How to use this guide
This covers the roughly 25-mile tailwater below Flaming Gorge Dam, from the dam down to the Colorado-Utah/Wyoming state line in Browns Park, inside Utah. Everything here was checked in October 2026 against the 2026 Utah Fishing Guidebook from the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR), plus the other agencies listed in the Sources section. UDWR posts in-season updates and emergency changes that override the printed guidebook — check wildlife.utah.gov before every trip.
The River at a Glance
The Green River below Flaming Gorge Dam is a bottom-release tailwater that begins at the dam near Dutch John, Daggett County, Utah, and runs through red-rock canyon into Browns Park before crossing into Colorado. Anglers commonly split the river into three reaches: the A Section (Flaming Gorge Dam to Little Hole, about 7 miles), the B Section (Little Hole to Indian Crossing, about 9 miles) and the C Section (Indian Crossing to the Colorado state line in Browns Park, about 9 miles). The corridor is managed by the Ashley National Forest within the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area; the river itself and its fishing rules are set by UDWR. UDWR designates the Green River below the dam a Blue Ribbon Fishery. UDWR's guidebook also warns that threatened and endangered fish species occur in the Green River; any you catch must be released immediately (see the prohibited/listed species list in the guidebook).
| Reach | At a glance |
|---|---|
| A Section — Dam to Little Hole (~7 mi) | Walk-and-wade trail follows the entire reach; heaviest angling pressure and highest trout counts. |
| B Section — Little Hole to Indian Crossing (~9 mi) | Mostly floated; bigger water, fewer people. |
| C Section — Indian Crossing to Browns Park / state line (~9 mi) | Most remote reach; multi-day float country. |
Flies and lures only, with a slot limit. UDWR's statewide rule for this stretch ("Colorado state line in Browns Park upstream to Flaming Gorge Dam") requires artificial flies and lures only and sets a protected trout slot — see Section 2 for the exact limit.
Utah DWR Rules & Licenses
Source: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, 2026 Utah Fishing Guidebook, "Rules for specific waters — Green River," Daggett, Carbon, Emery, Grand, San Juan, Uintah and Wayne counties entry for the reach from the Colorado state line in Browns Park upstream to Flaming Gorge Dam. Summarized in our own words; read the guidebook for exact wording. Emergency in-season changes override it.
| Rule (Flaming Gorge Dam downstream to the Colorado state line in Browns Park, 2026) | Detail |
|---|---|
| Trout limit | 3 trout per day: 2 under 15 inches, plus 1 over 22 inches. |
| Protected slot | All trout from 15 to 22 inches must be released immediately. |
| Gear | Artificial flies and lures only. |
| Boats | Closed to fishing from a boat with a motor between the Utah–Colorado state line and Flaming Gorge Dam. |
| Other species | No limit for burbot, northern pike, smallmouth bass or walleye — these may not be released and must be immediately killed if caught. |
| Listed species | Threatened/endangered fish occur in the river; release any immediately. |
This is a statewide rule written for the entire reach from the dam down to the Colorado line, which covers Sections A, B and C in Utah. It does not vary by section the way some rivers do — check the current guidebook for any new emergency changes posted after printing.
Utah fishing licenses (2026, UDWR fee schedule)
| License | Price |
|---|---|
| Resident 1-year fishing (age 18–64) | $40.00 |
| Resident 1-year fishing (age 65+) | $31.00 |
| Resident 3-day fishing | $19.00 |
| Resident 7-day fishing | $30.00 |
| Nonresident 1-year fishing (age 18+) | $120.00 |
| Nonresident 3-day fishing (all ages) | $44.00 |
| Nonresident 7-day fishing (all ages) | $91.00 |
Per UDWR, anglers age 12 and older need a license; anglers under 12 may fish free. Multiyear discounts are available on 1-year licenses. Prices current as of October 2026 — check wildlife.utah.gov/fees for current rates and any new permits.
Fishing from the Wyoming side
Flaming Gorge straddles Utah and Wyoming. UDWR sells a reciprocal permit so a Utah license also covers part of the Wyoming side of the reservoir; the river below the dam itself is entirely in Utah. UDWR's guidebook lists a Wyoming-resident reciprocal Flaming Gorge permit for $59. Daily bag/slot and gear rules differ between the two states' waters — see UDWR's "Fishing at Flaming Gorge" comparison page before fishing reservoir water on the Wyoming side.
Releases & Gauges
Flows below Flaming Gorge Dam are controlled releases set by the Bureau of Reclamation under an annual Flaming Gorge Operations Plan, developed with the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program and other partners. Releases typically include spring peak flows aimed at native fish habitat, followed by a baseflow season, and can include hourly fluctuations tied to power generation.
