Green River at Flaming Gorge

Fly fishing in one of the nation's top fisheries

By sweetwater

October 4^th, 2022

Day 1 - Section A

The Green River flows powerfully below the Flaming Gorge Dam in Dutch John, Utah, earning its namesake with emerald green waters winding through red desert canyons. The river is divided into three sections, each with unique characteristics in both landscape and fish. The 'A' section, known as "The Aquarium," is a popular spot for tourists and boasts thousands of trout swimming around boats, teasing fishermen with their playful antics. Sections 'B' and 'C' are less crowded but offer larger and more skilled trout, including brown monsters lurking in the cloudier 'C' section. The Green River is a stocked river and is one of the most successful fisheries in the United States. Its waters are controlled by three "dam gates" that can be adjusted independently throughout the year to regulate changing temperatures.

After a challenging backpacking trip at King's Peak via Henry's Fork Trail the day before, we made our way to Flaming Gorge Resort for a well-deserved breakfast and to meet our guide, Brent Hodges. Brent, who previously owned a fly shop on our home river in Texas, drove us to the primary boat ramp below the Flaming Gorge Dam. We had three guys on this trip, so we hired Cody as our second guide, leaving someone by themselves and allowing for some great one-on-one training. One thing about fly fishing, just like golf, is that you can always get better. We all walked away from this trip with newfound skills and knowledge.

As we hit the 'A' section in our drift boats, we were met with the aquarium of trout mentioned in all the guidebooks, and immediately planned for a 100-fish-day. Unfortunately, we arrived at the tail end of the season, and the fish had seen every lure, fly, and nymph that the local fly shops could create. It turned out to be a challenging day of fishing, and we only caught a total of seven fish between the three of us. Nevertheless, the experience of drift boat fishing in shimmering green waters through deep red canyon walls was thrilling. The stunning scenery and good company left us eagerly anticipating the next day of fishing, where we planned to hit section 'B.' Brent predicted the fish would be biting with clearing waters after recent rain, and we were eager to see what the river had in store for us.

"Mend, Mend, Mend!"

Day 2- Section B

Our second day on the Green River exceeded our expectations. There's nothing quite like casting your line while riding down a class 3 rapid, anticipating a big bite in the fast-moving waters. We tried different techniques on various sections of the river, including drag setups, dry flies, and standard nymphing, and each approach brought its own thrill. While we fell short of the hundred-fish goal we set the day before, we caught several beautiful specimens of varying sizes using different methods.

As we approached the end of our float and the landscape started to level out, we took a moment to appreciate the beauty of this remote location. It's a truly special place that few people have the opportunity to experience, and we feel lucky to have shared this trip with good friends. We're already planning to return at the beginning of next season when the fish have grown more forgetful of our ways.

Our guide Brent repeated one piece of advice throughout the trip: mend your line! It's a lesson we won't soon forget, and we look forward to putting it into practice on future fishing trips. All in all, our Green River adventure was unforgettable, and we can't wait for our next trip to this amazing destination.