Fly fishing report · West

Green River

A Green River report for the Flaming Gorge tailwater and Greendale gauge, with sections, flows, hatches, boat logistics, and source checks.

Check flow & weather

Today's river scoreHigh source confidence

Great

Best option: Wade.

Wading is in play only where your chosen access has clear footing, legal entry, and no forced crossings.

Updated Jul 13, 11:17 PM UTCUsually refreshes about every 45 minutes

Recommended approachWade

Mode scores adjust the river-wide score for the risks of wading, bank fishing, or floating.

Wade · Best fit96/100

Wading is in play only where your chosen access has clear footing, legal entry, and no forced crossings.

Bank / edgeCheck

This report does not describe this as a primary mode. Verify legal access, depth, launches, and retreat options before planning around it.

Float96/100

A float is in play where this report supports boat access and wind, releases, and shuttle logistics are manageable.

Confirm before you leave

Flow and weather right now.

Use the flow trend to confirm the score before you leave. Weather can change the safest and most productive fishing window.

River strategy

Flows, wind, and section choice shape the day.

The Green below Flaming Gorge is a clear tailwater where flow, section, boat traffic, and wind decide tactics. Use the Greendale gauge, then pick a realistic wade or float plan.

RiverReports and USGS Greendale flow are the live checks for this report.
A Section can be technical and crowded; B and C sections add distance and logistics.
Midges, BWOs, scuds, PMDs, cicadas, caddis, and terrestrials all have windows.
Use Utah rules and access sources before building a harvest, shuttle, or camping plan.

Why this score moved

FlowHelps score

USGS shows 1,410 cfs with a falling about 52% over about 6 hours trend. same-date USGS history (1964-2025, 62 readings) puts the normal middle range around 1,140 cfs-2,810 cfs. Flow is inside the same-date normal range, so weather, temperature, and access become the next checks.

SeasonHelps score

Summer: Cicadas, caddis, PMDs, terrestrials, and boat traffic all matter.

Water temperatureHelps score

USGS water temperature is about 57F, with no heat stop triggered.

Public alertsHelps score

No active NWS alert was returned for this forecast point.

Fishing usefulnessHelps score

Skip the day when canyon wind ruins line control, when flows and boat traffic make your chosen section crowded or unsafe, when shuttle or takeout logistics are uncertain, or when you would be forcing a long float without a clean exit plan.

Read the water

What changes the plan.

The Green fishes best when flows are stable, wind is manageable, and the plan fits the section. Clear water rewards long leaders, smaller flies, and patient presentations.

Stable low to moderate flow

Use long leaders, small nymphs, dries, and sight-fishing discipline.

Higher release

Focus on banks, soft edges, streamer lines, and boat-based tactics.

Windy days

Shorten casts, use heavier dry-dropper rigs, or pick protected sections.

Clear sun

Expect spooky fish and strong sight-fishing pressure.

Field plan

Fish it with intention.

Best flows

Use the Greendale trend more than a single magic number. Stable releases are the best all-around trout window; higher or changing releases usually push the plan toward banks, streamer lanes, or a float with solid shuttle logistics.

When to skip

Local plan

Start by matching section to day length: A Section for shorter wade-focused trips, Little Hole as a key access and takeout checkpoint, and B or C only when the weather, crew, and shuttle all support a longer canyon commitment.

Backup water

If Green River wind, crowding, or shuttle logistics look wrong, pivot to the Duchesne for a freestone-style trout day or to the Provo when you want a different Utah technical-trout plan closer to Wasatch services.

Hatches & flies

Bring a flexible box.

