Green River - lots of pictures

[seppala]

Went to the Green River in Utah last week. Great fishing, great scenery, great group of guys.

And it's a bit different from the Smokies.



























I'm not sure who this creepy looking guy is, but the browns are nice.

[Petey]

That is awesome Seppala!

Give me some details... details... Did you guys do a multi day float trip? Did you guys do camp along the river bank or did you all have a base camp you operated from? I see there is still some snow on the ground, I take it that is melt off? Would you float a drifter down it?

Love the pictures man, Marmot went out there last year and came back with great stories and pics too. Definitely a place I am going to have to get out too.

Good stuff!

Petey

[seppala]

Petey,

We would just float the A section every day, which is 7 miles from the dam to the Little Hole takeout. There's so many pools and so many fish that I noticed something different everyday.

We stayed in a condo not far from Dutch John, so we were only 5 or 6 miles from the dam.

Most of the higher elevations were still covered in snow, but it should be melting pretty quick (according to my cousin from Wyoming).

There were plenty of drift boats on the river, and they had no problem. The water was flowing at 1400 cfs this year, but apparently it usually flows at 800. My cousin was saying that 1400 made the rapids quite a bit easier, for both pontoons and drifters. I guess the boats get dinged up at 800, but nothing terrible.

I'd recommend it to anyone, just for the numbers of fish and the scenery.

One thing I'll say is this: Those fish are D-U-M! They wouldn't spook unless you stepped on 'em, and if you did that they'd be back in 5 minutes, actively feeding. But, they were finicky as all get out. Unless you matched the bugs exactly, you might as well not be fishing.

[jerrys]

Good report, Seppala!
I've floated it two differenet trips with a guide and had really great times. But I saw lots of people floating in pontoons and wondered how much trouble you could get into with one of these floaters. Did you have any trouble with the faster rapids? Or any other aspects with the pontoon? I'd love to fish it this way. As for flies, we used large cicada patterns the first trip, and then small round brown foam ants on the last visit. Super fish , but the scenery was even more spectacular. I sure want another crack at it. Thanks for the report and photos.
Jerry

[seppala]

Jerry,

At 1400 cfs, the pontoons had no trouble at all. The Mother-In-Law rapid was a bit hairy, but nothing to worry about too much. I had a few guys tell me which way to go through the rapids, so that wasn't an issue. But from what I understand the rapids are a bit more lively at 800 cfs. My cousin said in years past they portaged around a couple of the nastier rapids.

It was my first time using a pontoon, but I got the handle of it pretty quick. They're a great way to fish slower water (especially with flippers on) and it's nice to be able to beach it and wade fish any spots you like.

The flies I used were #18-22 BWO and Parachute Adams. The rest of the group primarily used nymphs, but I'm much better fishing dries (which still isn't saying much).

We were a bit early for the good BWO hatches, but there were still some coming off. The fish were mostly slurping tiny midges, but they'd take a BWO if it was small enough.

[Marmot]

Killer report seppala.. Nice pics .. Gotta love the Green..!! Got me wantin to head back out there.. Let me see, if I left in the morning.. Hmm...

Marmot

[Flyman]

Great pics, makes me want to go even more That river is on my to-do list for sure.

[Tentwing]

Marmot if you leave in the morning I'll call outta work and I'll meet ya at the first Cookville exit off of I-40 at dark thirty

[jerrys]

Seppala,
If you go back, let me know and I'll send you one of the foam ants that will probably work all summer. Simple to tie and work on most water, including the Cumberland.
Jerry