Is This Wyoming's Best Kept Fly-Fishing Secret?
Our destination is the Green River below Fontenelle Dam — perhaps the last major undiscovered trophy trout stream in the lower 48 states. With Van Beacham.
Episode 171 of the Destination Angler Podcast – May 21, 2026
Our destination is the Green River below Fontenelle Dam — perhaps the last major undiscovered trophy trout stream in the lower 48 states.
Tucked inside the Seedskiddie National Wildlife Refuge in the middle of Wyoming's Red Desert, this high desert tailwater is a lush ribbon of life most traveling anglers have never heard of — and that's exactly the point. Today we sit down with Van Beacham, fourth-generation fly fisherman, author of Fly Fisher's Guide to New Mexico, and owner of The Solitary Angler, who has been quietly fishing and guiding this river since the 1980s.
With huge biomass and 18"+ rainbows and browns as the standard, this is a trophy fishery — not a numbers river. Van breaks down why it stays uncrowded, what it takes to unlock the river's big fish, and why the solitude here rivals anything in the American West.
In this episode:
- Why the Green River below Fontenelle Dam is the lower 48's best-kept secret
- Fish species: rainbows, browns, Bonneville and Snake River cutthroats
- The nymphing rig Van relies on — crayfish pattern, San Juan worm, and small mayflies
- Managing the notorious weed problem in July and August
- How Van built The Solitary Angler's private-water club model on Hams Fork, Smiths Fork, and Fontenelle Creek
- Wildlife: trumpeter swans, moose, bald eagles, and antelope in the Seedskiddie Refuge
- The river's deep history — Oregon Trail, mountain man rendezvous, and Jim Bridger's Fort
Whether you're planning a Wyoming trip or just dreaming of uncrowded water with legitimate trophy fish, Van delivers the local knowledge you need before you go. Check out this crayfish pattern!
With host Steve Haigh | Destination Angler Podcast — THE podcast for anglers who travel.
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Contact Van: https://thesolitaryangler.com/ | 575-758-5653
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Available on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Recorded Mar 26, 2026
In this Episode:
The River & Why It's Still a Secret
- Why Van calls this "the last major undiscovered trophy trout stream in the lower 48"
- How permit limits, relentless wind, and a guides' gentleman's agreement keep it off the radar
- The difference between the Bureau of Reclamation section and the Seedskadee Wildlife Refuge section
The Fish
- Average fish biomass of 3.75 lbs — trophy water, not a numbers river
- Species: rainbows, browns, Bonneville and Snake River cutthroats
- What a "good day," "great day," and "fantastic day" looks like on this fishery
Flies, Rigs & Techniques
- Van's go-to nymphing rig: crayfish pattern → San Juan worm → small sow bug or mayfly
- The "little pop" jigging technique to trigger strikes
- How to manage the summer weed problem and why heavier tippet wins here
Logistics & Planning
- Best seasons: spring for numbers, fall for the biggest fish
- Nearest towns: Green River and Rock Springs, Wyoming
- Why hiring a guide cuts your learning curve by 90%
Van's Private Water Club & History
- How The Solitary Angler's private-water club model was built — and why it solves crowding
- Oregon Trail crossings, Jim Bridger's Fort, and mountain man rendezvous history along the banks
