As of mid-April, Provo River Guide Service has held a permit for the upper Green River below Fontanelle Reservoir in Wyoming. We are permitted to fish the zero section, which is just below the dam about 5 miles to the entrance of Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge.
This fall has presented us a few challenges on the upper Green River with lower water flows and the government shut down playing a factor. Luckily, the government was able to figure things out and the fishing has far exceeded our expectations.
Recently I had the pleasure to guide long-time client, Jim, and his son, Michael, on one of the most epic trips to date! I have since decided to share it with will all of our Provo River Guide Service clients what this adventure was like. It is hard to put in words how exciting the fishing is on the upper Green River. I will try my best to describe what the last two days of fishing was like on the trip. On our first day, I decided to meet Jim and Michael at the camp ground at seven in the morning to get an early start. After setting up the shuttle, we were in the boat and on the river around 7:30 AM, just as the sun was coming up. The weather was a perfect, light drizzle and not a touch of wind. On our first pass in the 'camp ground' hole, both Jim and Michael hooked up on 16"-20" rainbow trout. We spent the next couple of hours back rowing that run. Unbelievably, we didn’t do one pass through the run with out either Michael or Jim hooking up or both at the same time. You know you are in for a good day when Jim tells you that his trip is already made and the rest of the day’s catch are just a bonus.
Well, the next two days proved to be just as good as our first couple of hours. We had nonstop action with big rainbow trout and brown trout to the net continuously. At the end of the trip I asked Jim to share his experience of the Green River. This was his reply...
“I have fly fished the rivers of Alaska 5 different times and I have fished the Upper Green River in Wyoming 4 times. There are more similarities than there are differences. Both experiences are best appreciated within a drift boat with some wading in key holes. Both regions not only give the angler plenty of opportunity at real trophies, but also provide a scenic experience where moose, eagles, and water fowl are regular sightings. Like Alaska, the Upper Green River provides trophy fishing for multiple species; on the Green it's Rainbows, Browns, Cutbows, and Cutthroats.”
“Every time I have fished the Upper Green, I, and my fishing partner, have caught trout that are worthy of being compared to those found in Alaska: 20" Snake River Cutthroat, 23" brown trout, and a 24" rainbow trout are three such examples. The Upper Green River is truly a great trophy fishery and can stand side by side the best fly fishing rivers in Alaska.”
-Jeff Harwin
Jim with a brown trout, fly fishing in Wyoming
Jeff and Michael with a rainbow trout, Wyoming fly fishing
Micheal with a rainbow trout, Wyoming fly fishing with a moose
Jim with a Kokanee on the upper Green River