Southwest Wyoming Fishing Report

From the Bureau of Reclamation:

“As of February 7, 2021, the Fontenelle Reservoir pool elevation is 6477.89 feet, which amounts to 44 percent of live storage capacity. Inflows for the month of January totaled 25,000 acre-feet (af) or 82 percent of average. 

Fontenelle’s releases are currently set at 825 cfs. This release is scheduled to be maintained through the Fall/Winter operation period, which typically ends in late March or early April when ice on the Green River begins to thaw.

The February final forecast for unregulated inflows into Fontenelle for the next three months projects below average conditions. February, March, and April inflow volumes amount to 22,000 af (80 percent of average), 39,000 af (74 percent of average), and 55,000 af (64 percent of average), respectively. 

The 2021 water year unregulated inflow volume is forecasted to be 659,000 af (61 percent of average) based on the February forecast.“

What this means:

Releases from Fontenelle Reservoir are currently at 778 CFS. Snowpack in the Upper Green River Drainage is currently at 85 percent of normal. Snowpack in the Lower Green River Drainage is currently at 83 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 winter colors. Some of my favorite patterns are the peanut envy, dungeon, sculpin leech, and the sculpzilla.

Provo River Fishing Report

Winter is still here on the Provo River.

Dam releases below Jordanelle Reservoir are at 144.22 CFS. Flows in Charleston are at 159.38 CFS. Flows below Deer Creek Reservoir are at 116 CFS

Current snowpack in the Provo River Drainage is at 63 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 23.6 CFS

Releases out of Echo reservoir are currently at .52 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 between 50 and 70 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 or early baetis activity if you were to go searching for some solitude.