TimingWhat to watchUseful flies

WinterMidges, scuds, sowbugs, tiny mayflies, and slow tailwater troutZebra midge, scud, sowbug, BWO nymph, small leech

Reviewed pattern · report says “Zebra midge”Zebra MidgeLook for a very slim tapered thread body, evenly spaced contrasting wire rib, a small bead, and no tail or wing. The reviewed classic is black with silver wire and a silver bead. Red, olive, brown, glass-bead, jig-hook, resin-coated, or tailed forms must remain labeled variations rather than replacing the classic identity.See photos & how to fish it

Reviewed family · report says “scud”Scud Fly PatternsScud patterns typically use a curved hook, tapered dubbed body, shellback, rib segmentation, antennae, and brushed legs. Olive, tan, gray, orange, weighted, bead-body, and pregnant forms remain labeled—not aliases for one recipe.See family guide + 3 more reviewed guides in the Fly Box

March to MayBWOs, midges, caddis, worms after bumps, and early streamer windowsBWO emerger, midge cluster, caddis pupa, San Juan worm, sculpin

Reviewed family · report says “BWO emerger”Blue-Winged Olive PatternsBWO describes a hatch group, not one fly. Nymph, emerger, dry, cripple, and spinner profiles must stay separate because they occupy different parts of the water column.See family guide

Reviewed family · report says “midge cluster”Midge Patterns by StageMidge wording can mean a threadlike larva, wing-padded pupa, film emerger, tiny adult, or visible cluster. Those profiles fish at different depths.See family guide + 3 more reviewed guides in the Fly Box

June to AugustCicadas where present, caddis, PMDs, terrestrials, and evening dry-fly windowsCicada, PMD emerger, elk hair caddis, ant, hopper, small streamer

Reviewed family · report says “Cicada”Cicada PatternsCicada species differ in size, color, wing tone, and seasonal timing. The family map emphasizes the broad body, transparent roof-like wings, and strong legs without assigning one exact local species.See family guide

Reviewed family · report says “PMD emerger”Pale Morning Dun PatternsPMD names an insect group, not one fly. Pale nymphs, trailing-shuck emergers, upright or low-riding duns, cripples, and spent-wing spinners stay visibly separate.See family guide + 4 more reviewed guides in the Fly Box

September to NovemberBWOs, midges, October caddis, terrestrials, and streamer daysBWO emerger, zebra midge, October caddis, beetle, sculpin

Reviewed pattern · report says “zebra midge”Zebra MidgeLook for a very slim tapered thread body, evenly spaced contrasting wire rib, a small bead, and no tail or wing. The reviewed classic is black with silver wire and a silver bead. Red, olive, brown, glass-bead, jig-hook, resin-coated, or tailed forms must remain labeled variations rather than replacing the classic identity.See photos & how to fish it + 3 more reviewed guides in the Fly Box

Build the day around the section, not just the fly pattern.

Use small nymphs and scuds below an indicator when fish are not rising.

Switch to dry flies only after you confirm active surface feeding.

Use streamers on cloudy days, higher water, and banks with depth.

Respect boat lanes, wade anglers, and limited canyon exit points.

Access & responsibility

Know the entry. Know the exit.

Check Utah DWR rules, Fish Utah, current emergency changes, and any Flaming Gorge or Green River section-specific rules before fishing.

Flaming Gorge Dam and A Section

The best-known clear tailwater reach and a common starting point.

Little Hole

Important takeout and access context; verify current status and fees.

B and C sections

Longer floats with more shuttle and weather exposure.

Transparent sources

Check the facts behind the plan.

Last material review: 2026-06-01

regulationUtah DWR fishing information regulationUtah DWR guidebooks and fishing rules accessUtah DWR Fish Utah map flowRiverReports Green River near Greendale flowUSGS 09234500 Green River near Greendale accessUtah DWR stream access guidance safetyNational Weather Service point near Greendale

Common questions

Before you leave.

What should I check first before fishing Green River?+

Check RiverReports or USGS 09234500, dam release context, weather, wind, Utah rules, and shuttle status.

Where should a first-time visitor start on Green River?+

First-time visitors usually orient around the Flaming Gorge tailwater and A Section, then decide whether to wade or float.

Can I wade Green River?+

Yes in some areas, especially at manageable flows, but many anglers use boats and shuttles.

What flies should I bring for Green River?+

Bring the seasonal fly box, then adjust size, weight, and color to the water level, clarity, temperature, and fishing pressure you find.