North Platte River & Grey Reef fly fishing report direct from our Guides
Discover the NPL Difference!
Wyoming trophy trout fishing, private access, experienced Wyoming trout fishing guides. North Platte River fly fishing.
Start here for one of the most amazing flyfishing journeys of your life! Why? Access, Experience, and Convenience.
Enjoy a mile of private trophy trout flyfishing right outside our front door! We have leased 21 miles of river bank exclusively for our guests’ fishing access year-round. Avoid crowds when you fish with us. Explore the NPL Difference!
North Platte Lodge is the first lodge located on the lower North Platte River. We are one mile below the Grey Reef Dam near Alcova, Wyoming.
Be sure and see our photo gallery of the trophy rainbows and brown trout that our guests have had the pleasure of catching.
Since 1998: Access, Experience & Convenience
ACCESS
Access – to get out of the boat and fish or to take a breather – is critical. In the first 14 miles of river below the dam, all but 2 river miles of bank is private land. We are the only operation with leases exclusively for our guests. Anyone can float through this stretch, but no one can stop except North Platte Lodge.
EXPERIENCE
At North Platte Lodge – the first lodge on the Grey Reef stretch – you will float and fish with the River’s most experienced full-time professional guides. They know the river at every water level and season through thousands of days of guide experience.
CONVENIENCE
You can fly into Casper, WY via United or Delta, and we will pick you up.
The lodge is on the river, and you will get all meals and large comfortable rooms with private bathrooms.
In the morning it’s a one minute drive to the boat launch and after fishing, a ten minute return trip! You can walk a couple hundred yards and wade at one of Grey Reef's finest fishing holes.
Why the North Platte River Grey Reef Section?
The North Platte River (Grey Reef Section) is one of the world’s most amazing tailwaters. Traversing the arid landscape of central Wyoming. the Grey Reef has nearly 62 miles of fishable water.
The nutrient rich waters of the river host an abundance of aquatic invertebrates, making the fish both plentiful and healthy. Rainbow trout comprise an majority of the population but brown trout and Snake River cutthroat exist in healthy numbers.
Due to the overall health of both the river and fish, the Grey Reef section of the North Platte has become renowned for its trophy-sized trout.
The high desert prairie of this region supports an abundance of wildlife such as mule deer, whitetail, antelope, coyote, elk, and a multitude of birds of prey.
Fly Fishing with NPL
FLYFISHING THE NORTH PLATTE is not like fishing a typical trout stream. These are not typical trout and this is no typical river. The trout you can expect are unusually large and they are usually strong!
You can expect to hook and land fish in the five to six pound class on this river. These fish are going to test your tackle and your skill. The biggest ones are going to break your tackle and your heart!
This stretch of river is almost entirely privately held which keeps the pressure low. The fishing is primarily subsurface with most being nymph and streamer fishing.
Land of the Giants
The exciting part of this river is the unbelievable size that fish attain. The fish are extremely heavy compared to their length. It is not uncommon for an 18 inch fish to be too thick to hold in one hand.
A typical day should find an angler landing a number of fish in the 3-4 pound class, with the very strong possibility of landing a 5-7 pound fish. There are also a large number of fish that are in the 8-10 pound class and above; these fish, however, tend to show you more of your backing than themselves, but fish above 10 pounds are landed every year.
The Sweetwater River
The Sweetwater is a wonderful small water fishery that provides challenging fishing for higher level flyfishers. This stream has a variety of species and has some really large fish. Browns over 20" are not uncommon. Many 14-17" Cutthroats as well as Rainbows also inhabit the stream.
Right beside the river is the Historic Oregon Trail and Pony Express Route and it is easily viewed as you spend your day on this historic ranch. The number of flyfishers is limited to 8 per week so make sure to reserve your spot when you book.
About NPL Fishing
All guides at the North Platte Lodge have their own driftboats. Each boat accomodates two fisherman and the guide.
Fishing can be done exclusively from the comfort of the boat or to get the full experience, wadefishing. We strive to keep all boats and gear clean and orderly for your enjoyment.
The typical method of fishing is nymphing with a two-fly rig. Streamers are also typically done on a two-fly setup. Dry fly fishing can be done when conditions are right.
We have jetboats available for carp fishing, scenic tours, and wade fishing the river when water levels are appropriate.
This year North Platte lodge is adding a trophy package. The trophy package will be for just one fisherman, who wants to pursue big fish! You will be throwing big streamers, and your guide will take you wherever and do whatever it takes to give you a legimate shot a some very large trout!
Wingshooting at NPL
First class lodge, top rate staff, hundreds of thousands of private acres, and limited pressure on the resource. The North Platte Lodge will provide you with the wingshooting experience you’ve dreamed of.
With over 15,000 acres of land available and by limiting the number of hunters, we are able to keep the pressure low on our birds. You will have prime opportunities to hunt wild birds.
Hungarian Partridges are the primary birds for your enjoyment. If you have never hunted Huns before, you will find them as exciting and challenging as any upland species. They are a covey bird that will rise and fly together...fast!
The beauty of the Hun is that they live in open prairie and CRP so you can see them and follow them after the initial rise. It is not uncommon to jump a covey two or three times after the initial find.
The Sage Grouse are usually found while in the fields chasing the Huns. The Sage Grouse,while not as prevalent as the Huns, are found throughout the ranch in good numbers.
Goose Hunting at NPL
North Platte Lodge now has access to world-class Canada goose hunting throughout Goshen County Wyoming. Our pits are large and extremely comfortable and are heated with electric baseboard heat or propane. Each will handle 2-5 hunters with guide and dog.
The best part is the locations of the pits. Any of these proven pits would be a goose hunter’s dream spot. We have 17, and ALL of them are great! This also gives us the opportunity to move from pit to pit. When we toured the pits in July, our guides wanted to start hunting immediately! The prime locations and comfortable pits were hard for them to believe.
We limit hunting pressure to keep the birds feeding in the fields. All of our pits are in cropland except one which is in a primary flight zone and is amazing. All of them are either near the North Platte or water favored by the geese. One new pit will be on a property that hasn’t been hunted for four years!
Comfortable lodging for up to six hunters and meals are available on our lease. If you use our lodging, your dog is welcome to hunt and to stay the night. No dogs are allowed in the house, however, so be prepared to have your dog sleep in your car or in our kennels outside.
Snow Goose & Duck Hunts
Spring will bring in the snow geese and some great snow goose hunting in a couple of our pits. This will be an opportunist hunt as you will need to come on the spur of the moment when the geese are in. If you would like to be on our snow goose call list, please contact us with your number and email and we will keep you posted.
Again this year, we offer goose and duck hunts near Alcova. These hunts are all done from layout blinds as these geese are mobile, and we must move with them. The comfortable layouts have blankets available to keep the ground chill off your bones!
Our guides will help you call and will set the spread and prepare your party for a successful outing. If you would prefer to call yourself, just let your guide know. As a precaution against skybusting and pass shooting in the fields, pits are not available without guides. We shoot only decoyed birds and try to avoid educating too many of the birds in the big flocks by pass shooting at them. Enough birds will come in!
Seasons vary, and time restrictions are in place in Goshen and Platte counties, so please be aware of regulations and that you may only be able to hunt half days. These regulations are usually not a problem!
Season Dates and Limits have not been published yet. We will post those as soon as they become available.
Come experience the incredible comfort and pleasant atmosphere of our pits while hunting Wyoming's premier Goose valley!
Accommodations
The NPL is located in Central Wyoming, just outside of Alcova, Wyoming. Alcova is approximately 25 miles southwest of Casper, Wyoming. Nearly a mile of prime fishing exclusively for our guests is right out the front door!
We accommodate only eight guests at a time in four spacious rooms, each with two queen beds and a private bathroom. You will find that our rooms are large and comfortable.
Our lodge will feel like your home away from home while fishing or wingshooting. Lounging near the fireplace or on the deck, you will find the lodge comfortable in every way.
The lodge offers a generous continental breakfast, a hearty shore lunch and a family style western dinner. If you have special dietary needs to please let us know in advance so we can accommodate them if possible.
North Platte River/Grey Reef news
VIEW THE NEW FISHING REPORTS PAGE HERE
1/6/12 Things will be cooling off slightly and calming down. Perfect fishing conditions! Come get some fishing in while the snow is struggling. Book and early season trip and have all the fish to yourself!
1/5/12 Another gorgeous week in Alcova. Yesterday was calm and warm but today will be warmer with wind. Expect highs in the 50s. We are happy to announce that this report page will have a different look in the near future. We will be able to add photos at will and provide a more dynamic experience. We will likely use the same arrangement for The Reef Fly Shop site as well.
Christmas Eve! Wishing all a very merry Christmas. Hope you will be enjoying family and/or your favorite activities. Sunrise at Grey Reef was incredible this morning....calm with a nice blanket of snow. I have been on the mountain with my 6 y/o the last 2 days and on the mountain with my brother and NPL guide the 2 previous powder days. Our little hill had over 2 feet of snow and we were able to boast the best snow in a wide region.
12/22/11 What a day! Bluebird, calm and white after a good winter storm yesterday. Take advantage of the snow for really nice fish pictures. To the non believer, a grip n grin with snow in the background really confuses them.
Elves have been busy and Santa is on his way. We hope Santa is good to everybody. Be safe!
12/20/11 Chilly and snowy this AM. Fishing remains strong with very few folks about. Fremont has had a little more pressure. Ice is limited on the upper and becomes more evident above Sechrist. Casper has plenty of open water down low but most of town is ice choked. Get your holiday guests out for an hour or two! Casper can wow if you let it. Fishing and skiing or snowshoeing. Mountain Sports offers XC ski and snowshoe rentals. Our Nordic Center is great with miles of groomed trails and a fire and food in the lodge. Hogadon's downhill skiing has had a strong early season and will benefit from this snow storm. Our new City Manager is making strong steps to improve the experience and it has been noticeable and notable. Show your guests what Casper has to offer, options are extensive. Call Crazy Rainbow and buy some birds for a preserve pheasant hunt! Lots of museums to stop into. ETC!
12/15/11 Happy Birthday to my lovely wife! BIG shout out to the Jackson Crew. Thanks for letting us come over an crash your Christmas Party. Dave Sweet did an amazing job on his presentation about the effects of lake trout on the cutthroat in Yellowstone Lake. Trent had a great day fishing the Henry's Fork and Stu and I skied Teton Pass. Now back to the grind
12/12/11 Fair amount of folks out and about this weekend. Fishing good per usual. Highs near 40 and not too breezy is the forecast. Winter fishing the soft edges between midge hatches and drops/riffles during hatches. Never pass up a tail out this time of year.
12/9/11 Chilly but high and dry for the next several days. We should see highs in the 30s this weekend so it will be nice for winter fishing. Calm conditions are also expected. Some ice on the river around Government Bridge and below. The upper is open and fishing well. A fist-full of scuds, worms, leeches and midges will get the job done on the nymph rig.
12/5/11 We are in a pretty chilly pattern at the moment. Fishing good if you can keep the ice out of the guides. Rumors of dry fly at Fremont? Mmmm? Coupled with Miracle Mile's questionable streamer swinging reports and Grey Reef's alleged nymphing success makes one want to get out and see for themselves. Don't start your investigation without a full leech/scud/midge box AND a hand full of proven North Platte River streamers. 2 rods would be appropriate...one rigged nymph and the other for streamers.
December 1st and it is snowing hard. The weather has been very nice this week. Warm and calm. Fishing has been predictably good with good streamer activity and nymphing. Miracle Mile is still busy but slowing. Fremont has been a show on the weekends and Grey Reef has been sublime. Midges, worms, leeches and scuds on the nymph rig and Bergin Buggers, Goldie, Near 'Nuff etc on the swing.
11/25/11 Sorry I have been slacking. Happy belated turkey day to all! Seth guided a few days ago and did well stripping Goldie with PSL trailing. We fished on Thanksgiving Day and my son and I hooked a few fish on streamers. Rick was a little more aggressive and hooked 7 or 8 in and hour of fishing. Scott, my oldest brother, nymphed a number of dinks in the slow tailouts. All of our local tailwaters are fishing very well. Check road conditions before heading to the Mile as we had a a couple freak blizzards come through yesterday. I was on the backside of Casper Mountain and watched the first wave come over the lodge before realizing it might be a good idea to get back to the truck in a hurry. As we were pedaling up the last little stretch we were hit by a squall. Later in the eve we headed up on the mountain for a ski and were greeted with 4 or 5" of new snow with it coming down hard. This AM is calm with a skiff on the ground.
11/21/11 We have one boat out again today. It will be warmer and breezy. We wouldn't be surprised if the river gets a touch off color by this afternoon with local snow melting. The past couple days were okay. Our trip on Saturday had cold/calm conditions but he fish were sluggish in the AM. They turned on late in the morning and fishing was consistent. Midges and soft eats.
11/19/11 Beautiful day but we woke up to 5 inches of snow in Casper and 3 or so in Alcova. Seth will be on the river today and tomorrow. Calm snowy days make the best pictures.
11/18/11 The day is starting calm. This weekend is supposed to be chilly and mostly calm. We will have a couple boats out and will get guide reports afterward. Trent slipped away for the morning in search of a whitetail.
11/17/11 Yesterday was super nice. Very little wind. We had a trip today but we postponed due to the wind forecast. This AM is windy. Trent and Brad did well yesterday afternoon with nymphs and streamers. Only one other angler out all day on the upper. There was a small skiff of snow and fly shop creek was running pretty good mid day. It was introducing a bit of filth into Grey Reef Reservoir. Doubt it had a noticeable effect on the river. Bates Creek was also high and murky but all looked good around Sechrist and the Narrows. This weekend is going to be chilly and calm. We have trips booked but have room for more. Give us a shout and take advantage of the **WINTER RATE**.
11/15/11 Wind died down yesterday evening and it is calm this AM. It has been pretty brutal the past few days. The lower river, below Casper, is cold. Fish are sluggish until later in the day. Nymphing with little bugs is most productive early. The upper Grey Reef is fishing very well as are Miracle Mile and Fremont Canyon. Streamer enthusiasts will find more success on the swing and slower retrieve. Nymphing a short leader and midge emerger patterns and scuds is a solid bet for winter success.
11/14/11 Pretty windy again today. But temps are nice! Still some baetis around but midges are dominating the hatch and will until spring baetis 2012. Folks are taking advantage of our winter rates. They are officially on as of now. This isn't a stripped down trip like you are used to. Come experience the NPL and TRFS advantage.
11/12/11 Big winds today! Rick was out with the Medina crew yesterday and despite being pretty windy they had a good day. Streamers all day and the crawdizzle was more popular in the AM and Goldie won top honors in the PM. There were a couple other boats out but all in all quiet. Some big fish in some strange places! Hooked a couple in the 24" range.
11/10/11 We will have boats back on the river this weekend after a couple days off. But our guides have been out to fish for themselves. Really good streamer activity right now. Calm conditions will coax 'em up to midges on the surface. That is tough fishing but fun. Fremont has been swamped. The Mile busy and Grey Reef almost vacant. The upper mile still has wed beds but the rest of the river has released it's vegetation and things are nice and clean.
11/6/11 Fished VERY well yesterday. All streamers on the upper. Seth mentioned a lot of 20" fish but no monsters. Rick and Seth are both on today with the Flood group. Cool and breezy and geared up for a streamer onslaught. There has been nobody on the water lately so the solitude level has been high.
11/5/11 Sorry to the folks we canceled yesterday. It started out very wind but was beautiful from late morning on. 65* and calm. We do have trips out today through Monday. Fremont and the Mile remain busy. There is no need to walk in on an occupied run at Fremont. It is too small to be doing that. Still baetis in the afternoon and midges are out in force. Look for risers when it is calm. The lower river (below Casper) is experiencing very cold water temps and the fishing is okay with nymphs. The water temps climb mid day and they get a little more spunky. Streamers will be generally better later in the day. The upper is fishing very well all day. Streamer fishing has been nuts between Grey Reef and Bessemer.
11/4/11 Big winds off and on yesterday. A few folks at the dam but vacant everywhere else. Today is supposed to be super windy and tomorrow much calmer but cooler. We have boats out this weekend so hope the conditions are tolerable. Received word of an 11lb walleye landed at Grey Reef recently.
11/2/11 Yesterday was cold wet and snowy...and awesome streamer fishing. 10 browns in the net yesterday 2 were 23" and the rest between 16 and 20. One double on browns in Stu's boat. Rick's boat landed 3 and Seth's 3 with 2 of them being 23". Lots and lots of rainbows eating a slow strip as well. Road conditions were poor this AM but clearing up nicely. Casper to Alcova is good currently.
11/1/11 Made it through Halloween without to many scares. This AM is wet and we are forecast to receive 10-17" of snow in the next 24 hours. Stu and I are supposed to be in Park City tomorrow for a presentation. Crossing our fingers that we can get there. We have 3 boats out again today and I hope the conditions will be extra good for the fish because they will be tough on the anglers.
10/31/11 Sorry for the delay. We have 3 boats out for the next few days. Yesterday just 2 boats on. One on the upper one on the lower. The boat on the upper did very well with some really nice fish. Down low we did well but streamer activity was slow during the first half of the day. Nymphing was good with small bugs in the deep water. Soft edges and slow tail outs were the most productive. Water temp at Big Muddy yesterday AM was 40* and by 5PM 46*. We did see some baetis and plenty of midges. The streamer activity improved dramatically by the end of the day
Cardwell fished well yesterday and has been pretty busy. My nephew was playing near the river when another "guide" came up to him and told him he should get a real hat and that he could find it on line at his website. He was wearing a Reef Fly Shop hat and is 10 years old. He was pretty upset about it. That guide could have said something encouraging to him but instead had to intimidate him.
10/25/11 Today is the start of our little taste of fall. Wet and chilly this AM. We only have 1 boat out today. Yesterday was another very productive day on the North Platte River. Water conditions below Alcova and Grey Reef Dam are murky but fishing well. Water clears significantly below Government Bridge. Both Miracle Mile and Fremont Canyon are off color as well but the quantity of anglers at each venue will tell you the fishing is very good.
10/24/11 We had boats on the upper and lower stretches yesterday and all hooked a bunch of fish. Rick was on the upper and mentioned in was kind of a "flingerfest" guide code for small fish day. He did say they caught a handful of nice Grey Reef fish but the little guys were super aggressive. We don't like to complain about catching a bunch of fish but it can get frustrating when you continually land 13"ers. Seth was up high as well and did well. Stu went low and the father and son Rogers team tore them up.
10/21/11 Sorry for the delay, although not much has changed. Strong on all fronts including streamers, nymphs and dries. Baetis are strong with midges, psuedos and tricos available daily. Goldie, crawdak and near 'nuff sculpins producing on the strip. Our guides have been working from Miracle Mile to Glenrock and all are on fire. The weather has been amazing so get here ASAP!
10/16/11 CONGRATS!! Kirk Kauffman and guide Rick on a 26.5" brown today on the upper.
10/15/11 6 boats out today and we were all below town. Fished well. Streamers were very productive as well as the nymphs. Some really nice fish caught today but nothing over 23". 4 guide trips spent our day at the Mile yesterday and it was also very good. We had a couple on the upper Grey Reef and they reported great fishing with lots of fish rising to baetis. Things are good top to bottom.
10/13/11 Seth was on the lower yesterday and had steady but not silly activity. However, they were only on for a half day and landed a 24" rainbow and a 23" brown. That is Grey Reef in the fall!
10/12/11 Water is clearing on the Grey Reef system. It still has a touch of green below town but very fishable. The Miracle Mile is still not looking so great but fishing is strong...very happy to chase streamers. Trent and Pat were below Grey Reef Dam last night and harvested a couple very nice walleye for the table...streamer eating walleye. We have boats on the upper and one on the lower so will get a good report this eve. The baetis hatch has been strong on the upper with lots of risers.
10/10/11 Had a little blowout the other day but the upper remained very fishable. Our trips did well per usual. I headed south on Saturday and ran into a full blown blizzard near Cheyenne. WyDot wasn't prepared with the plows and there was 3-4" of heavy wet glop on the road. Had a Toyota Camry sliding down the median hill right towards my family vehicle(from the north bound lane) I saw the terror in the drivers eyes. Today is high and dry and warm for this time of year. Fishing is too good not to come!
10/7/11 Ripping wind! Unsettled weather has delivered our first big wind of the season. Gusts of 70mph possible. Yesterday was another good day for fishing but a yo-yo weather day. Gray and drizzly early switching to partly cloudy with ideal conditions and morphing into big volatile thunder storms in the late afternoon/eve.
10/6/11 More great fishing yesterday. Most of our boats were below Casper. Miracle Mile is murky from turning lakes as is Fremont and the upper portion of Grey Reef. Hopefully it will right itself soon. Today is drizzly and dreary...perfect streamer/baetis weather!! We have been very busy for this time of year and things will slow around mid month. Get one last fishing trip in before the winter. Give us a shout and experience the North Platte Lodge and The Reef Fly Shop difference. We pick you up at your hotel, we run the shuttles(instead of you) and you are on the water ALL day with the most experienced crew in the region. They drop you off at your hotel at the conclusion of the day.
10/4/11 Fishing has been excellent on all of our local tailwaters. The North Platte River, starting at Miracle Mile and ending near Glenrock, includes nearly 100 miles of amazing trout water. Trent and I ran shuttles yesterday for our trips below Casper and opted to get a short in from Rabbit Hill to Dave Johnson. Streamer fishing was very good and we hooked many 16" fish. We also had a few larger and a couple browns as well. These floats are fun but not pristine. River structure is often an old tire and the background noise is trucks, trains and other industrial activities.
10/1/11 Just received word form Stu that he had an excellent abbreviated day below Casper today. He was guiding his folks who visit us a couple times a year. He said that we need to encourage as many people to get here as possible this month as the fishing has been as good as it ever is. If you haven't experienced Grey Reef in October you are missing something special. Our guides are spread out over nearly 100 miles of the North Platte River. Don't miss this!
9/30/11 Hunting was good yesterday as was the fishing. All 4 of our hunting groups limited on Sage Grouse and all 4 of our fishing groups had banner days(2 cast/blast groups) Streamers really got good attention starting at about 4pm this afternoon. Lots of chases and streamer eats until we hit the ramp around 5:30pm. Prior to that we tried streamers and had some attention and would switch to nymphs to get our fill and back to streamers to "test the water". They finally obliged!
9/29/11 CONGRATS!! Bill Cogdall of Oregon on a 7lb rainbow yesterday with Seth. Six hours on the water(including lunch stop) at the average guide trip rate of $395=$65.83/hour. Pay more, fish less and run the shuttles. Our trips are 9 hours(including lunch) at $425=$47.22/hour. We are WAY too cheap apparently. Not only that but our trips include the regions most expereinced guides and the most private access.
9/28/11 UPDATE Stu sent a message at 8:30 this AM that fishing was AWESOME! He and Rick picked up the Schaefer group at their hotel in Casper and were on the water at 7AM. As I was taking care of the shuttles I noticed folks waiting on the side of the river until 9:30. Often times our trips get you several more hours on the water plus we take care of the shuttles and little details. You are booking a trip to go fishing and as outfitters we all know what is required to make that happen. You experience the fishing and fun, let us do the work. 9/28/11 Grey Reef flows are 500cfs and Miracle Mile flows are 725cfs. It has been a strange year for water (read:good. We finally are back to winter flows. Fishing remains very strong. We had guides all over tarnation yesterday and little more of the same today. Sage Grouse hunting was more like a hunt yesterday than we have been experiencing. It was not easy, but mostly productive. We have a few more days left of Sage Grouse left.
9/27/11 Grey Reef flows are 600cfs this AM and Miracle Mile flows are 700cfs. Yesterday proved to be great fishing and great hunting! We have a few lodge spots available in October. Sept 30- Oct 3, Oct 6-9, Oct 10/11 and Oct 22-26. We also have day trip availability as well. Come for arguably the best fishing and conditions of the year.
9/26/11 Grey Reef flows at 700cfs this AM and Miracle Mile flows at 750cfs. Slowly getting to 500.
The BuRec will be drawing Alcova Reservoir down by 10 ft pretty soon. I would love a fall flush but it isn't going to happen...even though the water is there to do it.
9/21/11 Another silly day. We had a number of trips at the Mile and it was really good. Leeches were king and worms and caddis patterns also gained attention. Our guests who were on Grey Reef for the first time were happy enough to reserve a full lodge spot for next season. We are very thankful for the groups who have already been booking for next season. Our schedule is looking very full already for 2012. Also heard that a couple trips who were on the lower river(below Casper) did poorly fishing streamers all day. Some days they chase and others they don't I guess.
9/20/11 Grey Reef flows and Miracle Mile flows still in parallel but slipped to 1000cfs. Fishing is awesome. Wade fishers celebrate 1000cfs is very wadable and 75cfs at Fremont will keep you dry if you choose.
9/19/11 CONGRATS!! Darren "Sandy" Sanders on a thick 25" brown today netted by Seth and hooked on a crawdizzle. Shout goes to Nautilus as Darren just upgraded from his old Martin to a new Nautilus FWX...it was up to the task! Fishing was pretty silly today, sometimes the smaller fish were a little overbearing. Darren's big brown was one of 4 our 2 boats had on simultaneously. Thankfully Craig's fish (Darren's partner) got away and David and Mickey (my anglers) landed their double. One fish was 21" and one was 19" so we were feeling pretty smug until we realized there was a monster brown jumping just across the river. This river has a strange way of knocking you down...I'll take it every time! Grey Reef flows in parallel with the Mile 1250cfs as of noon today.
9/18/11 Yesterday was as good as it gets. Several lodge groups fished dries almost all day and did extremely well. Others had silly days of nymphing and good streamer activity for those who went to work. It was a very high ranking day in the 2011 season. The Grey Reef system is fishable and clear all the way to Glenrock. The river from Robertson Rd to Glenrock is a little more "industrial" so the outdoor experience will suffer. Floating through trailer parks, water treatment plants, refineries, neighborhoods etc will be the norm until you approach Big Muddy. Expect more trash and noise from the city. It has been producing well with streamers however and if the quiet outdoor experience doesn't matter give it a go.
9/17/11 Grey Reef flows 1500cfs, Miracle Mile flows 1230cfs and Fremont Canyon flows 75cfs.
9/16/11 NPL and TRFS guests have had some incredible dry fly fishing the past couple days. Streamer gods have been smiling and the nymphing silly. 5 trips out today and 5 never touched the water below Grey Reef Dam. Weird? The days have been spectacular especially late in the day. The sun is lower and the longer shadows make very dramatic views. It seems like old familiar scenes become new this time of year.
9/15/11 Grey Reef down to 1500cfs, Miracle Mile to 1500cfs and Fremont Canyon AKA Cardwell at 75cfs...shhhh.
We had 6 boats out yesterday and all reported very good to excellent fishing. One boat was dedicated to streamers and did very well down low. Baetis an psuedos showed up in the afternoon causing the dinks to stay on the surface feed bucket. Ahhhh, good stuff and really nice to see a change. We are generally not excited about low flows in the fall but we have been over 4000cfs since March...
9/14/11 Grey Reef at 2000cfs and Miracle Mile still around 1500cfs. The Reef should be down to 1500cfs by tomorrow. Fishing remains very good. Miracle Mile, Fremont and the entire Grey Reef system are all fishing well. Nymphing, streamers and drys are all producing daily on Grey Reef. Trico spinners AM on the surface and below. Nymphing leeches, scuds, tricos, caddis, midges, PSUEDOS. Soon to see the Baetis with some showing up down low. Hoppers shouldn't be neglected. Streamers the Reef's Goldie, crawdak, crawdizzle, Home Invader, Bergin Bugger, Platte River Special, OBS etc. Psuedos on the surface mid afternoon. Caddis on the surface and just below in the eve. Lots to focus on.
9/12/11 Flows down to 2760cfs on Grey Reef this afternoon.
9/11/11 Yesterday our guests enjoyed very good fishing. Lots of hookups and some big fish coming to the net. We spent the day throwing streamers again and it wasn't as productive as the day before. But, Friday was about as good as it gets for streamer activity. A number of browns were landed by our 6 boats on the Grey Reef sections and our one Miracle Mile trip landed a 22" brown. Psuedos are out in force and the fish have it noted. The brief nymphing we did yesterday had a number of fish eat a small psuedo nymph in fast water. We always expect them to eat the little bug in the sandy bottom and shallow mid speed stuff but these eats were in heavy water. Fun! Hatches right now are midges and tricos in the AM, psuedos mid day to late afternoon, caddis late afternoon to evening. Still some PMDs even. All of the hatches can and have been getting dry fly attention. Scuds, leeches, soft hackled caddis, psuedos, chartreuse midges, sunken tricos and more are nymphs to be prepared with. Goldie and the crawdak was excellent stripped quickly off of the banks on FRi and yesterday goldie with a crawdizzle trailer was better. Trico spinners, para-adams and hoppers should be in the dry fly box. Rusty spinner has produced during trico feasts.
9/9/11 Lots of fish rising to trico spinners in the AM. From 10AM to 1:30PM was great streamer activity. We did best with a Goldie/Crawdak combo. Went for a big fish attempt this afternoon and it didn't pan out but we beat ourselves up trying!
9/5/11 Fished really well the past two days with the AM yesterday a little slower than the PM. The AM on Saturday was really productive while the PM had fewer but larger fish. We had really good hopper activity for about an hour or so on Saturday. Lots of eats and big fish. Yesterday nymphing was good in the AM and we switched to hoppers just before lunch and the second cast we stuck a fish and it was minimal after that. After lunch went back to the light nymph rig of leeches and caddis. Did really well before switching to streamers. Instant gratification with streamers as well. One nice 20" rainbow and a 20" brown to match with several other 18-19" rainbows. We didn't stick with streamers long as we were getting tired so back to the nymph rigs where they finished strong... fun day, beautiful day.
9/2/11 Grey Reef flows are still 4000cfs and Miracle Mile flows are 1500cfs. Only had 3 boats out yesterday and it was a nice rest. Today we are back to 6 out and the weekend back to full crew with 8 and 9 boats on the water. Thanks to all who have fished with us this year it has been a fun ride. Apologies for the shop being hit and miss lately, but we have been swamped. It will be open and staffed this weekend. Thanks again!!
8/31/11 Flows are dropping. Grey Reef at 4000cfs and Miracle Mile flows are 1250cfs. Expect 2000-2500cfs on Grey Reef by mid month. Crazy midge hatch this AM. Caddis were insane last night and we had really good hopper activity yesterday afternoon. Oops forgot the tricos...don't forget that. Expect psuedos....
8/29/11 CONGRATS!! Brian Vinchur of Nebraska on becoming the latest member of the NPL 25" club. He and JJ landed a 25" cutbow that ate a hopper!! We have had 4 guests in as many days with 25" fish or larger. Grey Reef flows are back to 4700cfs.
8/28/11 Crazy week. CONGRATS!!! to Doug McCain on a 25" brown. CONGRATS!!! Buddy Williams on a 25" rainbow and CONGRATS!!!Shawn Wilson on a 26" rainbow. Doug is from Colorado and Buddy and Shawn both from Texas. Pics will be up on the blog as soon Trent gets off of the water. We have had so many guests landing 23-24" fish and a number of larger fish on this past week. Big fish are on the prowl. Pretty much have had all of our guides on the water daily. 8-10 boats and we have been all over the countryside. Fishing has been very good for our guides and guests, but it hasn't been easy. Grey Reef has been fishing well at certain times of day and slow during other times. Expect NPL and TRFS guides to have you doing a split float for the very best opportunities right now.
8/24/11 Trent was out today and spent the entire day with dry flies. Really good trico activity early AM. Starting around 7am Grey Reef's trout are looking to Trico duns before their feast on the spinners. After lunch they went on the hopper quest and had good production. If you are out near dark you will be greeted to a great caddis hatch and fish looking to the surface. When the trico trout get picky with your good imitations go to other patterns. Try a royal wulff or an elk hair caddis...you might be pleasantly surprised?
8/23/11 Grey Reef flows at 4600cfs. 4 of our boats did split floats today and 3 of then came back with 25 fish in the net before noon...not bad. Good trico spinner activity this AM. They were picky but we managed to count some coup. We floated hoppers down a short bank and had a crushing take a minute or two into it...bye bye hopper.
8/22/11 Not happy with my production today. It was a gorgeous day and we only saw 1 boat today and it was very late in the afternoon. We fished all reasonable patterns and number of odd patterns and had little interest in any of them this afternoon. Morning fished okay and we were able to take oictures of a number of really nice fish. We had 4 groups at Miracle Mile and the filthy water proved to be irrelevant. All 4 groups had great fishing overall...tougher in the AM and silly in the PM.
8/20/11 We had 8 guides out today and they covered the river from Pathfinder to Casper. We had several boats do split floats to get to the right water at the best times of day. By doing that we had some guests get fish on hoppers and streamers along with the customary nymph rig. Stu's guest Tim hooked and landed a 20"+ brown on a hopper this afternoon. Ryan Hudson's anglers stuck a nice brown at the beginning of their streamer activities and it gave them a several foot high aerobatics show...I thought browns didn't jump?
