Winter in Flaming Gorge

Did you know you can experience truly wild country just a few hours from a major metropolitan area? Unspoiled and lacking the crowd of most areas, Flaming Gorge Country in Northeastern Utah is an outdoor wonderland. Year-round recreational opportunities are centered on 91-mile Lake Flaming Gorge, the rugged Uinta Mountains, the Flaming Gorge Scenic Byway and the famed Green River.

Adventure in Flaming Gorge Country doesn’t end when the snow begins to fly.  Our scenic byways are open year-round and a fresh blanket of snow only enhances the enchanting vistas.  The unplowed scenic backways turn into wonderful snowmobile and cross-country ski trails.

The spectacular High Uinta Mountains, awe-inspiring vistas, and cozy lodges make Flaming Gorge a snowmobiling wonderland.  Over 250 miles of groomed and ungroomed trails range from 7, 300 to 10,000 feet in elevation.  Mountain passes, alpine meadows, and backcountry trails beg for your attention.  Download a free Flaming Gorge Snowmobile Trail Map at www.flaminggorgecountry.com.

Snowshoeing and Cross-Country Skiing:

Snowshoeing and cross-country skiing are excellent ways to get intimate views of our abundant winter wildlife.  From the herds of wintering elk to solitary Bull Moose, large mammals are common companions along the snowy trail.   Get a copy of our Winter Recreation Guide. It’s filled with a variety of marked trails, all easily accessible off the Flaming Gorge Scenic Byway. Many of these trails are groomed as winter snow conditions permit. Snowmobiling, snowshoeing or cross-country skiing to a remote yurt or cabin can be an unforgettable winter overnight adventure. Call (877) 444-6777 or visit www.recreation.gov for rates & reservations for one of these popular yurts.

FISHING:

Fishing is a year-round pastime in this area.  Lake Flaming Gorge is a favorite spot for ice fishing. Many other easily accessible lakes offer ice fishing along the National Scenic Byway as well. Enter in one of the many ice fishing tournaments while you’re here.  The annual Burbot Bash in January is packed with presentations, contests and serious prize money.

The blue-ribbon waters of the Green River are fishable every day of the year.  Most fishing guide services are available daily. The local secret is that dry-fly fishing can be pretty hot during the middle of many winter days!  Don’t forget to look above for the Bald Eagles that migrate to the river for the winter season.

DINOSAURS:

And dinosaurs are still on the loose, even in the winter! Check out these ancient giants at the Utah Field House of Natural History in Vernal or the WWCC Natural History Museum in Rock Springs, Wyoming. And don’t forget Dinosaur National Monument – it showcases the most abundant collection of Jurassic Period dinosaur bones in the world.

FLAMING GORGE VISITORS CENTER

The Flaming Gorge Dam Visitor Center is open seasonally, April through October. It is the best place to begin your orientation to the landscapes and history that make us so special. Other museums and visitor centers in Flaming Gorge Country are open in winter as well. Please call for seasonal hours.

Several events are notable winter traditions around here. The Winter Family Fest at John Jarvie Historical Site in Browns Park is a local favorite, packed with activities for all ages. All of our gateway towns hold festivals, tree lighting ceremonies and parades during the holiday season.

Flaming Gorge Angler’s Guide

“The most scenic trophy trout destination in the world”
– Ogden Standard Examiner

Flaming Gorge Country is one of the premier fishing destinations in the United States. We not only have one of the most diverse fisheries, but also the area has been dubbed the most scenic trophy trout destination in the world. There are hundreds of places to fish within an hour drive of Lake Flaming Gorge. Bringing your little one out for her first-time fishing? Hunting for a new spot to cast your line for the annual guy’s trip? Want to escape the craziness of your everyday life and sink into the solitude of fly fishing? No matter your desire, Flaming Gorge Country can grant your fish wish!
“Flaming Gorge Country has some of the best fishing opportunities in the world thanks to its incredibly diverse fisheries” – Recreate in Utah

Family Fishing

Fishing with the family is not only a highly rewarding activity, it’s also one of the most inexpensive ways to spend quality time doing something fun in nature. The basic starter gear will cost less than $50, but that investment will help you create priceless memories for years to come! Here are a few tips to get you started if you are new to the sport.
• Gear Up
You need a spinning rod with line, needle-nose pliers (for safely releasing all those fish you’ll catch!) and lures or bait gear.

