Green River Fishing Report

As of May 21, the Governor of the State of Utah has moved from the State’s risk management from the Moderate Risk Category of COVID-19 response to a Low Risk Category. There are still certain areas that are in the Moderate Risk Category. Please practice social distancing while recreating and traveling around outdoors. More information can be found here: https://coronavirus.utah.gov/utahs-health-guidance-system/

The Tri County Region has moved to the same Low Risk Guidelines that the Governor has put into effect.

The easiest way for me to describe the flow pattern is to just repost the Bureau of Reclamation’s notice:

“The Bureau of Reclamation will increase flows from Flaming Gorge Dam on the Green River in Northern Utah beginning Tuesday, May 26. Higher release flows are based on current reservoir and river conditions, snowmelt projections, recent storm activity and current weather forecasts, as well as input from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Western Area Power Administration and Flaming Gorge Working Group. Reclamation urges rafters, fishermen and anybody recreating or working along the Green River below Flaming Gorge Dam to exercise increased caution as the river will run high, swift and cold—conditions that can quickly overcome even the strongest swimmer. 

Reclamation will increase flows gradually beginning on May 26 to reach an initial peak on May 27 of approximately 8,100 cubic feet per second (4,600 cfs through its hydroelectric powerplant, which will allow full capacity power generation at about 150 megawatts, and another 3,500 cfs through the dam’s two bypass tubes). Flows will most likely be taken down to 6,600 (4,600 cfs powerplant capacity and 2,000 cfs partial bypass) on May 28 and continue to until the next peak later the following week. Based on current weather forecasts, flows may increase an additional 1,000 cfs on Tuesday, June 2, to a peak flow of 7,600 cfs. 

The planned flow ramp-up schedule is as follows (all times are in Mountain Daylight Time): 

• Tuesday, May 26, at 4:00 pm – Flows will begin increasing from 950 cfs and should reach full powerplant capacity of 4,600 cfs at or around 10:00 pm. 

• Wednesday, May 27, at 8:00 am – Bypass tube opens and flows gradually rise to reach approximately 8,100 cfs at or around 2:00 pm. 

• Thursday, May 28, at 8:00 am – Bypass tube opens and flows gradually reduced to reach approximately 6,600 cfs at or around 10:00 am. 

• Tuesday, June 2, at 8:00 am – Second bypass tube opens and flows gradually rise to reach approximately 7,600 cfs at or around 10:00 am. 

This release plan is subject to change depending on evolving forecasts. 

Combined with forecasted flows from the Yampa River, which is unregulated and joins the Green River below Flaming Gorge Dam in Dinosaur National Monument, flows near Jensen, Utah, are expected to be at or below 18,600 cfs. Flood stage capacity at Jensen is approximately 24,000 cfs. Reclamation will closely monitor actual and forecast flows and will reduce Flaming Gorge Dam release rates if the Yampa River is projected to considerably exceed current forecasts. 

Those recreating on, working around or traveling to the Green River below Flaming Gorge Dam should monitor river conditions by checking Reclamation’s website (https://www.usbr.gov/uc/water/crsp/cs/fgd.html) and all posted signs at river access points.”

There are quite a few cicadas on the A and B sections of the river. Within a couple of days some fish will hone in on them again. However, fishing San Juan worms and scuds in the slower water will be the best bet for catching fish until the flows come back down.

Provo River Fishing Report

As of May 21, the Governor of the State of Utah has moved from the State’s risk management from the Moderate Risk Category of COVID-19 response to a Low Risk Category. There are still certain areas that are in the Moderate Risk Category. Please practice social distancing while recreating and traveling around outdoors. More information can be found here: https://coronavirus.utah.gov/utahs-health-guidance-system/

Summit, Wasatch, and Utah County have all moved to the same Low Risk Guidelines that the Governor has put into effect.

Releases from Jordanelle Reservoir are at 1,000 CFS. At Charleston the river is flowing at 969 CFS. Below Deer Creek Reservoir the flows are at 809 CFS.  The entire Provo River is running pretty high so be mindful when wading if you choose to fish the Provo. River temperatures are currently around 42 degrees Fahrenheit. Snowpack in the Provo River drainage is currently sitting at 52 percent of average.