8/20/11 Sorry for the lack of reports. We have been swamped and I dropped the ball. Fishing remains very good on the Grey Reef system. It seems the dry fly activity is better on the upper 8 miles...both hoppers and tricos. Yesterday we had several groups who did well fishing hoppers. The tricos are not strong at the moment but they are far from done. Grey Reef to bridge has been fish well both to the banks and inside out. 3-4 ft of leader fishing banks and 5-6 ft fishing out. Leeches, crawdizzle, halfbacks, CDC cased PMD emergers, foam post RS2s etc. Miracle Mile is very murky and Fremont is getting that way as well. We did have 2 groups at Fremont yesterday and they did well. Seth and I were on a carp mission with our guests and we scratched out some big fish on Alcova with Pathfinder not producing early in the AM. All 9 of our guide trips yesterday were between Pathfinder and Bessemer. Grey Reef flows are 4700cfs and Miracle Mile is 1500cfs
8/14/11 Flows still 4750cfs at Grey Reef, 1500cfs at Miracle Mile and Fremont is 1000cfs. Water temps cooled several degrees after the reservoir quit spilling....whew. It wasn't critical by any means but cooler is better. One issue we have been hearing is tough nymphing. All have the common denominator of too long of a leader. Fishing to the banks requires no more than 4 or 5 ft and a foot or 2 more(not really necessary) to fish out to the runs. Early afternoon has seemed to be very good and slowing down later. This is a good time to use soft hackled caddis patterns and fish heavier water.
8/12/11 Flows are 4750cfs on Grey Reef and fishing well with no real new info to offer. 8/9/2011 Grey Reef flows jumped 100cfs to 4700cfs this AM.
8/8/2011 Flows are stable at Grey Reef 4600cfs and Miracle Mile 1500cfs. Fishing is as good as it gets...not as good as it gets for this time of year, as good as it gets ever. Bring all of your rods because there are dry fly and streamer opportunities along with our traditional nymphing. Dry fly will be found in the AM with the trico spinner fall, mid day with hoppers and sallies and evening with the caddis. Streamers whenever you feel like it and nymphing all day every day. Purple worms, soft hackle caddis/sally patterns, trico nymphs, crawdizzles, leeches and scuds will be back in the game soon. Psuedos should start showing up in the next weeks as well...they make a fun late afternoon dry fly game.
8/6/11 Quite a few folks around this weekend and the fishing is very good. Trico spinner fall is rewarding dry fly challenge. Our little blowout is clearing but still only about 2 feet of visibility at Sechrist. Still very fishable howerever. Flows haven't changed. Look for big caddis hatches IF you are out near dusk...impressive.
8/5/11 Flows are steady. The trico spinner fall was very productive yesterday AM and the late eve caddis hatch was productive as well. Nymphing is still very good fishing both to the banks and out to the runs. Streamers have a significant amount of interest and should only get better as the season progresses. Hoppers will get attention but not as much as we are hoping...yet. Could prove to be a very interesting fall season.
8/4/2011 Grey Reef flows are 4700cfs and Miracle Mile flows remain at 1500ish cfs. More of the same as the fishing conditions go. Good...really good.
8/3/2011 Flows are stable at Grey Reef and Miracle Mile. Yesterday fished very well. I did hear from a group who is here to enjoy our river for a couple days mention they had a hard time dialing in on nymphing the banks. First thing in the AM they showed up to the ramp and a great trico spinner fall. They proceeded to stick fish right at the ramp on dries. After that petered out they switched to nymphing and it was spotty for them. They retreated to streamers where they found their rhythm. Don't show up under prepared! Have rods available and rigged for all disciplines. Dry fly, streamers and nymphing all producing, but you have to be ready for the opportunity.
8/2/11 CONGRATS!! Jim Haden of Casper/Steamboat on a 25" Rainbow yesterday.
8/1/11 Grey Reef flows are dropping again at 4600cfs currently. Miracle Mile is 1500cfs. We have 7 boats on the water today and will have a report a days end.
7/31/2011 A lot has been going on the past couple days. Grey Reef flows are at 4800cfs and Miracle Mile flows are 1500cfs. Fishing has been on FIRE!! Guides said that fishing was as good as it gets yesterday. Conditions are great and fish are not disappointing.
7/28/11 Grey Reef flows down to 6000cfs and Miracle Mile flows plummeted to 2400cfs.
7/26/11 We will start talking flows again as the rivers flows are culled. Grey Reef dropped to 7000cfs last night and Miracle Mile is 5400cfs right now. We had 7 guides out today and 5 of us had really productive days. No report yet from the other 2 boats. JJ was at Miracle Mile yesterday and reported really good fishing although the water is still pretty brown. Our group was on the upper and fish were rising early on tricos. Seth rigged his guys up with hopper rigs and had 3 or 4 eats in the half hour they tried. Good news! The rest of us were fishing the banks and runs with 4'-5' of leader and purple worms, PMDs and sunken trico patterns. The foam post rs2 was really good for Rick and his guests.
7/25/11 6 guides out today from Miracle Mile to Sechrist. Bugs on Grey Reef were crawdizzle, worms, PMD nymphs and the NPL Soft Hackle Sally. Poked a few fish on the surface today. We used a little stimulator and every fish we cast to ate it.
7/20/2011 Real quick...flows still at 7500cfs but slated to drop several thousand cfs soon. Our guides and guests have forced some hopper fishing and have turned about 20 fish between two short attempts. Hang on, here we go....although there really aren't mature hoppers yet. Fished well today, mostly to the banks below G. Bridge. PMD nymph was our top producer by far.
7/19/11 Expect flows to drop in the near future. Grey Reef should settle at 4500cfs and the Mile should follow. The boat ramps in Casper have been reopened. We had 5 boats on Grey Reef and 3 at Miracle Mile today. Fishing was very good at Miracle Mile. Nymphing a short rig with half back, Pat's Rubberlegs, crawdizzle etc. 3-4' of leader and a couple b shot was all it took. Wading was very good and a late PM storm made us pass up the spots I really wanted to wade....oh well. Also caught fish on a streamer rig with a 15' sink tip and Goldie Locks. Ted caught a walleye on a streamer. Water is still pretty murky but has no ill effect on the production.
7/18/2011 CONGRATS!! Don Banard and guide Rick on a 25.5" rainbow today. Matching the hatch drifted a cdc cased PMD emerger in front of this big bugeater.
7/16/11 Congrats!! to the Owens group, they landed 2 browns over 20" today. Another really good day..and some big fish. 6 out today and most of us were on the upper. Fished out to the runs and in to the banks and both were very productive. Worms, PMDs and Seth rigged up with a Crawdizzle and did well with that. My rig was 5 feet and a BB fishing to the bank and I added a b shot when fishing out. 4 and 5x f-carbon tippet.
7/15/11 Just got off of the water and it fished well today. Early morning was very good and 12:30-2pm was absurd. Steady the rest of the time. We fished worms and PMDs and didn't touch a fish on a worm until late AM. PMD was our top producer for the day. We did end up fishing 4x and 5x F-Carbon tippet due to bright skies, calm conditions and CLEAR water. There were a few fish eating trico spinners on the surface this AM...not much on PMD or sallies. The trico hatch will one to capitalize on. Make sure to have your dry fly rod rigged and ready when you happen alone a pod of risers. Will have a streamer report by the end of the day.
7/13/11 TRICOS! saw them this AM but no risers. The small swarm wasn't yet spent. Great nymphing early and midday. By mid afternoon things had slowed for our boat. The surface activity was minimal today. Both Bear and Bolton Creeks were puking this afternoon. At the bridge the river was mud. Should clear quickly.
7/11/11 No difference in the high quality fishing and fish. On the upper yesterday and we didn't touch a fish under 18" for the first couple miles. Only a couple under 18" all day. The upper mile below Grey Reef Dam seemed to harbor a bunch of 10-12" rainbows lately but yesterday they were all the standard big uns. We saw ZERO boats yesterday on an all day float from the Dam to Government Bridge...it was sublime! Mid day PMD activity was nuts and the fish were hammering our offerings and quickly shaming us with a hard jump to spit technique. It was really fun. Plan on lots of yellow sallies crawling on you. Long pants will keep the irritation level low. They don't bite and are trout bugs so we welcome them. Takes are fast and sometimes light...you have to be on them QUICK with no hesitation!
7/10/11 Still seeing some isolated pods of rising fish at Grey Reef. Isolated doesn't mean small or unproductive. Be prepared with PMD and Yellow Sallie dries. Fish here can be extremely picky with regard to PMDs on the surface. If you find them rising in froggy water and they won't eat your good presentation...might have to start chopping stuff off of your fly. Cripples seem to get the attention. A little stimulator is a good sallie. Still plenty of fish rising for Golden Stones at Miracle Mile.
7/8/2011 CONGRATS!! Don Maloney and Trent on a 23" brown first thing this AM. Fish wanted PMDs today it seemed. Big Bear and CDC cased pmd emerger as well as mercers epoxy back and the tungsten yellow sally produced. Good activity and the water conditions are great. Hopper fishing should be good again this year although it may be a bit later to start than last year? Most of the hoppers are still really small right now..
7/7/11 More of the same...not much to report except for really good fishing. We are getting some good dry fly activity with PMDs and Yellow Sallies. Get them while the sun is behind the clouds! Hoppers are coming along nicely. Most are still small but there are quite a few them around. The Mile fished well this AM with Golden Stone Fly drys. The water is still tea colored but better than last week. This is the year to float. Come rent a boat and see what the river is like at high water. Or better yet book one of our guides and get the royal treatment.
Happy Independence Day! Have fun and be safe! The Parker and Turansky groups had 3 days of beautiful weather and stellar fishing. Andy Parker landed a 23" brown yesterday with Rick guiding. These groups landed 5 browns in 3 days...not too bad.
7/3/2011 Careful on WY HWY 220! Lots of Patrolmen out keeping traffic under control. This is a great thing as HWY 220 attracts some impatient drivers. At Grey Reef the clarity is as good as you will ever see it. The fishing is on fire. Miracle Mile however has Yoohoo colored water and fishing is very good. Golden Stones are on top.
7/1/11 ONE ROOM AVAILABLE JULY 4-6. This is pretty much the last of our availabilities until the end of September!! Fished amazing yesterday. We have been doing some hands and knees analysis on the banks of the river. Finding lots of little hoppers in some places and not as many in others. We still think it will be good as the fish are already getting ready. Big takes on the indicators seem to be a good indication? Weather has been volatile. Big hail pounded our garden into submission late this AM. Beautiful right now.
6/30/11 Grey Reef flows dropped to 7500cfs this AM. Miracle Mile flows are 7850cfs.
6/29/2011 Another fun day on Grey Reef. Fished well although we had a couple dry spots. Good mix of fishing out to the runs and hitting the seams on the banks. Lots of big fish today. General consensus was today was a big fish day by all 8 of our guides who were out today. We caught fish on a mix of small stuff from prince nymphs, Mercer's Epoxy Back, PMD Barr Emerger. Orange beaded leeched produced and one produced a very healthy 20" brown in Seth's boat...go figure? Purple San Juan and Red San Juan worms were king.
6' of leeder and a little weight and it was on. The water is clear! And when the sun is high the bottom of the river glows. We found 4x fluoro to be helpful. 6/28/2011 CONGRATS to Nick (of the Birdsong group) and guide Rick on a 24" rainbow! No real change in the the fishing or the flows. Did not get an updated Miracle Mile Golden Stone fly report today as we didn't have any guides out there. Today was hot and bright. Worms were still king although we did well on PMD and sallie stuff early in the day.
6/26/2011 Flows are pretty steady with Miracle Mile in the 7600cfs range. Fishing continues to be impressive to say the least. There is no reason why it will change either. Hatches will transition but the fish will keep on eating. They are HOT right now. Big jumps and hard runs. Miracle Mile, Fremont Canyon, the Afterbay and Grey Reef have been on the daily hit list and they haven't disappointed.
6/24/2011 Wyoming fly fishing on Grey Reef and Miracle Mile remains great. Grey Reef flows are 8000cfs and Miracle Mile flows are 8100cfs. Upper North Platte River entering Seminoe has slowed to 14,000cfs and Seminoe Reservoir is 71% of capacity. It appears as though we are on the downhill side of the runoff. LAst nights Fly Fishing Film Tour in downtown Casper was a fun time. Lots of folks turned out and lots of folks walked away with free hats, shits, flies...whatever. Thanks for coming and supporting a great event!
6/21/2011 Just got a message from Trent that said there was a nice Yellow Sallie hatch as well as some straggling baetis...weird. We have an incredibly resourceful guide crew. Yesterday's muddy conditions on Grey Reef could have been one of those days when you take the easy route and send folks home. But, in this business people are generally a long way from home and here to fish. We have one group from Wisconsin,one from Texas and a big group from California and they expect us to come through for them. Our guides/guests had great mornings fishing alternate venues. Even had one guest become a member of the NPL 25" Club with a 26" rainbow hitting the net just before lunch. Seth spent the day with his guests on a stretch of river that has never been guided the way he did yesterday...and they did really well. Four of the boats put in at Grey Reef mid-day and had "silly" fishing in the slightly off colored water. It is really advantageous to have our operations at Grey Reef so we can continually monitor conditions and inform the guides when things improve or deteriorate. Speaking of conditions the afterbay is clear and the North Platte River below Grey Reef is clear to Lusby where it turns a little off but still very fishable to Government Bridge. Bates Creek is still pushing a fair amount of mud and has the river muddy above Sechrist, but that should settle down in a day or two. Grey Reef flows are still 8000cfs and Miracle Mile flows are down to just over 7000cfs.
6/20/2011 CONGRATS!! Sean Lacy on a 26" rainbow with Stu handling the oars. That happened this AM before our guests and 5 guide boats put in at Grey Reef. The North Platte River below Grey Reef blew out this AM, but was back in shape by noon. Dirty below Government Bridge. We would caution against driving to Miracle Mile or on Trappers Route until the roads dry out a bit. The Lusby Road is more washboard than it is muddy.
6/19/2011 Happy Father's Day! Grey Reef flows remain at 8000cfs and Miracle Mile flows are 8300cfs currently. Fly fishing has been excellent and our guides have been enjoying showing our guests some amazing days. Grey Reef is and will continue to fish extremely well. Grey Reef is like Old Faithful, spewing an abundance of long and fat rainbows with occasional brown or cut...day in and day out. Grey Reef patterns have been worms,leeches, sallie and PMD nymphs. Miracle Mile is also on fire and the fish there are liking worms, leeches and golden stone patterns. Water conditions at Miracle Mile are not ideal with the water off colored, but the fish don't seem to mind. Golden Stone dry fly fishing at Miracle Mile is fast approaching.
6/16/11 Grey Reef flows are still solid at 8000cfs and Miracle Mile has been all over the place today but is now 8600cfs. Miracle Mile fly fishing was very good yesterday and we had a couple groups out there today so will get a report ASAP. Bogs o' choice were PSL in brown, orange beady leech and red San Juan Vorms. Golden Stones will be flopping around on the surface any time now...can't wait! Grey Reef fly fishing is spectacular! Lots of hookups, lots of big fish and big flows allow anglers to cover a lot of water. Worms in red and purple along with Mercer's Epoxy Backs, CDC Cased PMD Emergers, Big Bear PMD nymph and Bird Nests or other soft hackled Sally patterns.
6/14/11 It doesn't get any more consistent than this...awesome Wyoming fly fishing and great weather. Yesterday was no exception. Flows are steady at Grey Reef and Miracle Mile. Our fishing guides and guests have been enjoying wonderful conditions. Plan on late afternoon t-storms. This is typical Wyoming weather. Purple worms, leeches and wicked impalers still working well as are Big Bear PMD, foam post RS2, CDC cased PMD Emergers and Mercers Epoxy Backs. Trent had a shot at a few carp yesterday and had around half of them pursue. No eats, however. Water at Alcova is chilly!
6/12/11 CONGRATS!! To John of Yakima, WA and NPL guide Ryan on a 24" rainbow. Flows are the same and fishing has been great except for a minor slow period after lunch. Do not hesitate to come fish, you won't be disappointed.
6/11/11 Grey Reef flows still 8000cfs and Miracle Mile flows are 8600cfs. Fishing has been excellent at both venues. Soft edges and appropriate bugs will produce fish. Fish at the Mile are liking red San Juan Worms, Inbred Golden Stone, bead head Halfback, Tungstone as well as PMD, yellow sallie, scud and caddis patterns. At Grey Reef lots of patterns are working. Purple San Juan Worms, Mini Impaler, foam post RS2, Epoxy Back Emerger, PSL, and even prince nymphs, cased caddis, Big Bear PMD and PMD Barr Emerger. All are available at The Reef Fly Shop.
6/10/11 Same story. Great nymphing with the AM on fire and the late afternoon solid but not as active. Flows are basically the same this AM.
6/9/11 Grey Reef at 8000cfs Miracle Mile flows are 8650cfs-ish. Yesterday fished very well with worms, leeches, and PMD patterns. 6' rig with 3 b shot for us seemed to be the best. If you don't like to mend downstream you might as well go long and heavy and let the current drag your rigs down the river. It is all about the downstream mend right now.
6/7/11 Grey Reef flows are 7600cfs+ and Miracle Mile flows are 9700cfs this AM. Expect 8000cfs at The Reef in the next day or two. That said fishing was very solid yesterday early and the afternoon slowed a bit. We canceled trips today because of the wind but do have a couple boats on the water. Tomorrow is supposed to be calm. Fish seem to be eating whatever reasonable bug (some unreasonable) that floats in front of them. I saw several guides using Reef worms with pinned eggs above on super long leaders doing well the other day. But, we prefer 6' leader Worms, leeches cased caddis above an RS2 or Big Bear, PAL, Idyles Soft Nymph and even hooked a number of fish on PMD Barr's Emerger.
6/6/11 Grey Reef flows are 7350cfs and Miracle Mile is running a strong 9050cfs. We have gone over the hump and are now witnessing our biggest flows since 1984. Fishing remains strong and worm, leeches, baetis, PMD and caddis and yellow sally patterns all producing. These fish want to eat! Their size is impressive. CONGRATS to Ron Gard on a 25" brown a couple days ago. Miracle Mile looks a little rough but is fishing very well. Red worms and stone fly patterns rule right now.
6/3/11 Grey Reef flows are 7100cfs and Miracle Mile flows are 8050cfs+. Latest article has releases at a max of 8000cfs from Grey Reef by mid June and actual flows through Casper 9000cfs+. They expect the peak to be on June 21st...until they change their mind and come up with some NEW info next week...ha! Lots of unknowns.
6/2/11 Grey Reef flows up to 6800cfs this AM and Miracle Mile flows are 8100cfs. Yesterday fished excellent and it has been for a while. The wind laid low until afternoon, but today it is getting an early start. Lots of big fish being landed...our 25" club has witnessed a blitz of new members.
6/1/11 This week 3 rainbows over 25" hit the net of NPL guides. Taylor and Doug of the Kirkpatrick group with guide Stu and Tim of the Sias group and guide Seth all entered the NPL 25" club. CONGRATS!! Grey Reef flows are still at 6500cfs and Miracle Mile flows started the day at 7600 fell to 7200 and are now 8100cfs. Fishing has been excellent. The Sias group has been visiting us for many years and said that this trip was their most productive in 3 or 4 years. They were bragging not only the size but the quantity. Purple worms and foam post RS2s have been very popular. We have a pile of purple San Juan's coming in the next few days.
5/29/11 Fished very well yesterday and the wind was more tolerable. The Mile is on fire. Our guides and guests had spectacular days yesterday. Today is overcast and rainy. Fly Shop Creek is running and the North Platte River at Grey Reef is off color currently. The Wyoming Highway Dept "fixed" the bed of Fly Shop Creek a couple years ago and now it is much more likely to mess up the river than it did before.
5/27/11 CONGRATS!! Tom Schubert and guide Seth on a 24" rainbow yesterday. Grey Reef flows are 6500cfs and Miracle Mile flows are 7200cfs. Yesterday was awesome. It was a pretty silly day for all of our anglers. Still the same rig as we have been using even with the increased flows. I did experience a little slow down early afternoon and increased my leader to 7' and it seemed to make a huge difference as we were immediately into them again. From 4pm - 5:30pm it was a big fish program. The late baetis hatch had 19-22" rainbows hammering the foam post rs2 one after another. Pretty fun!
5/25/2011 Grey Reef is at 5900cfs today and a few hundred more expected for tomorrow. Fishing was spotty for a few of us this AM, but our other guides/guests did very well. This afternoon was good for all of our guests. Common theme was around 6' a couple B shot and whatever bug on top and a foam post Rs2 dangling. Upper is clear! Bolton Creek is a little muddy and Bates Creek is ripping. Midges and some baetis made their appearance but hatches were a bit anemic...maybe the increased flows? We had one other guide boat in the vicinity of our 8 but the rest were off the river hours before us so it was a quiet day.
5/24/11 Fishing is lights out. Stu and the Hollenbeck crew spent most of the day wade fishing and did extremely well. They landed 2 fish over 24" while liberated from the confines of the boat. 5/22/2011 The North Platte River at Grey Reef is again in good shape and our trips will be on the water this AM. CONGRATS!! to Jeff Jordan and guide Ryan on a 26" rainbow a couple days ago. This may be the best year ever for 25" Club membership? It is happening with alarming frequency. We will have to stock up on 25" Club hats. Our guides have been working their butts off to make a very productive FULL day of fishing for our guests. The river below Government Bridge is muddy and in an effort to show our guests that you can fish in solitude our guides have been doing split floats. This means floating 2 different pieces of water in a day. Our program and philosophy is that we want to fish without a bunch of other people around and expect that our guests want the same. That is what we do.
UPDATE* We have just received news that our friends on the Bighorn River in Montana are experiencing extremely high water. Low lying properties, including lodges, are being evacuated due to flood concerns. We hope for the best. Let us know if you need a great alternative to your planned Bighorn trip IF your trips have been canceled. We have no interest in soliciting Montana outfitters guests but we do have an interest in making sure your planned vacation is a success. I just spoke to Steve at the Bighorn Trout Shop and the river is muddy at the moment. But, if they can convince the rain to stop it will clear quickly. he hadn't heard of evacuations but suspected it may the Eagles Net Lodge which is down near Harden...quite a ways down stream of the afterbay.
5/19/11 Fly Shop Creek gathered a head of steam and destroyed the afterbay which consequently blew out the river. We had 8 boats out and all made a solid full day out of it and did well. We even hooked fish in the colored water...but they didn't eat until we gave them little bugs. Purple worm and JuJu Baetis got eaten in typical baetis spots. By mid afternoon the water at Grey Reef Dam was much more clear, fly shop creek slowed down a bunch so hope to be in good enough shape tomorrow. Our guests opted in for tomorrow although the offer to bail was on the table...actually both groups added an extra boat. Pressure is on! Grey Reef normally makes our jobs too easy so I am looking forward to.
5/16/11 Reports are coming back very strong. Our guides have been having awesome days and staying out of the cluster. Seth mentioned that his guests, the Pohle group, the past 2 days had great fishing with a lot of 18-22" rainbows and 2 browns yesterday. One brown was 19 and the other 21". He has sworn off red...as in worms. Cased caddis had plenty of takers in the first half of the day and beatis in the later part. Leeches and yes the new most desirable fly in the shop...the purple san juan. Not wine colored but rather electric purple. We are slated to have a wet front move through over the next few days. Fishing should stay strong unless we have a freak gully washer that destroys the river...very unlikely. It will be tougher conditions for the angler. Have winter clothes and waterproof gear(and have the ability to shed that stuff for warmer weather attire) and you will be in great shape. Although it isn't supposed to be too cold it is best to prepare for it.
5/15/11 Grey Reef flows are still at 5400cfs and Miracle Mile has been lowered to 7800cfsish. Fishing was very good yesterday. Gerry from Cheyenne mentioned he landed 4 or 5 fish north of 20". Where else does that happen? Impressive river and even more impressive trout. 5/14/2011 Yesterday was great fishing. Our guides stayed out of the boat cluster and had a very peaceful day.
5/12/2011 Yesterday was another strong day on the lower North Platte River system. Although the weather was wet the fishing was good. CONGRATS!! to Bill Comes of Toledo, OH on a 24" rainbow with guide Stu. Brad spent the day guiding wadefishers at Miracle Mile. They did very well with The Reef's Inbred Stone, Pat's Rubberlegs and Tungsten Golden Stones. Expect things to dry up and be a little more pleasant and the fishing to remain strong.
5/11/2011 Grey Reef flows are still at 5400cfs but should climb a bit soon. We expect a bump to 6000cfs. Miracle Mile has been coming down a bit to 8400cfs. It is wet in Alcova with a pretty good spring snow squall and raining in Casper. Bates Creek is big and muddy and turning the river off color. By the time the North Platte River gets into Casper it is muddy. The upper 18 miles or so are in very good condition with a big baetis hatch midday. Pinning beads above a baetis emerger sounds horrible....but probably productive...Ha!
5/7/2011 Fishing is very good across the board right now. Grey Reef in the early afternoon is on fire...with the baetis hatch. Miracle Mile fished particularly well will big stones, worms baetis and midges. Yes, the water is big put wading still very productive. Seth and Bob landed a 25" rainbow the other day wading the Mile. Fremont is fishing well also. Be careful where you step as there are abrupt drops. 5/4/2011 Grey Reef flows are 5400cfs and Miracle Mile flows are 9200cfs. Another great day yesterday although the weatherman was right. Nice with winds very late in the afternoon. 2 Fly festivities start today and the fishing starts tomorrow. This will be almost 30 boats between the dam and Sechrist...plan accordingly. Give us a shout and we will try to give you some help to avoid the flotilla.
5/3/2011 CONGRATS!! John Zep and guide Bob Dye on a 25" rainbow yesterday as well as a nice 21" brown. Yesterday fished very good and was a fantastic weather day.
5/2/2011 Another great day for our boats fly fishing Grey Reef. All were very successful and one of the groups rebooked last minute for another go today. Grey Reef flows are 5300cfs and Miracle Mile flows are 8700cfs. Baetis are getting quite a bit more attention. It seemed the past couple days that small bugs and light tippet were getting larger average fish then the worm/egg rig. 5/1/2011 Grey Reef flows are 5200cfs and Miracle Mile is 8600cfs. We have been in a wet weather pattern and the high country is piling up lots more snow. Looks like Grey Reef will be the only game in town. Run off and muddy conditions across much of the west will make Grey Reef even more desirable this summer. Update- it is now 7:30am and cotton ball sized snowflakes are dropping with some aggression. We will be white pretty quickly if this continues.
4/29/2011 Miracle Mile flows spiked over 8600cfs this AM and Grey Reef is 5000cfs. Rainy day today...mountain is getting hit with a blizzard. If temps drop a little it will be a pretty serious snow storm here as well.
4/27/2011 CONGRATS!! Dave Landes of Jackson, WY and guide Rick on a 24" rainbow yesterday. It was reported to be a very heavy fish for its length.
4/26/2011 Grey Reef flows are now at 4700cfs. Sorry for the report lapse...I've been on the water the past several days and must have overlooked reporting. Fishing has been good and we've been seeing a quality baetis hatch. Fish are eating small bugs and it seems like I am catching larger fish with a small bug rig. Lots of fish eating worms, eggs and leeches as well. Today our top producer was a size 20 All Day May. Both green and black produced well. 7 - 7.5 feet of leader and a b shot or three depending on location.
Happy Earth Day! Little gusty on the river today, but things went well. The crew at the North Platte Lodge observed Earth Day by cleaning up Grey Reef Rd. We collected a solid tractor bucket worth of mostly beer cans and cigarette packages. Natty (Natural) Light won top honors in the most collected contemporary can. Lot of old rusted beer cans from the days when Grey Reef Rd was HWY 220. These cans continually pop up out of nowhere...constant therapeutic work to keep our little corner of paradise looking the way it should.
4/22/11 Grey Reef flows are steady at 4500cfs but should rise to 5000cfs within a couple days. Miracle Mile flows are 7100cfs. BAETIS! Good afternoon baetis hatches finally appearing. A short light rig with baetis emergers is a lot of fun and super productive. Some big fish being caught the past few days. Huge walleye and browns. Trent and Brad took me out for a quick float and guided me into a 31" 12lb brown. Pretty cool fish. Check the BLOG for photos of that and several other large river animals.
4/20/11 Thanks to Casper eye doc Paul Gustafson of Casper Vision Center for fixing up my kid! Dr. Gustafson has also picked several things out of my and other NPL guests eyes over the years. Paul is a fly fishing enthusiast and spends time on the North Platte when family and work allow.
4/19/11 Yesterday was cool, quiet and wet. Fishing was great! I saw 2 boats all day and they were both our guides. Without the river traffic we were able to fish short and light with small bugs and did very well. PALs and Foam Post Rs2 under a Mini Impaler was effective. Very few fish ate the worm. 7-7.5 feet of leader and a b-shot or 2.
4/17/11 CONGRATS!! Tim Trop and guide Ryan Hemkens on a 10.91 lb Walleye on a fly rod!!! It measured 31.5". Stripping streamers...what an cool fish. Pics will be on the BLOG shortly. We had a number of guide trips at Miracle Mile today. Tough conditions with big wind. Grey Reef was also windy early and came to an abrupt end around 2:30 or 3:00. Our boats at Grey Reef had good fishing but not lights out.
4/16/11 Little bugs did well again until early afternoon then it was a leech show for us. Not a bad baetis hatch today although the midges were much less prevalent than yesterday. Weather was pretty nice minus the periodic rain and associated winds with each squall.
4/15/11 Fished well today and the fish had a strong interest in baetis nymphs and midges. We fished a Mini Impaler with PAL or JuJu Baetis dropper. Most fish were interested in the little bug until late afternoon when things slowed. A leech gathered some interest although Seth's guest Ken continued to hook some fish on a baetis nymph all the way to the ramp. It was a beautiful day. Late yesterday Alcova received a lot of moisture and made all the gravel roads/parking areas muddy. Road to Miracle Mile will likely be pretty muddy but should be good by tomorrow PM.
4/14/2011 We canceled a couple boats today, but one still went out. The weather report was pretty bad but so far so good. Last night the wind was ripping in Alcova and coming out of the east. This weekend looks nice and the fishing has been good. Worms, eggs, leeches have been popular. There are lots of midges and some baetis showing up as well.
4/13/2011 Rick just got off of the river with his guests and reported great fishing. They floated low and threw streamers(olive Bergin Bugger)for a bit. They landed 2 very nice browns today on streamers. Nymphed with lots of weight and about 7.5 ft of leader and the Wicked Impaler worm was king. Seth was on a lower float a couple days ago and they landed 3 browns. One of our friends landed 3 browns wading on the upper stretch and throwing streamers a few days ago. Don't discount wading or throwing streamers...
4/13/11 Yesterday our boats did well, but as Seth said "we had to work for them". At the end of the day he estimated a 30 fish day which is darn good for a day that felt tougher to catch fish. He was fishing 6' and a worm leech rig, while others were 8-9'. Lots of midges yesterday but it was tough to convince a fish the eat a little bug like in previous days. We have guides available for a quick trip and some great lodge opportunities for a more substantial Wyoming fly fishing vacation. Call for available dates. (307)237-1182.
4/11/2011 Warm and breezy today. Tomorrow a chance for showers but hopefully pretty calm. Fishing has been very good. The North Platte River is high and clear...great conditions! Lots of activity on standard nymph rigs. We are seeing some baetis so our already great fishing will get even better.
4/10/11 Calm and snowy/rainy today, but a nice day to be on the river. BAETIS!! A few stragglers emerged and were floating down the river today. They should gather a little more stream and our traditional spring baetis hatch will quickly be in full swing. Bates Creek is muddy but the North Platte River below Government Bridge is still fishable. It is brown in Casper currently but should clear quickly. We are excited about the condition of the river and the fish...it is going to be a good season!
4/9/11 Flows are the same this AM. Overcast and looks like a very good chance for moisture.
4/8/11 Grey Reef flows are still at 4500cfs and Miracle Mile flows are 5000cfs. Lots of talk about 10000cfs+ this year. Interesting! Pretty busy day on the river. Big winds came up late morning and most boats were ramp bound by 2pm. Where folks where able to get a drift Reef Worms and Otter Eggs seemed to be the bugs of choice. Watched several Grey Reef anglers across from the boat ramp at the dam doing very well wading fishing. There are still plenty of wading opportunities you just need to change your approach.
4/6/11 Grey Reef flows are 4500cfs and Miracle Mile flows are 5000cfs. Wind blew itself out late yesterday afternoon and has been calm. This AM we woke to overcast with a light drizzle and some puddles. Very nice spring conditions....moist and pretty warm.
Rick was the only boat on the water yesterday and rightfully so. It was terribly windy. His guests knew and welcomed the conditions and still had a strong desire to go. They did a half day and had good success despite the rough weather.
4/5/11 Grey Reef flows are 4250cfs, Miracle Mile flows are 4500cfs. Miracle Mile flows spiked this AM over 5000cfs but are now down a bit. Yesterday fished very well again with the exception of late afternoon when things slowed for one boat and continued strong for the others. Today is scheduled huge winds with tomorrow being nice according to the report. We do have one boat out as our guests were ready to go despite the forecast. They will be headed to Iraq in a few days and needed a last minute fishing fix. We felt obligated to make it happen and hope it will be a successful day!
