The Green River begins high in the majestic peaks and glaciers of Wyoming's Wind River Range. Various wilderness streams and lakes in the headwaters contain brookies, rainbows, lakers, cutthroats, browns, and goldens. The area has hundreds of mountain lakes and 2,000 miles of fishable tributaries. The Green River proper flows through Green River Lakes as it leaves the wilderness area. It's a small but respectable trout stream there.

The river quickly gains volume and is floatable around the frontier town of Pinedale, Wyoming; however, there is much private property there and it is best floated with local guides to avoid access and trespass problems. Local landowners don't seem friendly to anglers, and you must float through private property without stopping. One stretch near the small town of Daniels flows through 25 miles of private property without public access. Several public access points near Big Piney and LaBarge make floats above Fontenelle Reservoir possible. This stretch has nice-sized trout and is fishable after runoff in mid-July. Some of the creeks near Big Piney and Kemmerer have good fishing.

Fontenelle Tailwater
Fontenelle Reservoir has gained a reputation for big browns that can reach ten pounds or more, and float-tubers usually concentrate on the flats near the creek that the highway crosses and down near the dam. Crayfish and minnow imitations, Woolly Buggers, and leeches can work well.

The Green River below Fontenelle Reservoir is known for large trout and solitude, not for numbers of fish.

Although seldom publicized, the section of the Green below Fontenelle Dam has slowly improved as a fishery. Stream improvements and special regulations are responsible. Mark Forsland, head guide and owner of Four Seasons Flyfishers, floated me down the river through the Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge awhile back, and we had excellent action on small stonefly patterns and Tricos. We caught browns, rainbows, and cutthroat trout from 14 to 24 inches long.

The river meanders through stands of cottonwoods and willow thickets; it's an oasis in the high desert plateau, and best fished from July through October. I now regularly fish this stretch.

The water is not easy to fish, which is why it has never gained popularity. The pods of trout are spread out between sections that are fishless. The river has only a few hundred fish per mile, but many of them are over 18 inches long. A guide is invaluable in helping you find the fish on the shelf drops.

Also, the area is far from a city or lodging, and nagging winds and storms can whip across the unprotected high desert, creating casting difficulties for novice and expert casters alike. The fishing can be as fickle as the weather, but if you're persistent, you'll be rewarded.

Streamers work well when there isn't too much moss floating in the river. Occasionally, anglers catch 6- to 20-pound trout that come up from Flaming Gorge Reservoir. A fall run of Kokanee salmon also provides action as trout follow the egg feast upstream. San Juan Worms, egg patterns, Pheasant-tails, Prince Nymphs, hoppers, and Stimulators are popular patterns. Midges hatch throughout an often brutally cold winter. Occasional mayfly and stonefly hatches can occur before runoff in April if the river is free of ice.

There are no difficult rapids below Fontenelle Reservoir, so floating in a raft, kick-boat, or canoe is easy. Numerous undeveloped access points allow various floats and wade-fishing. A detailed map or a guide can help you locate the access points. The river usually muddies below the Big Sandy River, and below there it is catfish and trout water until you hit the expansive Flaming Gorge Reservoir, also known as "the Gorge."

Flaming Gorge Reservoir has become world-famous for its exceptional lake trout, brown trout, rainbow trout, Kokanee salmon, and smallmouth bass fishing. It produced a previous world-record 33-pound brown trout, a 51-pound lake trout, and a 26-pound rainbow trout. The bass are generally stunted but they are plentiful, and some get up to four or five pounds. It's fun to fish the rocky shores with crayfish patterns for these scrappy bass. The trout are often too deep for good fly-rod fishing, but in spring and fall or at night, float-tubers and kick-boaters catch them in the bays.

The reservoir collects the river's silt and adds nutrients to the water, making possible the fabulous fishing below Flaming Gorge Dam. Despite its few problems, the Green River downstream of Flaming Gorge Dam has become a mecca for anglers, and a world-class fishery. It has something for everyone who enjoys trout fishing. It's a place where fishing dreams can come true.