I tell you what guys I have fished alot of holes on the Upper Green. I recently went to a spot not known for Fishing and came to a question that I could not answer. Why are the trout so much bigger this year? I am targeting Steelies and nailing Trout that are in the 15 to 20 Inch range. I do not like to share fishing tactics (a topic between me and my buddies) but will tell you I am bobber fishing. I finally landed one of the suckers and it looked exactly like the ones I was hooking into last weekend. I banked 4 (one deffinetly close to 20 IN.(released all)) and lost one that was comparible to the biggest of the day.

Now another question:
Do you think that Steely season will arrive early due to the amount of water in the river?? Or, will they return when their instincts tell them that it is time?? Any and all input would be appreciated.

Wingwang: Is it possible that the 15 to 20 inch trout are actually steelhead jacks, meaning steelies that only spent one year at sea? You might check to see if they have clipped adipose fins. Just a thought...

Good luck!

Believe me man I was looking for clipped fins. These were 100% rainbows.

I heard at the end of November last year that the Kanaskat hachery has been closed down these last 3 years making this years run the last of the hatchery fish.(i know, they can go longer) Has anyone else heard this? That might explain why everyone i talk to say they have only caught natives lately. I know steelhead come and go as they please but if this is true then no more hatchery fish of any size should be in the river right now accept for the returners. Right? How long to smolt stay in the river? And can they grow to 15" in one year? I don't think the green can sustain growth of that rate.

Wingwang those fish probably immature wild steelhead. How was the fight? Resident rainbow don't seem to fight very hard.

FFF The hatchery is still in operation I believe the fish are started some where else but get imprinted at Palmer. Also they are releasing Fall Kings smolt from a undisclosed location in the upper river.

Yeah they are also planning a fish managment center and a new Salmon Hatchery up at the headworks. Also, everytime i've driven by the Kanaskat hatchery it looks run down. I've never seen fish in it and it's always badly infested with millweed. And the nets are all holey. Not exactally the place to raise fragile steelhead fry, compared to other steelhead hatcheries i've seen. Are you sure? Is there another place they are being introduced in? This has interested me quite abit this year. Any definate info would be great. The hatchery and fish management center were said to be finished by 2004. But you know how that goes. Strange they put a hatchery right in and ontop of native spawning grounds. That don't seem right.

Hope your goin barbless Wang... 2 is your limit

So...you say you were up high and got these fish? I may see you up there soon. And are you going to disclose what you caught them on or are you going to be a tight !#% ? Good goin on the fish man!

Yeah FFF, no problem man i will tell you what I was using when I meet you up there. I took my dad up to my honey hole and we got straight SKUNKED we both caught a couple of immature Jacks and my dad hooked into something that had his rodtip touching his toes for a few seconds and that was it. The only info I will release about what i was using is that i made it. :p

Cool - must be fun getting some action on your homemade float and jigs (do you make the floats too?).

I'll show you my honeyhole if you show me yours.

Anyone familiar with the trail that leads down into the gorge just before the green river gorge park bridge, the one laner??? On the black diamond side.? The one that is just before all the houses next to the bridge? That has some access to some very sweet and untouched holes. I know there are new houses up by the trail and was wondering if you can still get to it.

sorry it took so long to get back to you guys:
sure FFF we should hook up some time and fish some holes up there. I love the Green. Although the last 2 times I fished it (last sunday and today) I didn't even get a nibble. The river looks higher to me than it did 2 weeks ago. Some day soon I hope to float the Green and see the river from a hole new perspective. I just got layed off again monday so I am now a professional Green river fisherman. And no PhishPhreak I didn't even know you could tie your own floats. Yeah you can still access the Gorge trail but I usually don't fish there till the water drops some. You ever fished Cpt. Kirk's hole by there it is a good mid July spot but it is an all-day hike to get there. N-E-how man E-mail me and maybe we can hook up. wingythefurry@hotmail.com make sure to put GREEN RIVER in the subject line.

Cool, i have some time off too. Me and a friend are going up to the strawberry patch holes today. Hopefully we hook up. Good, i'm glad that trail is still acessable. Never heard of the Capt. Kirk Hole. I just know that trail leads to some prime holes. I'll drop you a line and we'll hook up.

Those pictures are up on my site now if you want to check them out. Steelhead Page 3. Check out the Mackinaw Page 3 also. We caught some fatties this weekend.

Here, don't know why i just did'nt do this before. And no, that's not me...LOL Dam g/f and her dam luck.

What was the method and where?

Fan drifting a pink roostertail at the carbody hole. It's the hole that you access from the railroad tracks near highway 18, just off the blackdiamond exit. She caught this one the same way at the 272nd bridge hole near the Auburn Golf Course. Her first steelhead ever on her first cast. An orange rooster fooled this thick winter native. Though this picture doesn't show the thickness of this fish. Sweet though.

Where is the Capt. Kirk Hole?? On a planet far far away.

I floated it Friday alone. Had first water all the way down. Used eggs, shrimp and spinners. Didn't touch or see anything except for a few cutthroat. Conditions were great. I haven't figured out the jig thing yet but always try for a while. A few suspicious takes but never claim to hook any unless confirmed chrome flashes and line peeling. I'll probablty give it a go next week during the week. Hopefully more are holding down low. Anyway just thought I'd let you know. Tom

Me and a friend fished the carbody hole all the way down to the logjam and saw 3 big fish jump, 2 just as we walked up on the corner hole. Threw everything at them with only 1 take on a jig and 3 rainbows on roosters. Water was pretty low kinda stained still. Talked to a guy that was fishing the slot below us and he had 2 fish in 30 minutes. He even left and came back with fresh eggs. So i guess i believe him. Saw some pretty nice bows nailing flies in the slow water.

Yo! If I set up a driftin rig... with the weight like, RIGHT at the three-way swivel, and a rooster tail tipped with a tiny bit of worm at 30 inches down, think ill pull anything in at flaming guiser?

Just a single pinch weight #5 or bigger and a regular swivel with a 3 foot leader will work fine. If you tip it with a worm expect the little bows to rape you clean. If your going for bows, just one pinch weight and a worm works great and you can catch and release as many as you want on bait as long as they are under 14". 14" and up you must count as your daily take released or not.(page 57)

Fished the Green 2 mornings this week and got a nice summer hen on each morning, 6 1/2 pounds on Monday and 8 pounds this morning......both on Jigs. Water had a little color this morning compared to monday. Also caught 2 nice trout (around a pound each) also on the same jig.