Reclamation's operations page has, through 2026, also noted basin-wide drought response actions sending extra water from Flaming Gorge Reservoir toward Lake Powell, on top of normal operations. Reclamation says release plans are subject to change with hydrology and weather, and asks anyone recreating on or near the river below the dam to monitor conditions directly.
| Resource | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| USGS 09234500 — Green River near Greendale, UT | Streamflow and gage height immediately below the dam, covering Sections A/B/C. |
| Reclamation Flaming Gorge water operations page | Current reservoir elevation, recent releases and the active operations plan. |
| Colorado Basin River Forecast Center — GRZU1 | Hourly scheduled release patterns for Flaming Gorge Dam. |
USGS data are provisional and may be revised. Release schedules can change with little notice, which changes wading depth and wadeable water quickly — check all three sources the morning of your trip, not the night before.
Practical notes
- Compare today's reading against the past few days; a sharp change means the dam operators changed the release.
- Section A below the dam can rise and fall within a day under hourly power-generation patterns — watch water creeping up around your waders.
- This guide does not give a single "safe" wading flow. Your safety depends on where you stand, your footing and your experience.
Access: Sections A, B & C
Ashley National Forest / Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area access points (2026 fee information)
| Site | Reach served | Fee (per Ashley NF) |
|---|---|---|
| Spillway Boat Launch | Top of A Section, at the dam | $5/vehicle/day, $15/week, $35/year |
| Little Hole Boat Launch | Bottom of A Section / top of B Section | $5/vehicle/day, $15/week, $35/year |
| Indian Crossing | Bottom of B Section / top of C Section | Developed boating/camping site; check current Ashley NF fee notice |
Ashley National Forest notes these fee sites are open year-round, and that America the Beautiful interagency annual passes ($80) are honored at Forest Service day-use and boating sites; check the current fee notice, since the Forest has proposed updated site fees for 2026 — confirm the posted rate at the self-pay station or ashley NF's passes page before you go.
The A Section trail
The A Section has a maintained riverside trail from the Spillway down to Little Hole, which is the main reason it is popular with walk-and-wade anglers; it parallels nearly the whole reach.
Floating the river
- Sections A, B and C are commonly floated in drift boats and rafts; B and C see less foot traffic.
- Per UDWR's rule above, fishing from a boat with a motor is closed between the dam and the Colorado state line.
- Multi-day trips continuing into Browns Park and Colorado should plan logistics (shuttle, camping permits) with Ashley NF and Bureau of Land Management Colorado information, since land ownership changes downstream.
Land status
The river corridor through Sections A, B and C runs largely through the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, managed by Ashley National Forest. Respect any posted private inholdings and tribal or state land boundaries you encounter, and use designated access points.
Approximate Food & Hatch Chart
Windows below are approximate. They summarize commonly reported patterns for this tailwater and vary with releases, water temperature and weather. No agency publishes an official hatch chart for the Green River. Check a local fly shop or recent reports for current activity.
| Food source | Approx. window | Typical sizes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midges | Year-round, strong Nov–Mar | #18–24 | Cluster patterns in slow water and eddies. |
| Blue-winged olives | Mar–May, Sep–Oct | #16–22 | Best on overcast, cooler days. |
| Scuds | Year-round | #14–18 | Tan, orange and gray; depth and color matter. |
| Pale morning duns | Jun–Aug | #16–18 | Summer mayfly on all three sections. |
| Cicadas | Late May–late Jun | #6–10 | Adult periodical cicadas falling off canyon walls; the signature hatch. |
| Caddis | Spring–fall | #14–18 | Evenings and riffle edges. |
| Tricos | Jul–Sep mornings | #20–24 | Spinner falls on flatter water. |
Month-by-month at a glance (approximate)
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Midges | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
| BWO | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | |||||||
| Scuds | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
| PMD | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Cicada | ● | ● | ||||||||||
| Caddis | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | |||||
| Trico | ● | ● | ● |
Remember: this water is artificial flies and lures only, with a protected 15–22 inch trout slot. Read Section 2 before you go.
The Fly Box & Rigging
A starter trout box for the Green River. Statewide rule for this reach is artificial flies and lures only — no bait.
| Fly | Imitates | Sizes | How to fish it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zebra midge / WD-40 | Midge larva/pupa | #18–22 | Dropper under an indicator, all seasons. |
| Scud (tan/orange/olive) | Freshwater scud | #14–18 | Deep, near weed beds. |
| Pheasant Tail | Mayfly nymph | #14–20 | General searching nymph. |
| Parachute Adams / BWO | Mayfly duns | #16–22 | During an olive hatch. |
| Foam cicada | Adult cicada | #6–10 | Tight to canyon walls, late May–June. |
| PMD dun & cripple | Pale morning duns | #16–18 | Summer mornings and evenings. |
| Elk Hair Caddis | Adult caddis | #14–18 | Evenings and riffles. |
| Trico spinner | Spent mayfly | #20–24 | Morning flats, late summer. |
Suggested rigging
- Rod: a 9-foot 5-weight covers most of the year; carry a 6-weight for windy cicada-season days with heavy foam flies.
