Tips by Dennis Breer
Owner, Trout Creek Flies, the premier guide service on the river

(Dennis wrote these as part of a monthly column for Utah Outdoors magazine. This is part 1 of a 4-part series.)

April/May/June
July/Aug/Sept
Oct/Nov/Dec

January, February, March

The Green River is now in the clutches of winter's cold air and lower water temperatures, but the fish are still biting.

One of the more closely held secrets for many of us that live in the Mountain West is that January and February, most years, have more blue-sky sunshine days in them than there are days with miserable weather. So, while the rest of the country thinks we are bombarded by snow and cold, we know that there are considerable stretches of weather suitable for us to spend time doing a variety of outdoor activities, including fishing.

Now I know many anglers who hang up their fishing rods in the fall not dreaming to fish until the next spring, some of them not even until summer arrives. But there are also those year-round die-hards that will fish under any conditions, anytime, anyplace out there somewhere. While we might like to change the minds about what a fishing season is to the first group, their absence does allow the second group lots of solitude when and wherever they fish. Hummm! Maybe I should not mention that! Oh well! The point I am trying to make: There are some great days and great fishing available this time of year. Take time to enjoy the shoulder seasons on the Green River when it is less pressured.

Over the past several issues I have provided you with some of the most important aspects of winter trout fishing on the Green River. In fact, much of the information I provided might be well suited to winter trout fishing on a number of rivers and streams. But, one of the most consistent things about winter fishing is that overall fishing conditions change ever so slowly. So, at the risk of sounding repetitive, I am going to reiterate some of the more important information previously reported.

First, locate the trout, then fish for them, don't just fish the water. Wintering trout tend to group (pod) in areas that have slower velocity habitat and vacate those areas where their energy expenditures exceed their dietary intakes (i.e., heavy riffles or strong pocket water).

Next, nymph fishing will produce the majority of the fish caught; streamers may produce some great fishing and outstanding fish as well; dry flies can be fished when the right conditions pre- sent themselves (always be on the watch for some good winter midge or Baetis activity). Then, dress appropriately, think layered clothing that is easy to adjust. Finally and most importantly, have fun.

February

Winter’s cold has finally gripped the Green River. But, as winters go, this one (2000) has been very dry, lacking significant moisture in the few snowfalls to date. In between the cold snaps and the few snowy days there have been some very nice winter days to fish on.

The other day I travelled to Little Hole for a few hours of fishing. I didn't walk far from the car and in a two-hour period caught and landed 10 nice trout, plus a few that caught and released me. Several were nice rainbows, one cut- throat and three brown trout of which one was 18 inches.

The trout were midging on the surface everywhere you looked. During the time spent fishing, I was able to sight cast to a number of individual trout and half a dozen nice groups of feeding fish. This goes on all winter long.

My approach was a small Griffiths gnat trailed by a small midge pupa. The Griffiths caught a few fish but was mainly an indicator for the smaller midge pupa.

By 2 p.m. I had caught enough fish to feel my day a success and headed back to the house. It would have been a success even if zero fish were caught,

just a nice day to be out and about. Oh, did I mention that there was only one other angler on the river!

When the air is cold or when the wind blows, I intend to throw a few more logs on the fire:, maybe even tie a few of my favorite flies. But when there are days as above, you might just find me on the river fishing, daydreaming, or maybe even just watching the trout rise. Even in winter, even if we can only escape for a few hours, the river is still a sanctuary!

March

March On the Green River is a time of awakening. The shorter days of winter give way to longer ones that provide increasing periods of sunshine along the river corridor. Sure, winter can return at any moment, but it is this increase in light that stimulates the earliest movements of nature away from the grips of winter, in us humans as well as fish. This awakening is a reversal of what we experience in early winter when the trout become almost docile.

Now the trout become more active in their feeding, almost aggressive after a winter's rest. We even see the same aggressiveness within aquatic insects, with a species of winter caddis and slender winter stones joining the ever-pre- sent midges. Even a few terrestrials such as ants and small beetles will start to stir.

Rainbow trout, too, will respond to their urges to reproduce and will visibly gather in some areas for the spawn. The river's movement away from winter is a slow process and it begins in March, when there are still opportunities for solitude and great fishing.

While the river is in change, nymph fishing will still be the most solid approach. There will be opportunities to fish with midge patterns on the surface for periods most days. But to take full advantage of the trout's aggressiveness, my experience suggests that bright Scuds with Midge trailers produce the best overall success. That setup is especially good when targeting the larger trout that allow themselves to be seen by observant anglers.

Some of the most effective patterns will be large Scuds in sizes 12 to 10. Good colors are orange, pink or tan. Some anglers prefer glo-bugs in the same colors, or simple midge pupas in sizes 16-18-20, in red, black, brown or olive.

On the surface, try the classic Griffiths gnat in sizes 18-20. But watch for the large winter caddis (a blond colored size 10), or the slender winter stones (size 14 black flying ant matches it well).

Don't forget streamers-woolly buggers in sizes 2-4-6, black, olive, tan (ginger). Also try some in white.