Trico Time!


As we hit the middle of August Tricos are in full swing here on the Reef and the fishing is still great! We are seeing a very healthy Trico hatch from early in the morning until about 9-10am. If you’re nymphing black RS2s and Mayhem Midges have been the ticket. We haven’t been seeing too much surface action for the Trico hatch, but if you hit it on the right day you can have some shots at sipping trout. Throwing smaller mayfly patterns or trico specific flies might get these sippers to eat. As the day goes on PMD’s, Yellow Sallies, Caddis, and Stoneflies have all been in the mix and productive. As was the case in early August, some sort of flashy bead head with an emerger off the back can’t really be beaten when nymphing. We have yet to see hopper action pick up, but that may mean just a later and greater season on that front. Of course we have to cover the topic of grass and weeds in the river as well because this time of year is when they really pop up. Surprisingly this year it isn’t that bad yet, but it seems like the grass is growing by the minute. The key to fishing when the weeds really come in is finding where channels open up and drifting your nymph rigs through there. Looking for faster current and deeper shelves where there grass doesn’t grow as high should be your target. Your first instinct may be to shorten up and lighten up in order to drift over the weeds, but you’d be surprised to see how many trout are actually living in the grass, making drifting a little bit deeper through the channels much more effective.

That’s all for this report, hopefully next report we will be able to give you all some good news about the hopper bite!

Post Storm Fly Fishing Report and Grey Reef Flush Update!


While most of Wyoming and Colorado was hit by a major winter storm Alcova and Grey Reef hardly got an inch of snow! The roads are all opening up and the weather this weekend looks prime! Our cottages are full this weekend, but we still have guide availability. Please Call the shop for updated Miracle mile road reports.

The flush of Grey Reef is NOT happening this year due to a few different circumstances. Do not worry, the fishing has been and will remain good. We saw increased flows in October last year and that cleared out a ton of sediment and debris from the spawning areas. Honestly the fishing every year is usually the same pre flush as it is post flush. It’s just kind of a different and fun way to kick off to the season. We just beefed up our snowpack with the last storm and should hopefully be able to fill some of our reservoirs.

Flies: Fishing has been really good on all three tailwaters, conveniently the flies are similar for all of them. Leeches in brown, olive, natural #10, Reef Worms in red and purple #12-18, Scuds in olive, pink and orange #14-16, Pheasant Tails #16-18, Mayhem Midges black and purple #18-20, All day May in olive #18, PAL #16-20, and Rhinestone in #18-20 have all been great patterns the past few weeks!

Flows: Flows are low and will stay that way for the next few weeks. The only change we are supposed to see is Grey Reef go back up to 500 CFS from 400CFS

Grey Reef-400 CFS

Miracle Mile-500 CFS

Fremont canyon- 72 CFS

If you have any questions feel free to stop by the shop or give us a call!

Welcome to 2021! North Platte Fly Fishing Report!


Happy New Year! We hope everyone had a fun and safe holidays. We are back to being open everyday of the week from 8:00 to 2:00 and still have some awesome deals in the shop before our 2021 gear arrives. We had guides out over the past week and had some good weather and great fishing! We fished The Mile, Afterbay, and Grey Reef, as usual The Reef outshined them all.

We have our shoulder season rates going on until March 15th: Half Day Guided trip- $350, Full day Guided trip- $450 1 night in a cottage and 1 full day guided fishing-$575, and 2 nights in a cottage and 1 full day guided trip- $625. This is a great time to fish the North Platte with no crowds and good fishing!

Flows are up in Fremont and the Miracle Mile as they are filling up Alcova reservoir. Miracle Mile is flowing at 1,200 CFS and Fremont is around 2,2,00 CFS. They are still very fishable just focus on the slower tailouts and edges of runs.

Flies are similar on all three tailwaters right now: Pine Squirrel leeches, Reef Worms, Scuds, Mayhem Midges, tubing midges, the LAZY, the brassie, and RS2’s have all been working. Some days it definitely pays off to be shorter, lighter, and higher up in the water column. Other days it seems you have to be deep and heavy, so I always start off short and light and work my way down from there. Streamer fishing has also been working: Goldies, Rusty Trombone, kreelex, peacock buggers, and all peanut envys are the go-tos.

If you have any questions or want to book your next trip give us a call or stop by the shop!