4/4/11 *UPDATE* Miracle Mile flows have increased to 44000cfs during the day and Grey Reef flows have increased to 3900+cfs starting at noon today. Typically they increase flows under the cover of night.
4/3/11 Today it has been snowing solid since early AM. Yesterday 75*, today snowing...welcome to Wyoming. The weather is calm and pretty warm despite the snow. Really a beautiful day. We have 2 boats out today. Yesterday all of our trips had good success and some big fish hitting the nets.
4/2/11 We just hit 75 degrees in Alcova at 3:30pm. Nice conditions up until a couple hours ago when the wind gathered a healthy breath. Grey Reef flows are 3800cfs, Miracle Mile flows are 4000cfs. Bolton Creek popped today and it is adding significant silt to the North Platte River near Government Bridge. Bates Creek is still low and clear. Water temps are averaging about 38*. Bugs of note are Reef Worms, Flossy Worms (Wahini), The Reef's LAZY, PSL in brown and crawdad, tangerine Otter Eggs, PAL, Dorsey's Top Secret, JuJu Baetis and midges, etc. Water is clear so bright days may dictate lighter tippet. More fish on the redds the past couple days so please be aware of where you are stepping. Baetis should be making their big appearance soon. This will entice the fish suspend...can't wait!
4/1/11 *UPDATE* We just had a couple cancellations for trips tomorrow. This will be the last weekend of $325 trips...likely the last time it will ever happen? Give us a shout we have a couple guys available for this weekend. Fishing has been great!
3/30/11 All of our boats came in yesterday with excellent results. Some big fish coming to the net!! We will extend our early season discount through the end of this weekend. The weather looks very nice...mid 60s and great fishing...not bad for early April.
3/28/11 Yesterday turned out nicer than expected again...we are bound to get a beating soon? Nymphing is the name of the game. Midges and baetis are working great if you don't get run over by the long riggers. Worms, scuds, eggs and leeches also doing well.
3/27/11 Grey Reef flows are 3600cfs and Miracle Mile flows are 2650cfs. Fishing great with midges, baetis, scuds, eggs, worms and leeches.
3/26/11 Another failed forecast today. Wind was only a slight issue for an hour or so...beautiful day. Tomorrow, however, is not looking good at all. 50% chance of moisture and big winds, gusting in the mid 40s. Fishing continues to be great. Most are using red...worms, LAZYs. But small bugs are also getting plenty of attention. PALs, Dorsey's Top Secret, All Day Mays, Tail Water Tinys, etc.
3/24/11 Fished very well today. We had a banner day and most boats on the river were also doing well. The wind forecast has been wrong quite a bit and again we enjoyed a very calm day up to about 3:30. Fished Reef Worms, LAZY, foam post rs2 and PALs.
3/23/11 North Platte Lodge has some great openings in April and early May. Beyond that we do have a few scattered openings. We still have one full lodge opening in mid September. Sage Grouse trips are booking faster than normal, but still have a couple lodge openings for cast and blast Sage Grouse trips.
3/22/11 Grey Reef flows are up 400cfs to 3650cfs...yep that is pretty big and we love it! Miracle Mile flowss at 2390cfs. Fremont Canyon flows around 950cfs and very fishable. Big wind on Grey Reef today. Looking nice Thursday-Sunday.
3/21/11 Fishing was awesome yesterday. Lots of activity on lots of different patterns. Both Fremont and the Mile have been good as well. Only a week left for our discounted trips. Frankly, I can understand discounting trips if the weather is horrendous or the fishing is terrible but this is a bargain because neither has been true. It also appears that our discounted trips last up to several hours longer than the others.
3/19/11 Beautiful morning and viscous afternoon! Grey Reef and Miracle Mile flows are stable at 3250 and 2350cfs respectively. Wind gusts up to over 50mph had most of the guide boats off of the river by 2pm. Our guides and guests stuck it out and scratched together very nice days. Out of our 5 boats out only one surrendered before 5PM. Resourceful and tenacious bunch the NPL and TRFS guide crew are! Thanks boys...you are the best.
3/18/11 Grey Reef flows were again increased to 3250cfs this AM. Miracle Mile flows are steady at 2350cfs. Fremont Canyon flows are 600cfs. Fishing was again very good all morning until around 2pm when things slowed a bit. Still fished good but not as well as the early part of the day. Pulsating emergers, PALs and Foam Post Rs2 were little bugs of choice. Eggs, Reef worms and leeches were popular among our 5 boats out today as well. Didn't get much feedback from scuds or streamer activity.
3/17/11 Grey Reef flows up to 2950cfs this AM. Clear from Grey Reef Dam to Lusby and dirty at Government Bridge. Miracle Mile flows are at 2300ish and spiked to over 2500 for a bit this AM. Fremont Canyon flows are near 600cfs. We have a couple boats on the water today so will get a good report this eve. These flows will throw inexperienced guides for a loop. At this level it is imperative that your guide be intimately familiar with the structure of the river bottom. Subtle depth changes and sand/gravel bars will become the important structure and not the typical runs.
3/16/11 Grey Reef flows are 2650 this AM and Miracle Mile flows are 2350. Fremont Canyon flows will be bumped to 500-600 cfs. It will again become a real stream at about 11am. Grey Reef flows should level off at around 3000cfs by this weekend. We have low profile Clackacraft drift boats available for rental. While wading is still very doable a boat will come in very handy.
3/15/11 Grey Reef flows have been bumped to 2350cfs this AM. Grey Reef and Miracle Mile flows are now parallel. I have been fielding a lot of calls concerning wade fishing higher flows. It is very doable BUT you won't be fishing the same water you are used to at 500cfs. Lots of fish structure becomes available to the fish closer to the bank...and closer to wading anglers. It is a good opportunity to fish a different river with the same old big Grey Reef trout. As always in the spring the rainbows are spawning and NEED us to leave them be. Enjoy watching them but don't fish to them. Plan on the water below Government Bridge to be dirty or off color for some time. There will be windows where it will be in great shape and one small snow will mess it up again.
3/14/11 Grey Reef flows are up to 2050cfs and the Miracle Mile flows remain at 2300ish. Windy day and can expect that for the next several days. Like NPL and TRFS guide Rick Aune says "if its blowing in Casper it is snowing in Jackson" so true.
3/13/11 Grey Reef flows are up to 1750cfs as of this AM. Miracle Mile flows have been consistently fluctuating around the 2300cfs mark. The North Platte River is cloudy at Government Bridge at noon...but fishable. This time yesterday it was muddy. A cooler morning has slowed the rapid snow melt...but expect mud by the end of the day. Seems all are fishing Reef Worms and eggs, but don't discount midge patterns!. Miracle Mile has been productive with the worm/egg rig but equally productive with our Inbred Stone, Pat's Rubber Legs and Halfbacks.
3/12/11 Our boats out today reported exceptional fishing. Stu called it silly. Flows are up to 1500cfs and the river is clear to Lusby and dirty at Government Bridge. Bear, Bolton and Bates Creeks are all running off. Reef worms, eggs, scuds and PALs and Foam Post RS2s were todays top picks. Gorgeous day...50*f & no wind!! It doesn't get any better...until the next time;)
3/7/11 Grey Reef flows are 800cfs and Miracle Mile flows are 2300ish this AM, and climbing. Ended up with a few inches of snow last night. Storm started warm and ended cold...that means icy roads covered with packed powder. As of last night a 9:30pm HWY 220 to Alcova was slick in spots and blowing snow. The kind of conditions that you don't want to have to drive in, but all-in-all not too terrible if you are on a mission to fish or ski.
3/6/11 UPDATE 12:30 Snowing pretty hard and starting to accumulate. Watch the roads!
UPDATE Flows up to 600cfs...here we go! Water was in much better shape today. It was muddy below Bates Creek but fishable below Bolton and clear above that. Very nice day as there was very little wind in th Alcova area.
3/5/11 We have a couple guide boats out today. Hope conditions remain tolerable. Yesterday was warm and calm...fish on the surface all afternoon eating midges. Stu was out swinging with his spey rod and had a possible sniff. Not very productive as far as the streamer thing went. Looks like we are in for another snow storm with several inches forecast. Yesterday we woke to a couple inches and it was gone by afternoon. The ice on the river disintegrated the other eve, after the rain storm. Expect flows to come up considerably!! The water was off color on the upper and muddy at Government Bridge. 'Tis the season.
3/2/11 Shop was busy this AM. Thanks to all who have been stopping in! We have been getting positive feedback on the shop progress, but always like input regardless if it is in our favor or not. Boat rentals, guide service, private access, cigars, soft drinks, river shuttles are some of the amenities of The Reef Fly Shop aside from our chart topping selection of flies and top shelf gear from Simms, Scott, Nautilus, Bauer, Ross, TFO etc. Stop in! Early season rates will continue through the end of March and are a paltry $325 for 2 anglers for the day...this includes private access from Grey Reef to Lusby and miles beyond.
3/1/11 Today is looking much better than yesterday, though still some wind. We are having a hard time getting appropriate conditions to get folks on the water...hope it works this weekend? We know that the rates are cheap, but is a cheap trip worth it when the conditions are less than ideal? We are fully aware that we fish in less than ideal conditions often, but it has not been friendly.
2/28/11 Yesterday was beautiful! Today BIG wind. Roads to the Mile are not good...lots of drifting snow although the fishing is great. Roads around Alcova are in good shape and Shirley Basin is also in good shape as of yesterday PM. It wasn't so great yesterday AM however. Looks like wind until the end of the week when a low will bring possible moisture and calmer conditions. This has been a tough weather year so far. It has either been snowing or blowing and VERY little in between.
2/25/11 Cold again. Might develop some more ice on the river, and could freeze spots to make floating to Lusby impossible? We'll keep you posted. Lots of early season trip interest and we thank you for that. The weather will improve and there will be bright spots to allow an enjoyable day. We aren't going to take you out on a super windy day just to claim the trip. We want your experience to be great regardless of the inexpensive price.
2/23/11 From the rumor mill...North Platte River flows at Grey Reef are going to be bumped to 750-1000cfs in a couple days. March 1st Grey Reef Flows will increase to 2500cfs (or 3000cfs) depending on the source. We will try to get an answer today.
2/21/11 Just received word from JJ Randolph, NPL and TRFS guide, that the snow goose migration has started. He is currently in Nebraska, guiding daily, and his guests took 23 Snows on Saturday and 26 yesterday. 500 birds came to his spread (within 20 paces) all at once. He said it was "spectacular"! http://www.wyobraskawaterfowl.com
2/20/11 Miracle Mile was receiving moisture for a good part of the day yesterday. Still over 2000cfs but fishing well. Streamer activity was solid yesterday on the OBS. Roads were frozen and clear yesterday at mid-day but unsure now. Our big upslope storm didn't materialize. Short moments of heavy precip last night. It is snowing good now, but wasn't when I woke at 4AM. Things got cooking around 5-5:30AM. We have an inch and a half so far.
2/19/11 Nymphing has been to go-to method although streamers have been getting some dramatic attention. Check the BLOG to see Ryan Hudson's big brown that ate a swinging streamer using a 2 handed rod. Nymphs are Reef worms, leeches, scuds, crawdads and midges.
2/18/11 Calm last night and this AM! Get on the water quick!
2/17/11 Saturday is shaping up nicely...expect winds of 10-15mph. Sunday will be cooler, calm with a chance for moisture and Monday will hopefully stay calm as well. No significant moisture in the forecast so roads should not be affected. We will do trips this weekend and early next week...call if it fits your schedule. Our trips come with private access on the entire length of Grey Reef-Lusby. Even if the wind comes up we can wade fish some great protected runs.
2/14/11 ARRRGGHHH! Big wind today. This AM was tolerable, but puffing good now. HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY! Kiss a fish, kiss your mama and kiss your sweetheart today! Doing good today might get you lots of mileage when fishing season really hits...don't screw it up!
*UPDATE* 2/13/11 11:23am Miracle Mile is high and muddy at over 2000cfs. The roads, however, are good from Alcova or Hanna. Lusby has finally opened up this AM and floating is possible between Grey Reef and Lusby. But, 40mph winds should be considered...as it is nuking in Alcova, gusting to 60mph.
2/13/11 Warm conditions exist today. But, around here we call them 50/50 days. 50* and 50mph wind. I suspect they were stronger last night...big wind. Early this week it appears as though we will have warm and calm....lets cross our fingers. *UPDATE* gusting to 40mph will be expected the next few days. Tough conditions. Check the weather/road/fishing conditions using the links on the bottom of the home page.
2/12/11 Although we have had very nice temps the past couple days the ice is still present on the upper. You won't be able to get through to the Lusby ramp...yet. We will keep you informed. Roads to Miracle Mile are passable for m Alcova and we should have a road report from the Hanna side soon.
2/10/11 Roads should be in pretty good shape. Rawlins to Casper via 220 is completely dry...although ground blizzards will be problematic. Shirley Basin was a little hairy the night before last. The river is still frozen over in many spots above Government Bridge. We will be warmer and windy for the next couple days so the ice should subside enough for a Grey Reef to Lusby float soon. CALL FIRST. Predicted near 50* on Monday.
2/8/11 Good dump of snow last night and still going in S.Wy and N. CO. I80 is closed. Roads are almost all icy or slick in spots. Miracle Mile would be better left alone until road are maintained. Grey Reef is iced over in spots above Government Bridge so wading is the best option. Some pics of the river from this AM on the BLOG. Go check them out.
2/7/11 This afternoon it warmed up nicely and burned the rest of the ice off of the sidewalk. By 5pm it started a heavy grapel and morphed into a full blown winter storm. Already have 3 inches on the ground and expecting plenty more.
2/5/11 Yesterday was beautiful and conditions remain this AM. Soon we should see some flurries with a little accumulation. Fishing has been solid in the short windows we have had the past week. Scuds, worms, leeches and midge patterns are hard to argue with. IF you like a hard pulling argument between you and an angry fish. We have been liking Tailwater Tinys, Bling midges, Dorsey's Medallion and our ever popular PAL. Leeches would be good in olive, natty and brown...check out our orange bead PSLs. Reef worms in every size and your choice of....red. Scuds...tough call. What color will you choose? Tan, olive and amber would be my suggestion.
Goldie Locks, our staple streamer has been very popular for Mile goers. It has also been good on a slow Grey Reef retrieve.
2/3/2011 Yesterday was colder than the day before, but today we can breath. Balmy 20*, calm and bluebird. This weekend should prove to be good for the Grey Reef angler. Miracle Mile has been getting lots of inquiries, especially about the roads. No road reports the past couple days, but they should be good. Last weekend had good roads and we didn't have enough moisture to cause too much of a problem.
2/1/11 Bottom didn't drop out as much as predicted. Only -15* with some breeze. Today predicted wind chills are more than (or is it less than?) -40*. How fast do your guides ice up in those conditions?
1/30/11 Today was one of those days that everything looks different...or it seemed I was seeing everything for the first time. The early AM drive out to the lodge/fly shop was neat. Lots of mule deer and even some whitetails. Bald and Golden Eagles. The Pedro Mountains looked really cool and big. Folks often ask about the Pedros and we seem to take them for granted but they are a dominant feature when approaching the lodge from the east. Really good stuff!
1/29/11 Quite a few folks on the river the past 2 days. The shop will be open tomorrow AM so stop in. Ongoing projects so don't be too alarmed at the state of things. Lots of inventory should be knocking on our door any moment. Shop is going to have a little different feel this year!
1/26/11 Super nice day! Yesterday as I was leaving Alcova there was a pretty good squall. The North Platte River was slushy at Government Bridge and iced above Sechrist. Narrows were choked but some of the river through Bessemer was opening up.
1/25/11 Little breezy but warm at Grey Reef this AM. Nymphing remains the name of the game. Scuds, PALs, worms, leaches and other midge patterns have been top producers. You will find fish in the heavier water as the midges start popping, but will retreat to the tailouts and holes outside of the hatch.
1/21/11 The North Platte Lodge has some great spots available for the 2011 season. Every month has at least one multi room spot available. We will also be running an early season special on lodging packages. Call (307)237-1182 for details. Don't forget our day trips through The Reef Fly Shop...all access and great guides. Early season day trip special this year...$325 for 2 anglers with FULL access.
1/19/11 Snow has stopped and the sun is peaking through. 3 - 4 inches on the ground in Casper and an inch or so in Alcova. Scuds and Pals have been the go-to rig on the nymph rods.
1/19/11 Quite a change from yesterday. Snowing hard with a couple inches already on the ground. This storm will be fleeting...windy and warm by Friday.
1/18/11 The past few days have been very nice and fishing has been very good as well. Fremont, the Mile and Grey Reef all producing. Warm conditions have made it much more tolerable for the Grey Reef angler. These are the days to look out for and take advantage of our discounted early season trips. How would you like to have wading access to all the best runs at Grey Reef? (307)237-1182
1/12/11 Still cold...brrr. Frozen sections above Lusby. Slushy and choked below the bridge. Might stick to wading around the dam? This weekend it will be much warmer. We have drawn the winner of the Early Season day trip. Visit the "The Wyoming Fly Fisher" to see if you won.
1/10/11 COLD!! -12 in town this AM. We just returned from the Fly Fishing Show in Denver last night. It was very productive, but hard to sit there for 3 days. Thanks to all who came by chat to up Grey Reef. As promised we will be drawing the winner of the fishing trip tomorrow. Check the BLOG "The Wyoming Fly Fisher" to see if you won. The blog is linked on the home page of the NPL and Reef web sites.
1/5/11 This is the time when many of you are researching for next summer's fishing trip. A word of caution...be very careful when taking somebodies word about their "private access". I just had this conversation and had to explain that we really have 17+ miles of exclusive private access starting right below Grey Reef Dam...nobody else can use that ground except for us. The other outfitter is claiming private access that is actually on a public easement...that anybody(including all outfitters) can use. If amenities are important in your decision look no further. Nobody offers what we offer.
1/3/10 Much warmer today and no wind yet. Icy and slushy conditions still exist on most of the river. I would stick to the Dam-Outhouse area. Nymphing will be the ticket with leeches, scuds and midge patterns. An old fashioned adams will come in handy when they start rising on the midge hatch. This will happen in the calm tail outs on calm days.
1/1/11 HAPPY NEW YEAR!! We are looking forward to a fun 2011. Our snow pack should have us enjoying lots of water. We continued to get snow throughout the day yesterday. Casper received 2 times what we got in Alcova. HWY 220 is slick!! Especially through the Narrows and on Goose Egg Hill. River is slushy and edge ice is creeping out toward the middle starting below 3 Islands. Below the dam is fishable. Grey Reef Reservoir is frozen but wouldn't support walking on it. It has been kind of funny to watch our reports being reproduced and used elsewhere...
12/30/10 Wind finally mellowed out a bit yesterday afternoon. Just about the time that the snow moved in. In Casper we are at about 8" downtown and 6" in Alcova. It is chilly 2 degrees downtown and -6 in Alcova. Fishing is tough in these conditions. A wet net will freeze in less than 15 seconds. Iced guides are problematic. Skiing was good today despite the -11 and breezy conditions on Casper Mountain.
12/28/10 Warm and windy the past couple days. We are expected to get hit by a significant winter storm in a couple days. Expecting in the neighborhood of a foot of snow and temps somewhere slightly below zero.
12/25/10 Merry Christmas! Today in Alcova it is blue bird. 50 degrees and calm...great day to be on the river. But, even better to be on the river with family. Wishing you and yours a very happy holiday!
12/21/10 Officially winter? Ha, it has been winter here for a month! Couple new inches of snow in Alcova today...Casper had no accumulation. River is open even through the Narrows. Best to float up high during the cold months to avoid the surprise of a frozen section of river. Miracle Mile is still going to be tough to access with the roads a mess. Fremont good as normal and Grey Reef fishing really well. Jarrod was out on Grey Reef few days ago and reported that Goldie Locks stuck lots of nice fish on the retrieve.
12/20/10 Warm ,moist air moved in over night and our snow is melting fast. The North Platte River below Government Bridge will open up over the next couple days. Sloppy conditions will also be evident over the next several days IF you are trying to drive to the Mile. Look for risers at Fremont and Grey Reef...plenty of midge risers in the calm tailouts on calm days.
12/17/10 -5 degrees this AM and we have climbed to 17 at 1PM. The river is slushy below Lusby, choked at the Narrows and in town. Alcova is beautiful!! Groups of deer, antelope and elk near the lodge. All of the vegetation is crusted with frost....high humidity and cold temps make a neat scene. Roads to the Mile are snowy and rutted but little drifting yet as we have had little wind. This will change as the temps increase over the next couple days so take care. Only a couple groups of anglers at Grey Reef right now.
12/15/10 Yesterday 50 degrees and today we have 5" of snow on the ground. But, snowy and calm made a great midge hatch on Grey Reef today. Plenty of surface eaters in slow tailouts. The snow is wet and heavy. Melting quickly but this eve froze and made roads really slick.
12/14/10 Variable conditions, although it is 50 degrees today. Fishing remains good. Midges, leeches and scuds on a nymph rig. Eggs and worms have also been producing. Streamers have been Goldie Locks, OBS and olive Bergin Buggers. Grey Reef and Fremont both having nice midge hatches with surface activity.
12/8/10 Quite a few anglers in and around Grey Reef recently. Fishing has been good! Miracle Mile has been pretty busy and also fishing well. We don't keep normal fly shop hours in the winter, but don't be afraid to call the lodge or shop number. We will come down to the shop if we can.
12/7/10 Another gorgeous day today. Seth and Rick both reported really good fishing on Sunday. Leeches, midges and scuds on the nymph rigs and Goldie Locks on the streamer rigs. Streamers were getting whacked often. Mid speed continuous (not jerky) strips.
12/5/10 Received a little skiff of snow last night. Was chilly early this AM but the sun popped out and the snow has burned off by 11:00. 2 boats out today...both Seth and Rick are guiding. It is supposed to be in the mid 30s and it is dead calm. One angler and one group of duck hunters out today...pretty quiet!
12/3/10 Weather conditions for Sunday and Monday look incredible for December. We have a couple out on Sunday. Also check out the BLOG (link at the bottom of the NPL home page) to see the kind of fish that have been landed recently. Give us a call to ease the cabin fever!
12/2/10 Warm and breezy but shaping up very nicely this weekend. Boats out on Sunday and forecast is mid 30s and calm...should be good. Fishing Grey Reef continues strong...with typical wintertime patterns. Don't get caught without leeches, scuds, midges...err...that should cover you. Streamers are still getting plenty of attention. Bronze Bugger., olive Bergin Bugger and Goldie Locks.
11/29/10 Received a skiff of snow last night and still coming. Calm conditions. It will be warming up for the weekend. Mid week will be gusty but this weekend looks very nice.
11/28/10 Beautiful day! Definitely a fishing day. Fishing continues to be very good at Fremont Canyon and Grey Reef. Miracle Mile has been hot and cold...but well worth fishing. Some big fish being hooked at all venues. Please take care when wading near redds and consider leaving actively spawning fish to do just that. There are other fish to catch who are feeding.
11/25/10 Happy Thanksgiving!! We have much to be thankful for. Our crew is second to none....professionals in every way. Our venue is second to none...hard to argue with Grey Reef, Miracle Mile, Fremont Canyon and the trout that swim there. Our guests are second to none...who have returned year after year and helped us fulfill our dream. Have a happy and safe holiday with friends and family!
11/24/10 Icing guides will be problematic the next couple days. It is cold...we are looking at a high in the single digits today and wind chills of -15 or so. Lots of ducks and geese in the area and the hunting has been productive. Things will warm up nicely by Saturday...well worth fishing.
11/22/10 Just received a message from JJ that thousands of geese have just settled into the North Platte River valley in Torrington. Hunting has been spectacular!
11/21/10 Seth was on the upper yesterday with his guests. He reported good fishing on crawdizzles, scuds etc. It was a blustery day as we had a pretty significant front approaching in the middle of the day. Morning was 50 degrees and by early afternoon we were at 32 degrees. The remainder of the week will be pretty cold with snow chances. Weekend is looking up.
11/20/10 One boat out today so will have a better report tomorrow. Seth and Rick were at the Mile yesterday and did so-so. Reef fished well. Our big wind on Thursday blew itself out by Friday. Today is really nice as was yesterday. I was up on the mountain for a ski this AM and will be riding my bike this afternoon in town...best of both worlds!
11/17/10 JJ Randolph, fly fishing and wing shooting guide at the North Platte Lodge also has a waterfowl operation in Eastern Wyoming. His leases are the most productive in the area and you won't find a better caller. He just sent me a message saying they have been limiting on ducks everyday. His snow and canada goose hunts are really popular with leases in Eastern Wyoming(Torrington) and western Nebraska (Torrington) as well as south eastern Nebraska. He has cushy heated pits and great dogs.
11/16/10 River is looking and fishing really good. Lots of the weeds are already thinning on the upper. Scuds, crawdizzles, PALs, JuJu Midges and leeches all getting attention. Fremont is clearing up as well although it was fishing well even when it was pea color. Mile is also on fire! Lots of redd banging going on up there...a little disappointing. Please let the browns have the right of way on the redds. Lots of fish in the runs to catch.
11/14/10 We canceled a trip today because the forecast was for significant wind to go with temps of mid to upper 30s. Turned out pretty nice with not too much wind.
11/13/10 Rick was on the water yesterday and had a stellar day. Cool and calm made for good November conditions. They poked lots of smaller fish with a nice mix of real North Platte trout. The bonus was 2 24" browns and a 23" rainbow...yawn...
11/10/10 Streamers and nymphing have been productive. Lots of bumps on streamers in the AM but few hookups...afternoon has seen a willingness to actually eat the streamer. Good and consistent nymph activity no matter where you are fishing.
11/7/10 Sorry for the delayed report. I have been in a deep dark canyon participating in the Steel"head game". Good stuff!!
10/29/10 Streamer fishing at the Mile has been on fire. Fremont is fishing well no matter the discipline and Grey Reef is best with a nymph rig, but streamers are producing well at certain time. We have finally entered our windy/warm (for this time of year) conditions. October was so warm and calm we had to continue asking if it was really October?
10/25/10 Heavy bout of graupel falling from the sky right now. This is our first frozen precip since a midnight episode in late August.
10/17/10 Saw lots of chukar today down near Clarkson Hill on Trappers Route. This is almost all BLM and State land and available for public hunting. Fishing was very good today, although the streamer bite was slow. Nymphing was automatic with leeches and PALs. Didn't change all day...didn't need to. Contrary to some reports upper Grey Reef is no more weedy than normal. This is where the big fish live. Any open water on the upper has the potential to harbor a monster. But, if big fish aren't your interest then the rest of the Grey Reef system is fishing well. Below town has been a mess of floating debris making it not very fun to fish streamers.
10/15/10 Big day today and tomorrow. We had 11 boats out and the same for tomorrow. Several of us went to the Mile and had great nymphing with WD40s, pheasant tails, SJ worms, prince nymphs etc. Lots of fish...fun day. Nymphing and streamers have been producing well on the entire Grey Reef system. Leeches, WD40s, foam post RS2s and the PAL has been a top producer. CONGRATS!! to Leo Schueler on a 27" brown. He landed it on a Purple Batman. Fitting for him as he lives, fishes and works in a fly shop in Pinedale, WY. The Purple Batman is a staple pattern in his neck of the woods. I will get a few picks up on the BLOG.
10/10/10 We have been all over the river and experienced very good streamer activity and nymphing. One of our groups went below Casper a couple days ago and weren't able to fish streamers because of too much floating debris. They did well nymphing a crawdizzle. Yesterday we had very good nymphing although it is difficult to keep the fish on the little bugs as they are pretty hot. Takes are light so set on the slightest nudge. Streamer fishing the upper was very good today with some big fish hooked and lost. The largest landed today were a couple of 23" rainbows. If you like catching a pile of 13" fish bring your 1 weight and a handful of dry flies.
10/5/10 CONGRATS! David Keene on a 23" brown today with Seth on the oars. They were/are isolating themselves to streamers in an attempt at a 25" plus trout. They have several more days to get the job done...good luck! Streamer fishing and nymphing were both productive early today. Mid afternoon the river was void of bug life and few fish were hooked. A couple isolated spots gave up several afternoon rainbows each but was slim pickins in between. Tricos were around this AM and we had a late AM baetis hatch, but the afternoon psuedo hatch never really materialized. We fished light yarn indicators to try to get the best sensitivity. Some takes still made the yarn barely bob. SET ON EVERY VIBRATION!! you will be surprised at what's there.
10/4/10 Fishing is very good on all sections of the lower North Platte River. Mile fishing well with nymph rigs and isolated streamer activity, Fremont is nymphing well with good streamer activity. Grey Reef from the Dam to Glenrock is nymphing well and streamers are producing as well. Fish in the lower sections are taking psuedos and baetis on the surface althopugh the lower stretches have floating debris. The upper reaches are nymphing with leeches,scuds,worms, midges, crawdads and psuedo nymphs. Late afternoon is a good time to make sure you are fishing small as the psuedos start emerging and the trout respond.
10/1/10 I've been waiting for October! This is big fish month on the North Platte River.
9/30/10 Our last 3 sage grouse groups of the 2010 season are out as I write. We have had excellent hunting thus far...everyone who wanted to shoot their limit did so. Yesterday Dana and Trent got into a big bunch of huns. There were some released birds mixed with lots of wild birds. Fishing continues with its very productive nature. Some strange structure or lack of after our high flows this summer. It seems many spots have filled in or the holes have migrated. It is a nice change. With our clear conditions it is easy to spot the holes. We are still receiving quite a few bookings for October fishing trips...thanks for choosing North Platte Lodge and The Reef Fly Shop! We are very fortunate to have such great support from our guests and hope that you feel your trip was more than you expected.
9/28/10 Seth was nymphing down near Casper yesterday and said it was silly. Super short leader and a Crawdizzle/worm rig start to finish. The Schuberts were with Seth yesterday and the day before. Mark when out with JJ for an AM sage grouse hunt and had a ball. Our hunters keep commenting on the numbers of birds...pretty amazing.
9/27/10 Grey Reef is at 500cfs and fishing well. The upper two miles below the dam are green, but it clears very nicely after that. Nymphing has been excellent from the Dam to Glenrock. Streamers are also productive. We have had boats on the entire system and everyone is doing well. Bob, Travis and myself spent most of the day out of the boat. Wade fishing was good all day and the bulk of our takes were on the swing with leeches and foam post emergers.
9/22/10 Two sage grouse groups out today and all shot their limit. Ron Gard shot 2 with one shot. JJ and I fished the afternoon session on the upper again. Flows dropped to 1000cfs. The water near the dam is looking pretty green but we still hooked several fish right at the boat ramp. Shortly after getting on the water a front moved in. The wind kicked up out of the north and the temp went from 83 to 62. Very few bugs...few psuedos and micro caddis. The fishing wasn't nearly as good as yesterday. It was consistent...BUT, Seth and our old friend Bob from Pinedale started consistent and ended in a frenzy. All streamer fishing down low and they boated in the neighborhood of 40 fish...one angler...wow.
9/21/10 We ended the hunting session of our day with one bird shy of limits for all 6 hunters. We were into lots of birds right from the beginning. At first they seemed awful nervous and were getting up well ahead of the dogs and hunters. The next several coveys were more willing to hold. The last bird would have been available but everybody was ready to jump in the boats after several long walks. Fishing was good. Nat. Pine squirrel leeches and foam post RS2 and tan scuds did all we needed. The water is at 1200cfs and is a little green now. The weeds beds on the upper are more evident than at high flows, but lots of places that traditionally have weed beds are clear. JJ's guys fished a hopper for a bit and got one fish and one refusal.
9/20/10 CONGRATS!! Brady West of the Dan Knust group and guide Rick on a 24" rainbow today. Grey Reef down to 1200cfs. Fishing was excellent today despite gusty conditions. Short light nymph rigs with scuds and foam post rs2 was effective. No attempts at hopper fishing or streamers today so no report on that. Our sage grouse hunters are having really good success...no surprise there. 3 more cast and blast groups out tomorrow so will report on that when we get off the river.
9/19/10 5 out today and 4 of us were on a lower section and 1 on the upper. Nymphing was great down low. All of us were fishing different rigs. Beady and natural pine squirrel leeches were popular. We were using a short/light rig with a soft hackled hare's ear as point and a psuedo emerger pattern as the dropper. Most eats were on our tiny bug. Dave Lanoha was with Rick and we saw him hooked up all afternoon with a really short leech rig. After lunch we caught one fish with the hopper and went back to nymphing. Just before the ramp we opted to pitch hoppers again. Todd landed 2 fish and had 2 more eats in the short stretch before we hit the ramp...a good day.
9/17/10 Grey Reef 1400cfs, Miracle Mile 600cfs and Fremont has returned to 75cfs.