Due to warming temperatures the Upper Provo and parts of the Middle and Lower Provo can turn cloudy with runoff throughout the late morning and into the afternoon hours.

Look for midge and Baetis activity during the middle of the day. Depending on the conditions and hatch that day, the dry fly fishing can be great between 9 AM and 5 PM. High pressure days or storm days have produced the best fishing. Days with a dropping barometric pressure have produced the most difficult fishing conditions. The nymphing has started to heat up considerably. When the midge and Baetis hatch goes off the fish will be very active. If there is no hatch, the streamer fishing can be decent this time of the year.

When fishing the Provo, have small sow bugs (18-20), bling midge (22-26), cardinal midge (22-26), zebra midge (18-22), buckskin caddis (18), prince nymph (18), Baetis nymphs (18-22), and pheasant tail (18-22). For dries, have a few small midges like the Mother Shucker in gray or black (20-24) and some Baetis dry flies (18-22).

Weber River Fishing Report

As of May 21, the Governor of the State of Utah has moved from the State’s risk management from the Moderate Risk Category of COVID-19 response to a Low Risk Category. There are still certain areas that are in the Moderate Risk Category. Please practice social distancing while recreating and traveling around outdoors. More information can be found here: https://coronavirus.utah.gov/utahs-health-guidance-system/

Morgan, Weber, and Summit County have all moved to the same Low Risk Guidelines that the Governor has put into effect.

Spring is here and the days are much warmer and longer than they have been.

Above Rockport Reservoir, flows are around 177 CFS, but be mindful that the daytime heat can cause snow to melt and the river to become cloudy with runoff as the day progresses. Water releases from Rockport Reservoir are at 185 CFS. By Coalville the river is flowing at 98.3 CFS. Below Echo Reservoir the Weber is flowing at 409 CFS. The river is flowing at 197 CFS along I 84 near Mountain Green and at 106 CFS once it gets to Ogden. These flows are pretty good for some quality angling. Current snowpack in the Weber River Drainage is sitting at 24 percent of normal.

Midge, Caddis, and a few remaining Baetis are around, Yellow Sallies and PMD’s are just around the corner.

If you are going to try and fish the Weber, bring some Peacock Caddis (16-18), X Caddis (16-18), sow bugs (16-18), zebra midges (18-22), other assorted midges (18-24), Baetis nymphs (18-20), caddis larva (16-18), and some small streamers like a Zonker or Sculpzilla in white, olive, or black.

Small Stream Fishing Report

As of May 21, the Governor of the State of Utah has moved from the State’s risk management from the Moderate Risk Category of COVID-19 response to a Low Risk Category. There are still certain areas that are in the Moderate Risk Category. Please practice social distancing while recreating and traveling around outdoors. More information can be found here: https://coronavirus.utah.gov/utahs-health-guidance-system/

Certain areas are on a stricter lockdown than others, be mindful of this. Some National Parks and National Monuments are still shut down. Check with current county, state, and federal restrictions before heading out to a fishery.

With Spring in full bloom here in Utah, it is time to test out some of our smaller fisheries. Certain fisheries are closed until the second Saturday in July for the Cutthroat spawn. Check the Utah fisheries proclamation before heading out. With the warming temperatures, expect runoff to make freestone streams cloudy and unfishable as the day progresses. If you are headed to a freestone, plan to go early or on a colder day. Access to a lot our smaller tailwater and freestone rivers will also be limited because of snow. With that being said, there are some areas in Northern, Central, and Southern Utah that are accessible to fish. Look for fisheries with paved access if you are planning on venturing out and let someone know where you are planning on going incase you are headed somewhere without cell service

When venturing out on Utah’s small streams in the early season, it is good to have a variety of flies in your arsenal. Depending on where you are at you might find midges, blue wings, Skwalla Stones, or even an early caddis hatch. Being runoff season, fish will also be willing to eat a San Juan Worm. If you aren’t productive with any of those flies, try to swing a streamer through some of the deeper runs.