Hoppertunities Abound! 7/20/2020


The fishing lately has been really fun, a good mix of nymphing, hoppers, and even a handful of streamers! Flows just dropped on The Mile and are still holding steady on Grey Reef and Fremont, but we do expect a drop in soon. The Weather has been in the low 90’s with some breeze in the afternoon which is a perfect storm for hopper fishing! If you haven’t experienced the hopper hatch on the Reef now is the time. We should have great dry fly fishing all the way into October!

The Rig: We’ve been fishing a really similar rig on all three tailwaters lately, an attractor up front like a Pat’s Rubber legs, Pine Squirrel Leech, or a san juan worm. We follow that up with a bead head fly like a Prince nymph, Pheasant Tail, Hare’s Ear, Poxypack PMD, Demon Sally or a tung teaser. For the bottom, some form of emerger as been good, midges and tricos in the AM switching to sallies, caddis and PMD’s in the PM. We’ve been fishing 3-4.5 Ft indicator to weight with 1-3 “BB’s” as our weight. 3x leaders going to 4x tippet on the smaller flies.

Miracle Mile 2,000 CFS- Clarity is off on the mile due to the reservoirs turning over, but that hasn’t affected the fishing. While the Golden Stonefly hatch is all but done the PMD’s, and Caddis are in full swing. You can try to throw some hoppers along the banks but nymphing has definitely been producing more fish.The is some floating vegetation but it’s really not too bad, it gets more prevalent the closer you get to Pathfinder. Right now the last bit of current before you reach the reservoir is around Chalk Bluffs. Use caution when driving around down there the lake is dropping and leaving the banks really soft. It is very easy to get stuck in that black stinky mud!

Fremont/Cardwell 1,600 CFS- Clarity is also pretty green right now, again it hasn’t affected the fishing. Fish are in all the cool “fishy” spots: shelves, drop offs, riffles and seams. We don’t recommend venturing into the Canyon section right now with the water being so swift.

Grey Reef-Casper 3,600 CFS- The clarity is great on the Reef and gets slightly green as you get closer to Casper. There is some floating vegetation out there if you stick to fishing the faster water and banks it’s not too much of an issue. The best thing you can do is make a proper backcast and most of that stuff comes right off. The hopper fishing has been insane some days and okay on others. South Fork Chernobyl, More-or-less hoppers in purple, pink goldenrod and tan, and the donkey kong hopper have all been winners! We’ve also been throwing some sallies behind our hoppers like the Headlight Sally, #16 rubberleg Stimi, or a clownshoe Sally.

 

As always if you have any questions or want top book your next trip give us a call at 307-232-9128!

Current Fishing Report


I guess let us start with the conditions.  Current flows as of 11:00am on July 19 are as follows:

GREY REEF-3,600cfs, clear from Grey Reef Dam to Glenrock.

MIRACLE MILE-2,400cfs, clear.

FREMONT CANYON/CARDWELL-1,350cfs, clear.

GREY REEF-  We are still living a little bit in “the between” zone.  Baetis have tapered off and PMDs are the next big hatch.  The nymphs are definitely starting to get more active so you’ll want some PMDs nymphs in the box.  San juans, pine squirrel leeches, various midge patterns, pheasant tails, caddis and PMDs are going to be the go-to nymph patterns.  You can fish them heavy and short(3-4ft/1-2AAA) to the banks or lengthen out(6-7ft/1-3AAA) and hit the inside seams and/or shelves.  If your wanting to get away from the nymph program we have been moving some good fish on streamers, as well pitching foam flies to the banks.

MIRACLE MILE-  Although we have seen very few adults, golden stone nymphs are on the menu.  Pat’s rubber legs has been our number one fly on the Mile for the past few weeks.  Other than that, worms, pheasant tails and foam-wing RS2s are producing as well.  FYI 2,400cfs is a wade fishing friendly level for the Mile.

FREMONT CANYON/CARDWELL-  If your familiar with Fremont, then you already aware that the flows are up, way up.  Minimum flow is 72cfs.  That being said, if you’ve never fished it at a higher flow, prepare yourself.  It’s a different animal.  The canyon will be more or less inaccessible and crossing the river is not an option.  As we posted before you will want to concentrate on the inside.  Find the soft water!  San juans, leeches, craneflies, crayfish and caddis…be prepared to adjust length/weight from spot to spot.

