Wade86/100
Wading is in play only where your chosen access has clear footing, legal entry, and no forced crossings.
All Utah reports
Fly fishing report · Rockies
Fremont River
Is Fremont River worth the trip today? Check flow, weather, hatches, access, and rules for Utah before you go.
See the flow chart ↓Generated artwork: BlueStreamFly · Regional illustration; not the exact location.
Good day to fish?Latest river check
Good fishing
Yes. Fishing looks good.
86
Good fishing based on the verified flow and weather. No official live water-temperature reading is available. Carry a thermometer during warm weather and stop if the water is stressful for trout.
See update time and confidence
Live data checkHighHow much of the live flow, weather, and alert data came back.
Today's callMediumWater temperature not verified; do not use this score to clear warm-water risk.
Score calculated Aug 22, 2026, 10:36 PM MDTUsually checks again about every 45 minutes
Access choicesNo clear best mode
Wade, Bank / edge, and Float have the same top score. Use current access, footing, weather, and local rules to choose.
Bank / edge86/100
Bank and edge fishing remains a practical low-commitment option if access is legal and footing is safe.
Float86/100
A float is in play where this report supports boat access and wind, releases, and shuttle logistics are manageable.
Your plan
Today's Fremont River plan.
The Fremont can offer real trout value when RiverReports and USGS 09330000 show steady flow, Bicknell Bottoms remains fishable on foot, and the upper Capitol Reef area is clear enough for short deliberate sessions. The river loses value fast when agricultural runoff muddies the channel, when long wades in the park become a water-quality gamble, or when your access depends on private land that the map does not actually open.
- Check first
- The Utah Fishing Guidebook says Bicknell Bottoms is open to fishing except where posted closed, and specifically identifies the area as being along the Fremont River.
- Try
- Decide before leaving the truck whether the day is a Bicknell Bottoms walk-in plan or a Capitol Reef upper-area stop, because the gear and expectations are different.
- Leave when
- Skip when the water is muddy, warm, or obviously degraded at the access point, when storms are pushing desert runoff, or when the only plan depends on unverified private-land frontage.
Live river check
What the river is doing
Check the latest flow and weather before you go. A quick change can make the river harder or less safe to fish.
Showing the latest stored river check while current readings load.
- Flow
- 56 cfs
- From the latest stored river check. Open the official source for the newest reading.
- Air now
- 66°F
Current NWS forecast period
- Next 24h high
- 82.0°F
NWS air forecast near
- Rain chance
- 7%
For this forecast period
This is an air forecast, not a river-temperature reading. Check the water with a stream thermometer before fishing in hot weather.
Latest stored weather check
Partly Cloudy
Partly Cloudy
- Wind
- 5 mph
- Weather checked
Recent flow chart is loading
The latest stored reading is shown above. Check the official source below if you need the newest value now.
More forecast and source details
National Weather Service
Fremont River forecast point near Bicknell
The National Weather Service forecast is temporarily unavailable.
Live data
Where these readings come from
RiverReports gauge: Fremont River near Bicknell
How to fish it
How to fish Fremont River today.
The best Fremont days are short and specific: check flow first, choose either the Bicknell Bottoms public area or a focused Capitol Reef upper-gorge session, and leave if color, warmth, or runoff undercuts the plan. This river is far better as a disciplined trout stop than as a vague desert-river exploration day.
Stable moderate flow
Best for short wade sessions in Bicknell Bottoms channels or upper-gorge pockets where trout still hold in defined lanes.
Slight color with shape
Can still fish if the edges remain readable and you keep the plan close to obvious public entries.
Warm low desert flow
Shorten the day, focus early, and avoid forcing trout expectations through lower Fruita-style water that is better for scenery than fishing.
Dirty runoff or storm pulse
A skip signal because the river's small size and mixed land use can erase clarity and footing quickly.
Fishing words used on this page
- U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) gauge
- A USGS gauge is an official river station that measures flow or water height.
- Cubic feet per second (cfs)
- Cubic feet per second, or cfs, shows how much water passes the gauge each second.
- Nymph
- A nymph is a young water insect. Anglers also use the word for a fly that copies it.
- Seam
- A seam is the line where fast and slow water meet.
- Attractor fly
- An attractor fly is bright or bold. It draws a strike without copying one exact insect.
- Blue-winged olive (BWO)
- Blue-winged olives, or BWOs, are small mayflies that often hatch in cool or cloudy weather.
- Caddis
- Caddis are small water insects. The adults look a little like tiny moths.
- Dry-dropper
- A dry-dropper rig has a floating fly with an underwater fly tied below it.
- Emerger
- An emerger copies an insect as it rises from below the water toward the surface.
- Midge
- Midges are tiny flies and a common trout food, especially in cold water.
Why this call
Why this score
SeasonUse caution
This month is not listed as a top seasonal window in this page's reviewed season notes. Use current regulations, flow, temperature, and access checks before treating the score as a slam dunk.
FlowHelps
USGS shows 56 cfs. The flow has been stable over about 6 hours. USGS marks this reading provisional and may revise it. USGS records for this date (1977-2025, 49 readings) show a typical middle range of 55 cfs to 79 cfs. Flow is within the typical range for this date, so weather, temperature, and access become the next checks.
