Green River tailwater settles into a cool, steady fall pattern

What's next

Expect little change over the next two to three days. Tailwater releases hold temperature steady, so the 48 to 50°F readings should persist unless flows are changed. Check release schedules before you go, since a flow adjustment would reshape where fish hold.

Midday is the window to plan around. With water this cool, insect activity typically peaks in the warmest part of the afternoon, and small mayfly and midge hatches are most likely then. Fish low-light mornings and evenings with a nymph rig. Trout Unlimited's TROUT Tip on weight is a useful reminder that adding or removing split shot to match the current is often the difference between a drift that reaches the fish and one that passes over them.

MidCurrent's Tying Tuesday lineup points toward a small beaded purple nymph for overcast, low-light days and a spare midge pattern for clear, pressured tailwater and stillwater. Those are sensible starting points. The Waxing Crescent moon sets early in the evening, so late-day light should be dark and the fishing relatively quiet after sunset.

Context

Mid-October is typically the shoulder of the season on a Utah tailwater. Summer hatches are fading, water has cooled well below summer highs, and fish begin shifting toward smaller prey such as midges and Blue Winged Olives. Brown trout in many western tailwaters typically move toward spawning in autumn, which can make them more aggressive but also more vulnerable, so be careful around gravel. Flows near 6,000 cfs are on the high side for wade fishing, so boat access and careful wading matter. Check state regulations and any seasonal closures before you go.