Well, thats what we’ve been seeing on the North Platte Tailwater’s.  Weather is really starting to get nice around here and the best fishing of the season, in my opinion, is yet to happen.  Please stop in if your in the area!

 

The Report


The days are definitely getting longer and it looks like warmer days are on the horizon.  Really hard to believe that it is almost March!  As we start to make our way out of the “winter months”, I have to say things are looking pretty good.  Snow pack in the North Platte drainage is currently at 100+% and reservoir levels are in great shape (Seminoe 78% and Pathfinder 83%).  Based on those numbers it’s safe to say we are in pretty good water shape!  Per usual, we are currently on track for a mid-March flush for Grey Reef, tentatively slated for the 15-24 slot.  That being said, it is subject to change and as always we will keep you updated.

Current winter conditions on Grey Reef are as good as you can ask for.  The river is currently “floatable” from Grey Reef Dam to Government Bridge and with mild temperatures there is plenty of wade fishing to be had on the lower sections.  If you’ve been following us on instagram your probably aware of road closures to both Fremont Canyon and Miracle Mile.  Conditions are improving but you still need to exercise extreme caution if you are considering heading that way.  Don’t hesitate to call us at the shop for updated road conditions. 307-232-9128

As for the general fishing report, we have been hitting the water every chance we can get.  We have had multiple guided trips over the past week and fishing has been solid as you would expect.  Pre-flush February and March can make for some tremendous streamer fishing and the nymphing has been a nothing short of spectacular.  Tan and/or olive on the streamer front, with the rusty trombone standing out as our number one producer.  If your in the nymphing mood you really can go wrong with the standards; pine squirrel leeches, reef worms, scuds(amber) and a PAL or rhinestone.  Fish these flies, find the appropriate length/weight and you should be in the fish!

NORTH PLATTE RIVER FLY FISHING REPORT 1/25/2020


Fishing has been great this week! Weekend temps look awesome, highs in the low 40’s and upper 30’s. Upper Grey Reef down to Lusby has opened and is floatable, we don’t know about anything lower than that. Shoulder season rates are going until March 14th $450 for a full day guided trip, 2 nights in a cottage and full day guided trip for $650
Fremont/cardwell is still at 500 CFS and will be there through mid February. They are doing warranty work on the power plant and are diverting the water through the meadow/canyon until they’re done. With this larger water focus your efforts on the slowest water you can find. Inside corners and tail outs have all been producing.
Miracle mile is also fishing well! The road out there is definitely passable, just be cautious of side roads. The drifts can be deceivingly bad. Fishing has been good nymphing, but especially with streamers. Keep your retrieve slow!
The BigHorn in Thermopolis fished great this week! Nymphing was solid with leeches, Annelids, and sow bugs. Streamer fishing was also productive, the olive peanut envy was our best fly. Fishing the slower flats with a fast retrieve on a sinking line worked best for us. We are offering a shoulder season special $475 for 1 day and $450/day for a multiple day trip!
Nymphs: BH Brassie, Flashbag Midge, Red Midge Larva, Juju Midge, leeches, Reef Worms, and Scuds.
Streamers: Rusty Trombone, Goldie, Kreelex, peanut Envy, DWFC Flash Minnow.
Dries: Brooks Sprout Midge, small Parachute Adams, Matt’s Midge, and a Griffiths Gnat.
As always if you want to book a trip or have any questions stop by the shop or give us a call at 307-232-9128

North Platte River Fly Fishing Report 1/20/2020


What a good weekend of fishing, we hit all three tailwaters and they are all fishing great! Flows in Fremont Canyon have been bumped to 500 CFS, we don’t know how long this will last but it’s a fun time to fish the meadow. We would recommend fishing the meadow and not venturing into the canyon at these flows. Leeches were the ticket up there, you’ll have to fish heavier and deeper than you normally would. Focus on the slowest, deepest water you can find, the inside corners and tail-outs all held fish. Like we said leeches were hot but also try Reef Worms, Scuds ,and Midges, we didn’t try it but swinging a streamer that could be productive. We will get up there this week and give some streamers a try.

Grey Reef is still locked up with ice above Lusby, so stick to wade fishing for the moment. All of the deeper runs below the dam are wadable and fishing well. The Mile produced some nice fish yesterday swing streamers! The road wasn’t perfect, but definitely passable. Be wary of some of the side roads leading down to the river, there are some nasty drifts going into certain runs.

