Winter and spring midge patterns -- olive, brown, gray, black, & tan WD-40s; Discos; Desert Storms; black, gray and olive CDC emergers in sizes 20-28; Griffith's Gnats and Black Cluster Midge in sizes 16-22 -- and No. 10 San Juan Worms produce well. Blue-winged olives (Baetis) dominate the bug activity in April, May and June and again in fall; match them with size 18-22 BWOs. In June, July and August look for PMDs, caddis and flying ants. Match them with like patterns in sizes 16-22. Alternatively, toss them a curve by pitching size 2-6 leeches. Buggers and Clousers produce well when the river turns murky, at dawn, dusk, and on dark days anytime fall through spring. Water quality and bug populations diminish below the quality water section, and larger fly patterns are more the rule than the exception.

Ultra-light spinning rigs and small lures such as Mepps and Panther Martins, small Kastmasters, 1/8- and 1/16-ounce jigs (black, olive, white and brown) or spawn imitations, hot glue eggs or Glo Bugs round out the spin fisher's arsenal.

Access is good off NM 511 on the river's south side; access to the north side below Simeon Canyon is via the road to Cottonwood Campground.

GREEN RIVER
The tailwater below Flaming Gorge Reservoir at Dutch John, Utah, is nothing short of primo trout water, perhaps tops in this list. Eight out of 10 anglers who come here fish the initial seven miles below the dam to Little Hole.

It's little wonder the area would receive such pressure considering trout estimates run as high as five figures per mile, with the average trout running 15 to 17 inches and plenty in the 18- to 20-inch class to boot. Below Little Hole the river broadens, the crowds thin, and yet the trout are still thick though not as numerous as upstream, and the average size diminishes some but still rates as top-notch.

The river supports a mix of rainbow, cutthroat, cutbow and brown trout, with a slight bias toward browns. For the hog hunter, huge trout live here. The record brown, caught in 1996, weighed nearly 30 pounds.

This fertile piece of river produces prodigious amounts of trout food and fussy trout. Fly anglers need to get the pattern, size and presentation right. Success hinges on hitting the mark; close does not often count for much.

Day in and day out various nymphing techniques top the list of useful tactics. Drag-free drifts are essential. Green River trout are notorious for subtle takes, quick, evasive tactics, and long-distance releases known to local guides as "LDRs."

Hot fly patterns change with the seasons, but scuds and midges prevail throughout the season. Orange, pink, tan and olive scuds in sizes 10-16, small nymphs and emergers, Discos, Palominos, WD-40s, Lightning Bugs, PT, CDCs, Bubble-heads in sizes 16-22 (built-in flash helps) in gray, olive and black are the workhorse patterns. Check the fly shops to find the current hot ties.

Useful dries run the gamut from attractors, to terrestrials, to hatch matching caddis, midge, stone and mayfly patterns. Stand-bys such as the Parachute Adams and Elk-hair and X-Caddis, in several different body colors, tan, olive, amber and black, sizes 14-20 and Griffith's Gnat in sizes 18-24 cover most hatch situations. Terrestrials are necessary for late summer and fall.

Light-action spinning rods, with 4- to 6-pound line, Mepps, Rooster Tails, Panther Martins, Countdown Rapalas and a variety of jigs in smaller sizes work best. Bait is prohibited in the upper section.

KOOTENAI RIVER
Despite serving up the current state record rainbow (33 pounds plus), word on the street had the Kootenai pegged as a great spot for catching lots of small trout. Sure, monsters of the trout family live there, but don't hold your breath waiting to catch one of them.

Not anymore.