Fishing in Utah Flaming Gorge and Green River

It may be difficult to decide whether the 91-mile-long Flaming Gorge Reservoir, or the Green River below the Flaming Gorge Dam, ranks as Utah’s most famous fishery. A case can be made for both of these waters inside the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area.

The reservoir, which straddles the Utah-Wyoming border, became world famous in the late 1970s for producing lunker specimens of both lake trout and brown trout, which approached world-record status on occasion. Although the trophy brown trout fishery has all but died out, the big reservoir still produces 20-plus-pound lake trout on a surprisingly regular basis.

Of course, anglers must work to catch those trophies. Whereas lake trout are caught in the deeper areas of the reservoir year-round, the trophies are not plentiful and require hours and sometimes days of trolling or jigging before that one memorable fish is landed. But the big fish are there, and they certainly are a draw.

Other types of gamefish are easier to catch at Flaming Gorge Reservoir. Rainbow trout are stocked regularly and provide fair shore fishing and trolling, although trollers often have more success landing kokanee salmon. Shore anglers seeking rainbows do well fishing the lower part of the reservoir.

In spring and early summer, smallmouth bass are plentiful along the rocky shorelines, especially on the Utah side of the reservoir near Mustang Ridge and Antelope Flat. It’s possible to catch smallmouths from shore as well; traditional bass plugs and small spinners provide some of the best fishing.

The Green River below Flaming Gorge Dam ranks among the West’s top fly fishing rivers, drawing anglers from around the world. There may be more trout per mile in the stretch of river from the dam to Brown’s Park than in almost any river in America. Wild brown trout and rainbows are the main species caught. Most are fat and healthy. More than one angler has been overcome by the river’s beauty and clarity and decided to pass the time simply floating downriver, watching the 4- and 5-pound trout feed.

Dories operated by professional guides have become a popular way for first-time Green River anglers to learn the river. But several shops in nearby Dutch John rent rafts, and a 7-mile National Recreation Trail, which stretches from the dam down to the Little Hole take-out point, offers good access for wading anglers.

Scuds rank among the best patterns to use on the Green, although regular hatches send dry fly enthusiasts into ecstasy throughout the year. Good anglers can experience 100-fish days when they hit the river just right.