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Green River Fishing Trip source information
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Lodging: Dutch John or Manila Utah

If you plan to cook you own food you will want to make sure you have everything you need before you leave the interstate because there are only "Stop N Go" type of stores in the area. They also close early in the evening which may be before you get back from fishing. The speed limit in the area around the river and reservoir area is very modest so it will take longer than you think to travel back and forth.

* Vacation Inn, Manila Utah. 18.83 Miles from River access. The road is in national forest with speed limits of 40 miles an hour for a large section of it. This is where things get interesting. Manila Utah. A world away from the Normal world as we know. The morning trip over the pass to the River is beautiful. The Cabins are basic and a fine place to stay. Right next to open Feilds and the Mooing will settle your nerves. Or make you feel at home depending on where your from. Have a Beer with the Deer at dusk. 1-435-784-3259 Sleeps 3 in each room, with 4 rooms per building. Each with stove,fridge and adjoining back porch. 2 beds-1 sleeper. A little farther away but a fine place to stay. Bring Untisils.

* Vanilla's Restaurant in Manila is a Thrilla! This is an experience you will remember for some time. Remember, You Are In Utah.!! This means that....Well, It means - Life is different in Manila. Sort of kept hearing that Banjo from Deliverance. Don't call ahead as they will not Pre-Sponsor you. Trust me, bring your cooking utinsils instead. Utah is a Dry State...Need I say more??
Beer is served at Vanilla's but at a Cost. And I don't mean Money.

* Flaming Gorge Lodge and Restaurant. 4.85 miles from Dutch John towards Vernal; west of dam.
Motel and Condo's with a fine little Diner and small General store / fly shop. Kitchenettes, kitchens, wireless internet available. There is also an RV park

2005 Room rates were: Two double beds, 1 roll-out (or air mattress) = per 3 people $95. = tax - approx. $35 per person per nite. Condo's have full kitche at $137 per night for 2 plus $8 per extra person. Sleeps 3 with a couch. Bring an air mattress for a 4th.
Call ahead and plan accordingly. This is one of the best out there for all it's worth.
1-435-889-3773 web info

* Red Canyon Lodge and Restaurant. 6.28 miles from Dutch John; west of dam. 5 star accomodations in a beautiful dual Lodge. This one has some nice comfy cabins and with a Restaurant that has excellent food. Romantic. Just be careful who you room with. Very Nice Place - full kitchen. It also has a pond with good size trout in it. Take a belly boat. 1-435-889-3759 website

Camp Grounds

* Red Canyon Campgrounds: Located next to Red Canyon Lodge (west of dam) and Overlook on highway 44. Mountain camping at it's finest, located next to Green's Lake. Red Canyon, Green's Lake, Canyon Rim, and Skull Creek Campground make up this grouping. Paved road, single units sites, potable water, picnic tables, fire rings, and toilets are available. You can call the Lucerne Valley Marina, 435-784-3483, to get more details about the campgrounds as they are the concessionaire operator for them. However, reservations for them must be made through www.recreation.gov

* Dripping Springs Campground. 3-4 miles from east of Dutch John; east of dam. Little hole is an additional 3-4 easterly miles down the road. This is conventient for river bank fishermen. Call ahead for Reservations after April. Bring your camper or wake up to a cool Morning in April with a Touch A Frost on the Toes. Make sure to have your Camp Buddy do Breakfast. Best served In Your Sleeping Bag. Outhouse facilities and pottable water. A forest fire distroyed all the trees so there is not any shade other than the picnic table canopy but is convenient to fly shop, Convience Store, restuarant.Host's are friendly and it is a fine Campsite. Dripping Springs campground is open year around but part of the year it is all first come first serve. In may a 4 day advance Reservation is possible but it does have some first come first serve camp sites even then. It also has group campsites. Online Reservations Using the web site is not user friendly.
On the left side of this website home page in the 'State' box select "Utah". In the 'Park or Facility Name' box type the name of the campground, Dripping Springs. Then click on the 'Search Facilities' radio button. .

* Other forest campgrounds: There are a number of other campgrounds. See the Trout Creek Fly shop website for a synopysis for many of them. For reservations you have to use the following website. http://www.recreation.gov Using the web site is not user friendly.
Here are my suggestions for it: On the left side of this website home page, in the 'State' box select "Utah". In the 'Park or Facility Name' box type the name of the campground. Then click on the 'Search Facilities' radio button. Here are some suggest campgrounds to look at: Dripping Springs, Fire Fighters, Deer Run, Cedar Springs, Red Canyon (three campgrounds will pop up that are near Red Canyon Lodge which has an up scale restuarant), or Mustang Ridge. Some of these camp grounds may not be open when you are planning to go. Dripping Springs campground is open year around but part of the year it is all "first come /first serve."