9/16/10 Water at Grey Reef is 1400cfs and clear with over 4' of visibility. *HOPPERS* were good today! Wish we had a little longer day, but our group had to be off by mid afternoon. Seth, Rick, JJ and myself were with the Apache Oil group and had a fun time. Steve hooked a male rainbow that would have measured well over 25" on a hopper. We had great seats for the show, but the big boy dominated. Trent and Rudy were in the same vicinity. We started nymphing and it was very good, although we hooked lots of smaller fish and the occasional standard 18" rainbow. The switch to hoppers weeds out all the little guys and it was a big fish only program after that. Quite a few 20" fish were landed on the foam flies.
9/15/10 Miracle Mile 1400cfs and Grey Reef 1800cfs.
9/11/10 Miracle Mile @1400cfs and Grey Reef @ 2400cfs.
9/10/10 Yesterday was very windy and we had 6 out. From 8AM to 2:30PM was very good nymphing. Scuds, soft hackle hares ear, PAL etc. Late afternoon was nuking wind and fishing became more difficult. Some fish were taken on limited hopper fishing attempts. FWIW The Reef Fly Shop has a new supply of foam hopper patterns and the streamer department is chock full. Hoppers have been in high demand have been hard to come by.
9/9/10 Down to 2400cfs, looks like we will be on a slow decline for a while? Tough hopper fishing yesterday although we didn't sick to it very long. I did see several naturals get eaten. Nymphing was good...caddis and scuds seemed to work the best.
9/7/10 Did an afternoon/eve streamer float on the lower. Consistent activity within a few feet of the banks. White was the most popular, but black bow river buggers and yuk bugs received a few whacks. All but a few were very nice fish.
9/5/10 Hopper activity has picked up tremendously...good stuff! Cassid, stone fly, tricos,psuedos and baetis...yes, baetis are on the menu. Scuds, leeches are producing as well. So many opportunities and the fish are taking them. We are really fortunate to have had such a fun season and it will continue to offer new challenges. I suspect we will stick to the hopper gig until it subsides..then it will be streamer time and dry fly with baetis etc. Hunting is just around the corner and we have a couple dates left for sage grouse and a few for early season waterfowl.
9/3/10 We only had 3 out yesterday...all on the upper. Nymphing was good...not as good as the previous day...but good. Nobody threw any streamers so no report on that and the hopper activity was pretty good considering it was only 65 degrees as the high. I was doing "prairie restoration" yesterday at the lodge. Hoppers were not eager to flee. They just kind of sat there until the sun was high overhead. This weekend will be in the mid 80s so it should be hoppertime.
8/31/10 We had our first weather related cancellations yesterday. It was gusting upwards of 50mph and felt it was prudent to say "lets try another time". This weather pattern is on its way out and we should see calm and mid 80s by weekend. This will also get the hoppers...well...err...hopping. Streamer fishing has been good, and should not be ignored!.
8/29/10 7 out again yesterday and we had variable reports. Seth and I were low and had good nymphing in the AM. Switched to hoppers after lunch and watched our flies float through some really good water without a nudge. We managed a few fish on hoppers, but it was largely unproductive. Our boat went to streamers and Seth went back to nymphing to finish the day. Both were productive. A few boats up high had amazing AM nymphing. Sunken tricos and scuds were the daily special. After lunch they also went to hoppers and had really good activity for and hour and a half or two hours. They mentioned the size of the fish eating the foam flies was impressive. Trent Boga gripped a 21" rainbow at 5.5lbs! They also ended their day nymphing and did well with that.
8/27/10 We had 7 out today all between the bridge and Robertson. Flows finally dropped 400cfs to 2600cfs and are ~supposed~ to remain for the next few weeks. Lots of tricos out and about. Nymphing was good in the AM. We started with leeches and a prince nymph and Mercer's Epoxy back and never needed a change. 6 feet from indicator to weight...didn't change. Seth was fishing more like 4 feet and doing really well. After lunch we clipped the subsurface rig and went to hoppers. Our first hopper eater came in the first minute as the big foamy was pulled underwater by an eddy line. We had several eats on our "dry fly" subsurface. It is hilarious to see our guests reaction when they realize the first 20" rainbow to eat their hopper wasn't a fluke. This is an amazing chapter in Grey Reef fishing. The size of the fish and their willingness to eat foam flies makes for a very memorable experience.
8/26/10 Yesterdays report may have had a negative tone to it, but it wasn't intended to be negative. Fishing doesn't get much better than it is right now. Big fish eating hoppers with regularity...need I say more? Nymphing is strong and early AM trico spinner surface activity is pretty good. Good stuff, no question about it.
8/25/10 Sorry to report more of the same. Early AM has had much better trico spinner activity. This will continue throughout September, JJ recalled that last year one of his best Trico dry fly days was early October during a cast and blast. Hoppers aren't in business to quit, so neither will the trout. Nymphing early has been best with little bugs...pulsating emergers etc. Mid AM switch to caddis, leeches etc. Hoppers midday.
8/22/10 We had 8 out today. One trip at the Mile and 7 on the Reef. 2 up high, 4 Bridge to Bessemer and 1 to Robertson. Nymphing was spotty early on. We started with streamers for 2 hours with little activity. Mid AM switched to leeches and a Mercers Epoxy Back and started hooking fish right away. Started pitching hoppers at 1PM and it was on. A pink Morrish Hopper was our top producer although we got them with a tan Morrish, a yellow double decker and a barred leg stone fly. We had between 40 and 50 hopper eats this afternoon. This doesn't mean we landed 40 fish on hoppers, but we had an excellent day.
8/21/10 Great hopper fishing yesterday afternoon. I didn't get a report from the boys who were out on full day trips yesterday but JJ did an afternoon/evening trip and they had hard hopper eats right away. They experienced a flat spot for a half hour or so before a rally above the boat ramp.
8/20 The past few days have had solid fishing with a little more timid hopper bite. They still want grasshoppers but you have to present the fly right. Get it RIGHT on the bank. It will get far fewer looks if it is 18" away. If there is a seam peeling off of the bank DON'T recast!! Keep the fly on the seam just like a real hopper would do. This isn't streamer fishing so you don't want to cast into the eddy behind the seam. Reach upstream when you lay down your cast for a longer drift. These are very important to successful hopper fishing.
8/17/10 Sorry for the delay in the report. Been spending time with the family the past few days...back to business. Report is unchanged. Hoppers are the name of the game. AM nymphing has been really good. Our black pulsating emerger is doing the trick. Consistent grasshopper activity will start between 11AM and 1PM depending on the day. Don't bother cursing the wind if you want to experience amazing fishing. Psuedos are working their way upstream!! While tricos have been largely forgotten this year, it seems that maybe psuedos will the get the recognition they deserve. Rick reported lots of fish rising late in the day on the wee psuedo. A light/short nymph rig with a small olive or gray rs2 or wd40 will work well. I heard reports of tough hopper fishing yesterday from shop patrons...both at the Mile and the Reef. Wade fishing is a little more limiting but by no means pointless. If you don't get looks in a couple casts keep moving. Cast and move don't keep pounding the same water. They want hoppers, but it does sometimes seem situational. The speed of the current, type of bank and especially the type of river bottom has been important.
Friday the 13th August 2010. We have been doing minimal nymphing, but it is producing. We have been setting up the nymph rigs for the early AM before the fish key on grasshoppers. Once the hopper bite is on we abandon all for big foam drys. Nymphs have been leeches, scuds, black pulsating emergers or other patterns to imitate a sunken trico, foam post RS2s etc. We are all using different hopper patterns but it seems that tan is the go to color. As the afternoon wears on it seems the fish are looking up for something els? Medium sized attractor drys are sought after...size 14 stimulators, wulffs etc.
8/9/10 CONGRATS! Tim Trop of Houston, TX on a 23" cutbow taken on a grasshopper pattern with Ryan on the oars. He spent the last 5 days fishing with The Reef Fly Shop and North Platte Lodge. We rarely send out an email or try to get our guests here on short notice, but...what are you waiting for?!
This is really special. When we get our first hard freeze it will all be over.
8/8/10 We need to pinch ourselves. It just doesn't get much better. All 6 of our boats had great days yesterday. Nymphs and streamers working well until the trout start looking up mid-late AM. Then it is a single foam fly tight to the bank and following seams...whoosh. Please pinch the barbs on your grasshopper patterns. With a hook that big a barb is unneeded and it does less damage.
8/6/10 With all the jokes about the dreaded Wyoming wind...this is no joke. Right now we want the wind to blow. It is a strange phenomenon when the guides are asking the fish gods for wind. Simple algebra Wind to the 2nd x Hoppers to the 10th = fun to the...you can solve this when you get here.
8/4/10 Couple of our groups had tough days yesterday. Silly hopper fishing the day before to only a few looks...weird. I thought I would fish the same section that they were on yesterday and guess what? I got my butt kicked! We hooked fish on nymphs, streamers and hoppers but they were few and far between. The hoppers were gaining quite a bit of attention this afternoon when a big storm rolled in and beached us for over an hour. Afterwards they wouldn't give the hoppers a look. But, the other guys reported a good day today. Our one boat on the upper mentioned very little dry fly activity. Two boats down lower reported good hopper action before the storm and one trip at the Mile hasn't reported yet. There have been good trico hatches the past few mornings with little surface eating but it will happen soon.
8/3/10 More of the same the past few days. The AM is okay as far as hopper/dropper, but the streamer bite is on. Nymphs also working very well. Scuds, leaches, CDC cased PMD emergers, Soft hackled sallie and caddis patterns, black pulsating emerger has been great for sunken tricos or ? Start chucking hoppers between noon and 1PM. Some takes are kisses, some are destroyers and some will check it...a swirl under your bug (patience!) and then whumpf. Yesterday, the Mile was incredible, the hopper fishing was silly and nymphing was very good. Guides are really interested in streamers/hoppers so there has been little nymphing going on.
7/31/10 We had 1 on the upper and 4 down low today. Early AM streamer bite was really good, but slowed at around 9am. A few hopper eats happened right as we got in the water then...nothing. Nymphs, streamers and the hopper/dropper rigs coaxed a few fish but all in all it was a pretty slow morning. At 1pm the switch turned on and we had fish all over our hoppers. This afternoon was hot and cold, but we only fished hoppers. Unfortunately, our guest had to be off the water at 3:30 to get to the plane. 1pm on has been the peak of the hopper bite.
7/30/10 Another pretty impressive day. We had 5 below the bridge today...on various sections and 2 at the Mile. My bunch of 3 fished all disciplines again today. At one point my boat was nymphing, Rick's was chucking streamers and JJ was hooper/droppering it. We were all hooking fish. The dry dropper rig was hot and cold this AM. Nymphs worked well for the 20 minutes we used them and streamers were good and consistent. Once we left from our lunch spot the hopper bite was on. Our boat experienced about 40 hopper eats this afternoon. We took a half hour off to throw streamers in a known big fish area...and hooked 5 nice fish on a bronze bugger. Chernobyl did the trick for us, Amy's Ant was good for others as was the thinga-ma-hopper. Trent's was a dedicated BIG streamer boat. They were on a quest for only big fish. The single angler in his boat had a 30 fish day only pounding the banks with streamers...good stuff. A 23" rainbow was their top prize, but they will be out early for more tomorrow. No report from the group at the Mile, but it has been excellent in recent days.
7/28/10 North Platte River flows are 3500cfs at Grey Reef and 1600cfs at Miracle Mile. Temps at Gov Bridge at 8am were 58 degrees...nice and cool! Not sure about temps at the Mile. We had 5 on the lower yesterday and nymphing a light streamer/leach rig worked well. We used a bread n butter and a Platte River Special followed by a pine squirrel leach. A couple of the boats went hopper/dropper all day and did really well midday on hoppers. The dropper, a halfback, was happily eaten drifting along the edges. Hoppers! The fish are getting a little more spooky on the hopper thing, but a properly presented bug will find its way into many big (little fish not eating hoppers) trout. A good quarting downstream presentation (casting from the boat) and light tippet will do the trick. Long drifts have been best. One trip at the Mile and it was a success. Lots of browns and rainbows not hesitating to eat a short nymph rig. Don't forget the hopper activity ou there either!
7/26/10 Quick report...5 on the upper today nymphing the AM was spotty although the first hour and a half was very good. Afternoon was hopper time and there were a ton of naturals and a ton of fish keying on them! Nymphing was good this PM. Mile is fishing really well.
7/23/10 6 out today...1 on the upper, 4 below the bridge and 1 at the Mile. Nymphing was a little hit and miss this AM. But, with the lower flows fishing the runs was more productive than it has been. A good mix of banks/seams and fishing out to the riffles. We landed some really nice fish before hoppers this afternoon. Only big fish are eating hoppers it seems! One boat continued nymphing this afternoon and it was "silly" fishing. Silly nymphing or big fish eating hoppers??...tough choice. Sometimes I forget how lucky we are.
7/22/10 Flows on Grey Reef are 3500cfs and should hold until the end of the month. Then drop to 3000cfs or so? Miracle Mile is still holding at 1600cfs. We had 7 trips out today, 4 on the upper 2 down low and 1 at the Mile. The upper nymphed well until about 2:30 when we all abandoned the nymph rigs. It was really fun to watch the 3 boats around me banging them on hoppers. The 2 boats down low also did well nymphing the edges and they also slung hoppers to the banks for the afternoon. Contrary to some reports, Miracle Mile has been on fire. Unfortunately, the golden stones have wrapped it up. But, the fish at the Mile are also known to sample hoppers. There were only a few fish on trico spinners this AM.
7/21/10 Looks like we are on the downward slope. North Platte River flows are 4000cfs at Grey Reef and holding at 1600cfs ish at Miracle Mile. We had 8 boats out today. 3 on the upper and 5 down low. The upper fished very well today. Some really nice fish! Poxy Backs, rusty scuds, foam post RS2s, CDC Cased PMD Emergers, PALs, soft hackle hare's ears etc. 4 of the boats down low reported really good bank activity primarily eating natural pine squirrel leeches. One boat is still out on a noon to dark streamer mission. Fish were eager to chase streamers this AM on the upper and they were keyed in on hoppers this afternoon!
Also had some fish taking trico spinners off of the surface this AM. Diversity is why we love Grey Reef in the summer.
7/18/10 North Platte River flows are still 4500cfs at Grey Reef (temp at dam is 59) and back to 1600cfs for Miracle Mile. Both venues are fishing well. Caddis, sallies and PMDs are the main topic. The fish are doing a lot of hanging out near the banks...short nymph rigs and slow streamer retrieve.
7/16/10 CONGRATS!! to Bob Kemper and Ren Adam on 2 big rainbows today. Bob landed a 25" and Ren a 23" with guide JJ Randolph assisting.
7/15/10 Mile is down to 1600cfs. Went and fished some streamers this afternoon. If it wasn't for Seth we wouldn't have had much success. There were a couple spots where there was a flurry of activity and then...nothing. We had several boats out today will update when we hear the reports from the guides.
7/15/10 North Platte flows are down to 1900cfs at Miracle Mile and still at 4500cfs for Grey Reef. The entire Grey Reef system is clear and fishable. Be careful if you are floating through the whitewater park. The first rapid is pushy and there are several bridge pilings to dodge. PMD eaters like the sand...but the river is really clear and the fish are a little spooky in the shallow sandy stuff. Light tippet and longer casts apply...and get rid of the bright indicator. Opt for white or black.
7/14/10 According to the BuRec there is no water running at Grey Reef...actually there has been no change and we are still seeing North Platte River flows at Grey Reef at 4500 cfs and 2500 cfs at Miracle Mile. Mile still has good Golden Stone fishing, but won't last long. Grey Reef still in the PMD and Yellow Sallie, caddis mode. Don't discount the micro caddis!! Hoppers are growing up nicely. Yesterday AM the fishing was very good and it dropped off in the PM. 30mph winds may have had something to do with it? Tricos are becoming more present around Government Bridge and will work their way upstream. Trico spinners are trout crack. Streamer fishing has really picked up as well.
7/12/10 CONGRATS!! to John Collin and guide Seth Kapust on a 30" brown yesterday. Bogagrippped at 13lbs! Picture will follow soon...check the BLOG.
7/10/10 Pretty consistent, pretty good today. Not the nuts fishing of the past few weeks but very respectable. PMDs and yellow sallies are the main hatch. Today on the upper we saw no tricos...but lots of micro caddis. Early AM we hooked lots of fish on PALs and light tippet. The first couple hours was on fire. No report from our 3 boats down low but the 3 boats up high had good results. We did have one dedicated streamer fisher and he did surprising well. Especially when the skies turned dark.
7/9/10 Fishing was all over the board today. We had several boats down low and the morning was slow for most of them...each boat hooked 10-15 fish in the AM. The afternoon was much better. Second hand report from our guides on the upper was it was tough. Not sure what that meant but obviously it wasn't a day where hookups came one after the next...like we have come to expect. The water is super clear. Hatches were very strong today lots of PMDs and Sallies. Good bunch of caddis late and...umm...tricos are here.
7/7/10 6:00PM Grey Reef down to 4500cfs.
7/7/10 CONGRATS!! Terry Davis and guide JJ Randolph on a 25.5" brown yesterday. I have been absent for several days but was back on the water yesterday. North Platte River flows are 4725cfs at Grey Reef and 3350ish cfs at Miracle Mile. The water conditions at Grey Reef are impeccable. Super clear and a cool 55 degrees on the upper. The Mile is prime for Golden Stone activity. Yesterday we had a huge PMD hatch at Grey Reef. Conditions were chilly and breezy and we saw very few yellow sallies. There have been blizzards of sallies lately. Browns have been very frequent this year...as have really big fish in general.
7/2/10 CONGRATS!! to Adam Cross on a 24" rainbow and CONGRATS!! to Bob Rowe on a 23" cutbow. These are in addition to the other Grey Reef trophy trout landed yesterday. All of these were in NPL and TRFS guide boats. Six boats on the water and 6 trophy trout...impressive day. No question the North Platte River spoils us.
7/1/10 CONGRATS!! to Chuck Robison on a 25" brown. CONGRATS!! to David Robison on a 23" brown and CONGRATS!! to Peter Fair on a 23" rainbow. All of these fish were landed today. North Platte River flow are 5500cfs at Grey Reef and 4950cfs at Miracle Mile. It is surprising how slow the current seems now as opposed to 7000cfs a few days ago. Fair amount of PMDs on the water today as well as a good batch of sallies. What is the fishing like? Pretty stinkin' good!
6/30/10 North Platte River flows dropped 500cfs last night at Grey Reef to 5500cfs. Miracle Mile flows are at 5590cfs. Fishing remains excellent.
6/29/10 North Platte River flows are 6000cfs this AM at Grey Reef and 6000cs at Miracle Mile. Guides reported good fishing last night. Not lots of bugs, but there was some surface activity on caddis.
6/28/10 All 5 boats did very well yesterday. Sounds like a broken record, but fishing is as good as it gets right now. Flows are dropping 250cfs/day so we are at 6250cfs at Grey Reef today. This should continue until we reach 5000cfs. The BuRec will then continue to bleed extra water out of the reservoirs above us. No boats out this AM but we will be sending 3 boats out this eve.
6/27/10 North Platte River flows have dropped to 6500cfs at Grey Reef and remain at 7000cfs for Miracle Mile. Fishing continues to be the same for Grey Reef...another great day yesterday. Miracle Mile conditions are heating up with the Golden Stone Fly hatch. Some big fish posing for snapshots with dry flies decorating their lips!
6/26/10 Yesterday was again very productive. The AM takes were lighter than we had experienced. Some of the takes were slight wiggles or vibrations. As the morning progressed it seemed the takes were a lot more obvious. We fished rusty scuds, prince nymphs, impalers and cdc cased PMD emergers. All were productive with the prince probably being the most productive. We landed a few fish at 22" and a lot of 19-20 inch fish. We even had some 9"-16" fish...which indicates that these younger year classes are still present in the North Platte River Grey Reef section. I would suspect that we were the only boat wade fishing yesterday...and it was good. When you book a trip with the North Platte Lodge or The Reef Fly Shop you will receive our service for the full day...9 hours (on the water not in the car) including a break for lunch. When booking a day of fly fishing ask about guide experience, ask about the quantity of private access is provided and ask what a full day trip means.
6/24/10 Drill is the same...silly fishing for most of the day. After 3pm we had 11 hookups in our boat...which seems terribly slow compared to the rest of the day. I have not been able to keep the ball rolling the past couple hours of the day...some of our guides have. In case you were wondering what we were doing on the river past 3PM? Our FULL DAY trips are full day trips...9 plus hours on the water with a break for lunch and to spell the guide.
6/22/10 Fishing after 3pm was so-so, but from 8am to 3pm was lights out. We were a worm and red free boat today. Did very well on scuds and a small prince nymph again. Lots of fish succumbing to the worms though. We guessed around 40+ hookups by lunch. Grey Reef flows are up to 6750cfs this AM. Only 8500cfs entering Seminoe so we hope we are getting a margin of safety in the near future. Grey Reef will remain high as the BuRec tries to bleed off a little extra water. No reason to be concerned if you are coming to fish with us. Although the water is very high the fishing is fantastic. You should make it a point to come and witness the high water...well worth it! All 6 of our boats reported the same. A few of the guides were still doing well after the 3pm mark.
6/21/10 Another great day on the river. Boys had excellent conditions with fish eating all day. North Platte River flows have stayed at 6500cfs at Grey Reef and 9000cfs at Miracle Mile. Rumor has it that we might be getting more. Seminoe is now full, as is Pathfinder and Alcova. 10,000cfs entering Seminoe still has to go somewhere?
6/20/10 North Platte River flows are stable on Grey Reef at 6500cfs. Miracle Mile flows rocketed up to 9000cfs just after noon today, the recent flows have been hovering around 7000cfs.
6/17/10 North Platte River flows are up to 6300cfs at Grey Reef and down to 9000cfs at Miracle Mile. We canceled all of our boats today due to high winds. The afterbay is stirred up from the waves so Grey Reef is murky. It will clear quickly once the wind returns to a tolerable level.
JJ did an evening trip (last night) and they caught plenty of fish until darkness set in.
6/16/10 UPDATE 4:26pm So, I just got back from the Miracle Mile where some are reporting lousy fishing. Uh, it was pretty damn good! Flows are still big at 12,000cfs and the water is in fine shape. Lots of trees, picnic tables and fishing piers in or under water. It is quite a sight to see. If you get a chance drive up to the base of Kortes Dam and watch the discharge...it is impressive! Lots of sightseers at Pathfinder Dam and watching the spill. A full-sized North Platte River in the Cardwell Access area and especially the canyon is also a fun sight. It has been 10 years, except it wasn't drawing much attention then. Back to Miracle Mile fishing. Hopper/dropper rig Chubby Chernobyl and a tung golden stone pattern. 15 or so casts 2 rainbows and 2 browns. Our guides reported some excellent fishing so we went to test it ourselves...they were right. Miracle Mile fish are happy and eating very well.
6/16/10 North Platte River flows increased again last night to 6000cfs at Grey Reef. There are concerns of flooding low lying areas. Sand bag depots have been established in the Casper area to help with the surge. It seems that things took a turn for the better yesterday and today. The upper Platte River Drainage saw less water due to the low elevation snow pack disappearing. There is still plenty of snow in the higher elevations. As soon as the water started coming over the Pathfinder spillway the BuRec dropped Miracle Mile flows. Miracle Mile flows are fluctuating wildly right now. The news reported that Pathfinder hasn't spilled over since 1983...this is incorrect. 1999 was the last year that Pathfinder was full and spilling.
6/15/10 2:01pm UPDATE North Platte River flows:Pathfinder is over the spillway and Grey Reef flows are 5400cfs.
6/15/10 All 5 boats did well yesterday. Worms, leaches, PMDs, red midges and yellow sallie nymphs all produced. Water conditions are good this AM to Bear Creek, cloudy to Bates and dirty below Bates.
6/14/10 North Platte River flows have remained mostly stable on Grey Reef at 4900cfs. Miracle Mile flows went t o 15,800cfs this afternoon. Grey Reef cleared quickly after the blowout and is in good shape to Bear Creek...right now. Bates Creek is high and muddy with a tinge of red from the chugwater side of Muddy Mountain. We did a quick cleanup of the river this afternoon and managed to stick a few fish on streamers. They ate a Goldie Locks swimming off of the bank into the seam. We have 5 boats out today and expect they are having good success. I spoke with one of the guides very shortly after they put in and they had already landed 2 fish. Amazing how quick the river rights itself at these flows.
UPDATE 2 6/13/10 4:49PM Rain has stopped and Grey Reef is muddy but will hopefully be clearing itself quickly. Miracle Mile flows increased again to 14,900cfs.
UPDATE 6/13/10 10:36 AM Miracle Mile flows are up to 13,500cfs.
6/13/10 North Platte River flows are steady at 4900cfs from Grey Reef, and Miracle Mile flows pushed to almost 12,600cfs this AM. Pathfinder is 96% full and Seminoe is 92%+ of capacity. No word yet on Grey Reef fishing conditions. Will keep you posted...
UPDATE #2 6/12/10 Miracle Mile flows went up over 12,500cfs it afternoon...wow!!
UPDATE 6/12/10 10:38AM Grey Reef is blown out. It is still raining and suspect it will clear astonishingly fast once the drainages quit contributing to the river. We do have a couple boats duking it out in the areas fishable waters which include the reservoirs, Fremont and the afterbay. Not sure about Miracle Mile, but the roads will be horrible so it is out of the question today.
6/12/10 6:34AM Most drainages entering the North Platte River around Grey Reef are running muddy. Grey Reef isn't officially blown out, but it is getting close. We will keep you posted. We have had solid rain starting late yesterday afternoon through the night and it is still coming. Eagle Creek is starting to run...just a little. We hope it remains mild because if it goes big then the afterbay becomes muddy. Grey Reef flows are at 4900cfs so it will clear very quickly, but we just need the rain to slow down.
Miracle Mile flows went up over 11,200cfs this afternoon. And it's raining right now....where are they gonna put all the water? Ha! Bolton and Bear Creek finished running yesterday and the river cleaned itself quickly. There is a bit of mud coming in at fly shop creek with little to no effect AND Bates is muddy although not very high. The North Platte River below Bates is off color.
6/11/10 6:05am Grey Reef flows have been increased again to 4900cfs. Miracle Mile went over 10200cfs an hour or two ago and is back a t 10000cfs for the moment.
8:40pm CONGRATS!! Jay Clemente and guide Ryan on a 27" brown today. Ryan has been on a brown roll. This is his fourth day in a row to have a brown in his boat...his guys landed a brown double a couple days ago.
4:42pm North Platte River flows were increased to 4700cfs at noon today and Miracle Mile is at 9600cfs!! Grey Reef blew out at Bear Creek as a result of heavy AM rain. The upper is in great condition. With this big water it should clear soon. One of our boats was in early today and reported really good fishing from start to finish.
6/10 North Platte River Flows :Miracle Mile went over 8000cfs yesterday and we at Grey Reef are at 4500cfs. Fishing hasn't slowed a bit. It is as productive as ever right now. Yesterday I had a fish belch a huge wad of worms in my boat. Rick had the same experience on the lower. These fish can't be hungry...they are just greedy. They are so packed with bugs it's funny. Yesterday our top producer was a red Lazy Midge. We also caught fish on JuJu Baetis, PMD Barr's, PALs, foam post RS2s etc. We fished about 6.5' and 1 or 2 b shot. The boys on the lower reported good fishing until the Gray Cliffs, where the water became off color. JJ said that a big chunk of the cliff sloughed off very close to them...be careful.
UPDATE: 10:00PM Grey Reef @ 4260cfs Miracle Mile @ 7200cfs.
6/8/10 Lots of news today. First CONGRATS!! to Mike Panitch on a 24" rainbow yesterday with guide Trent. CONGRATS!! to Bob Ferguson on a 23" brown with guide JJ and CONGRATS!! to the Aldrich boys on a brown double yesterday with guide Ryan.
6/5/10 The new trend seems to be to head to the ramp if the wind kicks up or the air temp gets a little warm. It could be very difficult to manage the wind and higher water if you didn't have the ability to stop the boat. When you fish with the North Platte Lodge and The Reef Fly Shop you get a FULL day of fishing. Our private access allows us to easily land fish without blowing down the river or having to trespass to land them. We can stop to untie wind knots...legally. We can wade fish and there are plenty of wade fishing opportunities even at 3500cfs. There are always places to catch fish even when the wind gets going. There are plenty of areas with wind breaks and productive trout water. Bottom line is our guides will have you out for the whole day. They have the expertise to have you in fish all day AND they have the access to make sure you get another shot at the best runs.
6/4 Grey Reef is running at 3500cfs currently...will we see more? Hope so!
6/3 WYOMING FLY FISHING GUIDE REPORT: Boys had a really good day yesterday...despite the wind. Big water allows you to hug the banks and get out of the wind. Bates Creek has just about run out of gas. The North Platte River below Bates is now fishable.
6/1 So what can I say that hasn't been said the past few reports? Fishing is off the charts. We still have baetis, PMDs and sallies are moving with midges everywhere. Lots of red midges, PMDs, scuds, leeches, baetis and sally nymphs in stomach samples. A reasonable bug in the right spot has made for non-stop activity. You need to resist the urge to fish where you would in most trout streams because you will float down the river with no activity. Stay in easy water and don't get carried away with long leaders. Stop in to the The Reef Fly Shop and have one of our guides give you the lay of the land...including rigging preferences and fish location. You won't be disappointed.
5/30 I am so lucky to be able to be on the water. It has been hero fishing...so many takes and the fish are really big. Ask around and you will get a unanimous answer about the size of the fish. Unbelievably big. I'm not sure the average size was this big in the "good ol' days".
5/28 Grey Reef is on. Fishing has been really good. Flows are at 3400cfs and the temp is 48 degrees. So what? Big flows make the whole river fishable and low temps mean we haven't come close to the peak fishing. The guides all had great fishing the past couple days. The size of the fish is also incredible. 20" fish aren't even getting the respect of a picture. We have been fielding a lot of calls about fear of high flows...fish like water so don't get too intimidated. You think the flows are so big that you need tons of weight and length? No. Our rigs have been 6 feet from indicator to split shot and 1 B shot...maybe 2. As the fish settle in we will be using much less weight.
5/26 7:10AM Grey Reef is now at 3400cfs. Miracle Mile went over 5000cfs yesterday. Grey Reef Reservoir cleared quickly, but the North Platte River is murky below Government Bridge. It should run its course very quickly. Bates Creek is still running dirty...hopefully these next few 80 degree days will push it over the edge to recovery.
5/25 8:00PM Grey Reef is at 3100cfs. The boys had mixed results today on the river. Most had better mornings, a couple had a better afternoon. This just means the fish were eating all day and the guides were trying to find the right lines. Fremont is pretty neat. Having a real river running through it has always been fun to see, but it seems more interesting now. Funny that the fences are in the water. I guess they never thought we would have significant water in Fremont again? Who knows...but it is funny.
5/25 Grey Reef is at 2900cfs this AM and there is a couple feet of visibility. Miracle Mile is at 4800cfs. No report on Fremont yet...keep you posted.
5/24/10 Funny how things turn around. Uniformitarianism is a word that geologist use to explain that things that happened in the past are happening now and will continue to happen in the future. I am describing our current water situation. We have a lot. A couple years ago we were doom and gloom with no water. 10 years ago there was a lot of it pouring over the spillway at Pathfinder and Fremont Canyon was ripping. The 10 year cycle is holding true...even with global warming. Fremont Canyon and more specifically the Cardwell Access Area had a stream bed manufactured to accommodate 75cfs...which has been the flow for a number of years. Today Fremont is getting some water for the first time since 2000. BuRec has explained that they need to move some water and 500-1000cfs will be in Fremont Canyon by this eve. Grey Reef will be at 3400cfs by tomorrow eve. I am so excited to see river levels that I haven't seen or fished for nearly 10 years. This is a wonderful opportunity. Cardwell will be something to see (we went to watch the fireworks this afternoon but the increase was very gradual...unfortunately). I am excited to fish it. There will be current in the slough and a great drop at the bottom of it. I have already spoken to a local kayaker and they are gearing up for the fun. Grey Reef will be bigger also...this is going to be a lot of fun. Don't be discouraged by increased flows...make it a rare opportunity to fish runs that rarely exist. The fish are still there and they are eating really well at 2400cfs...3400 will be no different. They will just be in different spots. Miracle Mile is 4800cfs. Yesterday it fished very well at 4000cfs.
5/23/10 Gorgeous day! Wish I was on the river instead of my desk seat. Yesterday was brutal weather starting around 11am. Big winds came with rain. The fish were eating really well regardless. PALs, Lazys, scuds, Big Bear Baetis, Flash Back Biot Nymph etc. Midges will be dominating the scene until PMDs show up. There are still plenty of Baetis but they should be tapering down in the next weeks. Caddis, water boatman, sallies etc are some bugs to contemplate.
5/21/10 Miracle Mile is cranking at 4000cfs while Grey Reef provides a really nice flow of 2400cfs. All the feeder streams except Bates have run their course. Bates Creek is big and brown...needless to say the North Platte River below Bates is muddy.
5/19/10 Flows topped out at 2400cfs today. We aren't sure if they will go up any more. Our guides had a late start so I don't have the days report but will keep you posted.
