Green River tailwater and Uinta lakes settle into fall pattern

What's next

Expect the cooling trend to continue. With water already near 50°F, the best bite windows should shift to late morning through mid-afternoon, once the sun has taken the chill off. Early starts will likely be slower than they were in summer.

Flows are steady and fairly high at the two gauges that report discharge, so plan on fishing current seams and the softer water beside faster runs rather than the main push. Gauge 404417108524900 reports temperature only (49°F), so judge its flow by eye.

For still-water trips, Fishing the Midwest advises hunting for the last green weeds as fall weed beds die back, since fish tend to stack on whatever living cover remains. Its walleye piece describes a bottom-bouncer plain rig with a nightcrawler for cooler-water periods. Plan on slow, close-to-bottom presentations.

Channel Catfish and Walleye tend to feed harder as the days shorten, so evening sessions are worth a look. Check state regulations before keeping fish.

Context

Mid-October is typically the shoulder of the season for the Green River and the Uinta high lakes. Water temperatures at this level are on schedule for the date, and the cold-water fish are moving toward their fall feeding window. Higher elevations cool first, so the Uinta lakes run colder and closer to winter than the river below. Early snow can arrive at elevation with little warning, so check road and weather conditions before committing to a mountain trip. Fish on the river generally hold in deeper, slower water as temperatures keep falling.