Tag: fly fish wyoming

A Little Update

Posted on by The Reef Fly Shop

*PURCHASE YOUR FISHING LICENSE ONLINE BEFORE YOU ARRIVE*

Sloanes General Store is no longer selling licenses and we will not be able to keep up with the demand so PLEASE get your licenses before you get here. Thank you!

 https://wgfd.wyo.gov/apply-or-buy

Alright folks, here’s a little updated report for you! Let us start with the flows and conditions…

GREY REEF: 2,000cfs, Grey Reef just bumped up to from 1,000cfs to 2,000cfs last night. It is currently stirred up a little bit below Grey Reef but it’s still fishable. We are expecting it to get back to normal in the next day or two.

FREMONT CANYON: 72cfs, mostly clear, hazy green in color. Fishable.

MIRACLE MILE: 2,775cfs, clear. The Mile has been holding steady at around 2,775cfs for a bit but are expecting flows to go up again at some point, probably sooner than later.

All and all things are pretty good in Central Wyoming. Reservoirs are starting to fill(*they have a ways to go), there’s a little green tint to the prairie and the fishing is pretty darn good. Standard fare on our three tailwater; baetis, midges, leeches and worms are whats working for our crew.

Flush is Finished

Posted on by The Reef Fly Shop

*PURCHASE YOUR FISHING LICENSE ONLINE*

 https://wgfd.wyo.gov/apply-or-buy

Well, the spring flush has officially wrapped up. Flows on Grey Reef have gone back to 450cfs. At this point we do not have any information regarding the flows for Grey Reef later this spring and summer. As always, if we hear anything we will let you know. Currently Grey is is floatable and fishable downstream of Government Bridge. This is subject to change, especially this year with the amount of lingering snow drifts.

Miracle Mile? We have had guides at the Mile the past week and other than one 150yd stretch of Kortes Road, the getting around out there is relatively easy. Keep mind folks, we have some more wet weather on the horizon, so this is subject to change. As always, USE CAUTION when headed that direction.

It’s gradually starting to feel like spring and the fish are starting to act like it. With the flush in the rear view, the spawn is really going to fire up. PLEASE be considerate of the fish and don’t walk through the redds. It really is best if we leave the spawners alone.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Posted on by The Reef Fly Shop

Valentine’s Day, the midpoint of February.  Granted it still feels mostly like winter, you can kind of feel a little bit of change in the air.  Super Bowl Sunday was one for the books with mild temps, sunny skies and virtually no wind.  It was a good day to be on the water!  Unfortunately the mild temperatures are going to leave for a few days, as another cold front is set to hit this afternoon. Keep in mind with this afternoon’s storm system, river and driving conditions could change for the next couple of days.

Here’s our current Grey Reef/Fremont Canyon/Miracle Mile conditions and fishing report…

Grey Reef: 450cfs 

Very clear from Grey Reef to Lusby, floatable from Grey Reef to Lusby. Frozen in sections from Lusby to Casper.

Nymphs: pine squirrel leech(brown or natural), hot-head leech(black w/ chartruese head or brown w/ orange head), PAL, rhinestone, reef worm, mini impaler, all-day may(black), amber scud, grey scud.

Streamers: rusty-t, goldie, articulated goldie, near-nuff sculpin(tan).

Fremont Canyon: 76cfs

Clear.  Road into the Canyon is icy in spots.

Nymphs: orange scud, amber scud, PAL, rhinestone, mayhem(grey), brassie(red).

Dries: Griffiths gnat, para adams.

Miracle Mile: 535cfs +/- (We do not have any updated fishing report due to the driving conditions on Kortes Road. Miracle Mile is passable but PLEASE use caution and pack the appropriate gear and equipment.)

Closer to Spring

Posted on by The Reef Fly Shop

It’s hard to believe we are already almost a full week into February.  Spring is going to be here before we know it!  After the last big snow/cold event, Central Wyoming has been on a little bit of a warming trend.  The past few days have delivered highs in the mid to high 30s but it looks like week ahead is going to cool down a touch and may have a few days of snow mixed in.

Here’s the updated conditions/fishing report for Grey Reef, Fremont Canyon and Miracle Mile…

Grey Reef: 450cfs 

Very clear from Grey Reef to Lusby, Floatable from Grey Reef to Lusby as of today.  Frozen in sections from Lusby to Casper.

Nymphs: Pine squirrel leech(brown or natural), Hot-head leech(black w/ chartruese head or brown w/ orange head), PAL, rhinestone, reef worm, mini impaler, all-day may(black), amber scud, grey scud.

Streamers: rusty-t, goldie, articulated goldie.

Fremont Canyon: 76cfs

Clear.  Road into the Canyon is icy in spots.

Nymphs: orange scud, amber scud, PAL, rhinestone, mayhem, brassie.

Dries: Griffiths gnat, para adams.

Miracle Mile: 535cfs +/- (We do not have any updated fishing report due to the driving conditions.  We would not advise driving from Alcova to the Miracle Mile at this time.)

 

 

More Snow

Posted on by The Reef Fly Shop

It seems this year we are staying a little more consistent on the snow.  Southern and Central Wyoming has been seeing storm systems at least once, if not two times a week.  Snow pack in the North Platte drainage is anywhere from 116%-165%.  That’s pretty darn good if you ask us. Hopefully we continue to keep piling it on!

Now let’s talk about the conditions and the fishing…

Current Flows:

Grey Reef: 450cfs (*Floatable from Grey Reef Dam to Lusby.)   

