Green River Fishing Report

From the Bureau of Reclamation:

“As of December 3, 2020 Flaming Gorge Reservoir pool elevation is 6025.29 feet, which amounts to 85 percent of live storage capacity. Unregulated inflows for the month of November is approximately 35,600 acre-feet (af), which is 70% of the average November 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 is planned to be maintained through December, which is near +25% of the winter base flow.

The December final forecast for unregulated inflows into Flaming Gorge for the next three months projects below average conditions. December, January, and February forecasted unregulated inflow volumes amount to 28,000 af (80 percent of average), 34,000 af (84 percent of average) and 35,000 af (79 percent of average), respectively.”

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 40.1 degrees Fahrenheit. Current snowpack in the Upper Green River Drainage is sitting at 81 percent of normal. Current snowpack in the Lower Green River Drainage is sitting at 85 percent of normal.

There is some midge 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.

Provo River Fishing Report

Winter has made its way to the Provo River.

Dam releases below Jordanelle Reservoir are at 151.53 CFS. Flows in Charleston are at 164.12 CFS. Flows below Deer Creek Reservoir are at 97.5 CFS

Current snowpack in the Provo River Drainage is at 64 percent of normal.

When fishing the Provo River during the winter months look for fish in the slower, deeper runs. The best time to fish is during the warmest part of the day (10 AM to 2:30 PM). Depending on the day you can see decent midge activity and may find some rising fish.

Think small. Have a decent selection of small midges in the 20-26 size range. When nymphing, I like bling midges, cardinal midges, blood midges, WD 40’s, etc. Gray, brown, and red have been my go to colors. Expect very light takes when nymphing. For dry flies, I’ll use small mother shuckers, Matt’s midge, or a cluster midge all in that size 20-24 range.

Don’t be afraid to try streamers. Try slow stripping a sculpzilla or woolly bugger in some of the deeper holes. You might be rewarded with a substantial fish.

Weber River Fishing Report

Current snowpack in the Weber Ogden drainage is sitting at 63 percent of normal.

Releases out of Rockport reservoir are currently at 25.1 CFS

Releases out of Echo reservoir are currently at .78 CFS.

I do not recommend fishing the Weber at these flows.

Pray for snow!

Small Stream Fishing Report

Generally speaking most of Utah’s small streams are inaccessible in the winter months due to snow.

We currently are sitting on a statewide snowpack that is around 65 percent of normal. Therefore some areas are more accessible for winter angling opportunities than usual.

I have not ventured out to any small streams recently, but I’d expect to see some midge activity if you were to go searching for some solitude.