5/19/10 BuRec has bumped the flow to 2300cfs. We'll take more if they oblige. Water looks good although Bates Creek was cruising and causing muddy conditions on the North Platte River below Bates. With increased flows the mud will have less effect on the big picture. Baetis and midges are still the game, but yellow sallies and caddis are becoming more important. Our boys have been mostly fishing with bugs...not worms, leeches, eggs etc. They have been having banner days.
5/18/10 PM Flows are up to 1700cfs we have had a steady drizzle in Casper. Alcova had a short storm this afternoon with no effect on the river. 7 boats out today and all reported exceptional fishing even right after the flow increase. Our last group has been here many times and they thought this trip was as good as they had experienced...great weather, big fish and a lot of them.
5/18/10 GREY REEF flows have increased to 1600cfs overnight and we should see 2000 by days end. We are excited for more water!! You won't be fishing the same lines as you did at 500cfs...but you can catch as many or more if you stay on the edges.
5/17/10 GUIDE REPORT: More excellent fishing. Lots of takes, hot fish...eating bugs! Baetis and midges are the name of the game...but don't discount sallies. Oh so fun. What are you waiting for? Guides did well with PALs, Pulsating Emergers, foam wing RS2s, Medallion Midge and UV choc or gray emergers.
5/16 CONGRATS!! to Dennis Newman and guide Stu on a 25.5" rainbow yesterday.
5/15 Fishing is lights out! We have been having a lot of fun lately. Fishing has been excellent. Lots of takes and lots of fish beating us up, but we are winning some of the battles. This is a great time to be here. Most of our success is nymphing with baetis and midge emergers. Ledge, Bear and Bolton Creek are mostly dry with the exception of Bolton adding a little mud in at the bridge. PALs, Lazys, Pulsating Emergers, Big Bear Baetis, JuJus of all varieties etc. The boys have also been using sally nymph imitations.
5/13 WYOMING FLY FISHING GUIDE REPORT:
CONGRATS! to Frank Galli III and guide Rick on a 24" rainbow. GREY REEF: 1000cfs, 48 degrees, hatches are midges and baetis. Bugs of interest are yellow sallies and caddis as they are moving and fish are eating them subsurface. Yesterday Ledge Creek was burping mud with no impact on the fishing. Below Government Bridge is still brown/green. Nymphing yesterday was amazing. The midge hatch was...dare I say...epic. Midges were everywhere, I do mean everywhere. I was shocked that our size 22 JuJu midge got the attention that it did considering all the naturals. Tan scuds, red lazy, All Day May etc etc. We fished short and light and had a lot of fun. There were only 2 other boats out yesterday not counting 7 NPL and The Reef Fly Shop boats. Everybody spread out, so you rarely saw each other.
5/11 WYOMING FLY FISHING GUIDE REPORT:
GREY REEF is still at 1000cfs and clear to Bear Creek. Below Government Bridge is one shade from brown...pretty much blown out. We had a fair amount of moisture yesterday and are starting again this afternoon (3pm). Weather forecast is all over the place, but we will have some more moisture and likely some snow this eve. We will keep you posted as to weather/river conditions as they/ if they change.
5/9 Happy day Moms! Guides had a great day yesterday. Start to finish no gaps, just what Grey Reef is known for. Rick made the comment "largest fish that I have seen in 5 years". He was referring to the average size of the lower Grey Reef trout.
5/8 WYOMING FLY FISHING GUIDE REPORT: The 2 Fly competition has concluded. There was a lot of money raised for local charities...thanks fish!! The weather situation looks really good for baetis the next several days. Low wind, cool and overcast=blanket hatch. Grey Reef is still at 1000cfs and clear all the way to Casper. Scuds, leeches, worms followed by Tailwater Tinys, Medallion Midges and PALs are good early in the AM...then switch to foam post RS2s, sparkle wing RS2s, Stalkups baetis nymph, JuJu baetis etc mid morning. MIRACLE MILE: is still big but fishing well. All the same patterns apply, but add a halfback or Pat's Rubberlegs, there have been good baetis hatches and lots of scuds.
5/6/10 WYOMING FISHING GUIDE REPORT: Weather this AM is beautiful despite the forecast. Chilly, overcast and calm. A perfect recipe for continued strong baetis hatches. The water is in very good condition all the way to Casper. Yesterday the guides had wonderful fishing...spring frenzy fishing. Tan scuds and pulsating emergers did the trick. They fished from 8' to 3' and all was successful. This is the time of year where the wade fishing is about as fun as it gets. Crushing takes in the riffles!
May 5th Big winds yesterday and the BuRec dropped Grey Reef Reservoir very low. The wind and waves stirred up the water and below the dam was in poor shape. The river has improved and is fishable. 5/3/10 Only a hand full of boats out today. Probably a good thing because the wind was cranking. Fish were very willing to eat...just needed to get a good drift. Tomorrow is supposed to be even worse...
5/2/10 WYOMING FLY FISHING GUIDE REPORT: **CONGRATS to Gary Ghiselli on landing a 23" brown yesterday** Don Coney also had a very large brown on yesterday but his heart was broken when his rig separated from the leader.
4/29/10 WYOMING FLY FISHING GUIDE REPORT: **UPDATE** Congrats to Ron Gard on landing a 24" rainbow this morning with Seth Kapust guiding. Congrats to Matthew Wissinger on a 23" brown a couple days ago with Ryan Hemkens guiding.
4/25/10 WYOMING FLY FISHING GUIDE REPORT: GREY REEF: nymphing is the most productive with leeches, worms, scuds and eggs as point flies and midge and baetis patterns as the dropper. The water is clear and traffic dictates the use of lighter tippet. 1000cfs and clear to Bolton Creek. Bolton Creek has slowed down as has Bates, but it will still be a while before the lower will be fishable.
4/22/10 Fishing has been excellent with baetis moving midday.
4/21/10 GREY REEF FISHING REPORT: Our boats out yesterday had great fishing. Baetis are dominant from mid morning throughout the day. We have had a last minute reschedule so we have availability this weekend...either in the lodge or for day trips. On May 1st out rates will being increasing to $425 fro a day trip. All trips booked for 2010 prior to May 1st will receive the $400 rate.
4/20 WYOMING FLY FISHING GUIDE REPORT: GREY REEF: Fishing has been variable the past few days. Bolton Creek has the North Platte River below Government Bridge very muddy. All fishing activity is happening on the upper. Lots of fish still on the redds and we are seeing a lot of folks anchored in, wading through and fishing the spawn beds. Please give them a chance to do what needs to be done. Nymphing has been fair to very good depending on time of day and your proximity to redds:). We are finally seeing a good baetis hatch and the trout are eating bugs from mid morning to the evening. In the morning it seems that leeches and red Lazy Midges are a good option. the Pulsating Emerger, JuJu Baetis, Split Cased BWO, PAL etc are working well under a leech. STREAMERS: have been producing random schwacks. The past couple days our streamer patterns have been olive Near 'Nuff Sculpins, olive Bergin Buggers, Goldie Locks and bronze buggers. MIRACLE MILE: nymphing was tough a few days ago, but scuds, baetis nymphs and beady leeches produced.
4/16/10 WYOMING FLY FISHING GUIDE REPORT:Our guides on the water yesterday did well. There were some folks who mentioned big fish, but not lots of fish. Gary Bebe the owner of Mountain Driftboat in Victor, Id said two of the fish he caught yesterday were the biggest he has caught in 10 years...good endorsement for Grey Reef!. If you are in the market for a new or used boat give Gary a call. He takes care of us and I'm confident he will do the same for you. The Orvis Guide Rendezvous wrapped up last night. Too bad the attendants had to experience a couple of our worst wind days. 4/13/10 **UPDATE**3:15PM Bolton Creek was making a mess above Government Bridge this morning, at the bridge it was still sticking to the river right side. This afternoon the river was bank to bank mud at the bridge. Bates Creek was really big and muddy. It looks like the upper will be the venue for the next little while as it is still in very good shape. Warm and windy...this should get the runoff moving well. WYOMING FLY FISHING GUIDE REPORT: GREY REEF, flows are 1000cfs, most productive with nymphs pine squirrel leeches, Reef Worms, Scuds (rusty, olive and tan), eggs. Little bugs are Lazy Midge, PAL, JuJu midge and baetis, MIRACLE MILE 2550cfs is the flow. Water came up significantly yesterday, below the bridge had lots of floating debris. Nymphing with eggs, scuds, orange beady leeches, San Juan worms and our rubber leg halfback. JuJu baetis, Red lazy and blue JuJu Midges.
4/11/2010 GREY REEF: 1000cfs clear to Government Bridge and slightly off color (green) to Casper. Very fish-able all the way to town. Hatches are midges and baetis. MIRACLE MILE: 1500cfs clear and fishing well to the end at the Chalk Bluffs. Reports varied today for Grey Reef. Some had a slow go of it while others were doing really well. The one similarity that the guys doing well had were either shorter leaders or light weight. They weren't dredging in other words.
4/9/10 WYOMING FLY FISHING GUIDE REPORT Grey Reef is enjoying a bit more water. We are at 1000cfs today. This a great flow, don't be alarmed by it. Wading will still be very good and floaters will get a bit more current through the flats.
4/7/10 WYOMING FLY FISHING GUIDE REPORT:
**UPDATE 2**Rumor has it that we will see an additional 250cfs by tomorrow AM and another 250 by the following morning...bringing the flows to 1000cfs. Lets hope this happens!! **UPDATE 1** This afternoon the North Platte River at the Narrows is muddy. Cole Mountain Creek is the source. Grey Reef to Sechrist is still in very good shape(25 miles). Our snow storm didn't amount to much...it has been that way for the past several storms. Water is in good condition all the way through Casper, but it will likely dirty with the warming temps. The upper from Grey Reef to Lusby will be in good shape.
MIRACLE MILE: Has been nymphing pretty well and the streamer activity has been good. Heavy tips and heavy water has been the best. FREMONT CANYON: same report as the last year...clear water and productive fishing. Go light tippet and little bugs. Baetis and midges are out in force...watch for risers.
4/5/10 Happy Easter to all! We had 3 boats out yesterday to enjoy a really nice Easter morning, but the afternoon proved to be a little breezy. Nowhere near the winds we experienced a few days ago. One boat was dedicated to throwing streamers and they did really well. The secret was a long (20') fast sink tip. They did well in the slow deep silty troughs with white being the most productive color. The upper nymphed well with brown or olive pine squirrel leeches and black midge patterns. We did see a few baetis yesterday afternoon.
4/3/10 WYOMING FLY FISHING GUIDE REPORT:
Wind has been the name of the game the past couple days. We received a few inches of snow and a couple more at higher elevations. Bear Mountain had a good white cover yesterday. Bear Mountain is responsible for supplying the water that dirties the North Platte River near Government Bridge. The river is blown out at Bolton Creek just above the bridge. This afternoon Grey Reef Reservoir was pretty stirred up by the huge wind gusts that have been deafening us all day...while we were fishing. I suspect the river will be a little green tomorrow...but that won't stop us.
3/31/2010 WYOMING FLY FISHING GUIDE REPORT: **Cable to cable is closed during the month of April** Big winds the past couple days! The Auman group is a hearty bunch, they endured some huge gusts. Cold front on the way and we are expecting to get some snow tomorrow. Weather is looking good for the weekend.
3/27 WYOMING FLY FISHING GUIDE REPORT: The final day of the spring flushing flow was yesterday. We had several boats on the water yesterday and all did well with nymphing techniques. Tan scuds, red Lazy, leeches and the Crawdizzle did the trick. Grey Reef is looking really good. There are lots of fish on the redds, so stay out of shallow graveled areas. If you find a shallow area directly above a run there is a 99% chance you are in the redds.
3/25 WYOMING FLY FISHING GUIDE REPORT: The flush continues and the North Platte River is looking REALLY good. It is nice when the gravel gets a good scouring. The new-fangled rubber wading boots can stick to the rock, but struggle with slime. We have resumed guide trips today and are confident with the conditions. In fact, fishing has remained productive throughout the flush cycle so far. GREY REEF: Flush will continue until the surge passes Friday. On the upper Grey Reef low flows will occur around 10-11AM. Much later the further downstream you travel. Worms, leeches, crawdizzle, scuds and midge patterns are still doing the trick. Swinging streamers will also be fun. MIRACLE MILE: Nymphing was tough yesterday, but streamers were productive. There haven't been the wild fluctuations like the BuRec warned might happen.
3/23/10 WYOMING FLY FISHING GUIDE REPORT: SPRING FLUSH started yesterday and the water at Grey Reef stayed surprisingly clear. The Sanderson boys were having good success in their secret stash and came into the shop around 1 or so for a bug refill. Seth and I went out early...during the surge and coaxed a couple to whack a streamer. Seth continued fishing and started doing well stripping a Bergin bugger. At 7AM the surge had reached just below Government Bridge, but the Narrows was still low. By 10:30AM the surge had passed the Cable Hole and it was back to low flows. 2:30PM the North Platte River was cranking through the Narrows, but Casper hadn't received the initial surge and was clear and fishable. There was a lot of shelf ice, but I didn't witness any dangerous looking floating ice situations. The upper got a little murky as the afterbay began filling(around 1PM). The water rushing back into Grey Reef Reservoir (right in front of The Reef Fly Shop) was picking up some sediment. All in all I think the fishing conditions will be good even through the flush...they were good yesterday.
3/21/2010 WYOMING FLY FISHING GUIDE REPORT: Spring is here! The flushing flows will start at 1AM tonight with a max release of 4000cfs an hour later, the initial surge will be 2000cfs. You can expect Grey Reef to be back to 500cfs at 10AM and by 11AM or noon fishable...although the first day or two can be pretty dirty. It appears that Miracle Mile will also experience some wild fluctuations, so be careful if you venture to Miracle Mile. GREY REEF: Guides/guests have been doing well. Seth has prefered a short leader with tan scuds and other midge patterns...PALs, bling, Black Beauty etc.
3/18/2010 WYOMING FLY FISHING GUIDE REPORT: NOAA is still predicting 3-5" of snow for the Alcova, Wyoming area this eve. Today you might see some flurries. Check the weather reports and road conditions from the links on the home page of the NPL or TRFS website. Or give us a call for the play by play.
GREY REEF: fished well yesterday with nymphs. Seth was out with a longtime guest of ours. He is fortunate to be able to get here at a moments notice...yesterday proved to be a good choice.
3/17/2010 WYOMING FLY FISHING GUIDE REPORT: Last week the snow storm didn't pan out, we'll see how it goes this week? Today we are supposed to see mid 60s and breezy and tomorrow snow storms...spring in Wyoming is predictably unpredictable. Seth reported spotty fishing success yesterday on the upper Grey Reef stretch. Some areas he felt were slow and others where they had a flurry of activity.
3/16/2010 WYOMING FLY FISHING GUIDE REPOPRT: GREY REEF our boats out yesterday reported very good nymphing with leeches, eggs, and midge patterns. A slightly longer leader from 8' - 9.5' seemed the most productive. Streamer activity was poor. SECHRIST to BESSEMER had very good nymphing activity with our small beady leech, pine squirrel leeches and the crawdizzle being the most productive. Again streamer activity was poor. Water color was greenish with less vis than higher on the Grey Reef system. Be aware that warm days will get the snow pack up high loosening up and delivering some off color conditions on the lower North Platte River. The upper( Grey Reef to Lusby ) should remain in good condition.
3/15/10 WYOMING FLY FISHING GUIDE REPORT: one of the BuRec boys poked his head in the shop and said the flush is going next Monday the 22nd just as planned. They are planning on it, BUT remember mother nature does have something to say about it. Also, try not to feed into the spring flush hype. The spring flush is not a magical event that you need to be on the water for. The first couple days the water will look terrible. But, the fishing has been excellent so far and should continue after things settle down post flush.
3/13/2010 WYOMING FLY FISHING GUIDE REPORT: Good...all I can really say today is good.
3/12/10 WYOMING FLY FISHING GUIDE REPORT: GREY REEF continues to fish very well. Trent and Brad did well nymphing the other day when they floated, but reported less than stellar streamer activity. Although Rick said he did well stripping a Goldie Locks and jigging it through the runs. The bug of choice on the nymph rig was a pine squirrel leech. Big fish this year...we are really excited. Seth reported some really good activity in the Casper area as well. MIRACLE MILE: continued solid productivity, not nearly as good as Grey Reef but fun and different. Swinging the Bronze Bugger has been good in the quicker tailouts. Slow stripping throught the deeper slow stuff as well. Nymphing continues to be good with a variety of bugs including beady leeches, eggs, worms, baetis nymphs and midges.
3/10/10 WYOMING FLY FISHING GUIDE REPORT: GREY REEF is flowing at 500cfs and is not quite as clear as it was but still very fishable. North Platte
Lodge guide Rick Aune and his son were outto enjoy a calm warm Wyoming winter day (it is very springlike) Rick reported good streamer activity on GOLDIE LOCKS. He caught 8 or 9 healthy rainbows in a couple hours with several more thumps that didn't hookup. Trent and Brad floated the upper Grey Reef stretch yesterday but, I havent received their report yet.
3/9/2010 WYOMING FLY FISHING GUIDE REPORT: Our snow is mostly gone from the last system and we are expecting another snow event tomorrow and Thursday. Looks like we could get up to another 6" or so? The lower portions of the North Platte River will be a little off color in the afternoons due to a little runoff entering the river, but up near Grey Reef is clear and in good shape. We are now at the time of year that we expect highs in the 50s and are not surprised by snow storms... springtime in Wyoming! Fishing conditions remain good with nymphing being the most productive. FREMONT CANYON: nymphing with light tippet, shorter leaders and little bugs. Midges and baetis patterns will be the best. Be careful around the gravel and watch (rather than cast to ) spawners.MIRACLE MILE: swinging streamers is stilll a great option. Nymphing with beady leeches, worms, scuds and eggs. Midge and baetis patterns will also produce. GREY REEF: Nymphing worms, eggs, leeches and scuds with midges is the best bet. Brad landed a nice 24" brown the other day on a nymph rig on the upper. They are there, come get 'em!
3/6/2010 WYOMING FLY FISHING GUIDE REPORT: We ended up with somewhere in the neighborhood of 6"-8" of heavy wet glop in Casper and Alcova received 3" or so. Roads are fine...they are clear and wet right now.
3/5/10 WYOMING FLY FISHING GUIDE REPORT: **Winter Storm Warning** for Natrona County including Alcova and the Grey Reef area. The snow that was suppposed to start falling last night (although it was calm and 55F yesterday) is supposed to come with some punch today. Expected 5"-12" by tomorrow AM...depending on the report. High temps tomorrow are guessed to be near 50F. This could be the first blow out of the season. Go to the home page of this website as well as www.northplatteflyfishing.com to click links for current road/weather and fishing conditions. Be careful and have fun!
3/4/10 WYOMING FLY FISHING GUIDE REPORT: Seth and Brad floated Government Bridge to Sechrist yesterday and reported good nymphing in the morning and excellent in the afternoon. Eggs, Reef Worms, leeches and midges were their bugs. They did notice some prespawn activity so be careful and avoid walking on or fishing to the redds. Stu is out today so we will have an update of the upper Grey Reef section soon.
3/2/10 WYOMING FLY FISHING GUIDE REPORT: More of the same for Grey Reef, Miracle Mile and Fremont Canyon. All are fishing very well. Temps around 50F all week with a stiff wind.
2/28/10 WYOMING FLY FISHING GUIDES REPORT: GREY REEF-Very productive nymphing with leeches, scuds, PALs, Reef Worms, Sow bugs and eggs. STREAMER producing on the swing, Goldies and bronze buggers MIRACLE MILE-Nymphing producing well with beady leeches, san juan worms and wicked impalers, eggs, JuJu Baetis adn Bling Midges STREAMERS goldies and bronze buggers FREMONT CANYON-nymphing very well with light tippet and JuJu midges, Medallion Midges, Scuds, leeches and Bling Midges. Look for risers.
2/25/10 Snowing again this AM! It won't last and the temps will be balmy soon. Water conditions are fantastic and the fish are in excellent condition. This will be the year of the pig no doubt. The Natrona County Weed and Pest has issued a warning about the HIGH probability of an extreme hopper year. Sounds bad for farmers, but really fun for Grey Reef anglers. Last year we put some impressive fish in the net who couldn't resist a hopper. This year should be great for the big dry flies! Fishing productivity has been really good (non unusual for this time of year). Streamers and, of course, nymph rigs are producing. Leeches, scuds and midges will get the job done.
2/22/10 Brrr...cold out there. Casper enjoyed a little upslope snow activity over the weekend. That is when we typically get our bigger snows. River traffic was low due to the weather conditions. BUT, we will be in the mid 40s by next weekend...here piggy piggy.
2/18/10 Snow actually came. We have about 6" on the ground in Casper and about the same in Alcova. It is warm...almost 30f. To check road conditions click on the links at the bottom of the North Platte Lodge home page OR on the sidebar of The Reef Fly Shop home page. In these links you will find floaters maps, current river flows graphs, flight info, fishing reports and a link to the BLOG "The Wyoming Fly Fisher"...check it out!
2/17/10 Wyoming is an unpredictable place. Today will be in the low 40s and tomorrow chances of significant snow. Fly fishing the North Platte River is almost always good...now is no exception. Be prepared for cool conditions. And, if you bring your own boat have a 20' length of rope handy to drag your boat out of the water and over the ice shelf at Lusby. You can do it with your winch strap, but if it breaks you might be hanging around for a while.
2/15/10 Cold conditions set in yesterday and will continue throughout today. But, we should be back to 40 by tomorrow. Lazy Midges. orange beady leeches and PALs are getting the job done. Adam and Bobbi were excited and unphased by the cold conditions to start their trip yesterday AM. Bobbi was wearing a full snowmobile suit with a fur lined bomber hat...she looked warm. Adam was in a sweatshirt and gloveless (with plenty of gear in reserve)....quite the contrast.
2/14/10 This AM was chilly. The river was pretty slushy below Govn. Bridge, but the upper was open and fishable. Will report once Seth gets back after his trip today.
2/10/10 The North Platte Lodge still has a few excellent openings in the first couple weeks of April. Spring fly fishing on the Grey Reef section of the North Platte River is a thing of magic. Low clear conditions coupled with hungry rainbows...it will get your heart pumping. Call (307)237-1182 for dates and rates.
2/8/10 The past week has been Wyoming fishing weather. Warm and calm has been good for the anglers at Grey Reef and Miracle Mile. Seth and Jarrod have been doing well stripping streamers on the upper. Slow retrieve has been the key. Goldies have been the streamer of choice. The week will turn a little cooler and it is actually snowing right now...we need the moisture.
2/3/10 More high pressure, more sun and lots of fair-weather winter fishing. The rest of the week is supposed to deliver more temps in the low to mid 40s with no precip. It doesn't matter if you want to fish Grey Reef, Miracle Mile or the Canyon...all are good options. 2/1/2010 Wyoming weather is a strange thing. The past week has been warm and calm, so Grey Reef anglers have been out taking advantage of it.
1/25/10 The North Platte Lodge still has some very good openings during the spring season. Available spots are between the 20th of March and 10th of April. This is the time of year when the rainbows spawn and they are feeding heavily on midges and baetis. Hookups are frequent and most loose track of the landed fish. We are running a special on the March dates.
1/21/10 We enjoyed a couple days of springlike weather. Temps in the mid-upper 40s and calm winds. Nymphing continues to produce on Grey Reef. There are rising fish during the prolific winter midge hatches so be prepared...celebrate if you stick a couple. They are tough when rising to midges, but oh so fun! Fremont Canyon is clear and fishing well (read: drys). The Miracle Mile is also fishing well and the brown population will like a slowly swinging Goldie Locks or Bronze Bugger. Check the home page for current weather, road and river flow conditions.
1/17/10 Fishing has been very good on Wyoming's Grey Reef as well as the Miracle Mile sections of the North Platte River. Nymphing winter patterns like scuds, leeches and midges are producing the best results, but swinging streamers has made for good success at the Miracle Mile.
1/11/10 ***NOTICE***The public walk in area across from the Outhouse Hole has expired. Therefore, anglers will no longer be able to wade the back channel or river right at the Outhouse any longer.
1/8/10 We are enjoying seeing familiar faces and meeting new folks at the International Sportsman's Expo. We are right next to our friends at the Blue Quill Angler booth. Pat Dorsey just released an new book about fishing tailwaters and he felt our input was valuable enough to include in the book...thanks Pat!
1/6/10 Grey Reef is open and fishing well. The North Platte River near Government Bridge is flowing slush and a half mile below that is an ice jam with no open water. The reservoir is almost covered in ice but enough open water to attract the ducks and geese. Tomorrow is supposed to be 10 below zero to start...little chilly. By the weekend we are supposed to see mid to upper 30s. Use winter tactics...nymph slower water with scuds, midges, leeches etc.
1/1/2010 Happy New Year! What will your resolution be this year? I am going to try to finish my house projects once and for all. Many of you have been hearing about my renovations for the past..err...10 years. I have a suggestion for a good resolution...fish more. AND come see us on one of your trips. Enjoy the day and enjoy the last Holiday for some time. It is back to the grind next week.
12/25 Merry Christmas! We hope all are enjoying the holidays with friend and family.
12/23 Christmas is sneaking up on us. Do you have your shopping done yet? I typically don't participate in the overdone gift thing, but I did this year...and I don't regret it!
12/18 Wyoming fly fishing report for Grey Reef is good. The brave fishers are catching fish using nymph rigs and concentrating on slower, deep runs. This is a rule of thumb...but it doesn't mean fish won't be in the runs. Pick apart the slower portions of the faster water and you will catch fish. Scuds, leeches and midges are the name of the game.
12/13 Zero degrees this AM with wind chill of 20+ below zero. Haven't been able to do much fishing the past week and a half. Even Seth hasn't been out there...must be cold! The North Platte River is pretty well frozen starting below Lusby, with a few areas above that even. At Grey Reef the river is wide open and fishable. Use winter techniques. Fish soft edges, tailouts and slow troughs. Scuds and midges are tough to beat. Careful chipping ice out of your guides!
12/9 Official temps for Casper were -29f low and +1f as the high yesterday...chilly! But, waterfowl hunting has been productive.
12/4 We are experiencing our first sub zero snap of the season...needless to say the North Platte River is a little slushy. Be careful if you are on the water in these conditions. A swim too far from a vehicle could be tragic.
11/29 After some gusty days it seems we have a nice one on our hands. Several boats were on the upper yesterday, but I didn't get a Grey Reef fishing report. Anglers are still producing with streamers and nymphs. Winter conditions don't necessarily mean slower fishing. But, cooler temps will need a good presentation close to the fish to get a positive reaction. While there are still fish in the top of the runs, concentrating on the buckets and tailouts would likely be more productive.
11/27 Happy Thanksgiving to all! We have plenty to be thankful for. I was at the Miracle Mile yesterday with two of my brothers and they were whacking lots of fish. One was stripping a Goldie Locks and the other was nymphing a beady leech and worm. I was swinging a Goldie Locks on my two-hander, and had a number of whacks and landed several fish. We didn't get to fish very long but the weather was excellent and the fish were cooperating...fun stuff!
11/22 Grey Reef anglers! Sorry I haven't posted a report in a week, but I was out of the area pursuing steelhead. The winds look to be much calmer for today...we'll see? Weeds are continuing to clear out and nymphing remains very good as does streamer fishing. Baetis are still present around mid day and midges throughout, but a calm evening will have trout sipping midges on the surface.
11/13 Wyoming fly fishing in mid November...are we crazy? No! Weather has been very nice up until today's snow. The boys on the water the past couple of days have had really good success with streamers. Nymphing has been good, but streamers as good or better. Some guides are liking a fast retrieve some like it slow...seems to all be working.
11/10 Our boats out the past couple days had a mixed bag. On Sunday our anglers had great streamer success on the upper Grey Reef. Around 2pm it became spotty. Nymphing was good but not nearly as exciting as the retrieve. Mark, Leo, Ed and Dave worked hard and they were rewarded. They landed many fish over 20". Ed landed a 21" brown and a slabby 22" rainbow that was an easy 5lb trout. It was tough to find a fish under 19"...good stuff. Monday started out really well with several hookups right away and Dave landing another 21" brown...then the bite chilled. The boys fished hard through tons of excellent water with random bumps and hookups. We finally saw some midges mid day and corresponding streamer bite ensued. We didn't see many baetis until 3pm or so and that is when the streamer activity picked up significantly.
11/5 It is really nice in Alcova right now despite the forecast for strong winds. The water is still our typical greenish tint. The last storm couple with Grey Reef Reservoir being lowered sent our awesome water conditions to normal conditions. We have boats on the water today and will report their success ASAP. We have been receiving quite a few calls from anglers who intend to come this weekend, so we will let everyone know what to expect. Weather reports are offering big winds tomorrow...we'll see what happens?
11/2 We are in for a gorgeous week ahead! Anglers at Grey Reef should take advantage of this one. The forecast is starting in the mid 50s and by the middle of the week mid 60s. We have availability for some last minute trips. They are well worth it because the fishing has been very good. Baetis and midges in very good numbers. Nymphing has been the most productive, but streamers are also working well. In the slower water use your nymph rod then switch to streamers in the riffles and hard seams.
10/24 Our boats out the past several days have been having stellar streamer fishing. It has been rivaling the nymphing production. Goldie Locks, OBS, Sculpzilla, Thin Mint, double bunnies for the big boys etc. The Reef Fly Shop has a good assortment of tried and true streamer patterns.
10/20 Grey Reef is reporting great nymphing. Our anglers have been the most successful on light nymph rigs with scud/leeches leading and midge, baetis patterns trailing. The dry fly activity has slowed up high, but the baetis are hatching in droves downstream...yesterday we had a significant baetis hatch on the upper Grey Reef stretch. Tricos are still around and being taken off of the surface, but not at the same rate as last week. The North Platte River has cleared once again. The upper is very clear and the sections closer to town are slightly off but very fishable. Water temps yesterday afternoon on the upper we right at 55 degrees...still pretty warm and the rainbows are loving it!
10/16 Grey Reef fly fishing report is still very good, but lower on the North Platte River is still murky. In town it is fishable with maybe 16" of visibility. I don't see the point in fishing the murk when the upper is fishing excellent with big fish. Lots of risers on tricos, pseudos and baetis. Streamers are working well. Beldar Bugs in olive, Goldie Locks, Crawdaks, Bread and Butters, etc.
10/14 Warm weather coupled with several inches of snow have once again torched the North Platte River. Grey Reef is the place for anglers to be today. Below Bates Creek is going to be a mess for a couple days...hope it clears quickly! Each time the river has blow out it has recovered very soon.
10/13 Well the fall flush has been officially canceled. BIG SURPRISE! But, the fishing was awesome yesterday regardless. We started out fishing dry flies then light emerger nymph rigs then streamers back to drys stopped to wade a few spots with emergers rigs and streamers. Every discipline was productive, although I was the most excited about the streamer fishing. Trout were chasing and pounding the flies. Our anglers on Grey Reef this week were looking forward to the flush, but we shouldn't complain because these are likely the best fall conditions we've had in the past 5 years. This weekend is looking fantastic weatherwise and the fishing is already great so it should make for a great fall roadtrip!
10/11 Weird weather for early October! 5"-6" of additional snow fell at Grey Reef today. We had 4 boat loads of anglers today...tough conditions for fishers great conditions for fish. Fish were rising all day long. I even hooked a few fish swinging streamer while trying to figure out how to cast a spey rod.
10/10 Grey Reef is reporting chilly conditions. Our anglers are doing some hunting this AM and will be fishing this afternoon. We have canceled 10 trips this week alone...but the fishing is still very good. We had anglers at Miracle Mile yesterday, but I haven't yet heard the report. We'll keep you up to date.
10/8 Yesterday was proof of the weather forecasters can't be trusted in Wyoming. We had 6 boats out yesterday from Grey Reef to Sechrist and none felt a breath of wind until 4:15PM. In fact, yesterday afternoon was a shirt sleeve and sunscreen situation. Fishing was good on olive and tan scuds, couch-pa-sudos, all day mays etc. Tricos still arriving mid morning and continuing through early afternoon. The Pseudos are showing up early afternoon and continuing through evening. You will notice that may of the duns will be emerging out of almost unfishable weedy areas. There are plenty of risers here, but if you are nymphing concentrate on the channels and the point where the weeds growth terminates. The size of the fish is still mind boggling. We are not going a day without putting a 5lb fish in the net. A really heavy 22" rainbow can be 5lbs...there are plenty of them out there.
10/5 Grey Reef is blown out below Government Bridge. But, the North Platte River is in great shape on the upper 12 or so. Our anglers did well again today. Chilly temps and a skiff of snow caused a little apprehension.
10/4 Our anglers had a great day yesterday. Lots of big fish were caught, primarily on nymphs. We had bugs hatching all day and as a result fish rising all day. I had long time guests Lew Sandler and Ken Pool. We fished tan scuds and size 22 chart. JuJu midges. The JuJu midge works as lots of different bugs yesterday we used it as a midge/trico/psuedo. It just goes to show that a reasonable pattern put in the right spot does good things. Seth reminded me of our hot bug from last year...the "couch-pa-sudo" which we installed and hooked several fish on late yesterday PM.