WeatherHelps
The current NWS air forecast is about 66F, and the next 24-hour high reaches about 82F. Partly Cloudy.
Public alertsHelps
No active NWS alert was returned for this forecast point.
Fishing usefulnessHelps
Skip when the water is muddy, warm, or obviously degraded at the access point, when storms are pushing desert runoff, or when the only plan depends on unverified private-land frontage.
Trip notes
Trip notes
Check these before you choose a reach.
Fish best on stable moderate flow that keeps Bicknell channels connected and the upper area clear enough to read without turning every step into a mud-and-brush problem.
Skip when the water is muddy, warm, or obviously degraded at the access point, when storms are pushing desert runoff, or when the only plan depends on unverified private-land frontage.
Base in Torrey or Bicknell, choose either Bicknell Bottoms or a short upper Capitol Reef area stop, fish one section carefully, and leave once clarity or temperature drops below the line.
Green River is the better backup for a premium trout day, while Duchesne River makes more sense when you still want moving Utah trout water without forcing a marginal desert-river call.
What to try
Fremont River flies through the year.
Match the time of year, then let rising fish and current speed guide the next change.
SeasonWhat to look forFlies to try
April-June
What to look forBlue-winged olives, caddis, small attractor windows
June-AugustCurrent
What to look forCaddis and terrestrials during short low-light feeding windows
Flies to try
Also try small hopper-dropper
September-October
What to look forOlives, caddis, sparse fall attractor windows
Winter
What to look forMidges and occasional tiny olives
Each fly name opens its matching Fly Box guide.
Access and safety
Fremont River access and rules.
Use these places as starting points. Open the access link below and check posted signs before you park or enter. Utah lists Bicknell Bottoms along the Fremont River as open to fishing except where posted closed. Recheck the current Utah Fishing Guidebook and any site-specific postings before fishing because closures and special-area rules can matter at small public corridors.
Bicknell Bottoms WMA
The clearest public-water anchor for this page, with walk-in-only access and fishable Fremont channels managed inside the wildlife area.
Fruita and upper Capitol Reef roadside area
Useful for short scenic stops and selective upper-gorge fishing, but not every roadside bend supports the same trout value.
Scenic Drive and Utah Highway 24 pull-off planning
Relevant for orientation and nearby trail access, especially when you are matching fishing time to a broader Capitol Reef trip.
Bicknell Bottoms is walk-in only and can require waders, so do not plan on clean dry-shoe access to every channel.
Private land still shapes the Fremont area outside the named public areas. Keep the day tied to obvious public water and legal entry.
Capitol Reef access is great for viewing and short stops, but the park itself warns about Fremont River water quality and does not promise a uniform sport fishery through the whole Fruita reach.
River sources
Official Fremont River sources.
Official agencies and primary river operators come first. Secondary tools are labeled so you know what carries the most weight.
How this report was checked
How this report was checked
Reviewed byBlueStreamFly River Review Team
Trip guidance checked
What was checked: This report starts with official regulation, access, flow, weather, and public-water sources, then adds practical planning guidance for fly anglers.
Live measurements and forecasts keep their provider timestamps. Rules, access, and trip guidance use the source-review date shown here. BlueStreamFly planning advice is editorial interpretation, not an agency notice.
First-hand experience: BlueStreamFly does not claim a first-hand visit or local field test for this report unless a real contributor is explicitly named and linked.
Rules and closures
Check what is allowed, where the rule applies, and whether the river is open.
Flow and weather
Check the latest river reading and forecast before you leave.
Access and land
Check public entry points, land rules, and seasonal access changes.
More helpful links
Use these links for stocking, safety, and other local details.
See all 9 checked sources
Rules and closures
Check what is allowed, where the rule applies, and whether the river is open.
What this source covers
Open the current rules and check the river section, season, and special limits.
Flow and weather
Check the latest river reading and forecast before you leave.
What this source covers
Open this page and check the latest safety advice before your trip.
What this source covers
Open this river reading to check the latest level, flow, and update time.
What this source covers
Open this river reading to check the latest level, flow, and update time.
Access and land
Check public entry points, land rules, and seasonal access changes.
What this source covers
Open the land or access page, then check signs before you park or enter.
What this source covers
Open the land or access page, then check signs before you park or enter.
What this source covers
Open the land or access page, then check signs before you park or enter.
More helpful links
Use these links for stocking, safety, and other local details.
What this source covers
Open this page and check the latest safety advice before your trip.
What this source covers
Open this page for more river information and check when it was last updated.
Quick answers
Quick Fremont River answers.
What gauge should I check for the Fremont River?
Start with RiverReports for the quick chart and keep USGS 09330000 open as the official flow backstop before deciding if Bicknell Bottoms or the upper park area is worth the trip.
Where is the safest public access on the Fremont River?
Bicknell Bottoms is the strongest public-water anchor because Utah DWR explicitly identifies it along the Fremont River and manages it for public use, but it is still walk-in only and often requires waders.
Can I just fish the Fremont River through Capitol Reef all day?
That is usually the wrong plan. Capitol Reef notes that the lower reaches through Fruita and downstream do not support the same sport fishery as the upstream gorge, and the park also warns about water-quality exposure in the river.