Tag: alcova

Beautiful Days and Melting Snow

Posted on by AdminNPL

As a lot of you may have seen, central Wyoming was hit with a big snow storm last week. Snow accumulations varied in the area and drifts have piled high. A lot of our boat ramps were not usable because of this. However, this didn’t stop us from getting out and enjoying the beautiful weather for the days that followed.  We weren’t the only ones! This was a busy weekend for the Grey Reef stretch. Quite a few boats out there. With our private access we can often avoid traffic and this is what we did! The fishing has been pretty good the last few days and has produced some very healthy, well wintered, fat trout. This time of year there is a variety of food the fish are eating. From midges and annelids, all the way to worms and leeches. This definitely makes the choice of what to use easy.  Even though the water temps are sitting at 38°F to 42°F, the trout are fighting hard! Let em run! If you haven’t already, get your trips booked at The Reef Fly Shop. 

Just a quick update on the spring Flush. It has been postponed to March 29th and it will now be a full 10 day flush. We will continue to update on this if there are any other changes.

With the recent snow and drifts, it had made the road to the Miracle Mile not passable. Many who tried over the weekend were in for a shock. Turning around to head back to the Grey Reef and even getting stuck themselves. This has recently changed. The plow has opened the main road up and a few are making the drive over now. The roads along the river are still bad so be careful out there and good luck! Share your pictures with us on Facebook or Instagram. We would love to see how everyone is doing!

Warmer temperatures and some beautiful days are in the forecast. With all the snow sitting around, this can cause for some cloudy river conditions. Sometimes this may lead to fishing a little different or even fishing some different locations.  Be flexible and trust your guides. You never know, it may turn into an unexpected adventure of a lifetime. Give us a call and get your next adventure booked!

 

 

North Platte River Flush and Snow Pack Update

Posted on by AdminNPL

2019 SPRING FLUSH:

The flush has been tentatively slated for March 18-24. As opposed to years past(10-day flush), this years flush will be seven days.  Also with the bridge construction below Alcova, flush hours will take place during the night hours and flows will be back to 500cfs by 6:00am. If there are any changes to this, we will continue to update.

A much anticipated spring is on the horizon and it cant get here fast enough. With that, the upper North Platte drainage is sitting pretty good on snow pack. Currently at 112%.  This is great as we will hopefully get a much needed fill of our reservoirs and keep a good flow in the river.  This makes for happy fish and happier fishermen!  http://www.wrds.uwyo.edu/wrds/nrcs/snowprec/snowprec.html 

We have started to get a bunch of our new inventory in and we couldn’t be more excited! New apparel and gear in both the lodge and The Reef Fly Shop. Give us a follow on our Facebook and Instagram accounts to get a quick preview! Make sure you stop in to check it out!  

Thaw and Flush

Posted on by hosting@thebarkfirm.com

March is an exciting month. It’s the time of year where anything can happen with the weather. It will snow a foot one day, and then be 50 degrees on another. The river that has been frozen down stream will start to open, and the banks will start to come alive. The beginning of spring. Things will start to thaw and the North Platte River will be hub for activity. It is to many, their favorite time of the year to go Fly Fishing! Floating is an amazing way to see everything from deer and antelope, all the way to turkeys strutting their stuff on the banks. Oh, and did I mention the fishing is fantastic? The Reef Fly Shop has the best early season package in the business! 2 nights in a cottage and 1 day of guided fishing on Grey Reef for $600! Until March 15 where we return to regular season rates. Get it while it lasts!

Every year the North Platte River is flushed near the second week of March for ten days. The flush is when the Bureau Of Rec slowly bumps flows up from our current 500cfs to 4000cfs and then back down slowly to 500cfs over night. This cleans out the “junk” if you will on the bottom of the river. Over the year silt and debris covers some of the bottom and prime spawning habitat for our fishery. The high flows clean this from the bottom moving it down stream away from prime spawning habitat. This year however, with the remaining ice and cold weather in the extended forecast. Coupled with the current bridge construction taking place below Alcova Dam, dates for the flush have not come out yet. There are a few factors to think of with this. We don’t want the flush to be late, as this will wash away where fish have already spawned. However, we do want a flush to clean up the bottom, creating more prime spawning habitat. With a little luck, hopefully the weather warms up and it will get back on track! We will continue to update everyone on the flush plans and schedule as we gain more information.

We recently have made some changes to The Reef Fly Shop and it is starting to come along nicely! Click the link here to check it out. https://youtu.be/xWb4pN_G43I Although we have the project going, we are still open. So stop in to grab your gear and see the changes yourself!

We’ve made it out to the Miracle Mile a couple times in the last few weeks. Braving the elements. This is always a challenge this time of year. Roads are a pain, wind blowing, and cold temps make it hard. But can be well worth it. Swinging streamers, we were able to connect on some great fish! The Miracle Mile road had some drifting and slippery spots so be careful if you are going to make the trip out passed Alcova!