9/30 We have had several cast and blast groups for the past week. Sage grouse hunting has been superb. The Frankums, Ruby and Druyea groups were cast and blast. Wing shooting in the AM and fly fishing in the PM. All have rescheduled for next year. We have had a number of wing shooting only groups in as well. I received a call from Trent yesterday around noon. They were heading up the mountain to look for Blue Grouse because they already took their Sage grouse, huns and chukar. There are some doves still around and some pheasants down on the river.
9/27 CONGRATS to Jim Becher and guide Seth Kapust on a 25" rainbow yesterday!
Wyoming fly fishing on the North Platte River is holding it's own. Good nymphing and still very good trico spinner falls in the AM.
9/25 Grey Reef is reporting good water conditions. Great compared to normal years. The upper is again very clear and running at a svelte 500cfs. The North Platte River is is great shape all the way through the Narrows and gets cloudy above Casper, Wyoming. Another day or two and the conditions should be excellent all the way to Glenrock, Wyoming.
9/23 Grey Reef Fishing report is steadily improving. The North Platte River is productive and fishable up near the dam. It will take a while before things clear up down low...so stay high. The BuRec dropped the Grey Reef flow to 600cfs early this AM. Things should stay there at least through September. They might drop to 500cfs (our normal winter flow) around the first of October.
9/22 Wyoming fly fishing report for Grey Reef is looking up. The North Platte River has cleared up quite a bit and the boys were hooking fish yesterday afternoon. The flows have dropped to 700cfs as of this AM. The river is fishable and will fully recover soon.
9/21 The North Platte River fly fishing report is not so favorable this AM. A large Wyoming thunder storm, equipped with high winds and hail, did Grey Reef in. It is muddy from Grey Reef Dam down. This year we have been very lucky and the river has recovered quickly...hope it happens one more time! We'll keep you posted.
9/20 Sage grouse hunting was excellent today. The dogs picked up a ton of birds. Only 3 were shot because we were looking for "bombers" or large mature males for mounting specimens. We wanted 2 and we harvensted them.
9/18 Sage grouse opens tomorrow and our first hunts are tomorrow. There are a lot of birds this year...should be fun.
9/12 Visit northplatteflyfishing.com for the most up to date and accurate Grey Reef and Miracle Mile on the North Platte River fishing report.
. 9/10 Wyoming fly fishing report for Grey Reef is good as usual....yawn. The North PLatte River is very clear(for us) from Grey Reef all the way to Glenrock. The further downstream you go the more floating weeds you will battle.
9/9 North Platte River at Grey Reef is now at 800cfs and the water looks great. The fishing report is very good. Dry fly the trico spinners in the AM... nymph sunken tricos, scuds, midges, leeches, psuedos and caddis in the middle of the day(0r chuck the big stuff like Bergin Buggers, near nuff sculpins, goldie locks etc) emerger rig the psuedos in the PM with dry fly potential with psuedos and caddis. Bring rods for all occasions!
9/6 North Platte River flows will be dropping to 900cfs on the 8th and 800cfs on the 9th. Fishing reaiins very productive. Tiny trico spinners are fun in the AM and psuedos in the PM. Caddis, some PMDs and yellow sallies are also available to the trout.
9/2 Opening of Dove season was yesterday..good stuff lots of birds! Sage Grouse season is almost here and we have a couple openings. Do a full lodge package or day hunts...whatever fits your budget.
8/29 Grey Reef Outfitters...yes that is us. Today the trico hatch was incredible. I was there in time to hook a half dozen rising fish before the fish lost interest in the spinners. We had 6 boats up high today...looking for risers. When I showed up there were 2 groups still hooking surface feeding rainbows. I'm sure the rest of the groups were having equal success further down the river. I opened my mouth at a couple inoppertune moments and was greeted with teethful of tricos...gack...
8/26 Water below Government Bridge is in good condition once again. Our little blow out didn't last long at all. The flows have dropped 100cfs again this AM. We are at 1100cfs.
Fishing remains excellent.
8/19 We sometimes forget how great it is to work on the North Platte River. Yesterday made us remember. We hooked lots of fish on leeches and small trico pattern in the AM and leeches and psudeo nymphs in the PM. Water temp 5 miles below Government Bridge was 56 degrees! Prime. We tired of nymphing and decide to chuck streamers...first cast fish on, the next 200 yards gave us a half a dozen more whacks. It was fun. One of the other groups focused on the hopper eaters, and landed 5 or 6 fish on big dry flies. Miracle Mile is down to 500cfs and fishing well.
8/16 Great fishing remains. Water is as cool as we've seen it this time of year. Tricos, psuedos and caddis are bouncing around. Dry fly has been predictable, but not yet absurd. You will be able to hook fish in the AM if you are ninjalike.
8/12 Yesterday, the boys on the lower stretches had banner days and the boats up high had to work for them. Tricos are still(and will continue to be) available for AM dry fly activity. Nymphing is productive with pine squirrel leeches, sunken tricos, soft hackled caddis patterns, and still some PMDs and yellow sallies. Afternoons have been dominated by caddis and pseudos. Do not discount the pseudo hatch it is a trout favorite.
8/7 Long time since last report sorry. We have been really busy...more than we expected. The river is fishing awesome. The Ruff boys were having such a good time first thing this AM they rebooked for tomorrow.
7/28 We got an impressive rain storm last night and...you guessed it...the river blew out. The water was running down every drainage. Eagle Creek barely popped so that isn't an issue. The dam has cleared a bunch during the day. There is a couple feet of visibility at Grey Reef Dam but next to nothing at Government Bridge. We should be back in the swing of things by tomorrow.
7/23 Fishing has been impressive the past few days. Today was no exception! Stu made a comment about having 10 doubles this afternoon and we experienced about the same. Lots of hookups and hard fighting fish. One of our doubles was a combined 41". PMDs, yellow sallies and caddis are still abundant. Tricos are coming on strong. Some of our guests were able to land several fish on dry flies the past couple days. The trico hatch will only get better in the coming weeks and even months. This is the forgotten season on the North Platte River and something well worth experiencing. Fish dry in the AM and nymph or streamerer fish the remainder of the day. Don't put away the dry fly rods after the spinner fall because there have been risers throughout the day.
7/14 PMDs, caddis and Yellow Sallies populations are being destroyed by kamikaze trout. Fishing is obviously still very good. Water temp was 54 below the bridge yesterday around 2PM...still very cool for us. The fish are hot and healthy. We were most productive in the AM below the bridge and below the dam the PMDs showed at about 10AM and that's when things really got cranking.
7/9 CONGRATS! to Greg Cook on a 24" rainbow the other day. The river is back in shape. Some of the guides/guests went low yesterday and their descriptions were words like "silly" or "stupid". They had excellent fishing. Yellow sallies, caddis and PMDs are the game. Shhhh, don't tell anybody but the Golden Stones are popping at the Mile. The mile is way to big(3300cfs) to be fishable....ha! Big water doesn't mean impossible or even tough fishing. Just ask us how we know!
7/6 We had a big river blow out a couple eves ago. We spent the 4th of July on water other than Grey Reef, but I put on at the dam yesterday afternoon and the water was fine. We caught fish and had several feet of vis. It always suprises me how quick the reservoir will flush out the mud.
7/2 CONGRATS! to Brian Sullivan on a 25" rainbow yesterday. He was guided by Seth Kapust.
7/1 Happy July! More 'o the same...fishing is great blah,blah,blah. Our guides are fishing all over, just for a change of scenery. Because the fishing has been awesome regardless of location. Grey Reef is still at 1300cfs and will likely not see a significant increase in flows this summer. Watch for the coming trico hatch!
6/29 Our guides have been having excellent days. Doug Colehour and his dad Corey were with JJ on Saturday. Doug received the nickname "Doug the Destroyer". Apparently it was quite a display.
6/26 Reefers are doing well at Grey Reef Dam with midge patterns. Floating Grey Reef to Lusby is PMD and midge territory and the lower stretches are seeing good Sallie and caddis hatches. Lots going on and the fishing is very good. water temps at the dam was 51 degrees this AM...still really chilly for this time of year. But, that is a GOOD thing.
6/24/09 CONGRATS Scott Lee on a 26" brown yesterday, guided by Rick Aune. belated CONGRATS! to Deane Shaver on a 27" rainbow a couple days ago, he was guided by Stu Birdsong.
6/20 Word on the street is that Grey Reef will be choked off to 800cfs on Monday AM. BRING dry fly and streamer gear!
Fishing was very good today. Our reports are from our guides on the water from Miracle Mile to Sechrist.
The yellow sallie hatch below the bridge was impressive from mid morning to mid afternoon. Still seeing some beatis and a few PMDs making their way out. Midges are all over the place and caddis adults are bouncing around. The water on the upper Grey Reef was a chilly 49 degrees...brrr. The fish are in amazing condition and they are fighting hard.
We were lucky to have a quick recovery from another deluge two evenings ago. The upper 14 was fine with exception of strange globs of algae floating down the river. Below Government Bridge was pretty well blown out. Bolton and Bear Creeks were still puking a fair amount of mud as late as yesterday afternoon. By this AM you wouldn't have known anything was wrong, as the river was in verry good shape below the bridge.
6/17 Grey Reef is still at 1300cfs, Miracle Mile is down to 1500cfs (look for golden stones any day now). Seminoe Reservoir is at 88% capacity and pathfinder is 47%...this is good news!
6/14 We cancelled our trips for the past couple of days, but Mark from Nebraska was confident and he and Seth went for it. It paid off! Fishing yesterday was good and excellent today. The river has made a hasty recovery. It still isn't as clear as it was before the storm, but it is in very fishable condition. The afterbay still has a day or two before it has completely purged it's dirt. They landed one brown today and hooked another...not huge fish, but any browns are notable. His best fly was a dead drifted Platte River Spider...
6/12/09 We had an impressive thunderstorm yesterday. Hard driving rain and even harder driving hail. Needless to say The North Platte River received a lot of runoff from drainages on the west side of the river. Eagle Creek, Flyshop Creek, the 2 ditches between the Grey Reef boat ramp and the lodge were ripping. Lone Tree Creek was really big among others. But, Ledge Creek was spared the deluge. We cancelled our trips for today. Although Seth fought the dirty water and managed to continue hooking fish yesterday afternoon. The fishing was, again, fantastic yesterday before we retreated. As is normal Grey Reef corrects itself in very short order. We expect to be back at it in the next day or two. Please call if you are planning on coming and want a current water report...it will change by the hour. The Reef Fly Shop number is (307)232-9128 and the North Platte Lodge is (307)237-1182
6/11/09 **update the flows are now at 1300cfs as of 2 or 3 this afternoon** Holy crap the fishing is good! The BuRec dropped the flows at Grey Reef to 1500cfs. It won't rebound until there is some irrigation demand. The water is clear low and in the low 50s. The wade fishing is great with fish stacked up below shelves and in the runs. Still seeing baetis...when will they quit? PMDs, lots o midges, caddis and sallies as well. Crane flies are buzzing around a bit and I would imagine a larva pattern would be productive.
6/2/09 Our little storm yesterday had turned half of the afterbay red, but as of this AM the North Platte River was in top form....thank god for 2400cfs. If it had been lower flows be might have been blown out for a couple days. Bolton and Bates are dirty from storms the past couple of days. The upper is fishing well...lots of BIG fish. The rainbows are really healthy and fat. They are also hot, making several hard runs before surrendering to the net. The fish are in much better shape than I have seen them in 7 or 8 years.
5/28/09 2400cfs as of midnight. This should be it. A couple days and the rest of the North Platte River below Grey Reef should be in great condition. It is murky below Government Bridge as Carp(Lone Tree) Creek, Bear and Bolton creeks were all running from our rains a few days ago. This place is green! We are already getting good grass growth and hope for more for the sake of our ranching neighbors.
5/25/09 1600cfs as of midnight. 200cfs increase/day until we hit 2400cfs.
5/23/09 CONGRATS! to Richard Schumann on a 26" BROWN today! AND Tom Flood on a 25" RAINBOW. We will try to get some pics up on the Blog in the next couple of days.
5/20/09 We will be entering a little more seasonable weather pattern. Mid 70s and calm instead of low 90s. Today is supposed to be windy, but calm through next Monday. Grey Reef is clear and fishing very well, actually the river is in good shape to Glenrock. Temps range from 44-48 degrees. Fish are still on Baetis, midges and some caddis( up high). PMDs have started...so make sure to have some PMD and Yellow Sallie patterns in your boxes.
5/18/09 Grey Reef is still fishing VERY well. I'm excited for slightly warmer temps and streamer fishing! Same bugs and techniques apply. Wade fishing is really fun right now. Temps are still in the mid 40s, but should jump a bit with our 85-90 degree forcasted temps.
5/12 Sorry for the thin river reports! I have been on the water a lot and been lax on my duties to inform.
5/6 Yesterday was a little tougher on The Reef, but we still managed to boat low to mid twenties. Yeah, yeah I know 20 plus fish is such a terrible day!! I was happy that we were able to fish 2 little bugs. A lazy midge was the top and a PAL or Pulsating Emerger was the dropper. We had to outrun...or tried to outrun...our first thunder bumper of the year. The baetis are rocking and the trout are keyed on them. The river is clear to Bates Creek. After Bates it is muddy on the right side for a short ways then mixes in to make our typical green color.
5/3 Everybody seems to be having great days, but I've heard several people say they couldn't get fish to eat in the thick part of the baetis hatch. The trout are eating like crazy during these times. This is a good time to go short and light and try a yarn indicator. Set on the slightest wiggle. Get rid of the worms and use Pulsating Emergers and Stalkups Baetis nymph or PALs and CDC Cased BWO Emergers...or whatever. Choose something that is a little more like what the fish are keying on.
5/1 Grey Reef is in very good condition. Ledge Creek, Fly Shop Creek, Lone Tree Creek have all finished running off. The river is clear to Government Bridge and fishable to Bates Creek. It has settled in at 1000cfs for May. Bates should be done in the next week or so...cross our fingers!
4/27 Grey Reef is dropping quickly. We are scheduled to be at 1000cfs by tomorrow AM. Our recent storms have added some color to the water. Fly Shop Creek has half of the afterbay muddy, but the North Platte River is in surprisingly good condition. Ledge Creek is also running and the river is dirty along the right bank until the bottom of the Ledge Creek islands. The right side of the river is fishable by the next run...The Arena. Lone Tree Creek is running pretty good and I suspect Bear and Bolton are rolling as well. Bates is running really high and dirty.
4/26 We had some moisture last night and Ledge Creek is running a little bit. There is some muddy water on the right bank below Ledge Creek. Everything else has come away unscathed. We are thankful for that. The North Platte River is at 1500CFS. At this rate I wouldn't doubt that we will see 800CFS or less during May? For those of you wondering why Alcova Dan shut down the other day. There were doing routine tests of the generators. The river channel coming out of Alcova was about 15 feet wide and there was little to no flow. Grey Reef Reservoir dropped 7 or 8 feet during that time. Most of the redds below Alcova Dam were left high and dry. Maybe we can ask the BuRec to test some other time when it wouldn't kill the year class of eggs?
CONGRATS to Dick De Petris on a monster 24.5" rainbow! To see the photo go to the BLOG.
4/19 Sorry I haven't posted for a couple days. I've been enjoying some time on the water. The fishing is AWESOME! Baetis and midges are hatching and the trout are eating with vigor. The Reef's PAL, Dorsey's Mercury Midge, PSLs and Reef worms are effective. As are Lazy Midges, brown UV midges and Pearl Jams.
4/15 The upper Grey Reef section is in incredible condtion. Clear and pumping along at a nice 1700cfs. Water temps this after at Grey Reef Dam were 41 degrees + or -. Bob Dye was sticking lots of fish as soon as he hit the water this afternoon. Dorsey's Medallion Midge, and The Reef's PAL were his ammo. 5x and 5' of leader were all that was needed. He put on a pretty good clinic standing on the boat ramp.
4/14 The river is looking great. The fish are eating well on Reef Worms, Impalers, Brown Crystal Midges, etc. look for the baetis hatches a little later in the day. The river is still down at 1700cfs in anticipation of run off issues. Last year the BuRec was a little unprepared for a BIG run off situation that threatened to do some flooding. SPRING fishing is much better this year than it was last year at this time.
4/11 The North Platte River's upper Grey Reef section is in very good condition considering the runoff we have had the past few evenings. Bear Creek is dry, Bolton Creek is trickling and Deputy Creek (directly below the bluffs at Lusby) was running pretty good late yesterday afternoon. The water at Government BRidge has improved dramatically.
4/7 Wyoming is emerging from a rash of winter storms...our snow pack is looking EXCELLENT! The warm Wyoming sun is baking the snow and causing some runoff conditions. The North Platte River(at Bolton Creek)below Government Bridge is muddy. Fly Shop Creek burped some sediment into Grey Reef Reservoir yesterday afternoon, but didn't destroy the water at Grey Reef. These warm days will wring the snow of all of its moisture...and quickly. Expect some runoff at Bolton and Bates Creek over the next couple of weeks. Garden Creek (runs right through Casper) was plump yesterday afternoon. It channels Casper Mountains runoff to the North Platte River. The good news is we will enjoy increasing water storage which is an nice insurance policy issued by Mother Nature. And Grey Reef is still very fishable...and fishing well.
4/4/09 We have again canceled all of our trips for the weekend. Mother nature has delivered yet another blow. Lots o' snow! We still have one of our groups waiting at the Colorado border, hoping to be able to get here for tomorrow. The weather is supposed to be pretty nice on Sunday...and will continue to warm up throughout the week. We are really happy with the moisture, but would also like to be able to spend a little more time on the water. Luckily I have been able to ski(powder days)6 mornings in the past 2 weeks....thanks Trent!
4/1/09 April Fools day! But, the following is NOT a joke. The North Platte River is **CLOSED TO FISHING** from the upper cable to the lower cable through the month of April.
3/31/2009 Book a spring Wyoming fly fishing trip at the North Platte Lidge or The Reef Fly Shop. The fishing has been very good so far and will only get better after the flush. Call (307)237-1182.
3/30/09 BuRec started the flush last night. We are also having a nice little snow squall at the moment. Check out the blog on the right hand side of the home page of WWW.NORTHPLATTEFLYFISHING.COM to see before and after photos. I shot pictures of the river yesterday AM before the flush and this AM during the flush.
3/29/09 Congrats! Jim Peterson on a 26" Rainbow this afternoon. He was being guided by Seth Kapust. It has already begun!
3/27/09 WYOMING weather delt us another blow. We had another snow storm yesterday that delivered in the neighborhood of 6". Grey Reef has all but been abandoned for the past couple of days. We ended up cancelling our boats for today as well. The early morning temps are below zero. It is supposed to climb into the mid 30s today...nice enough for fishing. 3/23/09 Good thing we cancelled all of our trips for the next few days. Old man winter woke up. It is a severe storm with strong winds and already 5 - 6" of snow. It will be cold for several days.
3/22/09 Fishing has been very good, although yesterday was a little tougher for many of the fishers on the upper Grey Reef. April is going to be a stellar month. The flushing flows will clean up the gravel the rainbows will resume their spawn. The North Platte Lodge has several very good openings in April. Enjoy 17 miles of private access and let us take care of all the guides, meals and transportation. April has unbelievable fishing. Beginners and seasoned fishers alike will expereince great success during the springtime.
3/19/2009 More beautiful weather. The guys out today had good fishing. Yesterday Seth had a really good day with his guests. They were throwing impalers and PSLs. The water is in really good shape. Many of you are aware that our water color is a little...err..less than gin clear typically. It is pretty impressive right now. Baetis showed up! Spring baetis on Grey Reef it doesn't get any better.
3/18/2009 Incredible day in Alcova, Wyoming. Our guests and guides enjoyed an amazing end of winter day. Temps in the mid 50s and no wind. The rest of this week is looking great. Sunday will welcome a cold front and Monday may be very snowy?
3/16/09 SPRING FLUSH MYTHS Don't put too much stock in the spring flush. The North Platte River is fishing great right now and will fish great after the flush. The flushing flows don't magically make the fish eat. The first couple days of the flush won't be that much fun to fish as the water will be dirty and cold. We love the flush for its long term effects, but the spring flush is not one we are pushing to book trips on the first couple days. The fall flush...when it happens is a different story.
3/8/2009 Daylight savings time, means more fishing time for us! Yesterday Stu, Rick and Jarod spent some time fly fishing Miracle Mile. Nymphing was the best and beady leeches produced most of the trout...both browns and rainbows. A stomach sample showed several rock cased caddis (in the cases)and a golden stone with a few small midges.
3/7/09 Grey Reef is fishing well. Stu was out with the Jeffers Bros. yesterday and they had a productive day. They caught fish on several patterns, but natural Pine Squirrel Leeches were the favorite. The weather in central Wyoming is incredible today...mid 40s and no wind in Alcova. Were are getting a lot of interest for trips in the later part of March...good choice as the rainbows are in really good shape and they will be seriously thinking about spawning if they haven't already started. Remember the North Platte River between the two cables will be closed to fishing April 1 - May 1. Please be aware of the redds(spawning beds)! Fishing to spawners is suspect, but stomping the redds is simply destructive. Have fun!
3/5/09 The weather is slated to return to more March-like conditions today. Central Wyoming fly fishing will be a little cooler. 50 degrees certainly isn't cold for us. I'm not disappointed, as we welcome every bit of precip this time of year. As we mentioned the flush will be pushed back a couple weeks. I wouldn't let the flush dictate your trip...but I might aviod showing up for the first couple of days of the flush? The fish don't really care if it is preflush or postflush...they just want to eat.
3/1/2009 Fly fishing Wyoming! Check out our BLOG "The Wyoming Fly Fisher" we have added lots of new stuff over the past weeks.
Wyoming fly fishing report for 2/26/09
-Just adding to the tall tales...We started guiding on the Grey Reef section of the North Platte River in 1965...a few short years after the construction of Grey Reef Dam. More than 20 years before anybody else. We pioneered the art of fly fishing from the tops of floating logs. We have the largest and oldest guides on the North Patte River...our guides are all at least 350lbs and not a one of them is under 80 years old:) We named Grey Reef and pretty much decided the channel that the river follows...with a little help from mother nature. Of couse, none of this is true but here is the truth.
2/22 The coming week is going to be really nice according to the weather forcast. The Grey Reef fishing report remains largely the same...not much will change until the baetis start moving in April.
2/19 Beautiful weather this weekend! Would be a great time to dust of your gear and step into the North Platte River. The nymphing has been excellent. Patterns of choice have been any of The Reef Fly Shop's new foam winged midge emergers. Scuds, The Reef's Wahini and pine squirrel leeches.
2/9 Grey Reef Fishing report: The weather and fish have been very cooperative this past week. Especially this weekend when the temps were in the 50s and no wind. There were some great midge hatches. Nymphers did well will PALs, JuJus and a variety of other midge patterns. Scud, Reef Worms and Pine Squirrel Leeches have also been very productive. Stop in to The Reef Fly Shop and check out our updated fly bins. We will be getting much more new and custom patterns in the coming weeks, but we already have an awesome selection of Grey Reef flies. Also check out our new Simms waders and boots and lots of new soft goods. NEW Scott rods will be showing up this week as well.
2/3 We are headed for another VERY nice week. Temps near 50. The way it has been going we should brace for a 20 below snap after this warm up. Hoping for some snow! The North Platte River will be in good shape...water wise. S. WY and N. Colorado are doing well on their snow totals.
2/1 The North Platte Lodge has a couple very good spring openings. Give a call for details
1/28 We are just getting over our 3rd installment of well below zero temps in the 08/09 winter. We had wind chills at 30 below zero. A foot of snow fell in the Casper/Alcova area. The guys had been on the river a bunch before the front arrived...Trent and Seth were out as it came in. Iced guides...on the rods not the fishing guides...were a constant problem and the cause of each of them to break their rods before calling it quits. The fishing remains good (at least before the storm). I was out with one of our guides Rick on the upper, Trent was throwing streamers a couple miles downstream and Seth was on Miracle Mile and Fremont Canyon. It was all productive, although Miacle Mile was slower than the rest.
1/23 Finally got some snow last night! We ared looking at a somewhat wet...er...snowy pattern for the next several days.
1/19/2009 Report: Fishing and the weather has been very good. Air temps in the 50s, water temps in the upper 30s. The water is cold but the trout are pretty hot. I was surpised at how hard they were fighting...running and jumping...given the chilly water temps. Yesterday we hooked fish on streamers (stripped SLOW) and nymphs. Rusty/orange scuds, all day mays, Reef worms, PALs etc.
It seemed most of the fish we hooked were in slow deep tailouts, but we did hook a number of fish in the seams along fast riffles. There is daily midge hatch and tons o' scuds
1/12/2009 Trent, Katherine and I just returned from The Fly Fishing Show in Denver, CO. It was a great experience. Thanks to all of our past and present guests who stopped by to chat! It was good to see you. Right now were are debating attending the International Sportsman's Expo in a couple weeks.
1/6/2009 Happy New Year! Come visit us at the Merchandise Mart in Denver, CO Jan 9-11. Trent, Katherine and I will have a booth to display our operation and the North Platte River. The event is the Fly Fishing Show and it is dedicated to...well...fly fishing. Hope to see you then!
12/27 We have been switching back and forth from windy to extreme cold...today wind chills at below zero again. There have been quite a few geese flying around and the upper part of the river is free of ice. Below Government Bridge is iced over in many spots. If you are going to float, stick to the upper...dragging a boat over thin ice isn't much fun.
12/23 We are emerging from another cold snap. Oddly enough the upper Grey Reef has very little ice on it. The weeds are finally gone. Haven't been on the water in a bit, and haven't spoken to anybody for a report. No doubt there are plenty of fish to catch on the typical winter patterns. Iced guided will be a problem.
12/3 Temps are finally dropping and the river is clearing even more. Persistant weed beds have yet to break up on the upper. These weeds are along the edges and not effecting the fishing. The flows remain at 550cfs. This is a full 50 cubic feet per second more than is typical. If you do the math you can figure out how much more water has been flowing down the river. Typically mid September starts the 500cfs flows. We were denied a flush this year, because of construction and dam work...which has long been completed. With the increased flow we could have easily had a short and delayed flush.
11/17 River is in prime condition and fishing well. The weather has been very nice save for a lttle breeze. Fish are still rising. We have had some Tricos (strange but true) and Baetis with a few psuedos thrown in. It has been a strange dry fly trip this year, but I'll take again next year! Nymphing is great with the poplular bugs at the shop being leeches and reef worms...try the mini Impaler. But, guides are fishing PALs, Lazies and beatis patterns. Nymph them light and shallow. Slow water is productive.
11/9 The North Platte River is still fishing very well. The weather has been great and we are seeing quite a few folks taking advantage of it.
11/01 You might disregard my previous post? I was talking about little (14" is little on the North Platte River) trout in Casper. Yesterday, my brother Rick, an NPL guide langed a 26" brown right in town. At an access that is just a few minutes from his home. The brute took a tan Near Nuff Sculpin fished with a floating line.
10/29 I just received a couple new rods. Both the NEW Scott A3, one is a 7'6" 3wt and the other an 8'6" 5wt. These are a big step up from the normal bare bones inexpensive rods. Very light and well appointed and they cast great.
10/27 The last week has been exciting. Mary Holt (You've seen her name here many times) landed a 24" Brown on a streamer on the upper river. Seth Kapust put a 31" brown in his hand...also on the upper. The "Mile" has been fishing well, both streamers and nymphs. There is also limited dry flying the AM trico spinner fall. We floated right through town yesterday and had a good morning and early afternoon, but they quit chasing our streamers after about 3PM. Fish were rising all afternoon on baetis.
10/20 Same report...sorry. Fishing is still very good. The water coming out of the dam is a little green and down low (Casper and lower) has floatng weeds to contend with. The Miracle Mile is fishing very well as is the Grey Reef section. The browns have been making themselves available and will be even more active as they make their way to spawn. Please don't target actively spawning fish!!
10/9 Fishing continues to be excellent, despite the reports in the newspaper. If you are questioning coming to Grey Reef to fish, give us a call at The Reef Fly Shop or the North Platte Lodge to get the latest and accurate river reports. The Reef's phone is (307)232-9128.
10/6 Psuedos are great this year! The nymphing has been amazing once the bugs start moving. It has been only excellent before the psuedos hatch. We are having big number days. There have been lots of rising fish. The fall can sometimes bring out the smaller fish. But, we haven't experienced this at all this year. River traffic is light and the fishing is really good...
10/2 Sage grouse season is over and was a great success. Big thanks to JJ Randolph and Scott Aune! Scott's pointers were great and JJ's labs are a kick! Imagine a well trianed flushing dog out on the sage brush plains. Sage grouse will get into the sage brush and hold tight...a good close ranging flushing dog gives sage grouse hunting the surprise and excitement of pheasant hunting. The pointers get out a cover lots of ground. All the dogs, hunters and guides did excellent.
9/28 Sage grouse season is in full swing. We have seen lots of birds! The Frankums group was able to get their limit of Sage grouse, then change locations for many shots at pheasant, chukar and doves...all before 1pm. If they had more time they would have finished the day on the river.
9/24 The weather and the fishing is still very good. We continue to have warm afternoon temps and very productive nymphing. The North Platte River is fishing very well from top to bottom... Grey Reef Dam to Glenrock, Miracle Mile included.
9/21 Now we can really call it fall. This might the best time on Grey Reef. Crisp mornings, warm afternoons and great hatches. The nymphing has been excellent and you can pick off fish on dries if you keep your eyes peeled. There are isolated pods and singles rising throughout the day. I am still in awe at the lack of weed growth this year. There are weeds, don't get me wrong, but the areas that typically harbor big mats are a quarter of the size. The result is, the places that are a shallow riffle in the spring is still a shallow riffle. Normally the areas that might be a foot deep in the spring can be 3 feet deep in the fall because of the damming effect of the vegetation. Light and short rigs have been extremely productive...as have little bugs. Baetis are small right now and the trout are taking little bugs. They will also eat scuds, worms, leeches. Our hot bug has been the PAL or foam wing RS2s and "not much".
9/17 The North Platte River is fishing well. The activity on the upper has been especially good in the AM. Baetis and leech patterns seem to be producing the best. The weeds are stable and floating algae is limited on the entire river. There are still tricos, baetis and psuedos for surface activity. Not a ton of dry fly right now, but still some good shots.
9/12 Sorry I have been lax on the fishing report. Trent and I were out of town for a couple of days picking up some new boats from Gary Bebe over at Mountain Driftboat in Victor Idaho.
9/8 The river surged to 1200cfs...from 800cfs. Strange, but good. The extra water makes fishing in the late season a little more interesting.
9/5 The North Platte Lodge has some great spots available in September and October. We have one room available between September 15th-22nd and 2 rooms for September 24th and 27th. The bonus is you get Grey Reef's most experienced guides and you are less than a mile from The Reef Fly Shop and a couple minute walk to excellent fishing on the upper Grey Reef section of the North Platte River. The North Platte Lodge provides airport transportation, guides, all meals, terminal tackle and very clean/comfortable rooms with private baths. Don't forget that you are priveledged to over 17 miles of exclusive private access from Grey Reef dam to well below Government Bridge.
The fishing on upper Grey Reef is fantastic! Lots of bugs (baetis) for good dry fly. The water is down to 800cfs and in good condition. We have been having very cool nights so the water temps are very good...mid 50s. Caddis, tricos, baetis(fall baetis hatch is a ball!) and the standard leeches, scuds, worms are all producing.
9/1 The North Platte River is now flowing at 800cfs. The water is in good condition and the fish have been eating well. We are still experiencing some dry fly activity in the AM on tricos and in the PM with caddis. Scuds, leeches, psuedos and some baetis are available. Nymphing with shorter leaders are producing good results...don't forget to swing on the end of your drift! Streamers arer quickly picking up steam and this cooler/cloudy weather should improve it.
8/26 1100cfs this AM
8/25 1200cfs today...how low will it go?
8/24 Down to 1300cfs...This will probably continue and the streamer fishing is going to be awesome!!
8/23 The North Platte River dropped to 1400cfs this morning. The fishing is still very good, but the guys experienced a lull in the early part of yesterday afternoon. These very cool nights in the low 50s has kept the river from heating up. Temps on the upper are still in the upper mid 50s to 60.
8/19 Grey Reef still has VERY few weed beds. And, the water is clear. It is uncharacteristic for this time of year. We have already seen baetis coming off and pseudos have been emerging all afternoon. Dry fly fishing is continuing to be productive and really fun. Streamers are also picking up steam. I love this time of year for streamer fishing...but non of our crew will go with me because they don't want to miss the trico hatch and fishing dry.
8/16 The North Platte River flows have been decreased to 1500cfs. I assume this is the start of the end of our higher water flows for the 2008 season. They might bump them again, but I would be surprised if they do.
8/14 Congrats Melissa Harris on her 28"+ brown trout! She landed it 2 days ago floating with her boyfriend and NPL guide Seth Kapust. Melissa is die hard fly fisher and we are proud to employ her at both the North Platte Lodge and The Reef Fly Shop.