Grey Reef- 500 CFS

Miracle Mile- 550 CFS

Fremont/Cardwell- 500 CFS

Nymphs: BH Brassie, Juju Midge, PAL, Red Midge Larva, Macgruber Midge, Biot Emerger, UV Emerger, Flashbang Midge, Pine Squirrel Leech, Scuds, and Reef Worms.

Streamers: Rusty Trombone, Goldie, Kreelex, Peanut Envy, Dungeons, and DWFC Flash Minnows.

Dries: Small Parachute Adams, Griffiths Gnat, Matt’s Midge, and Brook’s Sprout Midge.

We are heading up to the Big Horn in Thermopolis tomorrow and will have a report coming up this week. We are running a shoulder season special up there, $475 for a full day guided trip!

If you have any questions or want to book a trip, stop by the shop or give us a call at 307-232-9128!

 

Good Weekend for Some Fishing! North Platte Fly Fishing Report


Fishing has still been consistently good on our tailwater sections of the North Platte and with rising temps this weekend has some great fishing opportunities! Looks like highs in the mid 30’s with lots of sun and not much of that “W” word. Grey Reef is still frozen over at the “Three Islands” section of braids above lusby but there are plenty of great wade fishing options to be had. We DO NOT recommend portaging your boat over ice!!! If you do want to float give us a call and take advantage of our shoulder season guide rates! We have private put boat ramps that still allow us to float the upper Grey Reef. The Mile and fremont, both, are accessible and have been fishing great!

Patterns and techniques are all pretty similar on all our sections of the North Platte right now. Most of the fish are holding in the deeper, slower runs and pools. Nymph a little deeper and heavier, anywhere from 4-6 Ft indicator to weight with 1-2 “BB’s” as your weight. With streamers keep the retrieve really slow or slowly swing your flies in the deep sections on the river. On the right day we are seeing some fish feeding on the surface, pick your fish and have a nice soft presentation.

Nymphs: BH Brassie, Flashbang Midge in red and black, Red Midge Larva, PAL, Zebra Midge in red, black and purple, Scuds in olive, tan and orange, Pine Squirrel leeches in brown, black and olive, and Reef Worms in both red and purple.

Streamers: Rusty Trombone, Goldie, Peanut Envys in black, olive, and white, Dungeons in natural and white, and the Kreelex.

Dries: Parachute Adams #20-22, griffiths Gnat, and Matt’s Midge.

As always if you have any questions stop by the shop or give us a call at 307-232-9128!

Winter Time Fun! North Platte Fly Fishing Report


Things are getting cold around here, highs in the 20’s and lows in the teens. The Grey Reef is not floatable as of today, the river is frozen over just below Three Islands a mile or two above lusby. It is not advised to portage your boat over these frozen sections. That being said there are many great wade fishing options to be had right now!

Fremont Canyon/Cardwell 75 CFS- fishing has been solid up there, mostly nymphing but there have been some dry fly and streamer opportunities. Our top nymphs for up there are Flashbang midge, Red midge larva, Reef Worms, BH Brassies, and scuds in olive, tan, and orange. A griffiths gnat in #20 should fool those rising midge sippers this time of year.

Miracle Mile 500 CFS- As of right now the road from Alcova to the Mile is icy but open. Keep an eye on any winter storms, that road gets drifted pretty bad when it snows and blows. The fishing has been good out there, especially with a streamer. The goldie, rusty trombone, and the kreelex have been our top streamers. Keep that retrieve low and slow this time of  year.

 

Grey Reef 500 CFS- As we said the river should not be floated right now with it being frozen over in a few spots. We do have private take outs above the frozen sections and can still guide the reef though! The fishing has been great, we are seeing big, fat, healthy fish this winter that are fighting hard! Nymphing has been solid with Pine Squirrel leeches, rusty scuds, reef worms, macgruber midges, red midge larva, and flashbang midges. Focus your efforts on the bottom 2/3 of the run in the deeper, slower water. Streamers have also been picking up some nice fish. The Goldie, peanut envy in black, white, or olive, Dirty Water Fly Company flash minnows, and mini dungeons have all been producing!

 

As always, if you have any questions don’t hesitate to stop by the shop or give us a call at 307-232-9128

Don’t forget to ask about our shoulder season rates and packages! Fish the Reef and enjoy the lack of other fisherman in the Winter!!