Green River challenge

DUTCH JOHN — There are periods when feathers, thread and silver tinsel tied in a bundle to look like a bug will appeal to fish, and there are times when fish will ignore even the most tasty-looking creations.

Faced with this wishy-washy appetite, the best approach for a fisherman casting into the Green River is to stay focused, be patient and don't waver.

That advice came from Dennis Breer, owner of the Trout Creek Flies/Green River Outfitters in Dutch John as he recently talked about one of the most famous stretches of river in the country — the seven miles of meandering water from the Flaming Gorge Dam to Little Hole.

This section of river has one of the highest concentrations of fish in the country. The number 20,000 fish per mile is often bantered about.

There's no doubt there are a lot of fish in the river. Fishermen can see them holding in the current, some only inches from shore.

It is true, too, that some anglers, even the most experienced, find this section of river to be one of the most difficult waters to entice a bite.

"During peak times, the fish along the banks see, oh, maybe 100 anglers a day walk by. People see the fish and think they should be able to catch one or two," said Breer. "But these fish are good at what they do. They've seen it all."

The fish are, as he explained, through experience, good at what they do, which is recognizing the difference between real food and fake. The job of the fishermen is to make the lure or fly look as real as possible.

The problem, if there really is one, is that like fish, fishermen have their favorite days and too often they correspond with those of other fishermen.

In June, for example, when the cicada hatch comes on, fishermen have learned they can catch a lot of fish, big fish, easily.

"This has become an extremely popular time, but this year the cicada didn't show," said Breer. "The fishermen did. June was overbooked.

"We're victims of our own success. I could have booked 100 boats a day, every day during June. I turned so much business away. I would like to see people quit focusing on just those times when they think fishing is good. It's good all the time. Things are slow in September, for example, and fishing in the winter is wonderful."

He also explained that some of the best bargains are offered during the colder months, between Nov. 1 and March 31.