Fly fishing the Green river from pontoon boats
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- Опубліковано 29 тра 2019
- Some friends and I floated the Green river with our pontoon boats hoping to catch the cicada hatch. We ended up catching some nice browns on large dry flies. The first day was kind of slow but the fishing turned on the second day.
Bucket list trip for sure! Awesome riding along with you. The colors on those browns are magnificent! Just got some new covers for my pontoon..ready for adventure 💪
Even when the fishing is slow , it's still fun to float
I live in Utah and have never floated the Green. Just bought a Colorado XTS. Need to go try it out now. But I live in St. George. A long ways away. Great video. Really enjoyed it.
I have three friends that own that same boat. They have floated the green with me many times. You should try it, it's a lot of fun
Well done...brings back memories from when I was guiding here (in the glory days). Remember catching my first 24 on a #24 at the pyramid boulders @ 7:25. Managed a trip there a week and a half ago, just before they "flushed the toilet" and brought it up to 8500. Miss those days when you wondered what you did wrong because you only landed 30 fish and just 2 @ 5 lbs. This was back when we were still naming the runs (mine were secret riffle and diving board). The most consistent thing about fly fishing is, nothing good lasts long, or for you Millennials, NGLL. :-)
I'm probably older than you think I am. I remember back when you would actually catch cutts and brookies, including some big ones. The good old days on the Green right.
Sweet..........day on the green, and the old man shuttle service!
Yep we had a good time
I have only fished that river once in my life and it was when I did a river rafting trip with my High School. I was not able to fish it while floating it (They would not let me) but when we stopped at each camping stop I was on the water. I was only catching little ones but one spot I did a hell mary. I casted my black rooster tail up strea against the cliff and reeled in really fast and BAM! I thought I had snagged the cliff wall. Turns out I was able to land a 26 in brown. Loved that trip.
There are some big browns in the Green. Most of the bigger fish are in section B or C.
That's awesome you caught a biggie 👍
Man I miss you and Burns! I just found you, great channel man!
Oh hey Josh. What's up man? I miss the good old Natures days
You're living the dream man those fish are huge. I'll be through that area this summer
Yeah it's definitely one of my favorite trips. The cicada action typically stays good through most of June. If the cicadas aren't producing anymore when you pass through, large black ant patterns work well through out the summer.
@@TroutHowler I've only fished the area near the dam ..just below the dam and that brutal hiking trail down. LOL. Good fishing there though, but I can only imagine how good it gets down stream
Thanks again buddy realy appreciated it
I’ve fished many Western Trout Rivers and usually love Montana, Lee’s Ferry AZ and the San Juan River...but I was on a trip w my Son and we met some guys who recently fished the Green River. I’ve been wanting to go for a long time and am working on getting a pontoon boat for Bass fishing lakes and thought it would be awesome to use to float the Green as well. This river is on my bucket list so I better try to go soon. Cicadas look like a blast to fish. I too love huge dries and also Steelhead fishing w big flies. Looks like fun.
It is a lot of fun. I'm actually headed there tomorrow with the pontoon boat and some friends
@@TroutHowler Cicadas will work now?
@@patsparks8731 its past the peak but hopefully there are still some out
Nice 🐟!
Thank you
Looks like you had a blast 🤘
It was indeed 👍
@@TroutHowler I just picked up a pontoon myself can’t wait to get out on it 😊
@@reelphatties6426 They're a lot of fun. I'm sure you'll enjoy it.
@@TroutHowler can't wait (:
You probably passed me as I fished the bank 😂
Haha that's funny. We lucked out with the weather. It snowed on us both ways from Vernal to Dutch John but was fantastic weather both Saturday and Sunday.
Awesome video. Did you just put in at the damn and get out at little hole? I have kayaked it but just picked up a fish cat. I live in lindon UT. Would love to get out with people and float that. I also fly fish a ton. Do you just kick up stream when you have a fish on? Also would be cool if you did a walk around of your toon and tell why and what you like about your set up.
Thank you We just put in at the dam and get out at Little hole. I typically try to get to the bank when I hook up but don't always make it there. I have had a few hairy moments fighting fish while going through the rapids.
Be careful!
A few float tubers found out it wasn't such a great idea. You pontoon boat might have a little trouble with red creek rapids.
A lot of people just carry the pontoon boats around the red creek rapids. You can make it on a pontoon boat though
Great video. Thanks for the demonstration of the pontoon on a river. Question: would having a "deck" on the boat be useful or a hinderance? Also, would a trolling motor be useful on the river? Thanks for showing the cicada lure at 11:34.
I've seen some people put decks on their pontoons to fish lakes but never on a river. It's illegal on many rivers to use motors. It would likely get destroyed in the rocks even if it was legal. Motors certainly are handy when it comes to lakes however. I've been jealous many times when people cruise by me with a motor.
DO you guys use anchors in current at all? Wondering how those boats work in that situation? Like a drift boat anchoring in a run.