Fremont Canyon: 76cfs  

Miracle Mile: 535cfs +/- (*As always this time of year use caution if you are thinking about venturing to the Mile.  Make sure to check with someone local and be prepared.)

What flies are working?  Here’s Mason Bouffard’s top pick nymphs….

PALs, rhinestones, leeches(brown, natural, UV brown and hot head) scuds(amber, orange and olive), reef worms and mayhems.

Remember to concentrate on the lower half of the run.  If the water looks deep and slow, fish it!

 

 

 

Happy New Year!

Posted on by The Reef Fly Shop

We hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable New Year.  Here’s to 2023!  Well, we are starting the year off right in Central Wyoming.  As we write this little report we are on the backend of a two day snow event that has taken snowpack above 120% in the entire North Platte River drainage.  We like it!

Otherwise things are good here, just getting dialed in for the upcoming season.  Before this latest storm the weather was pretty nice and we actually had a few boats on the water to round out the year.  When you get the weather windows the fishing has been pretty solid!  So here’s an updated conditions/fishing report for all of you winter anglers…

Current Flows:

Grey Reef: 450cfs  

Fremont Canyon: 76cfs  

Miracle Mile: 535cfs +/- (*As always this time of year use caution if you are thinking about venturing to the Mile.  Make sure to check with someone local and be prepared.)

Top Flies:

Nymphs: amber scud, ray charles(tan), rhinestone, PAL, pine squirrel leech(brown or natural), mayhem midge(black), reef worm, hot head pine squirrel leech(chartreuse and black)

Streamers: rusty-t, articulated goldie, goldie w/ a pine squirrel leech trailer

 

 

The Winter Program

Posted on by The Reef Fly Shop

First things first, here is our winter schedule for the shop.

CURRENT SHOP HOURS:

Thursday-Monday: 8AM-1PM

Tuesday and Wednesday: CLOSED

A quick little fishing report for you folks.  It’s pretty much winter in Central Wyoming.  Flows are down to winter levels and we are starting to see some slush ice on lower sections of Grey Reef.  Nymphing and streamers have been the way to go on Grey Reef, Miracle Mile and Fremont Canyon.  Various scud patterns, rhinestones, PALs, reef worms, leeches and mayhems have been our top producers.  The most productive nymphing water has been the mid to lower sections of the runs.  Some fish are definitely starting to hunker into their winter patterns.  Streamers (i.e. Rusty T and/or a Goldie) have been producing some nice fish, just remember to slow down your strip with the colder water temperatures.

Feels a Little Like Fall

Posted on by The Reef Fly Shop

Cool and rainy this morning in Central Wyoming.  Not gonna lie, it feels pretty good!  We are officially at the midpoint of September and we are right where we are supposed to be.  Flows on Grey Reef are at 500cfs, Miracle Mile 530cfs and Fremont is holding steady at 75cfs.  Everything is fishing well, actually really well.  Water temperatures have dropped to a more comfortable level and conditions, especially on Grey Reef, are primo.

Pretty standard when we see the drop in flows, Grey Reef is running very clear and the vegetation is far less of a hinderance.  That being said, it has been buggy and the fish are looking up.  Huge trico numbers in the morning and pseudos in the afternoon.  Our Grey Reef guides have pretty much been rowing around looking for heads.  A little longer leader, tethered to 4X or 5X with a single dry (i.e. para adams, trico spinner), or a double fly rig with something a little bulkier (i.e. X caddis) with a trico spinner dropper. If dry fly fishing isn’t your thing, you can still catch them on trusty nymph rig.  Our go-to nymphs have been PALs, RS2 foam-wings in black and grey, pheasant tails, Pat’s rubber legs and/or a black two-bit hooker.  Our nymph rigs have been between 3-6ft in length and anything from no weight to 1-2BB split shot.  It really just depends on the type of water you are fishing.

On The Drop

Posted on by The Reef Fly Shop

We hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable labor day weekend!  Based on our sources we have been told Grey Reef will start dropping this week, it may even start today.  Fortunately it looks like we will be out of this blistering heat wave by weeks end as well.  Our guide staff has been diligent about taking water temperatures and we have chosen to go-to early starts and early offs until the cool weather shows up this weekend.  This mornings forecast shows highs in the 50s with lows in the 30s on Saturday.  That’s gonna feel good!

With the anticipated drop in flows we are expecting a pretty strong uptick in trico/pseudo activity and the fish feeding on them.  So you’ll definitely want to keep the dry fly rod handy.  Currently our guides are looking for heads in the morning then switching over to nymphs later on.  4-6ft, 1-3 BBs tethered to a leech, cranefly, Pat’s rubber legs and dropped with a small pheasant tail or foam wing RS2.  A pretty straight forward rig!

Baetis and Big Stuff

Posted on by The Reef Fly Shop

Fishing is good!  We have great water conditions from Grey Reef to Glenrock, with flows still hovering around 500cfs.  If your heading to upper Grey Reef, baetis are the featured menu item.  RS2 foam-wings, Barr’s emerged, split case BWO, big bear baetis, real deal point fly are a few of the patterns you need to have in your box.  Make sure to vary your length/weight depending on the type of water you are in.  Also, don’t hesitate to go to the mini-rig when the bugs are popping.  If your looking to get out and throw some larger flies, you might want to head to the lower river.  Water conditions are primo and water temps are in the 50s.  The big fish are fired up!  You are hard pressed to beat a rusty or an articulated goldie but as was the case yesterday black was the color.  So make sure you have some darker color streamers with you.