Flaming Gorge Ranger district might help with some camp ground information. 1-435-784-3445

Commercial Campgrounds: Flaming Gorge RV Recreation Services in the hamlet of Dutch John. Flaming Gorge KOA in Manila.

Guides :

Kingfisher Drifters, Loveland, Co. Dan Stubbs - owner 1-970-481-5161
A fine guide with a Great riverside lunch. Brian Shipley was our Drift Boat guide last trip and he did a Wonderful job. Ties a fine BWO as well. On the water he is a very good guide and tells you much of the 7 mile canyon. With his Fly,tips and pointers he will help you catch fish. Just watch your backcast. Kingfisher Drifters

Trout Creek Flies FF Shop. Dutch John, Utah 1-435-885-3355 Dennis Breer is a Famous Guide on the Green and a Great Fly Tyer. He's with the "Best Little Fly Shop" in Dutch John. They also have a few Condo's above this store plus a few cabins but they are booked up many times. There is a Cafeteria, General store (with Beer and Dogs) and Gas Pumps. Nice people there. Dennis tyes for us at many of our Annual Tying Clinics here in Golden. Their website also has information about many of the campgrounds in the area, fishing reports, water flows, suggested fly patterns. Trout Creek Flies

Flies:
April-May
What can I tell you here? The Spring Blue Winged Olive Hatch, (#18-#24) If caught right is one of Thee Most Spectacular things you'll ever see. The epitome of what we look for in a Beautiful Bug. And Bugs are Beautiful. If the weather is Just Right, Like Overcast or Just after a snow storm, You will be Amazed at what you see on and in the water. It gets Cold and Snow's in April. Be Ready. In May the cicadas show up and provide a big meal for the fish. Read this: Spring Olives on the Green - Fly Fisherman Magazine Article

Other Flies include : Darn near anything that is a Green nymph. RSII's, Barrs emerger, White midge, Brown Midge, Black Midge, ants, adams / parachute adams, size 14 flying ants to imitate the small black stonefly adults and a large 12 to 8 black pattern for a Cicada immitation (May) to any combination of what you can find on the web sites. Down the canyon from the dam the water is deep and clear along the miles of path, At times you must be in the Tiny' dry fly Mood. These can be as picky as any fish alive. Fish are in the shallows as well as deep in the fast water (6x may be too small sometimes) and in every type of water you can find. But they are a Smart Picky Critter. So be ready for anything. But Be Ready For BWO's if we get Lucky.

The best fly and fishing information is on Trout Creek Flies website - see above.

Comments:
Over the years I have learned to plan the trips, give you all the information I can Muster and tell you- This is where I am going on these dates and If you wish to join me- Make your reservations and I'll see you there.. I would also be glad to help you get into a trout or two. I am not a Guide nor do I play one on T.V. but I love these trips and Love even more to watch others get into fish....Lets go do some Market Research On The Green!!

Dutch John and Manila Utah are very Rustic and very small settlements. At the dam which is a few miles from Dutch John, the hike from the parking lot down to the river is very steep and seems very far (there are steps). We car pool, with lunch coolers, to the bottom where the boat launch is. Lower Handicap access parking is available. There are Bathrooms at the trail head . Also be prepared as the closest town with more than very basic necessities is 30 Miles away on windy roads in Vernal Utah. Watch your cast's, De-barb those hooks (easier removal, and not just the fish) and Bring a Band Aid. The best way to experience the river is from a drift boat or pontoon raft. However, there is a walking trail all the way from the dam down to little hole giving the walk/wader 7 miles of access to quality water and fish. For more info on the river go to the Trout Creek Flys website; link above

Other sources but history is unknown:

Green River Drifters Guide Service
Old Moe Guide Service
Flaming Gorge Recreation Service - 435-885-3191
Utah Travel Info - Vernal
Steinakers Motel - Manila, (435) 784-3104,
Niki's Inn - Manila, (435) 784-3117,
Weather Forecast

Utah Fishing License: Get it thru the web and be ready to go (2007 - 1 day none resident = $12, 7 day none resident = $32) : https://secure.utah.gov/hflo2/hflo.
You can get licenses at Trout Creek Flies in Dutch John but they prefer you to get them before hand on line.