Wyoming Fly Fishing Report, Grey Reef

Posted on by hosting@thebarkfirm.com

Central Wyoming fly fishing is still impressive. The guides report excellent fishing at Miracle Mile, Fremont Canyon and Grey Reef. Grey Reef numbers can’t be beat and the average size is reminiscent of 15 years ago. Miracle Mile fly fishing report is also very good with not the numbers but the size has been really impressive…although the trophy class fish will be most often found in the upper 8 miles of Grey Reef.  Fremont Canyon is also producing and the dry fly has been solid.

Grey Reef Fishing Report: Flows are down to 1300cfs this AM water is clear and temps are cool until you get into Casper. Expect a drop and we may be down to 500cfs winter flows before we know it. Excellent nymphing with caddis and midge options. Leeches and scuds also productive. Grey Reef streamer fishing has really picked up steam and you should have a streamer rod rigged and ready. Grey Reef dry fly fishing is great with pods slurping trico spinners in the AM and really good caddis in the PM.

Miracle Mile fly fishing report: Flows are at 1000cfs and clear and cool. Nymphing with small bug/caddis rigs the most productive. Miracle Mile streamer fishing has been pretty good as well.

Fremont Canyon fly fishing report: flows are 75cfs and very clear and cool. Dry/dropper rigs in the rock gardens and streamers throughout. For numbers stick with a light nymph rig and caddis emergers and midges.

We had a pretty exciting day on Sunday. The lodge was very close to being consumed by a human caused grass fire. The Alcova community and NaCo and BLM fire crews as well as the sheriff’s dept saved the facility likely. Pretty cool when tractors, road graders, water tanks just kind of pop out of the hills with neighbors who are a tenacious bunch. Big thanks to all who lent a hand!!

 

Grey Reef Fly Fishing Report 3/31/14

Posted on by Grey Reef

Central Wyoming Fly Fishing is excellent and this won’t change. Alcova did get a blasting of heavy , wet snow and it is still coming down. This will continue the poor water conditions below Government Bridge. But, the Grey Reef section of the North Platte River should hold strong. These events can create a muddy runoff into Grey Reef Reservoir and that has been known to shut things down for a day or so. The snowpack #s for the North Platte River drainage are excellent and getting stronger. We should probably expect a bump in flows in the next couple weeks. That won’t hurt our feelings at all.

Miracle Mile and Fremont fly fishing reports are good. Road conditions to Miracle Mile will again be poor. Miracle Mile has picked up a touch over the slower production of the past couple weeks. Rigs at all 3 venues have been PSL, scuds, deep purple, foam wing rs2 and Mayhem midges. Streamers are getting limited attention but they do get noticed…keep them low and slow.

The spawn is on and this means fish need our help to continue Grey Reef’s legendary quality. Please don’t target spawning fish and don’t wade in and through the redds. The Wy Game and Fish released press that said a bead placed no more than 2″ above a fly isn’t illegal BUT snagging fish is illegal.

 

Grey Reef Fly Fishing Report 3/31/14

Posted on by hosting@thebarkfirm.com

Central Wyoming Fly Fishing is excellent and this won’t change. Alcova did get a blasting of heavy , wet snow and it is still coming down. This will continue the poor water conditions below Government Bridge. But, the Grey Reef section of the North Platte River should hold strong. These events can create a muddy runoff into Grey Reef Reservoir and that has been known to shut things down for a day or so. The snowpack #s for the North Platte River drainage are excellent and getting stronger. We should probably expect a bump in flows in the next couple weeks. That won’t hurt our feelings at all.

Miracle Mile and Fremont fly fishing reports are good. Road conditions to Miracle Mile will again be poor. Miracle Mile has picked up a touch over the slower production of the past couple weeks. Rigs at all 3 venues have been PSL, scuds, deep purple, foam wing rs2 and Mayhem midges. Streamers are getting limited attention but they do get noticed…keep them low and slow.

The spawn is on and this means fish need our help to continue Grey Reef’s legendary quality. Please don’t target spawning fish and don’t wade in and through the redds. The Wy Game and Fish released press that said a bead placed no more than 2″ above a fly isn’t illegal BUT snagging fish is illegal.

 

Grey Reef Angling Report 4/27/14

Posted on by Grey Reef

Another skiff of snow for Casper & Alcova, Wyoming last night. Only an inch or so but it is causing some black ice issues so be careful. It is supposed to snow off and on throughout the day but accumulation won’t amount to much if anything.

The Grey Reef flushing flows are over for 2014. Fishing was excellent from the first day of the flush and will only continue to improve as we move toward our full blown baetis hatch. Baetis, or blue winged olives, are what make the spring fishing on Grey Reef legendary. The rainbow spawn is also going to take off. The success of this spawn is very instrumental in the health of the North Platte River and continued excellent fishing conditions. Please refrain from targeting spawning fish and do not walk through the spawning beds or “redds”. They are so cool to watch but not sporting to catch.

