Green River, Utah
The Green River is quite arguably the greatest tailwater fishery in the West. Located below Flaming Gorge Reservoir in North Eastern Utah, the Green offers anglers 30 miles of world class fly fishing for brown and rainbow trout.
The Utah Green River is divided into three unique sections. The first 7.2 miles from the Dam to Little Hole, known as Red Canyon or the A section, is well known for its impressive canyon walls, 9 sets of rapids, huge back eddies, and abundance of trout that you can view from above in the gin clear water.
Downstream of Little Hole, or the B section, the canyon begins to give way to more rolling terrain with occasional mesas and short stretches of gorge. For approximately 5 miles the river meanders through some more fantastic trout water, which is then interrupted by the largest rapid on the river, Red Creek. From the rapid down, depending on if the Red Creek tributary is flowing with sediment or not the river can remain gin clear or be quite discolored. The river continues to flow for another 3 miles to Indian Crossing.
The C Section begins at Indian Crossing and winds through the high desert until it turns back into the mountains and you enter Swallow Canyon. This stretch of river is approximately 11 miles in length. There are less trout down here, but the quieter and warmer waters can hold browns of a substantial size.
The Green is known for its prevalent hatches of year round midges, Baetis are quite prevalent in the Spring and again in the Fall. Some years, the cicadas can be quite abundant in the late spring. Come Summer, pale morning duns, yellow sallies, and caddis hatches give way to late Summer into Fall terrestrial fishing. Scuds and aquatic worms are prolific year round.
All of our guiding on the Green River is done through Old Moe Guide Service, Ashley National Forest permit #9947 or BLM SRP Permit Number UTU-080-2019-008
Provo River, Utah
Like the Green River, the Provo River is broken up into 3 unique sections. These sections are divided by 2 reservoirs, Jordanelle Reservoir and Deer Creek Reservoir. The Provo River originates in a bowl of post-glacial lakes in the Unita Range and flows for about 35 miles until it reaches Jordanelle Reservoir. From the Jorandelle Reservoir down to Deer Creek Reservoir, known as the Middle Provo, the river then meanders for about 12 miles through the Heber Valley until it enters Deer Creek Reservoir. Once the river exits Deer Creek Reservoir it flows through Provo Canyon for about 11 miles and then flows through Orem and Provo and terminates in Utah Lake.
The Middle Provo River below Jordanelle Reservoir underwent one of the largest trout stream restoration efforts in the nation from 1999 through 2008. This project brought back a more natural running river with braids and side channels. It also ensured public access along the river.
The Lower Provo River below Deer Creek Reservoir runs through a mountain canyon and is considered by many to be a Blue Ribbon water. Deep runs, pools, and pocket water characterize this stretch of river.
The Provo River is another fantastic tailwater hatch river with an abundance or midges, mayflies, caddis, some stoneflies, terrestrials, as well as a plethora of sow bugs and scuds.
Weber river, utah
The Weber River is another Utah stream that begins in the Uinta Mountains and then flows more than 70 miles before it joins the Ogden River on the west side of Ogden City. Most angling pressure is focused between Rockport and Echo Reservoirs along Interstate 80. This is one of the best places to fish on the Weber due to its public access as well as its potential for great fishing. This tailwater fishery winds its way through ranch country for 11.5 miles and is characterized by riffles and some deep runs.
The Weber is known for its abundant caddis hatches beginning around Mother’s Day. There are also decent baetis, pale morning dun, stonefly, and midge hatches on the river. Terrestrial fishing can be great later in the summer and sow bugs, scuds, and annelids are always an option.
Utah Small streams
For being the second driest state in the nation, Utah has some fantastic opportunities for small stream fishing. There are 19 major drainages in the Uinta Mountains and most contain an abundance of willing trout. These rivers are a bit off the beaten path and are a little bit more technical to fish due to overhanging brush, but if you put in the work you can be rewarded with some great fishing.
Green river below fontenelle reservoir
The Green River below Fontenelle Reservoir in Southwest Wyoming is a big river flowing through high desert, sage brush country lined with Cottonwood trees and shale bluffs. It is a trout as well as wildlife and migratory bird oasis in the desert. This stretch of river is characterized by cutbanks, deep pools, and long medium-depth runs. Although the wind can be a nightmare here and the fish population is much lower then on the Green River below Flaming Gorge, the potential to catch a trophy cutthroat, rainbow, or brown is there.
Major hatches on the Green River below Fontenelle include baetis, pale morning duns, stoneflies, caddis, tricos, as well as terrestrials, scuds, and annelids.
All of our guiding below Fontenelle Reservoir is done through USDI BOR Contract No. 19-LM-41-07020.