8/13 Sorry for not posting in a while, no good excuse except I was taking a breather with the family. It was good to see some new scenery and spend quality time with my wife, son, nephews/niece, brother/sis-in-law, one of our guides and my little dog.
8/1 Water down to 1500cfs early this morning...fishing was awesome. Streamers, nymphs and drys all produced well. We suggest not slinging a bunch of leader and weight. It will be okay in a few areas but it will get you in trouble in all the rest. It gets pretty boring setting the hook on bottom. Some folks have been saying that the fishing is suffering late in the afternoon. In reality the fish are changing over to other bugs and the active feeders are locked into certain water types. The North Platte is fishing well from Grey Reef Dam to Casper.
7/31 The BuRec dropped the water to 1600cfs early this morning. This shouldn't do anything to the fishing, but we will report after all of the guides return this evening. The fishing has been great from start to finish...even in the afternoon. Our guides feel like the past couple weeks have been the best fishing of 2008. We base that judgement on several factors...including numbers of fish hooked.
7/27 Congrats to Ryan and Liz Anderson, owners of Wyoming Fly Fishing Guide Service. They were married yesterday in Casper. May the force be with them.
7/23 Ever wonder what it would be like to poke some Grey Reef trout on a dry fly? Better get here quick!! Trico fishing is impressive. They are starting on the duns and switching to spinners making for several hours of challenging and invigorating action. Then switch to a light nymph rig and get then off the shelves munching PMD and Yellow Sallie emergers. North Platte River conditions are awesome. I had a VERY hard time tearing myself away from the river this afternoon.
7/19 Grey Reef is fishing excellent! Lots of fish eating PMDs, caddis and tricos...but mostly PMDs. Seth left his thermometer in the river for several days before finding it...it read 57 degrees.
7/16 Grey Reef is fishing very well. The water temp today around 11AM was only 53 degrees. The water is in great shape..is is clear and free from floating debris. The weed beds that traditionally reach the surface in mid July are barely visible under the water and many are not visible. Trout are rising to tricos in the AM and eating PMDs on the surface throughout the remainder of the day. It is also possible to hook fish on streamers. The nymphing has been excellent. PMDs, caddis, yellow sallies, trico nymphs and sunken adults among others. Today we caaught fish all day long including drys and streamers.
7/9 The North Platte River is unbelievable. Lots of different options. The river below Government Bridge is in good condition and the Narrows is fishable. The floating debris is gone as the flows have stabilized...still 1700cfs and temps in the mid 50s. Yesterday, some of our guests landed very big trout on dry/dropper rigs. The nymphing was great. Scuds, sally nymphs, PMDs, leeches, PALs etc all produced. The fish are hot right now and they are having good long distance release success...good for them!
7/7 Still enjoying (but hoping for more) 1700cfs. Cool water temps still in the mid 50s. Midges, PMDs, Caddis and Yellow Sallies are on the prowl. The pine squirrel leech is preforming nicely. Keep your eyes open for tricos and pseudos. Golden Stones are hatching at the "Mile" and the trout are loving it!
7/3 Grey Reef is running at 1700cfs as of early this AM. While doing my early morning wander around my yard I found several trico shucks...dry fly activity on the North Platte River is the most predictable during the trico hatch. Bring 'em on!
7/1 The BuRec jacked up the flows sometime in the wee hours of the AM. We are now enjoying 1600cfs and hoping for a little more. Nymphing has been good with top honors going to the Pine Squirrel Leech. Trail a PAL, Zebra Midge or go with PMD patterns. No need to change from midge to PMD as the PMDs are moving early. But, watch the inside corners for groups of eager risers!
6/28 Flows are steady. The BuRec boys are still fluctuating the flows out of of Alcova Power Plant quite a bit. Yesterday morn, Grey Reef reservoir was low due to not generating much power overnight. When they started generating in the AM it muddied Grey Reef Reservoir. This hasn't happened in a couple weeks. The mud reached the North Platte River quickly and fouled the river. It was short lived and the river was back to normal in a couple hours.
6/26 The North Platte River has been bumped to 1400cfs. Yesterday the guides were complaining of floating debris (algae) that reduced effective dead drifts. The fish are still eating well. Some of the guides ran a shorter rig and stayed out of the main current (where a bulk of the debris collects) and did well. Other who ran long/heavy rigs and fished the main runs didn't do well. This should be a short lived issue, hopefully it will be done today?
We are supposed to be getting another 600cfs by the 1st of July. This increased flow will purge the river and afterbay of some early growth algae making summer conditions that much better. Get your big sticks out! Carp are on the prowl and the big browns/rainbows and starting to be more available.
6/24 The river is up to 1200cfs and the water temp on the upper read a chilly 48 degrees. That is a drop of 8 or so degrees overnight! The nymphing has been very productive...especially with Pine Squirrel Leeches and small midge patterns. Caddis, PMDs and Yellow Sallies are also out and about. The North Platte River is supposed to be flowing at 2000cfs by July 1st. We'll take all the water we can get!
6/21 The Grey Reef section of the North Platte River is up to 1000cfs. Water temps still at 54 degrees. We have been waiting for some more water and hopefully we will double that within the week. Fishing has been excellent in the AM and the afternoon has probably been good, but floating debris has been an issue for the past 2 days. This shouldn't be an issue for long.
6/11 The North Platte River at Grey Reef is...ho hum...fishing as good as ever. This report gets old, but it is the truth. Flows are still hanging right around 500cfs and are scheduled to stay there for most of June. Baetis are still around, PMDs are showing up, Yellow Sallies are active on the bottom, midges are always a force and don't ignore the caddis. Trout have been rising especially on the upper couple miles below Grey Reef Dam. Water temps are are 54+/- and the river below Government Bridge should be available soon.
6/1 The North Platte River is on!! Fishing is unbelievable. The flows have stabilized at 500cfs. Our guests have been enjoying excellent wade fishing both nymphing and dry fly fishing.
5/28 Fishing was incredible today! Tons of hookups and some very healthy trout. The North Platte River at Grey Reef has cleared quite a bit. The brown tinge has been replaced by green. The lower river (below Government Bridge) is still in rough condition. At 500cfs is seems the river is crawling, I hope we get some more water soon.
5/27 Grey Reef is clearing, but the fish don't really care. The trout are eating like crazy. The North Platte River is back to winter flows of 500cfs. Ledge Creek was still puking as of mid-day. Again, the fish were eating regardless of the water conditions. There was no rain today so the drainages like Ledge Creek, Lone Tree Creek, Eagle Creek, Bear Creek etc should stop flowing soon. Bates Creek is a torent and Bolton Creek will continue to spoil the right side of the river at Government Bridge.
5/25 Miracle Mile is in great condition above Sage Creek. The clarity is very good, although not quite what is was a couple of weeks ago. Sage Creek is ripping and the Miracle Mile downstream is dirty. It fished well today and we took fish on Pat's Rubber Legs and San Juan worms. A stripped Sculpzilla also got he attention of a few trout.
5/24 Sorry I didn't post a fishing report yesterday. My internet service was down due to bad weather. The North Platte River at Grey Reef was just about to recover last night when it started raining again. Trout were eating Reef Worms and pine squirrel leeches below Grey Reef dam yesterday afternoon. This morning Eagle Creek had made the reservoir red once again. The BuRec dropped the water level dramatically to compensate for possible flood conditions...600cfs. At this level it will take longer to clear the river, but they should bump the flows and the river wiil clear soon. Folks are catching fish at Grey Reef Dam right now. Nymphing with pine squirrels worked for Ben and Sara this AM.
5/22 8:30pm Eagle Creek started running this afternoon and Grey Reef Reservoir is red. The North Platte River is muddy at Grey Reef Dam. If the rain stops it will take a couple of days to clear. We have received a lot of moisture the past day or two and the ground was already moist. Much of this rain is running off. It should be short lived and the river will be back to normal. I asked my friends at the BuRec to flush Grey Reef Reservoir tomorrow after the rain stops and they said they will take care of it...I also have a bridge to sell to you...
5/17 Jason stuck a 28.5" brown this morning. Pics are coming! It's getting good!!
5/16 3...yes, three 25" plus browns landed today!! Dan Bailey took one, our guide Seth Kapust took one and a North Platte Lodge and The Reef Fly Shop guest with the Jones group took another. All on streamers. Fishing was great today and the weather couldn't have been better. This weekend we will see our first 80s of the year.
5/12 Just got off the phone with Trent. He is on the river and he and the Holts already put 2 browns and a cutthroat in the boat...along with a bunch of rainbows and cutbows. The river is very quiet today. We've got 5 boats out but it seems that there is only one other boat on the river. Traffic has been light this spring...a couple Saturdays have been busy. The weather has been cool and moist much of the time. Water temps are still very cool which bodes well for the remainder of the season. Saturday is supposed to be nice. We have guides available so give a call!
5/11 Happy Mother's Day! This weekend was quiet on The Reef. The little snow squall scared most folks off the river, but by noon the weather was beautiful and the fishing was great. Don't let a little spring snow storm keep you off the North Platte River. Most often the weather breaks and the fishing becomes incredible. It isn't much fun for a couple of hours, but the pain is worth the reward!
5/8 The fishing report for the Grey Reef section of the North Platte River is very good. The Baetis hatch continues to be strong. Water temps are around 46f. There are still plenty of fish on the redds so be aware of that. Water clarity is also very good on the upper. Below Government Bridge is still dirty and probably not worth fishing for the next few days. Pine squirrel leeches and San Juan worms are working very well. The Lazy Midge has been excellent in the AM and switching to a BTS nymph, pulsating emerger or PAL in the afternoon. These rigs have been working very well.
5/5 The North Platte River at Grey Reef is flowing in the neighborhood of 2300cfs. The water temp yesterday above Psycho Hole(Stick to Duck Blind was 46f 10 minute reading) Fishing is on fire. Leeches and Lazy midges were working grerat in the Am and leeches and Bob Dyes Beatis hammered them in the afternoon. It seems the beatis(blue winged olives) hatch is happening later than normal. Traditionally you would see bugs between 11:00 and 11:30am. This year they haven't been nearly as predictable...keeps us on our toes.
5/4 A quick note about the river conditions...they are changing EVERY day and throughout the day. One day the water is dirty below Government Bridge and the next it is not. Bates, Bolton, Bear, Lone Tree, Ledge and the fly shop Creeks are on and off like they are on a valve. The upper has been very fishable throughout our little wet period. Call for current conditions.
4/28 Beautiful Day! What a great day, plenty of fish, warm and only light breeze. The North Platte River all the way from Grey Reef to town is in excellent shape. The Baetis hatches are getting better every day...lots of bugs today. We will have a quick cold front pushing in in the next couple of days, so hopefully we will realize a little more moisture out of this one.
4/25 Yesterday the guides report the North Platte River fished very well. Bolton Creek is still running off causing some cloudy, offcolor conditions below Government Bridge. We received about and inch of snow last night and there is supposed to be another 1-2 inches tonight. The temps are supposed to be near 50 so the snow will melt quickly. Don't let that spook you, the baetis are moving well and the trout are responding. The fishing will continue to improve with the weather.
4/22 The North Platte River is now up to 1800cfs. This is good! Makes fishing baetis (blue winged olives) much more fun. Bolton Creek and Bates Creek are muddy so the North Platte River below Government Bridge won't be fishable for a week or so.
4/20 The North Platte River at Government Bridge is dirty once agian. The river is in great shape all the way to Lone Tree Creek. This dirty water shouldn't continue for too much longer. At least we still have 11 miles that are very clear and fishing well. The flows on the North Platte River have increased to 1660cfs. This will help the spawners a bit, while making baetis fishing excellent!
4/17 Grey Reef is clear and fishing well. Bear creek finished it's runoff and the water is looking much better at Government Bridge. This morning the water was clear on the left side and cloudy on the right. This would indicate the Bolton Creek has started running...I didn't go up to check it out. But, this eve when I was driving home the water was looking good...much better than this AM. The glare may have been blocking a clear view.
4/15 The North Platte River is blown out (muddy) at Government Bridge. Bear Creek is today's suspect. Ledge Creek is much better than it was yesterday. Bear Creek isn't a long term problem. Bolten Creek and Bates Creek are normally at fault for dirtying the water for sustained periods. Right now Bates Creek is running clear.
4/15 Trent and I jumped in the water at Grey Reef Dam, just to check things out. We have been hearing complaints about slow fishing and had to see for ourselves. Trent stepped up to the tailout of the dam outflow and immediatlely started hooking fish. I fished below him and didn't hook anything in the slow slot above the first big drop. But, then I dropped down to the the first run, went to very light weight (because it isn't a deep run) and hooked a 19" rainbow right away. A few casts later hooked another fish. I went back to check Trent's success and he was still hooking fish in the tailout. Lucky for me he stepped out to warm his feet...I snuck in and a couple casts later Trent helped me land a very nice rainbow...somewhere in the 25" range. We laughed because we seem to be there when big fish are caught, but they are never on the end of our line.
4/11 Grey Reef's fishing report is great. Nymphing with otter eggs in tangerine, black pulsating emergers, PALs, Reef Worms, brown crystal midges and pine squirrel leeches has been the most productive. The water is cold ...38f, so streamers have not been very productive lately. You will get takes and catch some fish, but not like if you were nymphing.
4/9 The North Platte River's Grey Reef section continues to fish very well. The trout are feeding eagerly, and fishers are having great days. This weekend the weather is supposed to be very nice. On Sunday we should experience temps in the mid 60's and 70 by Tuesday. We have some guides still available, so take advantage of the excellent fishing and nice weather!
4/7 Todays North Platte River fishing report is excellent. The past couple of the days the guys have been having banner days. They like to call it "stupid" fishing. One of the guests made a comment that it may have been the best day he ever had and he was off the water by noon.
4/2 I was out yesterday with my brother Rick. We wade fished for an hour or so. I was lucky enough to hook a number of fish on a tan scud and UV emerger on a nymph rig. The fish I landed were all around 20 inches. This doesn't always happen, but I was fun none the less.
3/31 JJ was the only boat on the water today. Craig and Bill were his victims. They had a very memorable day with JJ last year when a blizzard managed to push them back up river only to wade fish for the rest of the day. I was hoping that they would have better weather this year. Today was a nicer day, but they still had to brave some snow showers. They are good sports!
3/30 Today was WINDY! Tomorrow is going to be cooler, with chances of snow and light winds. Our guides are reporting good fishing on the Grey Reef section of the North Platte River. The water is in very good condition on the upper 10 miles. Lone Tree Creek is running a bit of mud into the river above Government Bridge. So, the water is cloudy below Government Bridge. But, if you are familiar with the North Platte River you know we often have excellent fishing in cloudy water. Some of our guides fished below Government Bridge today. Reef Worms, eggs, pine squirrel leeches, lazy midges, pulsating emergers and scuds are a producing. Streamers have been popular and the olive Bergin Bugger has been our top seller, along with Orange Blossom Specials, Wounded Sculpins and lead eye buggers.
3/25 The North Platte River fly fishing report is quite good. The fish are eating well. And now that moon is on its way out the morning fishing will improve. During the full moon, night fishers were doing very well around midnight. Nymphing is still the popular method, using Reef Worms, scuds, eggs, leeches and a variety of midge patterns. The PAL, Lazy and pulsating emergers are producing well. Streamer fishers will also have success on pine squirrel leeches, OBS, Olive Bergin buggers etc.
3/18 The North Platte Lodge and The Reef Fly Shop charges $400 per day for a guided fly fishing trip. You will find cheaper rates. Shop and compare. 3/17...The first day of the spring flush is officially over! Water clarity on the upper 9 improved drastically as the day progressed. This evening at the cable hole we were looking at around 12-16in of vis. We should continue to see an improvement in water conditions as the week goes on. Seth and Rick were out today and managed to have some good fishing. Morning was tough, afternoon was good. Rick managed to put a 23in brown in the net...not to bad! If you're looking for a day trip give us a call...private access and we'll keep you out of the crowds!
3/16 Went out this afternoon with Dean, Seth, and Stu. We made a quick run down below Sechrist and managed to do pretty well stripping streamers. Surprisingly some of the fish managed to be pretty aggressive on the take. For the first mile or so we saw a lot of fish rising to a substantial midge hatch. It was a great way to spend an afternoon...even landed a nice brown. The flushing flows should begin tonight and end Friday morning. Looks to be another banner year on the North Platte.
3/10 Actually yesterday was the nicest day! Rick, Garrett(Rick's son, my nephew)Trent and I floated for a bit yesterday. Trent was on trash duty, cleaning up about 30 lbs of trash already deposited down at the Cable and Junkyard Holes. The weather was fantastic and the North Platte River is in excellent condition. Yesterday it seemed the fish were pushed a little further up into the runs. There were some aggressive takes on the Pulsating Emerger. This fly is going to be a hit...especially for the baetis hatches. We also had fish eat eggs, tan scuds, the new Sidewinder Midge and Reef Worms.
3/8 Today is going to be one of the nicest days that we have had so far. Temps around 50 and calm winds...this is what March is supposed to be like.
3/7 Check out the "The Wyoming Fly Fisher" at: http://thereefflyshop.blogspot.com/
3/2 The air temperature dropped in time to spare Grey Reef Reservoir a bunch of mud. The temps are supposed to be cooler for the next several days. This will continue our gradual snow melt and should keep the North Platte River in pristine condition. Check out the youtube clip!
3/1 Check out a new video clip of the NPL and The Reef Fly Shop guides fishing last month: link didn't work, but you can search youtube for North Platte Lodge.
3/1 The fishing report was good today, but strong winds were present. Pine squirrel leeches, Reef Worms, and olive scuds worked well.
2/29 Yesterday, Trent and I floated with our friends from Blue Quill Angler. It was a pretty nice day with the exception of mild winds. The fishing wasn't as automatic as it was a few days prior. In some places it was very good, while you had to work for them in other spots. We hooked several 15-16 inch rainbows, but it seemed the larger trout were available yesterday. Several 20"plus rainbows posed for photos. Wade fishing was good, and there were only a couple other folks on the whole Grey Reef Strech.
2/26 The weather report for Grey Reef this coming weekend looks promising. Temps near 50 and low winds! The North Platte River has open sections all around Casper now...the ice is retreating quickly. Although we like the nice weather for fishing we could really afford to be hit by some more snow storms this spring. Northern Colorado and southern Wyoming are doing well in the snowpack department, but we will take all we can get. 2/22 The river continues to open up from Gov. Bridge downstream. With this warmer weather pattern sticking around it appears that the fishing should only continue to get better. The most success seems to be had on a pretty general nymph rig(scuds, reef worms, etc). Streamer fishing has put some big fish in the net for the last week or so...but not nearly as productive as the nymphing. My feeling is the weekend, w/ the overcast conditions, should provide us with some great streamer fishing! If you decide to make it out this weekend stop in The Reef Fly Shop and say hello.
2/18 Just a little news for everyone out there with a little bit of cabin fever. We have open water all the way on the upper nine miles (grey reef to lusby). It also appears that we are finally about to experience a little bit of a warmer weather pattern for the next few days. I think it's safe to say, it's about time! With what we've seen on the reef this winter it looks like it's going to be banner year...I think Stu's 26in rainbow on Sunday proves it!!!
2/13 The river is slowly starting to open up...the ice has been relentless this year. The fishing has been pretty good on both the Grey Reef and Miracle Mile sections of the North Platte River. Seth has been out fishing nearly everyday. The guys are starting to get the itch and are ready to be on the water. Weather depending, the fishing should only continue to get better from this point on. 2/2 Our guides have been fishing the North Platte River with regularity. Seth and Stu report that yesterday nymphing was as good as streamer fishing. Stu was catching fish nymphing the beady lead and a scud. Seth was swinginging and slowly stripping a Goldie Locks and doing well...with some aggressive strikes! The water is in fantastic condition on the upper reaches of Grey Reef. Many of us will be out frothing the water today. Looking for some good footage and hopefully a break from the wind...looks good so far.
1/29 The Wyoming weather has agian taken a turn for the worse. It is chilly and breezy while remaining dry. The North Platte River is still frozen from Government Bridge down. From Grey Reef to Government it is frozen in the slow stretches. Of course the fish are eating, but a boat attack wouldn't be prudent. You might spend the afternoon dragging your boat across the ice.
1/25 A few days of decent weather (calmer and slightly warmer) have drawn a few of the guys out. Jason, Seth, and Stu have been hitting the water with some great results. Nymphing seems to be the ticket, with water temps hovering around the mid-30s. We will continue to keep you posted with fishing and weather reports. Also, keep your eyes peeled for The Reef Fly Shop website,
www.northplatteflyfishing.com.
It should be up in the next month. 1/12 Seth was out frothing the North Platte River yesterday, while I was replacing shingles (big winds last week). He said the fishing was good. He was concentrating on slow deep runs. His bugs of choice were San Juan Worms and his pine squirrel leeches. Make sure to have midge patterns in olive, gray, black and red. And, olive and rusty (orange, amber ect) scuds. If you opt to strip streamers, an Orange Blosson Special presented slow and deep will get some attention.
1/10 The waterfowl season is winding down in central Wyoming. Snow geese will be available, but around here seeing a snow goose is like seeing Yeti. The North Platte River has been in a perpetual state of slush and ice for quite some time. The upper Grey Reef section is very fishable, but below Government Bridge is pretty icey. People are starting to show up for their early season assault on "The Reef".
12/30 2008 is fast approaching! Happy New Year! 12/24 Merry Xmas! Hope everyone is comfortable and enjoying family. The lower sections of the North Platte River are still locked up in ice. The upper Grey Reef section is very fishable with plenty of ice on the edges. Plan on chipping ice out of your guides as we haven't seen temps much over 30'f. Nymph with scuds, leeches and midge emergers. Have fun and stay warm! The Reef Fly Shop is not open regular hours right now, but if you need any thing just call the shop or lodge and we will take care of you.
12/12 Cold weather has the lower Grey Reef section of the North Platte River locked up in ice. The upper reaches are still open and very fishable. Fish are still eager to eat. With cooler water temps the takes may not register very well. Set on the slightest movement of the indicator. The fish will eat midges, scuds, leeches and anything that looks reasonable. There are still some aggressive feeders chasing streamers. Let them sink and strip slowly. 12/7 The Goshen County 2-Shot is this coming weekend. This tournament draws waterfowl hunters from around the region. Trent was fortunate to secure a very good pit. Rumors are that he has the best location of the lot. Hopefully, the birds will fly his way and his hunters can hit their mark. Jason will also be guiding the tourney. Trent and Jason both placed in the top 3 last year! JJ, another of our guides, will be a hunter this year. He is a goose hunting fanatic and a very popular and fun goose guide. I'm sure it will be odd for him to be shooting rather than concentrating on getting the birds to the pit. Good luck guys!
11/30 With arctic air settled in up north it should get a few birds thinking about a trip south. We have our first major snow system pushing into central Wyoming this eve. The weekend waterfowlers should get a treat! Christmas goose anyone?
11/28 Very little traffic at Grey Reef and it is producing nicely. Incredible midge hatches have been the norm during the 'nice' part of the day. Use amber scuds, black and olive midge emerger patterns. They are still chasing streamers in the runs!
11/23 Happy Holidays from all of us at the North Platte Lodge and The Reef Fly Shop! Get your shopping done early so you can spend some time on the river. The fishing is very good. On Thanksgiving Day, Rick threw some streamers on the upper Grey Reef section. He hooked plenty of fish in the runs. They ate green Near 'Nuff Sculpins and Orange Blossom Specials. There was a very good midge hatch around 2pm...nymphing would have been productive. There were even a couple fish that poked their heads out after midges. The North Platte River rarely disappoints!
11/16 Returned from our short fishing trip yesterday. It was a blast! Very nice sized fish...similar to Grey Reef fish. Several 20"+ browns and rainbows. Not a lot of fish, but I would certainly go back! I can't post an educated report about the North Platte River because I have been away from it for four days. So, I will post a new updated report tomorrow.
11/12 The North Platte River maintains its "fishing good" status. Using scuds, midge emergers and tan Ray Charles...yes, you heard right...tan Ray Charles. Don't head out without your streamer rig! 11/9 The past couple of days have proven to be more of the same...yawn...great fishing! Seth was indicating streamers and his guys did really well on that set-up. Today Trent had his guys nymphing and again, they did really well. Today the hot pattern was a tan sow bug. Orange and amber scuds along with midge emergers produced. The wade fishing was very productive and kept the fishers out of the boat most of the day. Another broken heart this morning... a big brown ate a swinging Goldie Locks. They were unable to put him in the bag. The North Platte River at Grey Reef will fish well throughout the winter. 11/7 The North Platte River at Grey Reef continues to please. The weather is great, the fish are eating well and there are very few other fishers to contend with. What more could you ask for? The North Platte River should be on every fly fishers list of must do destinations. There are very few places that you can catch the size and quanity of fish that you can at Grey Reef...not to mention year 'round. Do yourself a favor and plan a trip to sunny Alcova, Wy for the fly fishing experience you won't forget.
11/5 Yesterday was another productive day of streamer fishing. It wasn't red hot, but good. The fish are still really liking the Ginger Bugger, Near 'Nuff Sculpin, Orange Blossom Specials and Bow River Buggers.
10/28 Fishing remains very good. Both nymphs and streamers are producing. The upper Grey Reef section of the North Platte River has cleared up nicely. Seth landed another huge brown last night. Mike McDonald of Wyoming was a guest in Seth's boat yesterday. He hooked a large rainbow that blew through Seth's net. They speculated that it was 23-24"s. Looks like Seth is in the market for a new net!
10/22 I'm not sure where to start, but the last couple of days were banner days. I'll start with the guests who have caught (or hooked) big fish. Today Marry Holt of Colorado landed a 25.5" rainbow on a nymph rig. Marry has landed several 25"+ trout fishing the North Platte River with the North Platte Lodge. Bob Holt is also a member of the North Platte Lodge 25" Club. Their hat rack must look a little suspicious! Damon Bungard from VT booked a trophy trip and I failed to get him into a 25" fish, but we went back to my secret stash after the day was over and he hooked a monster brown! We got a good look at it before it broke our hearts. 10/16 The first day of the fall flush was great! We spent some time elsewhere for the AM. Then came back to Grey Reef at about noon. Seth pulled us off the ramp and we immediately doubled stripping streamers. The next run we double twice! We hooked over 25 fish in a couple hours...stripping streamers. Crawdads were swimming everywhere. They were apparently displaced during the flush, and were looking for a new home. Don't be afraid of the flush! It was really fun yesterday!
10/14 Kudos to the Wyoming Game and Fish and BurRec for restoring the fall flushing flow. It will start tonight at midnight and is scheduled to continue for 4 days. The mass of weeds have caused problems at the water treatment plant and Dave Johnson Power Plant in the past. They will likely discontinue the flow if the weeds are a factor. The flows will start at 4000cfs and diminish
to 500cfs by noon. 10/6 Baetis are hatching around mid day on the upper Grey Reef Section of the North Platte River. Use WD40s, BTS nymphs or PALs. Point flies are Seth's Pine Sqirrel Leech, Scuds and "not rock worms".
9/30 Lynn Birdsong landed a 27" brown trout yesterday! Congrats Lynn! This fish was caught on the upper section of Grey Reef ( Gray Reef ). This hen ate a size 20 quill nymph. Well done Stu...it is about time you got your father into a "big" one. This is the time of year for landing the North Platte River trophy. We have day trip availability and will customize a trip based on the type of water you prefer and the method of fishing you prefer. Streamers, nymphs and yes, even some dries! 9/27 End of day update...fishing on the North Platte River below Grey Reef Dam was very good today. There was a good baetis hatch. The Parkers caught lots of fish. In fact, Andy Parker(we have two guests with this name... 9/27 The fishing remains very good. The afternoons have been especially good! Water temps at the "Mile" are 59 degrees. 56 dgreees at Grey Reef ( Gray Reef )and 53.5 degrees below Casper. The streamer fishing has been really fun. Use Seth's Pine Squirrel Leech, olive and tan near 'nuff sculpins size 8, Beldar bugs in olive and black. If you can bribe Trent into tying some Craw-Dacks...do it! 9/23 We offer day guided fishing trips. You don't have to stay at the lodge to fish with the most experienced guides on the river. Not only do you get a skilled professional guide, but you get many miles of private access. Call for availability (307)237-1182.
9/22 Opening day of Sage Grouse season and it was a big success. Two limits were shot within 45 minutes. It was over quickly, but left that much more time for fishing! The season is short, only ten days, so come and experience a great cast and blast package! There are a few openings still available. 9/16 David Rogers of El Paso landed a 29" brown! Congrats! This fish was caught between Gray Reef Dam and Lusby on the North Platte River. Last fall season the upper 12 miles gave up a lot of very large fish.
9/10 Trent and I spent a little time on the lower river this afternoon. Water temps at noon were 56.4 degrees and when we finished at 4:00pm they were 59 degrees. The fish were very willing to eat a streamer! The water was clear...almost no weeds. The sun was shining but the air was cool. Just an early taste of fall weather...can't wait.
9/10 Water temps are dropping like a rock. There are more and more baetis popping out every day. The fishing has been very good and will only get better.
9/9 Sorry we haven't posted in a while...this page was misfiring. Although, I was posting to the home page. The river is now down to winter flows around 500cfs. The water is still in great condition. If you spend any time on the river in the fall you will quickly realize that the weed situation this year is great. We are really excited about the prospects. 9/1 The water is in great shape!! There are fewer weeds than I have ever seen at Grey Reef for this time of year. We are predicting excellent fishing this fall! Oh, and the fish are eating well right now. Leaches, scuds and caddis emergers are producing.
8/31 The water at Grey Reef is back to normal for this time of year. We were getting worried that it would never recover. The North Platte River fished well today! September is a great time to be here! October may be even better?! 8/28 The water temp at the boat ramp at Grey Reef was 63 degrees today at 4:00pm. It was taken on the surface near the edge of the current. The Miracle Mile dropped significantly in the last day. The water temp at the "Mile" was 65 degrees at around 2:00pm.
8/27 The water below Grey reef is still off color and through the Narrows the water is muddy. The river is flowing around 2300cfs. Water temps are still relatively cool. Fishing was very good before the North Platte River was blown out. We were hooking up 40 - 50 times/day. We typically don't like to count or publish these numbers, but I think folks need to realize what a fantastic fishery this is even during the "slow" times. The North Platte River during the "dog days" will put to shame most rivers in their prime. 8/23 Gully washer consumed Grey Reef reservoir last night. It is solid red. We need the rain so we won't complain too loud. The river will likely be unfishable for a couple of days. Fortunately, we still have 2500cfs flowing so the river will clean itself up sooner than it would at lower flows.
8/11
So it has happened again! Another large specimen of the brown trout variety. Chuck Robison, of Ohio, struck big yesterday morning!! His first fish of the day...thats right I said the FIRST...was a male measuring 25in. That is truly a great way to start you're day!! It seems to me that we are on a little bit of a trend the last month or so. Chucks brown is the tenth fish over 25in since the beginning of July...now thats impressive! We can't wait to see what the fall produces!!!!
8/1 Congrats Art Van Rensselaer! Last night he landed an 8 pound brown! The fish are still actively feeding. Caddis, pseudos, scuds, midges and some PMDs are bugs of choice. Streamers are working well as is dead drifting leech patterns. Last weeks cool down helped keep rising water temps at bay. We are in the midst of another little cool spell. Our water conditions are good while many rivers are in trouble this season. The North Platte River is a fantastic fishery year 'round...even summer. Plan on bringing your streamer rods and nymph rods!
7/27 Finally some relief! The last few days have been considerably cooler and wet. Fortunately, the water color on the upper stretch has remained good and the guys going out have done well! Just a reminder...last August made for some world class streamer fishing...so for those folks interested dust off your big sticks and give us a call!
7/24 Today fishing was very good. We landed a 20" rainbow on our first drift and doubled to end the day. Scuds, leeches, PMDs and caddis rule the depths. Tricos are still hatching in good numbers and you can catch surface feeding trout on spinner patterns in the morning. Pseudos are starting to emerge...little fish really like to eat pseudo dries in the afternoon. But, look close because big trout will get in there too. Streamers are working well! This is the time of year to get it all on the North Platte River. We still have day trip availability in August.
7/20 River is slowly dropping...2275cfs. The water is clear and cool. Fish are eager to eat leeches, caddis, sallies, scuds, red lazies and PMD nymph rigs all day long. Stripping streamers is also working well. Try olive Beldar Bugs, OBS and tan lead eye buggers.
7/17 Two more big browns today!! Mike Owens landed a 25.25" male on a streamer and his better half...much better half, Rosie, landed a 24" hen on her nymph rig. Congrats!! The Owens' and Chanas have been good friends and supporters of the North Platte Lodge for a long time. They deserve even bigger fish!
7/10 Another big Brown!! Ron Maitlin landed a 25.5" brown on Sunday. Congrats Ron!
7/7 uh oh! Crank the bar up another notch. There have been 5 browns(that I am aware of)caught within the last three days that have broken the 26" mark. Four of them are better than 28"! All caught on streamers. 6/28 The fishing is great!! It's time to give this last weeks group of fisherman some much needed respect and attention. Charlie Ware of San Antonio, TX- 22in brown...Jude Totorice of College Station, TX- 24in rainbow, Jim Peterson of Casper, WY- 25in cutbow...congrats gentlemen. As you can tell there are some big fish being caught right now! Waters clear, lots of bugs, and the fish are hungry...now is the time to be out!
