Fontenelle Reservoir Fishing Report

Was arguably days of dry fly fishing for big trout I have ever seen, ANYWHERE ON THE PLANET! Then, we go back yesterday and it was good fishing but not close to what we experienced the day before. There were so many fish over 20″ sipping spinners all day long that we nearly had to use up the night. The Grey Drakes and PMDS have been quite plentiful and the fish and surely keyed in on them. Each day has proven to be different action at different times caused by the water goes waning back to ‘normal’ goes. One has to remember that this time last year the Green and New Fork were borderline unfloatable and in some places nearly stopped flowing totally in mid August. (reeldealanglers.com)

Dunoir Fishing Adventures holds permits to guide fly fishing on the world class Green River below Fontenelle Dam, near Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge, in Southwestern Wyoming. The Green River below Fontenelle Reservoir is a prized rear water and amazing fishery. There’s nothing better than fishing for big brown and rainbow trout, in this wilderness-like setting, with the chance to see abundant wildlife and seasonal birds. If you’re wanting to escape the big crowds and chase big trout then this is the river for you. The best months to fish the Green River are: May-June and in October. (dunoirfishing.com)

Is like in time, when there were only wild, clear, cold freestone mountain streams; before dams! Wildlife abounds and you may be able to fish for an complete summer without fishing the same place twice. We can access some number of miles of the best private fishing on the three best streams in the region. The best time to fish this region is from July first through October 31st. Come float the Green River with one of our guides and wade-fish on sprawling ranches where the trout are wild and the scenery is boundless. (thesolitaryangler.com)

From Monument Hill, the river follows along a broken ridge for a bit and makes a big loop around Mann’s Flat. Below here the valley becomes more constrained and the aridness of this area becomes more obvious. Ten miles from the Pioneer Trails Landing is the I-80 Bridge. You then pass through James Town and follow along the Palisades Cliffs. You enter Green River just after passing Tollgate Rock and the Expedition Island Landing is just below the 1st bridge. If you continue through Green River for a couple more miles, there’s another landing at a park above Scott Bottom. Float time from Pioneer Trails to Expedition Island is four hours. (wyomingnaturalist.com)

The tailwater below Viva Naughton Reservoir isn’t the nicest place you will ever fish, unless beauty is calculated in the color of rainbows. The beauties that lie in this pocket-sized stream double as hook-bending beasts, wanting to strike a dry fly with an aggressiveness respectable of their weight class. Then it is time to practice your fish-playing expertise, marveling at the number of fish longer than 20 inches and the seeming inability to catch one under 15 inches. (denverpost.com)

Wetland management that mimics natural processes and cycles typically produces the best results by creating the most food and best quality habitat. We open our ditches in late March/early April and run water through the wetland units till late fall/early November. The ensuing drying out of the wetlands helps the soil re-oxygenate and promotes an accelerated rate of decomposition. Many aquatic plants, like pondweed, are more productive in this kind of system rather than in an aneorobic wetland, which without the regular drying become oxygen deprived and decadent. Decomposition rates slow way down and aquatic invertebrates and plants abundance and diversity decrease also. (fws.gov)

The Colorado Basin River Forecast Center has forecasted winter inflows that are somewhat below average. February, March and April forecasted inflow volumes amount to 26, 000 AF 94 of average, 43, 000 AF 82 of average, and 65, 000 AF 76 of average, in that order.   it’s anticipated that releases will be maintained at a baseflow of 950 cfs till Spring 2016. The forecasted April through July inflow volume is 515, 000 AF 71 of average . (Visit this site right here)

The buzz: Reports are skimpy since about the only way to get to any of the mountain lakes is via skis, snowshoes or, maybe, snowmobile. The webcams for Lake Owen and Rob Roy Reservoir point to some open water, so the fishing may be great for those making the trek across the snow to get there. In the meantime, there is no word still on when Highway 130 will open over the Snowy Range. It is not likely it’ll open by Memorial Day but check the WDOT web site for updates. As of the start of the week the U. S. Natural Resources Conservation Service snow-measuring station reports a snow depth of 85 inches at Cinnabar Park, near Rob Roy Reservoir, a 2-inch increase from last week. (wyomingnews.com)

There’s typically a good four months where the northern end at least is covered in ice. So, a well-liked winter activity is ice fishing. The bigger lake trout are targeted off in the deeper water using vertical jigging methods, and the smaller trout and kokanee will be found in shallower water using smaller jigs and baits. It’s becoming well-liked to fish for the burbot through the ice at night time. This may sound crazy, however come out to Flaming Gorge in the dead of winter, in the center of the night and it seems like a whole bunch of small towns lit up by lanterns & head lamps up and down the reservoir. (flaminggorgecountry.com)

Also to being a great fishery, the Green River has a rich history in that it was on the banks of the Upper Green where many of the mountain man fur trading rendezvous events happened in the early 1800s. The Green River may be enjoyed by the beginner and intermediate fisherman, however may also supply a great challenge for the more advanced fishers. The green has an abundant population of Rainbows from 10 to 16 inches, however the possibilities of catching Rainbows over 20 inches are common. Browns of 14 to 18 inches are usually caught, and here again lunkers over 20 inches are available. The Green is home to Cutthroat and Brook trout. (2rivers.net)