Green River browns and smallmouth shift into fall patterns

What's biting

What's next

Expect water temps to hold in the high 40s to around 50°F through the weekend unless a hard cold snap pushes them lower. The gauge at 09234500 is the warmer and lower-flow reading, so it is the better bet for comfortable wading and for fish holding in softer seams. Heavy flow at 09261000 means fish will be tight to banks, eddies and slack water rather than mid-channel. Plan around the warmest part of the day, late morning through mid-afternoon, when a degree or two of warming can wake up smallmouth and walleye. Brown trout often feed in low light, so early and late windows are worth a look. Fishing the Midwest notes that fall walleyes respond well to a plain bottom-bouncer rig with a nightcrawler, and a slower presentation suits these cold readings. First Quarter moon puts the best light-change feeding periods around midday and early evening. Check state regs before harvesting.

Context

For this part of Utah, mid-October typically marks the transition from late summer patterns to cold-water fall behavior. Water in the high 40s is on schedule for the season, and the fall brown trout run is usually in full swing now. Smallmouth and walleye typically move deeper and slow down as temperatures drop, favoring slower, compact presentations over fast searching baits.