I have only used an anchor on that boat twice and both times were on lakes. None of the guys I float with have ever tried anchors on the Green----or any other river for that matter
Only anchor in walking speed current or less and knee deep, once you get the hang of it you will figure it out, but just start with that. Never anchor in rapids unless you really like swimming, and no knots in your rope, and carry a river knife. Better to loose an anchor then your boat.
Thanks for posting! I am new to your channel but am a big fan. Which section of the green is this? I have a trip planned to drift the B and C section this summer
Thankyou. We only fished section A. Below section A the quantity decreases but quality (size) increases. Hopefully you get into some big fish.
TroutHowler where is the green river located is that in Utah?
@@nicholasjohnson2112 Yeah it's in north eastern Utah coming out of Flaming Gorge reservoir
What month are you fishing, such calm water?
We typically go on Memorial day weekend
Just wondering if you can drift the current with a bounce rig in the one man pontoon
Absolutely. The only problem is, if snag on the bottom your drag is going to start screaming---especially if you're in stronger current.
How do you like that pontoon? I’m looking at that same one.
You won't be disappointed. They are awesome.
Hey so I’m thinking of floating the green soon, could you tell me how it was as far as rapids and the difficulty? And did you float the a or b sections?
We just did section A. None of the rapids are too bad. Mother in law is the only semi iffy one and even its not bad
Did you go???
I haven't floated the area in years but I am going to recommend an area that I floated in my youth we would go float from the damn down to Brown's park and in that stretch there was no white water to speak of, it was an all day float and what a way to spend the day
Hey I was wondering if you are using an anchor at all, or just your fins when you are stationary in those holes. Been looking at getting a boat like this. Cheers!
Ive never used an anchor when floating the Green. Im just using fins 👍
I know this is 2 years ago,but what did you use for a anchor if needed.
The boat came with an anchor but I've never used it on the green. They could be useful in the eddies where the fish are sipping on midges but you can just keep yourself in place with your flippers. None of the guys i've floated the green with on pontoon boats have ever used an anchor floating the river
Hey bud what's your overall opinion of the fish cat panther pontoon. If you didn't plan on float in the rivers and just doing lakes only would you still have bought it.. and if not which one would you have gone with thank you
About half of my friends have the Panther and the other half have Colorado XT's. The Panthers cost twice as much but like most of the time, you get what you pay for. The Colorados are good boats but noticeably less beefy than the Panthers. The Panther is river rated where the Colorado isn't----however they still handle the Green river just fine. Personally I would still go with the Panther, it sits lower with the double(smaller) pontoon set up per side so you don't get pushed around as bad in the wind. The Panther is around $999 and the Colorado is usually between $450 and $500. If you have the money I would go with the Panther. If you can't dump the grand on the Fish Cat then the far cheaper Colorado is still a good boat
@@TroutHowler thank you my friend I'm not too worried about the cost per se as quality and yes I do agree with you regarding you get what you pay forI will look around for pricing and thank you for your advice.
Mike McGrath If I may, I would like to second the vote for the Panther. I’ve had three pontoons now, and it’s far away the best. In a former boat, I was in the middle of a lake when one of the pontoons let go. Trying to row back on a tilting, dragging, single pontoon cut a few years of my life! With the double pontoons on each side, I feel much safer. And it rides low, so I am not blown around in the wind like my buddies are. Plus the frame seems much sturdier. As far as price goes, if you blow a pontoon in a Colorado, and lose your gear, or worse, you’ll wish you would have got the Panther!
Hey man how do you like your pontoon raft I’m a fly fishing addict that has discovered a tail water that has very limited accessibility for wading really close to my house and am trying to decide between one of these rafts or a kayak great video btw
Thanks. The Panther is an awesome pontoon boat. It rides pretty high in the water with the double pontoons. You can float them in pretty shallow water. It performs equally well on lakes or streams
Is there several different shuttle spots/services on the way dow?
There's three sections of fishable water. A, B and C. The vast majority of the traffic is on A which also has the most fish. Below A there are bigger but fewer fish. There are shuttle spots below A but no services. You have to travel pretty far to get to section B and C
TroutHowler Thanks for the info👍
Do you need fins? What is the advantage?
They are not essential if you're just floating the river. If your fishing however, there is a big advantage to using fins. You can't hold a fly rod and oars at the same time. The fins allow you to maneuver and face the desired direction
what brand and model of pontoon boat is that?
Fish Cat Panther
What's better a colorado xt, or the fish cats???
Both are good boats but the Fish Cat Panther is more rugged. The Fish Cat is river rated where the XT is not. However, several of my friends have the XT and handles the Green river just fine. The Panther is better over all but it costs quite a bit more
Great video. I just picked up an OSG stealth and I’ll be drifting this section next week. I’m a total noob, but it sounds like your buddy was as well and he made it fine. Any tips for a noob pontoon boat owner on this section?