• Live Bait or Lure?
Bait gear includes your bait of choice (like worms), hooks, a little weight and a bobber. This is by far the most popular method of fishing, especially if you plan to keep your catch. But it can get a little messy since you have to constantly re-bait the hook. Lures are easily attached and much gentler on fish you intend to release. Lures come in a rainbow of colors and sizes. One of our local tackle dealers will clue you in on which lures are best for the waters you are fishing.

• Enjoy Free Fishing
Both Utah and Wyoming offer a Free Fishing Day! It’s Saturday, June 4 in Wyoming and Saturday, June 11 in Utah. Check state websites for special family-oriented programs at various state locations on those days (www.wgfd.wyo.gov or www.wildlife.utah.gov)

• Follow the Rules
Young children in either state fish for free. In Utah, kids under 12 don’t need a fishing license. Adults can get a three-day, seven-day or Utah annual permit online at www.wildlife.utah.gov. To fish across state lines on the Flaming Gorge Reservoir, you must have a valid fishing license from one state and a reciprocal fishing permit ($10) from the other state. In Wyoming, you can get a one-day or annual fishing license online at www.wgfd.wyo.gov/apply-or-buy. Kids who are residents of Wyoming and under the age of 14 do not need a license. Nonresident youth (under 14) do not need a license if accompanied by an adult possessing a valid Wyoming fishing license.

• Select Your Spot
We have some perfect family-friendly fishing spots, including The Moose Ponds, The Flaming Gorge Dam Fishing Pier, the free Kids Fishing Hole at Red Canyon Lodge, and Little Hole on the Green River.

Fishing Lake Flaming Gorge

With 11 state fishing records and two former world records, it’s no wonder that Flaming Gorge Reservoir is renowned as a trophy fishery. The 91-mile-long lake straddles Wyoming and Utah and offers boating services at three marinas – Buckboard, Lucerne and Cedar Springs. The most popular game fish in the Gorge are the trophy lake (mackinaw) trout, kokanee salmon and smallmouth bass.

“The only place you can come and expect to catch 30-40 lb. fish and have a really good chance at a 50 pounder!” – In-Fisherman TV

Where Are the Fish?
Fishing top water down to 50 feet you will likely catch rainbows, browns, tiger and smaller lake trout. Kokanee salmon will follow the thermocline, staying shallow in the winter and spring and going deeper as the summer months warm the water. The larger lake trout will generally stay in deeper water (70-120 feet), but they will feed in the shallower water especially in the early spring. The bass in Lake Flaming Gorge are very active in the summer months when the water has warmed a bit. You can find them on most shallow rocky points, humps and ridges throughout the reservoir.

“One of the top smallmouth bass waters in the country” – BASS

Lake Fishing Techniques
Trolling Flaming Gorge is a very popular technique, allowing anglers to cover large portions of an area while targeting multiple species. Some different trolling techniques used on the Gorge include: long lining, dipsy divers, weighted line or down riggers.

Vertical jigging is another technique used to target some of the game fish in the reservoir, especially the kokanee and mackinaw. The theory is to sit on top of the areas where the fish tend to be, using an electric trolling motor or anchor system while bouncing your favorite jig – baited or not – in front of their faces.

“There is only one place in Utah to hook a true monster:
Flaming Gorge Reservoir” – KSL.com

A very effective way to catch fish on Lake Flaming Gorge – whether by boat or from shore – is casting and retrieving. There are thousands of different lures and jigs that work for this method. Fly fishing streamers can even be effective.

Bait fishing, whether with a bobber or weighted, is another common technique. Night crawlers and power bait are both recommended.

A very popular winter activity is ice fishing. In cold-weather months, the larger lake trout are in the deeper water and can be caught using vertical jigging techniques. The smaller trout and kokanee are in shallower water, where it’s best to use smaller jigs and baits. It is becoming very popular to fish for Burbot – the invasive species in the gorge – through the ice at night.