- Leader: 9–12 feet tapered to 5X–6X for midges and scuds; shorter, heavier leaders for cicada dries.
- This is technical, heavily fished water — long, fine tippet and accurate drifts matter more than fly choice most days.
- Check UDWR's current gear rules for this reach before you fish; it is artificial flies and lures only.
Catch-and-release tips. Wet your hands, keep fish in the water when possible, and release any protected-slot trout (15–22 inches) and any listed threatened/endangered species immediately, per UDWR.
Live Conditions & Resources
Scan or tap before you drive.
| USGS near Greendale | UDWR guidebook | Reclamation releases |
|---|
| Resource | Link |
|---|---|
| USGS 09234500 (Green River near Greendale, UT) | https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/USGS-09234500/ |
| Bureau of Reclamation — Flaming Gorge water operations | https://www.usbr.gov/uc/water/crsp/cs/fgd.html |
| Colorado Basin River Forecast Center — GRZU1 release schedule | https://water.noaa.gov/gauges/grzu1 |
| UDWR 2026 Utah Fishing Guidebook (PDF) | https://wildlife.utah.gov/guidebooks/fishing_guidebook.pdf |
| UDWR fishing license fees | https://wildlife.utah.gov/fees |
| UDWR — Fishing at Flaming Gorge (UT/WY rule comparison) | https://wildlife.utah.gov/flaminggorge |
| Ashley National Forest — Flaming Gorge NRA | https://www.fs.usda.gov/r04/ashley/recreation/flaming-gorge-national-rec reation-area-0 |
| Ashley National Forest — Little Hole Boat Launch | https://www.fs.usda.gov/r04/ashley/recreation/little-hole-boat-launch-area |
| Ashley National Forest — Spillway Boat Launch | https://www.fs.usda.gov/r04/ashley/recreation/spillway-boat-launch-area |
| More free guides | https://learningtoflyfish.com/field-guides |
Safety
Fly fishing involves real risks. These are general precautions, not a guarantee of safety.
- Changing flows. Releases from Flaming Gorge Dam can change within a day, including hourly power-generation fluctuations in the A Section. Check the current release and gauge before wading out.
- Cold tailwater. Water near the dam stays cold year-round; dress for hypothermia risk even in summer.
- Boating. Only float water that matches your skill, wear a life jacket, and scout before committing; motorized fishing is closed on this reach.
- Canyon terrain. Loose rock and steep banks exist along parts of the trail and float sections; watch your footing.
- Remote country. Cell coverage is limited in the canyon below the dam. Tell someone your plan and expected return time.
- Weather. Leave the water if a thunderstorm approaches — a graphite rod conducts electricity.
- Emergencies. Call 911. Daggett County is sparsely populated; response times can be long.
Sources & Disclaimer
- Utah Division of Wildlife Resources: 2026 Utah Fishing Guidebook (Green River specific-waters rule for the reach from the Colorado state line in Browns Park upstream to Flaming Gorge Dam; license and permit fee tables; general licensing rules; Flaming Gorge Wyoming-side notes); wildlife.utah.gov/fees; wildlife.utah.gov/flaminggorge.
- U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Upper Colorado Region: Flaming Gorge water operations page and the Flaming Gorge Operation Plan, May 2026 – April 2027.
- U.S. Geological Survey: site records and live readings for 09234500, Green River near Greendale, UT.
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration / Colorado Basin River Forecast Center: Flaming Gorge Dam hourly release schedule (gauge GRZU1).
- USDA Forest Service, Ashley National Forest: Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, Spillway Boat Launch Area and Little Hole Boat Launch Area pages; Ashley NF Passes page.
- Hatch and fly information reflects commonly reported patterns for this tailwater and is presented as approximate guidance, not agency data.
Disclaimer
This guide is provided for general information. It was checked against the sources above in October 2026, and we work to keep it accurate, but errors can occur, and regulations, in-season updates, access, fees, dam releases and river conditions change without notice. Always confirm current rules with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and current flows with the Bureau of Reclamation and USGS before you go. Respect posted land boundaries and obey signage. Fly fishing, boating and wading involve inherent risks — check releases before you go, never wade beyond your ability, and leave the water when storms approach; your safety is your own responsibility. LearningToFlyFish.com is not affiliated with the State of Utah, the Bureau of Reclamation, the USDA Forest Service or the USGS. Full disclaimer: learningtoflyfish.com/disclaimer.
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