TOP TECHNIQUES
I’ve had a lot of success with finicky trout using two patterns. A favorite combination is a No. 12 stimulator with a No. 14 flash back, beadhead pheasant-tail nymph. Although that’s kind of a mouthful, the nymph pattern is really versatile, and the stimulator catches a lot of fish.

Anglers rig their hopper-dropper patterns differently, but I always tie mine in series. If you’re not acquainted with this technique, tie the stimulator to the end of the tippet and tie a second leader about 18 inches long into the bend of the hook of the stimulator, using a double clinch knot. Then tie the wet fly to the end of the leader. The length of the leader varies depending on water depth. This length works well on creeks like Jones Hole.

In the early evening, the color of the cliffs had changed from brown to orange to gray. The air was filled with the soft crunch of wet shoes on the trail, the buzz of insects in the evening air, the rustle of deer bounding through the brush, the gentle hiss of the breeze and above all, the ripple of the water. It’s been like this for thousands of years, and it’s there right now. I can’t wait to go back!

For fishing regulations and information, contact the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Vernal, Utah, at (435) 781-9453. For park information on Dinosaur National Monument, call (970) 374-3000, or visit NPS.gov/Dino.

For a detailed trail description and regional map, log on to go-utah.com/Jones-Hole. For camping reservations, call (435) 781-7700.

For Green River float trips, call Adrift Adventures at 1-800-758-5161, or visit Adrift.com.