Grey Reef streamer activity is moderate with some good sized fish willing to track a slowly stripped creature kept low in the column. Grey Reef nymphing is excellent with pine squirrel leeches, pulsating emergers, Deep Purples and Mahem midges. Miracle Mile fly fishing is variable and can leave you scratching your head. Small midges fished in the tailouts has been the ticket lately. Fremont Canyon fly fishing is solid with brassies, lazy midges, all day mays and a soft hackled scud.

This is the last weekend of our discounted trips and lodging and the regular season is sneaking up fast! The North Platte Lodge still has a few opening for large groups and a few more for smaller groups. We have one mid April spot and a late August for a full lodge option of up to 12 anglers.

A quick rundown of the seasons and hatches:

November-March: Midges are the hatch but leeches, scuds, worms and streamers provide consistent and very good production if you can tolerate the weather.

April-May: Baetis! Amazing hatch that creates some amazing opportunities. Get rid of the worms and eggs and match the hatch…so fun! Midges are also very important but take a backseat to beatis. Rainbow spawn.

June-July: Caddis(show earlier that the other major hatches of this season) late eve dry fly! PMDs and Yellow Sallies. PMD fishing can be tricky but Sallies are in the riffles and pretty obvious. A chance to fish a little bigger nymph. Golden Stones at Miracle Mile and very solid streamer activity. Dry fly can be excellent.

August-September: Caddis, terrestrials…yes hoppers can be great but don’t bank on that, Tricos! the most consistent dry fly option of the year. Big fish putting themselves in precarious positions to eat these petite spinners. Streamers picking up tremendously as young fish and crawdads are active as forage. Psuedos…one of my favorites and a little mentioned hatch. Don’t blink or you may miss them. Baetis…again! Fall baetis is excellent and light nymph rigs and even better dry fly that spring baetis.

Oct-November: Caddis and baetis disappear in the earlier stage and make way for midge eaters. This is streamer season on the North Platte River! Come with the big guns and go to work. You might just end up with a picture of the fish of a lifetime. Induction into our 25″ club happens frequently in the fall.

 

 

 

Grey Reef Fly Fishing Report – March 6

Posted on by hosting@thebarkfirm.com

The Grey Reef Fly Fishing Report is solid fishing in Alcova, Wyoming but the river is green on the true Grey Reef section of the North Platte River, from Grey Reef Dam to Government Bridge. The upper is where you should focus your efforts due to increased run off as you travel downstream. Today we are expecting 55* and 55mph gusts….a genuine 50/50 day! This will do some major damage to the existing snow and will likely exacerbate the green river conditions.

Fremont Canyon and Miracle Mile fishing report is also good. Fremont is clear and fishing particularity well. Miracle Mile access is still a little muddy in spots and fishing good. Now on par with Grey Reef but well worth it.

Thanks for the sore ears! The phones at the shop and lodge have been ringing off the hook and we are very grateful for that. Do not hesitate to call for any reason. If you need a conditions or road report or questions about bugs or the flush…give us a yell. Brad is front and center at The Reef Fly Shop and can give you the play by play as it unfolds.

We are proud to announce that we are now a Patagonia dealer! We have always worn a lot of Patagonia gear for the simple reason that it works better than anything and far outlasts its welcome in our wardrobes. You ever want to just have a new piece of gear because you are tired of the old stuff? Hard to justify it when it is still in great condition, right? Well that is the Patagonia dilemma…you better want that piece of gear for a long time or plan an exit strategy.

Grey Reef Blizzard Fishing

Posted on by Grey Reef

Fly Fishing Alcova, Wyoming right now is a practice in winter survival. Temps near zero and a bout 4″ of fluffy snow in the past several hours. Grey Reef is blanketed in white but the sun is poking through on occasion as the snow fades. Impressive midge hatch! Love all the black midges on the white snow it king of makes you stop and rethink the insect world. Miracle Mile will be tougher to access and fishing Fremont Canyon will be relatively easy.

Midges, the name of the game. Learn where and why and be a productive fly fisher for life. The rest comes easy and you won’t even consider going back. Hopefully, the weather cooperates as we have guides scheduled to be on Grey Reef this week. However, we won’t put our guests in an uncomfortable situation. There is no compromise with regard to our dedication to providing the best product on the North Platte River.

Fly Fishing Wyoming 2/24/14

Posted on by hosting@thebarkfirm.com

North Platte River / Grey Reef Angling has been on fire. Streamers knocked their socks off yesterday and the nymphing was great. No big fish but high quality Grey Reef trout. Couple lows plowing over the Casper and Alcova, Wyoming region over the next few days. Not terribly warm and not very snowy. No reason to expect any slow fishing so get your waders wet as the weather suits you. The Reef Fly Shop guides have been on the water and are ready for the assault of the 2104 season. The shop has been open in the AM but give a shout if you plan on being here during the week so we will be sure to see you. Miracle Mile fishing report- fishing well but not silly. Fremont Canyon fishing report -fishing is about the same as Miracle Mile. Nymphing is the ticket at both venues but streamers will always get some attention. Neither pack the winter punch of Grey Reef fishing production in general but both are well worth it.

Stay tuned for the “Barn Raising” party details.