Actually only one of four on the trip had been on the boats before we launched. If you have ever spent any time rowing a boat you'll be fine. If you haven't then practice in the eddy right where you launch before you head down the river. I would recommend concentrating on the float your first time down instead of fishing unless you take to it right off the bat. Once we got past the first rapid and realized how stable the boats actually are we were fine. We've had a couple people go with us over the years that really struggled the first time down. By the second float they were fine, but it can be dangerous for some. You'll have to let me know how the Stealth handles it. I was actually looking into the stealth pro last year simply because they are far easier to move around by yourself
@@TroutHowler thanks for the reply. Ended up drifting the section with no worries. The anticipation of the unknown was exciting, but the rapids were easily navigated. I don’t have anything to compare to, but the osg stealth handled flawlessly. I really like the ability to break it down to the size of a large duffle bag. It stores in my camper nicely and is simple to deploy. I could see how sitting a little higher in the water would be nice, but I was more than comfortable and able to get my casts wherever I wanted. I’m glad I purchased the Scotty fly rod mount before going rather than being a cheapskate. Made the transition from rod to parts pretty nice, especially when my noob self saw rapids quickly approaching.
Fishing was tough for me. Looking forward to heading back there again, but probably later in the year when the bugs are popping. Water temps were 36 when I was there.
What would you suggest to look for when buying a pontoon? You can find plenty on KSL for ~$200, but want to make sure it will be safe for the green. Thanks for the vids, love your channel, stay fishy!
I wouldn't go any cheaper than a Colorado XT. I have friends that have that boat and even though they are not river rated--they do just fine. Personally I would look for a fishcat panther like mine. It's quite a bit more durable than the Xt's. I've seen them under $500 on ksl. I know that's still pricey but you get what you pay for typically
No cicadas on the surface, but we still catch them on cicada, haha. Show this to the match the hatch people.
Haha it just shows you most of the time fish are opportunistic unless they really are focused in on a specific hatch. There was a stretch the second day that had better action then some of my trips there when there were a bunch of cicadas on the water.
@@TroutHowler I had the same success on the tail end of the cicada hatch. Lots in the trees but didnt see any on the water, but the fish still took them.
@@brichwebII found out later that there had been quite a few cicadas on the water days earlier but the cold weather shut it off while we were there. I guess the fish were still in the mood--lucky me
What type of pontoon boat do you have?
Fish Cat Panther, It's a great boat. It sits low so the wind doesn't push you around as bad
TroutHowler how does it work in the rapids?
@@brichweb It does great. Its actually river rated. I have friends that have boats that are not river rated but they still handle the rapids just fine.
Be careful, I damn near drowned on my float tube 30 years ago. They even Tod me they advise me not to use my float tube. I hit a rock just under surface and it flipped me upside down. Current held me there. Thank God for my father in law who was floating ahead of me and pulled me out of it.
I heard it's actually illegal to take a float tube down the Green now. Pontoon boats are very different. They can handle the Green just fine--especially section A
@@TroutHowler yes they have. I flyfish it still but just from shore. I do have a pontoon but I only use it on lakes. Can't seem to bring myself to go down the green with my pontoon, but someday I will give it another shot.
@@rogerkilburn4732 k
Oh and what is your favorite cicada pattern?
I pretty much only fish a pattern that I came up with many years ago. It's a pretty simple pattern tied with 4mm foam, orange/black rubber legs and a shinny back that reflects the sun so it's easier to see
TroutHowler its all about those orange black legs. I like the Elvira
@@brichweb Haha, it could be. All I know is that the people I fish with on the Green always end up ditching other cicada patterns and end up asking for some of mine.
TroutHowler let’s see a video!
@@brichweb I have had a handful of people requesting fly tying vids. I'll eventually get around to it ----probably
You remind me of the me I wanna be. I think I'll give my shrink 900 dollars to look into that...
Haha, you should take that $900 and buy a pontoon boat instead-----just accept your fate 8)
@@TroutHowler dawg! I'm secretly living the life in Montana,tieing my ju ju flys and got my eye on that boat of yours! No worrys! I'm as crazy as Tom Sawyer!
where is Green River?
North eastern Utah
@@TroutHowler cool thanks. New subscriber. Diggin your vids! Me and the wife are in AZ and new to fly fishing. Might have to make our way up there sometime for a weekend. Whats the best places to fish in the southern part of the state?
@@ArizonaMMJ There's several good areas down that way. The Utah DNR webpage has an interactive map that I have tagged several times. It has a lot of good info including descriptions and what to expect as far as fishing goes for several spots dwrapps.utah.gov/fishing/fStart I hope this helps. I have spent a lot going over it. I even found a couple new gems that I wasn't familiar with using this map
TroutHowler awesome! Thanks pal I appreciate it.
Great video man! Got to love the Green River! Definitely got my subscription I would appreciate the same if you enjoy my content!
Yep the Green is awesome.