Fishing the Fontenelle Dam Tailwaters

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Trips

Full Day Float

$795

Full Day Float

Rainbow, Brown, Cutthroat

Trip Length Options:

8 hours

Occupancy:

2 Anglers per boat

What's included

Professional instruction
High quality, safe and comfortable drift boats and rafts
Rods/reels
Waders (when necessary)
Flies
Leaders/tippet
Water and cooler with ice

Season: Early spring through November

Guided Fly Fishing Trips below the Fontenelle Dam

The Green River below Fontenelle Dam is one of the most underrated tailwater fisheries in the American West. Cold, consistent water released from the base of the dam year-round. Trout counts that rival the most famous tailwaters in the region. And a long season, from early spring through late fall, when many Jackson Hole rivers are either too cold or blown out.

We guide this water as a full-day float trip out of Pinedale. It is a good fit for anglers who want a day on a technical tailwater with trophy potential, or as part of a multi-day Western Wyoming trip alongside our Upper Green and New Fork River trips.

Reel Deal Anglers is a permitted outfitter on this section of the Green under Bureau of Reclamation Permit #13-LM-41-0180.

Why Fish the Green River Below Fontenelle

Tailwater consistency. Cold-water releases from Fontenelle Dam keep temperatures fish-friendly from March into November. When runoff blows out the Snake and surface water warms up elsewhere, the Fontenelle tailwater is still fishing.
Trophy trout water. Rainbow and brown trout commonly run 16 to 20 inches, with legitimate trophy shots through the season. The fishery is fed year-round by the nutrient-rich water coming out of the reservoir.
Amazing hatches. Consistent flows and stable temperatures produce some of the best sustained insect activity in Wyoming. Expect midges, baetis, PMDs, caddis, and strong terrestrial fishing through summer.
Fewer boats. The Fontenelle tailwater does not have the reputation of the Montana tailwaters or the Bighorn, which means fewer guides, fewer drift boats, and more water to yourself on most days.
A long season. One of the first rivers to fish in the spring and one of the last to close down in the fall. Good option for anglers traveling to Wyoming outside peak summer.

Where You’ll Fish

The Fontenelle tailwater runs from the base of Fontenelle Dam south toward Slate Creek and eventually into the Green River proper. We float the public access water, with put-ins and take-outs at Bureau of Reclamation and BLM-managed boat ramps. The drive from Pinedale is roughly 45 minutes, and the water is often paired with Upper Green and New Fork trips as part of a multi-day Pinedale fishing itinerary.

Hatch Chart & Seasonal Activity

Key Fontenelle Tailwater Hatches: Midges are present year-round. Baetis (blue-winged olives) come off heavy in spring and fall. PMDs run strong from late June through August. Caddis activity peaks June through August. Terrestrial fishing (hoppers, ants, beetles) is strong July through September. Streamer fishing is best in September and October.