowpack in the Upper Green River Drainage is sitting at 71 percent of average. Snowpack in the Lower Green River Drainage is sitting at 41 percent of normal. Current water year to date precipitation in the Upper Green River Drainage is 106 percent of normal. Current water year to date precipitation in the Lower Green River Drainage is 96 percent of normal.