“The Gorge provides some of the finest lake trout fishing
in the lower 48.” – In-Fisherman.com

Year-Round Fishing Events
Premier fishing tournaments occur year-round on the Gorge. The Flaming Gorge Fishing Derby, Burbot Bash and Burbot Classic are just a few. For a complete list of fishing events in the area, go to www.flaminggorgecountry.com.

Fishing the Green River

“America’s Best Tail water: Utah’s Green River.”
– Field & Stream

The Green River, as it reemerges from Flaming Gorge Dam, has become a legendary tail water fishery. The water released from the dam is regulated to maintain an optimum temperature and flow that has created a world-famous blue ribbon trout fishery. The Green River’s clear, emerald waters support a large population of trout, with rainbows and cutthroat being more common just below the dam and browns dominating downstream.

Annual surveys have revealed an incredible trout population. Most states boast that their blue-ribbon steams have 5,000-7,000 fish per mile. But some stretches of the Green carry as many as 14,000 fish per mile!

Fishing is restricted to artificial flies or lures, and catch-and-release is highly encouraged. Fly tackle is most commonly used, but spinners, jigs and Rapalas are also effective on these waters.

“Some of the best fishing of my entire life.” – Ogden Standard Examiner

Additionally, insect hatches are prolific. Scuds are a primary food source and are effective throughout the year. Midges work on and below the surface during the winter and early spring. Blue-winged olives hatch in incredible numbers in the spring. Big cicadas produce exciting fishing during the early summer. Ants, hoppers and many dry fly patterns work well through the summer and early fall.

“One of the most beautiful trout rivers in the United States.”
– Field & Stream

The Green flows through a scenic, steep-walled canyon. The rugged terrain allows access in only three areas: just below the dam, Little Hole and Browns Park. You can drive to these locations and fish your way up or downstream, or float the river in a drift boat or rubber raft.

High-Country Fishing

If you really want to get away from it all, the famous High Uinta Wilderness is the place to be. Here, there are over 600 hundred natural mountain lakes and thousands of streams that are packed full of brookies, cutthroat, rainbows and – if you search hard enough – grayling.

Tip: When a high-country lake is “on,” get ready for some fast and furious fishing! If things are slow, take a short walk to the next one.

Some of the more popular and easily accessible lakes in our area include Matt Warner Reservoir, Browne Lake, Sheep Creek Lake, Long Park Reservoir and Spirit Lake, just to name a few. But if you are more adventurous and like to get out and hike, check out Tamarack Lake, Daggett Lake, Fish Lake or Island Lake.

The Flaming Gorge high country is a very special place that has remained naturally wild. So while you’re out and about, keep your eyes peeled for the huge moose population that calls this high country home. Other wildlife you might spot include river otter, Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, Rocky Mountain elk, yellow-bellied marmot and bald eagle.

Look for Lunkers in Remote Waters

Southwestern Wyoming also provides some great opportunities for the adventurous angler. Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge protects a mosaic of riparian, wetland and upland shrub habitats along 36 miles of the upper Green River. The refuge takes its name from the Shoshoni word for the Green River: Seeds-kee-dee-Agie, meaning “river of the sage chicken.”

Located 37 miles north of Green River, visitors can find Seedskadee by driving west on I-80 to the LaBarge State Highway 372 north. Established in 1965 as mitigation for the construction of Fontenelle and Flaming Gorge Dams, the refuge encompasses more than 20,000 acres along the Green River between Fontenelle Dam and the town of Green River, Wyoming.

While the numbers of fish at Seedskadee may be less than in the Green River below Flaming Gorge Dam, the size of the fish is incredible. Huge trout await those willing to invest time on these waters!

Seek Local Knowledge

Flaming Gorge is crawling with guide shops, marina and lodges that sell licenses, fishing tackle and offer plenty of free advice. However, we think the best way to get acquainted with our waters is with one of our fun-loving local guides. These experts know just where to look for an angling adventure that will make memories to last a lifetime!

Download PDF Version of this Guide: Anglers Guide to Flaming Gorge    

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