This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Ryan Kelly — the Green River Fly Fisher — sent in this report.
"....sipidy do dah, gulpity eh, my, oh, my, what a beautiful day. Plenty of sunshine coming my way. Sipidy do dah, gulpity eh..."
This little jingle sums up the current state of Green River fishing. Plenty of sunshine, fish sipping midges, and gulping blue wings.
Morning fishing is slow probably due to the fact that the river has been super cold. This juxtaposition of unseasonable warm air temps with unseasonable cold water has most likely been caused by a thermocline tango that the reservoir recently performed. River temps have dropped below 40 degrees making the fish enter into a state of lethargy. It could be the fact that at roughly 38-39 degrees water achieves its densest point and maybe its harder to swim through it. Any who, that was a ridiculously long tangent pointing out that the water is indeed, cold. Fortunately, by the afternoon the bugs warm up and a simultaneous midge and BWO hatch occurs. This makes for a few hours of outstanding fly consumption.
Back to the absolute density of water tangent.
Before the selective withdrawal system was installed at the end of the disco era, insects were merely "staying alive" in the cold water. The 38-degree water would not allow for insect growth. This kept the invertebrate biomass of the river low resulting in small fish. Most of the big fish resided in Brown's Park, where the water had a chance to warm up. That all changed with the installation of the selective withdrawal gates, allowing the Bureau of Reclamation to pull water from different depths in the reservoir.
Nowadays the river stays between 40 and 60 degree, which is ideal for trout and aquatic insects. Water above 60 is too warm for the turbines and could cause damage to the hydroelectric system. This is fortunate because the federal government would happily increase the temps on behalf of endangered fish down stream. If this were to occur, it could be damaging to the delicate ecosystem the trout now enjoy.
On the other hand, the Green River may be saved by the endangered fish because they are a significant road block to our eastern neighbors wanting to take water from the over-allocated system. On that battlefront, the Daggett County commission is considering a push from Trout Unlimited to seek permanent wild and scenic status for the river. It currently is managed as such, but it does not have listed status. It is one of many issues in the Public Lands initiative that is being discussed. The outcome in either direction could effect the river for better or worse. If anyone out there has feeling toward the river, you may want to contact the Daggett County commission and let your sentiments be heard.
The River lost one of its guide fixtures this week. Tom Knight who has guided the Green since mullets were popular outside of the hockey community, old Moe was a fish, not just an Outfitter, and Kong (another big fish) was so known he had a hole named after him. He had to call it quits do to physical ailment. The claim is that his shoulders are warn from years of repetitive rowing, but I think it's from years of casting to and fighting giant fish. Tom has helped thousands of guests from around the world find their Green River experience. He truly loved the river and was a great ambassador. I don't want to eulogize him to much, for he is not dead, but he will be missed. Speaking of guides, the Tribune did a great piece on Spinner Fall guide Colby Crossland that embodies what I feel is the most rewarding part of being a guide, and that is the role of a teacher. It has some great cinematography and a different perspective than the norm. Well, I wasted enough time at the keyboard. Time to get out and catch some sun and sippers...with my camera that is.