August already and plenty of cool things to share about the 2024 season…and even cooler things to look forward to.
Grey Reef and Miracle Mile have both had elevated flows this season. This is always a huge positive. It protects spawning beds from predatory anglers, both human and non. Dramatically increases the amount of productive water, keeps the water temps cool ( yesterday at 2pm we took a 61* temp about 23 river miles below Grey Reef Dam), flushes the channel, keeps veg growth at bay and, maybe best of all, is the single most important factor in Grey Reef wild trout recruitment. Expect fish counts to be pretty significant for the 2025 season. We love big water because there are very few drawbacks and lots of benefits.
We kind of consider the first half of the season to be pretty standard operating procedure. Our approach to fly fishing is significantly different than most outfitters in the region but it is still largely a nymphing game and most folks target the same 35 -40 miles of the North Platte River. Once we get to this stage of the year things change quite a bit. Outfitters are not as busy and oftentimes pretty quiet (although this is a super-busy time for us), the North Platte River expands to 100 miles of ridiculously good trout water, fish look up, the landscape starts looking very different, trout get more aggressive with their feeding resulting in them chasing down and thumping streamers all while the spring hatches replay and the tailwater emerger rigs come into their own again. Let’s not forget big game hunts and upland and waterfowl hunts and cast and blast.Things become pretty hectic at the North Platte Lodge and The Reef Fly Shop while the river gets a significant break from the pressures of spring. The guests and guides are ranging farther to focus on their preferred method of fishing…hint: come with dry fly, streamer and nymphing gear. Guests and guides are in the field, trailing dogs looking for Sage Grouse, Blue Grouse (Dusky Grouse), Huns or getting out at the crack of dawn calling in early season waterfowl and fishing the remainder of the day. We are coming-and-going and turning-and-burning…it is so fun!
All that being said, the lodge has a few spots still available between Sept 12th and October 12th. The fly shop has pretty good guide, cottage and RV availability through mid November. If you can’t get here this year call sooner than later for 2025 dates…the lodge books pretty early and now is the best time to check 2025 dates.
Here’s what to expect for the remainder of our 2024 Central Wyoming hunting and fishing program-
August: Tricos, grasshoppers, caddis, midges, leeches, scuds, crane flies, crawdads and other swimming trout prey etc. Come with dry fly, nymphing and streamer rigs. If you’d like to shoot we can arrange sporting clays with our neighbors, Riverbend Roosters.
September: Psuedos, Tricos, grasshoppers, caddis, midges, leeches, scuds, crane flies, stone flies, crawdads and other swimming trout prey etc. Come with dry fly, nymphing and streamer rigs. Our most consistent dry fly month of the year. Blue grouse and huns open for upland hunts and cast and blast packages. Sage Grouse hunts through the lodge Sept 21 -30. The North Platte River returns to minimum flows and wade fishing is far more available.
October: Baetis (blue winged olives), Tricos, caddis, midges, leeches, scuds, crane flies, stone flies, crawdads and other swimming trout prey etc. Upland hunts (excluding sage grouse) and early season waterfowl cast and blast packages. great fall weather and very few anglers on the water. This is arguably our favorite fishing month of the year. Later Oct the streamer bite ramps up, nymphing is excellent and regular season water fowl opens.
November: Midges, leeches, scuds, crane flies, crawdads and other swimming trout prey etc. The first two weeks of November are likely the most productive for our Trophy Trout Trips with a goal of landing a 25″ plus rainbow or brown targeted with streamers. Upland and waterfowl hunts with excellent nymphing. Technical dry fly with the midge hatch. Half of November generally shows us great weather and the other half isn’t made for the weak….although the fishing doesn’t suffer. Cheap fishing and lodging rates begin.
December: Nymphing and streamers, waterfowl, upland and only a couple folks on the river. Our winter season through mid March is pretty awesome for trout production but can back hand us with weather. Every month during the winter spell have windows of amazing weather conditions, however.