6/24 The North Platte River is still fishing well. The river is in much better condition below the narrows. The Miracle Mile has also been fishing well. 6/20 The flows are at 2300cfs and the fish are very willing to eat. We predict an excellent summer of fishing. Hopefully the mini-flush event of last week will delay our algae growth a bit. The water is very cool, barely over 50 degrees. That is good news! The river below Government Bridge is clearing and should be in prime condition soon. Bridge to Sechrist should be fishing well right now. 6/18 Gene Weisberg of Colorado landed a 27 1/2" rainbow two days ago. The girth was over 16"! The same day they landed a 24" rainbow.
6/17 Happy Father's Day! Dads, take your kids fishing today! Or,if they are big enough make them take YOU fishing.
6/12 The water is still on the rise...it should be flowing around 1000cfs. The clarity is good from Grey Reef Dam to the Narrows. Then it becomes off color. The fishing is still great. This morning Greg and Max only had a few hours to fish before they had to catch their plane. With Stu (their guide), they landed 15 fish and hooked 32. Not bad for a morning with increasing water and an east wind.
6/9 The river is very quiet, but the fishing is still awesome. This is the time of year that you can catch as many fish as in the early spring, not have to avoid the spawning beds (except a few cutthroat redds), enjoy nice weather and not have to battle for a spot to fish.
6/3 The Grey Reef section of the North Platte River continues to flow at 500cfs. All of our guides are eagerly awaiting the day when the BuRec finally increases the flows. Wyoming and the states to our east have been getting good rainfall this spring. So there hasn't been a big need to push more water down the river for irrigation.
5/29 The North Platte River continues to produce. Today the nymphing was very good. Lots of fish eating leaches, baetis, PMDs and sallies.
5/27 The North Platte Lodge and Reef Fly Shop would like to thank all of the men and women who have served in the armed forces.
5/21 Trent, Adrian and I went fishing yesterday. It was a research trip to gauge the "trout eating streamer" fishing. It was good! I managed to break off a large brown...oh well. The water in the North Platte River is warming up and the fish are hot. Yellow Sallies and PMDs are about...Tricos should be soon. Bring your streamer and dry fly gear when you come to Grey Reef. 5/20 At the risk of sounding like a broken record...fishing the Grey Reef section of the North Platte River remains excellent. The cold front that we are scheduled to get tomorrow should bring plenty of fish to the surface. It may be the best dry fly fishing we have seen in several years. The yellow sallies and PMDs are making their appearance...and the fish are responding. Don't yet give up on the baetis...I predict they will be the stars of the show for the next several days. 5/15 The fishing remains unbelievable. The North Platte River is as good, right now, as it has ever been. The fish are feeding at a break neck pace. They are hitting the flies so hard that sometimes the indicator travels five feet before you have a chance to react. Our guide JJ, was fortunate to have one of his guests hook a monster brown today...it was crafty and broke off after a brief battle. One of our other guides, Ryan, called to inform us that he would be in late because of a prolonged ongoing fight with something huge...maybe a beaver? We'll keep you posted.
5/11 Today was great! Fish were very willing to eat our flies. They even ate hoppers! Yes, you read that right...hoppers. We spent some time fishing dry/dropper rigs and it was a blast.
5/10 The river is still fishing very well. The water has been off color above Lusby and muddy below Government Bridge. It is certainly a good time to be on the North Platte River. The flows are now down to 500cfs and wade fishing is great! There have been several more BIG fish hooked recently...most have broken the hearts of the offending fisher. Leaches and baetis are the bugs of chioce, while midges, worms and even streamers are producing.
5/4 Another great day on the North Platte River. The fish are very active. The water at Grey Reef is low and clear. Today my guests landed a pile of fish. They caught all 4 species of trout and a few on dries! Good fun.
5/2 The flows at Grey Reef are around 1000cfs! A couple of the guides from the North Platte Lodge spent a bulk of their day wade fishing...it was unreal. All the river is accessible at 1000cfs. The baetis hatch is very strong right now and the fish are in the midst of their post-spawn feast. Don't get me wrong, there are still plenty of spawning fish so the redds should be avoided.
The North Platte Lodge has exclusive access to many miles of world class wade fishing. Don't get stuck in the boat, wading is how you test your skill as a fisher. It is also the BEST way to really learn how to fly fish. There is nothing like standing in a run and landing these big, healthy trout.
Tony and Linda Brooks had the pleasure of landing a 23" and a 24" rainbow on Monday. The same day that the Schuelers landed their big pair! Call (307)237-1182 for reservations. If I don't answer your call during the day I am likely on the river. I will return your call that evening or early the following day.
4/29 This weekend was filled with more great fishing. Big numbers and some really big fish. The river is down a bit and clear. Use light flourocarbon tippet and little bugs like the Lazy Midge and wd40s...or 14 feet of leader and a 3/0 split shot with 2x to worms and leaches. It is all producing right now. 4/25 Joe Barnard of St Paul, MN landed a 24" rainbow yesterday. Mary Holt of Carbondale, CO landed another big fish today...it was a 23.5" rainbow with a 15" girth. I asked her to land two 25"+ fish on two consecutive days...close enough! 4/23 The North Platte River below Grey Reef is now flowing at 2000cfs. It will increase to 2200cfs soon. These are the same flows we had last year. The higher water is good for the fishing and the fish!
The North Platte Lodge has some
openings in late May and early June. Call for dates.
4/19 Attn streamer enthusiasts! The guides at the North Platte Lodge have expressed interest in doing split floats during the prime streamer season. Your guide will get you out EARLY for streamer fishing at low light and cool temps. A mid-day siesta would be followed by some evening dry fly fishing while the caddis are hatching (returning)...or more streamer fishing. Call for details and best times. The North Platte River has many trophy browns and rainbows that are eager to eat a streamer...come catch the fish of your life!
4/18 We have a prime opening in June. 3 days/4 nights for all 4 rooms...June 7 - 10. We also have one room for 3 nights the 23rd-26th of May and one room for 3 nights the 10th-13th of June.
4/15 Another incredible day to be fishing the North Platte River. The fishing wasn't quite as productive as yesterday. Yesterday was one of those "you should have been here yesterday" days. We were in short sleeves and using plenty of sun screen. Fishing has been very good and will only improve as the fish really key on the baetis.
4/13 Beautiful day on the river! It doesn't get any better than it was today. The water is clear and flowing around 1700cfs. There has been a good baetis hatch that will continue for quite a while. The fish are still spawning...please leave the active spawners alone. I see it every day, fishers only targeting the shallow water above the riffles. I would assume there is a very low rate of survival in the public areas where the beds are trompled and the fish harrased. The spawning beds should be left alone until at least late May-early June.
The BLM has issued boat and trailer stickers to the permitted outfitters on this section of river. You will now be able to identify permitted outfitters at a glance.
The Reef Fly Shop just received a new shipment of Temple Fork Outfitters fly rods. Come check out the Jim Teeny series with full grips and fighting butts...all the way down to 4 weight. The TFO rods are top quality, they carry a full lifetime warranty and they are inexpensive with fantastic customer support.
The Reef is also running a "stock up for summer" special on dry flies. $12/dozen for a limited time!
3/18 Wow. The drift boats were hatching today. Not to mention the pontoons, plastic jon boats, etc. What can you expect on a mid-March day that was 72 degrees and calm? The fishing was very good today...primarily on midge patterns. The streamer fishing didn't seem to be as productive as it has been recently. The river is off color below Bates Creek although it is still fishable. Bates Creek has been very high and muddy the past few days. Use midges and small baetis nymphs under worms, scuds and leaches. The spawn will be in full swing soon. Enjoy watching the fish spawn, but demonstrat e a little self control by not fishing to active spawners. They are easy to spot...typically there are several trout in shallow areas with clear (sometimes refered to as blond) patches of gravel. The dead give away that you are on a spawning bed is when you stumble into a depression that is directly upstream of a pile of gravel. A spawning fish can and will be caught repeatedly because they are not responding to your flies as a food source. It is funny when you hear some body say "it looks just like the last one...I caught'im in the same exact spot". It doesn't require good fly selection, good casting skill, proper drift or talent whatsoever to take fish off of a redd. Seriously, there are lots of fish that are actually feeding...go pick on them. 3/3 The weather was supposed to be very temperate this weekend, but the forecasters didn't predict the midwestern storm would push a little moisture in through the back door. Casper received a couple inches of snow on Thursday and Alcova received 0". This morning Trent will officially open The Reef Fly Shop. We are still waiting for much of our inventory, but we have all of the essentials in stock. Stop in for shuttles, fishing license and gear. Grab a cup of hot coffee and relax for a moment before hitting the river. The fishing has been good on both nymph rigs and streamers. For nymphing, scuds (purple back, amber, pink and molting), leaches (both mohair and pine squirrel) and worms (wicked impalers and San Juans). Use midges as a dropper...Red, olive and black. For the streamer enthusiasts use Orange Blossom Specials, chinchilla/brown double bunnies, Beldar Bugs in olive or brown and natural zonkers. Keep the streamers deep and moving slow.
We have just made several rooms available, in the lodge, during April and May.
2 rooms for a 3 days/3 nights April 7-9
1 room for 3 days/4 nights April 13-17
1 room for 3 days/4 nights April 18-21
2 rooms for 3 days/3 nights May 20-22
1 room for 3 days/3 nights May 23-25
The 2007 sage grouse season runs from the 23rd of September through the 3rd of October. This is a highly successful hunt...sage grouse makes a fantastic subject for a cast and blast package. Hunt in the morning and finish the day catching trophy trout on the river.
1/23
We had some beautiful winter weather this last weekend allowing us to do a little fishing! Nick, Goro, and Butch from Denver had some fantastic fishing down in front of the lodge. Lots of fish and not one under 16 inches! The fish are looking great!! Art also made it out and managed to do well on streamers. If you see a break in the weather don't hestitate to call. As for the bird hunting, we finished the season (duck season) with three really great shoots! There are still two weeks remaining on goose season and plenty of birds around to keep you busy.
12/05
I returned from Torrington, WY yesterday. The goose hunting was fantastic...15 geese shot by 8:30 am!! I was also able to take a look at Bret's new facility, High Plains Wingshooters. A newly remodeled farm house in a beautiful location...with worldclass goose hunting! What else could you ask for?
As for the lodge...weather warmed up and we put a few boats out on the river. The fishing turned out to be really good. Nice fish were caught on both streamers and nymphs. If you see some warm weather on the forecast don't hesitate to give us a call!
11/29
THE MIGRATION IS ON! Recent cold weather has brought alot of new birds to the area. Two extremely successful evening hunts this week have yielded mostly limits of greenheads with a few widgeon and gadwalls mixed in. I will try and have some pictures out soon! This is the time of year for some truly fantastic waterfowl hunting in Central Wyoming!
11/21 Fishing is still very good, and there is nobody on the river. Conditions are ripe for more big fish. Due to popular demand, the North Platte Lodge will be opening in March of '07. March is a great month to fish the Platte. Clear water. No crowds. And, the fish are active before the spawn. We still have several dates open between the 1st and the 17th of March.
This is the second longest fish landed in NPL history!! This fish is an absolute monster...pictures will be out soon!! If you're as tough as these floridians....you can get here and take advantage of the best fall fishing for big fish I have ever seen!
***WINTER RATES***
Our winter day trip rates start 11/15/11 and end 3/15/11. $350 1 or 2 anglers.
You bring your own food but WE cover the shuttle. Our winter day trips last longer than some outfitters full priced day trips. You get access to our 17 miles of private wading/anchoring from Grey Reef Dam to below Government Bridge. We supply drinks and flies. You fish the the most expereinced guide crew in the region. Please compare!
**If the largest and most expereinced full time professional guide staff in the region is important to you, if exclusive private access is important, if you would like to fish ALL day on the full day trip you booked then we encourage you to compare us with any other guide service.**
This will be one of the last days of this report page format. We will soon go live with a new blog format that will allow pictures etc. Hope you like it! We are also researching installing a weather station at North Platte Lodge.
Happy New Year!! Gearing up for one of the best right now. Hope for the best 2012 for you and yours!
Sorry for the delay but I stepped away temporarily. Quality time with my family has refilled the tanks and we are ready to rip. The river is in excellent condition but expect some slightly off color conditions due to some melting snow. Alcova received none of the heavy, wet snow that bombed Casper yesterday. The upper is open and fishing well. The ramp at Government Bridge is very accessible as the ice has disappeared. The upper is floatable but wouldn't go beyond G. Bridge and probably not below Lusby just to be safe. Big ice chokes above Sechrist.
Early season trips are no different in price or features if you call to book. Pay a couple more bucks and get a longer day, Grey Reef's most experienced guides AND private access. Cheap doesn't equal value unless you are referring to NPL's early season trips.
A great holiday gift would be an early season discounted day trip. Others offer cheap trips but they can't match what we offer.
Everybody getting ready to go to the Denver shows to buy their cheap early season trips? Go have a look around, compare then give us a call. You will get many miles of private access, Grey Reef's most experienced and largest guide staff along with a longer fishing day. Like to wade? Like to be away from other boats/anglers? Like to fish the whole river and not merry-go-round one run for an hour? We do things differently.
Weather has been beautiful! Calm and chilly with the upper open and fishing well. Trapper's is also clear and ice becomes evident above Sechrist. Streamers have also continued to be strong which keeps it interesting.
We have already had quite a response to our winter rates with a number of folks tentatively booking for tolerable weather. Our winter trip will have you on the water longer than some outfitters standard full-priced trip. And you don't do the shuttles. PLUS you get all of our private access. No brainer.
Winter rates start November 15th. We offer reduced rate trips all winter that are NOT bare bones trips. We run the shuttles not you. Our winter trips will have you on the water as long or longer than many outfitters full priced high season trips. You still get access to all of our private ground. You don't have to book at a show and you get Grey Reef's most experienced guides. You bring your own lunch and we provide the tackle and drinks. Put pencil to paper and you will see our trips are the best value there is...any time of year.
Water is a touch off color below Government Bridge but is back in shape by the Narrows. Road to the Mile has been bad.
Streamer, drys and nymphs are all producing. Dries will attract many smaller fish BUT there are big uns in the mix. Streamers will get whacked with enthusiasm and the nymphing is pretty silly. Baetis with a few psuedos and tricos mix in and midges are the hatch. Scuds, leeches, crawdads and worms are also present. The Reef's Goldie Locks, Crawdak and Bronze Bugger are getting them on the strip. Also Big Horn Buggers, Bergin Buggers and a variety of zonkers.
Nymphing with WD40's, worms, PSL, PAL etc will have you in fish all day. Keep your rig pretty short and adjust for each location. 4' is plenty for most spots but have the ability to go to 6'. Easy on the weight. If you are dredging up weeds you are too heavy and below the suspended feeders.
FYI call if you need a shuttle on the lower stretches between Robertson Rd and Glenrock(Dave Johnson). I won't guarantee that we can do it but we have been doing many of them the past month. Hopefully we can fit it into our program.
The season is winding down but the fishing isn't. Do not hesitate to get here on short notice. The lodge will be hopefully undergoing a major face lift this winter so will be unavailable. But our guide staff will be ready to be on the water at short notice. We will be offering reduced rates for the cold season.
Pretty silly fishing today. One boat came to lunch with 38 to the net and hope they lost count after lunch because it didn't slow down. Psuedos, tricos and baetis kept them on the surface for much of the day. All 5 boats were into fish in the 21" mark with one landing the big brown. Scuds, leeches and emerger patterns were king.
The Sandler Group has been visiting the North Platte Lodge at least twice a year since 1999. They were good sports as we hauled them all over the countryside to experience an amazing 4 days of fishing. Fish were hooked on dries, streamers and of course nymphing today.
Fish with the North Platte Lodge and The Reef Fly Shop for a true full day trip where your only task is to fish. WE do the shuttles are we are out a full 9 hour day.
We have been fielding a lot of calls for 2012 bookings. Start early to find dates that might fit your calendar. April and October have good availability but May-September are filling fast. Both April and October are fabulous months on the river We would encourage October because of excellent fishing on nearly 100 miles and 3 tailwaters, few anglers on the water and typically great weather conditions. April will generally have a little less fishable water but amazing fishing with a few more folks around.
Get here now! The season is winding down and the fishing is excellent. Stu and Rick had tons of hookups and landed 10 fish (between 2 boats) at or over 22" yesterday. That is an amazing day of fishing.
Fishing was off the charts yesterday. Seth took the Huff's from EKW to Big Muddy and they pounded big fish from top to bottom. Trent and the Murphy's spent the day out of the boat and had excellent wade fishing. Even some good hopper/dropper activity. JJ and Stu were on the upper with the Steward bunch and hooked fish at will.
9/25/11 Lots of smiles after yesterday's fishing. It is on fire right now. The afterbay is looking pretty murky. Appears the lakes may have flipped. We have trips from Miracle Mile to Big Muddy near Glenrock today. Oh yeah, Grey Reef flows are 800cfs and Miracle Mile is 1000csf.
Sage Grouse hunting has been super productive and we will be on full cast and blast/hunting mode starting tomorrow, with no hunting availability through the rest of Sage Grouse season Sept 30th.
9/23/11 Fished very good today overall. Seth and I were on the upper and it was tough to force feed them streamers but the nymphing was good and some big fish landed. There was one really productive streamer run however. We also managed a couple eats on the surface this AM. Trent and the Murphys spent the day wade fishing and did well with a portly 24" rainbow. Rick was on the Bridge to Sechrist float and said the "fishing was as good as it has been all year". Only a few flingers and the rest nice big rainbows. JJ was at the Mile and I didn't get a report from him because he split right after work. Must have gone to get his face painted RED so he can look silly when the Cowboys trounce the Bug Eaters tomorrow? Just kidding. Trent/Katherine and JJ and his folks will be caravaning to the Cowboy vs Cornhuskers game tomorrow in Laramie. Stu has been in British Columbia swinging with steelhead but will be returning tomorrow in time to get back on the ditch.
We have some great openings for late September and October. Spectacular conditions right now and the fishing should only get better (if it can?) with the appearance of the fall baetis.
9/8/11 Flows are 3000cfs at Grey Reef. It was a vacant river yesterday. Fished well with light short nymph rigs. Psuedos are picking up steam and we have had an amazing chartreuse midge hatch for the past week or so. Most everybody is taking their guests off of the river by 3PM. This is when the psuedos and caddis really get going. The fishing is as good or better in the late afternoon/eve than it is the rest of the day.
9/7/11 Grey Reef at 500cfs this AM...what the heck is going on? Trent will be back to me with an eye witness report in a few minutes. It doesn't look like 500 calling the BuRec to see...
9/6/11 Not sure what just happened but the river dropped to 1800cfs over the past couple hours. We just lost over half of the flow we had this AM. This isn't normal operating procedure but it could make for some fun fishing!
Miracle Mile and Fremont are also fishing very well. Hope we can get Alcova to produce water from only the generators instead of the spillway soon. Need tyhe cool deep water coming in instead of the warm surface water. Cross our fingers. We have been experiencing cool or even cold evenings so that will help. Yesterday 7AM at the lodge the temp was 37* by 2PM it was in the low 80s. Big swings this time of year. Be prepared.
Reports of tough or slow fishing at Miracle Mile is absurd as it is borderline silly FYI.
The North Platte River is a mild river but should be respected at ALL water levels. Yesterday JJ witnessed a jon boat with folks (without life jackets) under equipped and likely over-drunk by the quantity of beer cans that came out of the boat when it flipped. They entered the Narrows and hit the big rock on river right. There is a big hydraulic that I don't want to be near in my driftboat. One of the floaters was trapped in the hard eddy and couldn't escape and was panicking. JJ said he was eventually rocketed up the eddy line and back to the rock where he was able to grab on. Be careful!
Our guides found a Hyde driftboat that has been missing for a couple months. Contact us for more info. We are still looking for a rental boat that was sunk a week ago. 16' Clackacraft LP white/gray. Also missing a Sawyer oar (green)with a new cataract magnum blade.
Trent and I spent the last couple days helping with an effort to locate a missing deputy sheriff in Converse County. We were contacted by our friends at the Natrona County Sheriff's Department to provide our jet boats. We drove our boats for the search dogs and their handlers. It was quite an effort on everybody's part and we are honored to have been asked and able to help. He was recovered today. Our thoughts are with the family of Brain Gross. Brian gave his life while participating in the rescue of a 14 year old girl who was in the river. She was rescued.
A big thank you to Katherine, Kari, Mike, Janet, Garth, Bill and the guide crew for keeping things running smoothly in our absence. You are the best!
*UPDATE*Grey Reef flows are on their way down again. Right now around 5600cfs and the Miracle Mile flows are down again to the 1500cfs range. Hope we can get the reservoirs to quit spilling so we can introduce nice cold water from the bottom of the lakes instead of the warm surface water. The river is clear. I just drove through the Narrows and it was in really good shape. Seth and I spent the day at Pathfinder casting to carp. They were happy to eat a rusty Ritz Fighting Crawfish. Some crushing takes...it was fun
7/27/2011 Grey Reef flows down to 6500cfs this AM. Miracle Mile just under 6000cfs right now. We are happy to see a change just because it is nice to see and do things differently. However, it is always a little bit of a let down when the river drops and slows. It is still huge water for Grey Reef and the fishing is still awesome. The upper is CLEAR and the visibility is still very good but reduced by the Gray Cliffs-crane and below.
7/24/2011 Today we are having our first day with fewer than 8 boats out in quite a while. Only 4 out today. The guides are needing a little R&R. Yesterday we had guides at Fremont, which fished well and the rest from Grey Reef Dam to Bessemer. We had a group that requested to be off the water by 2:30 so did a quick shot from Government Bridge to Sechrist. Fished well (per usual) with worms, soft hackle sallie and caddis patterns and I used PMDs. All were successful.
A full day guided trip with The Reef Fly Shop and the North Platte Lodge will have you on the water for 9 hours. We don't do the abbreviated "full day" trips. Especially since some of the best fishing is happening late afternoon and early evening. We are also happy to do some late trips which will allow for some caddis activity. This is the time of year where it is evident that we have the largest full time pro guide staff. We can put 9 boats on the river on any given day without pulling guides from other services, towns or their real jobs. In just our top 7 guides we have 66 years of full time Grey Reef guide experience with the NPL/TRFS total guide experience in those same 7 guides is 97 years. Does this make a difference in your day? Of course it does and in a positive way. Experience and work ethic are key. Other things that will improve your day are our huge amount of exclusive private access, great boat lunches, shortest drive times and shuttles due to our excellent location. We own the only private properties on Grey Reef Rd and are happy to announce the the Bretty houses have been removed! So your views from the lodge will no longer be interrupted by the empty homes up near Grey Reef boat ramp. The list goes on...
7/23/2011 Heard from a little birdie that the BuRec will maintain 7500cfs Grey Reef flows until the beginning of August and then take a couple days to choke it back to 4800cfs. Where it will stay during the month of August.
7/22/2011 CONGRATS!! to Tyler of Oklahoma. He landed a 24" rainbow on his first day of fly fishing ever. JJ was his instructor and netman. Tyler was part of a 4 boat group who are participants in the High School Finals Rodeo. They were a ton of fun! Caddis were out with a vengeance last night and they coaxed many fish up to the surface. Yesterday we had boats all over the system again. 9 of us were on all reported more great fishing. Short leaders, PMD nymphs and hitting the banks were the common theme. Check the BLOG for a quick hopper blurb.
With limited lodge availability through September it is time to start thinking about late season fishing/wing shooting trips. The first half of October is the early waterfowl season and makes for wonderful cast and blast trips. Targeting Grey Reef's monster trout is also an excellent October option. We should still see baetis, caddis and midges in good numbers for our traditional productive nymphing. Pods of fish become available on the surface during the fall baetis hatches as well. Lots of options to keep things very interesting!
7/2/2011 We had 6 guides out today and all reported amazing fishing. Our guests and guides were all over the river today but it didn't matter where they were...fish just ate...frequently. Terms used were "silly", "ridiculous" and "absurd" among others. Andy Parker of East LA, CA said "Schwaaa.....that was stupid......ouuiiii" Miracle Mile is ripe for dry fly fishing...if you know what I mean? Fremont has the hottest fish we've seen. A 16" rainbow will thump you! Matt Henehan was a guest in NPL guide Ryan Hudson's boat yesterday. He appeared in the shop this AM with an ice pack on his wrist and huge grin on his face. It was priceless.
Airplanes are spraying the fields in the area. We have had several reports of the planes spraying chemical over the river AND on floating anglers. We will be happy to see them go away.
FLY FISHING FILM TOUR! Tomorrow eve at the Iris Theater in the Old Yellowstone District of downtown Casper. Doors open at 6PM and the show starts at 7PM. Reserve your $15 advanced ticket at (307)237-1182 or pay $20 at the door. Visit us before the show and during intermission. We will have PLENTY of free stuff at our table and in the raffles. Beer and Wine will also be available. DON'T MISS THIS!
We still have a couple opening coming up in the next 2 weeks. Don't pass it up...you won't be disappointed.
6/15/2011 Grey Reef is hot! Wonderful Wyoming day and amazing fly fishing. Seth reported the fishing as "ridiculous". Worm and a PMD nymph 6-7ft of leader and a few b shot or more.
We have a couple available full lodge spots for early July. This is a tough spot to fill due to the holiday but the fishing is excellent that time of year. The Miracle Mile will have the Golden Stones and dry fly fishing is likely. Grey Reef will have fish feasting on Yellow Sallies, PMDs and Caddis among others. Call for details! (307)237-1182
I am getting calls from folks who are having their Montana fishing trips canceled due to high water conditions. They aren't expecting fishable water until August or September. We have high water but it is clear and fishing has been very good. Lots of fish and lots of BIG fish hitting the net. The North Platte River is one of the most consistent fisheries. Compared to other tailwaters in the Rocky Mountain West it has much larger average sized fish and far less fishing pressure. A win/win.
North Platte Lodge still has a couple great openings in late June/Early July. Some of our very best fishing and weather at that time! And a great fireworks show over Alcova Lake...
Just a quick reminder that we offer day trips through the Reef Fly Shop. Make sure you are getting more than what you expect when you hire a guide to fish Grey Reef. Even though the fishing is pretty straight forward right now the difference between an experienced guide and inexperienced guide will be glaring.
Grey Reef flows are 5600cfs this AM. Expect an increase of a couple hundred CFS/day for the next several days.
5/23/11 Increased flows have been delayed a couple weeks but we should see 6500cfs by weeks end. Expect Pathfinder to breech the spillway very soon...maybe even today. Fishing was great yesterday on Grey Reef. Both Fremont and Miracle Mile are fishing well. We are too fortunate to have a fishery like the North Platte River.
5/21/11 Grey Reef flows are still at 5400cfs and Miracle Mile continues to drop and is now at 6700cfs. Fishing has been very good lately! Lots of hookups and lots of fish. Our blowout from 2 days ago cleared itself very quickly although fly shop creek is still adding a fair amount of mud to the afterbay. This AM the river is again off colored and we canceled our trips as the guests were local and can push their days to tomorrow. We are confident the river will again be in good shape by morning. Flies of choice seemed to be purple worms, Impalers, otter eggs and all day mays. We had the best activity on Idyl's Soft Hackle Baetis suspended and inside.
Come fish with the North Platte Lodge and The Reef Fly Shop. We keep you on the water all day. It seems the trend is to be on the water from 8-2:30...with us you will be out at least 2.5 hours longer. Plus we have access and Grey Reef's largest and most experienced guide staff.
5/10/2011 CONGRATS!! Frank Galli III of San Francisco California and guide Rick on a 27" brown! It ate a sz20 pheasant tail. The Galli group have been returning to the North Platte Lodge for many years and we are delighted that Frank got a big one. This year has been unreal for trophy class fish.
Grey Reef is still flowing 5400cfs and Miracle Mile is at 8800cfs. We are expecting 6000cfs at Grey Reef soon with Pathfinder making its way over the spillway in the next few days. If you are in the area, go check out Fremont Canyon and Patherfinder spilling ...it is quite a scene.
Don't let the high water spook you out of coming for a guided trip. There are very few boats on the water and the fishing is great. Our extensive amount of private access, highly experienced guides and prime location afford you the best possible Grey Reef fishing trip.
5/8/2011 Flows on Grey Reef will increase to 6000cfs soon. These flows are more friendly for boat fishing as there are more eddies to back row productive water. Fishing has been very good. Yesterday our guides had very good AM and early afternoon and it slowed between 3pm and 5pm. Worms and eggs will catch fish , but you will do yourself a favor by fishing baetis nymphs. Not only do the fish want them, but you will learn a lot about the hatches. Where do the fish want to be, what depth and at what stage of the hatch? Worms are a crutch that you just drag them around anywhere without having to solve the riddle. There is so much more to this fishery that is misunderstood by many. That is why the myth about poor summer fishing exists. You will wallow in the algae if you try to fish your deep worm rigs. But, if you match the hatch and keep the bugs suspended you will likely crush fish. At the end of the day, shrugging your shoulders and asking "what was so bad about that?".
The weather has been very nice and the fishing to match...spring fishing on Grey Reef is tough to beat!
The 2 Fly is over and hopefully the contributions will come close to last year's. Beneficiaries are the ARC of Natrona County, Youth Crisis Center and the Platte River Revival. CONGRATS!! to NPL and TRFS guide Ryan Hudson on his award as the guide with the largest fish for the competition...a 24" rainbow.
It is rainy and wet right now and we expect that to remain for most of the day. Very light winds should make for a good baetis day...clip the worm and match the hatch!!
Only a few North Platte Lodge spots available between now and mid September. Call for dates and details 307.237.1182!
Grey Reef flows are 5400cfs and Miracle Mile flows are 9500cfs. Wade fishing both venues is very doable, but you need to find soft water that is accessible from the bank in most places. Shelves and seams also holding fish , especially when baetis are on the move. This year would be a great opportunity to rent a boat from The Reef Fly Shop and explore a little more water. There is a rental coupon in our latest enews letter. If you aren't on the mailing list let us know and we will send the spring issue your way.
Wading has been productive and will get better as the fish suspend more as the baetis hatch continues. But, rent a boat from The Reef Fly Shop if you really want to get a hold of the North Platte River and fishing at Grey Reef.
We have a great 2 room spot that opened up last minute starting on May 12 - 16. Treat yourself the the most convenient location (just a short walk to some of the most productive water on the Grey Reef system), the most private access and the most expereinced Grey Reef guide staff. Other dates that we have available include one room arriving June 14th - 18th. One room June 30th-July 2nd (golden stone fly!) and 2 rooms July 4th-6th.
Yesterday fished great! 6 boats out and all did well. A pretty good baetis hatch with some surface activity. The next few days should be pretty nice, so give us a shout to get on the water. REMEMBER next Thursday and Friday are the 2 Fly days. It will be busy, so plan accordingly.
Just a reminder that the 2 Fly will be held next Thursday and Friday. There will be nearly 30 boats on the river associated with this charitable event. You might want to plan accordingly...or postpone your trip for a day or two?
4/28/11 Grey Reef flows are 5000cfs and Miracle Mile flows are 8200cfs-. Our recent moisture hasn't eased the minds of the BuRec. She's gonna be big this year...Whoot! That is a good thing. Just had a call from one of our friends who was out on Saturday and said they had a great time and caught lots of fish. Always makes you feel great when very positive reports come back from our guests.
On that note, we have had excellent service from Louie Fichtner at Second Wind Performance in Casper, WY. It is a diesel specific shop, but they will work on anything...and they do it extremely well. They service all the NPL and TRFS vehicles as well as my personal vehicles. Don't expect a greasy mechanic shop...this place is spotless.
Interesting conflicting stories in the Casper Star-Tribune lately. One story say the BuRec is hoping to keep flows at 5000cfs. And the other has NOAA predicting much higher flows than last years 7200cfs max. I think I will side with NOAA on this one...expect big water and likely more property damage this year. Also, expect nothing short of amazing fishing from a big Grey Reef.
Turns out the 10.91 lb walleye that was landed by guest Tim Trop and guide Ryan Hemkens would beat the IGFA WORLD fly rod record by 2 lbs on 12lb tippet. Pretty special stuff.
We still have a couple available spots in May. This will be the heart of the baetis hatch. Spring baetis is about as much fun as you can have with a flyrod.
Grey Reef flows are 4500cfs. Miracle Mile flows are 6000cfs and Fremont appears to be around 2900cfs.
Grey Reef flows remain at 4500cfs while Miracle Mile flows increased to 5500cfs+ yesterday. Fremont Canyon flows are 2500cfs.
Quick reminder about trespass issues on Grey Reef. The water is state domain but the land is private unless you are in a BLM, G&F or State area. This means you are trespassing if you drop anchor or wade/get out of the boat. Beaching has become the most common form of trespassing. If you jam your boat on a submerged rock, gravel bar or let the wind hold you against the bank without immediately attempting to get away from the bank you are trespassing. We and many other landowners, unfortunately, are put in the position of policing. Something we would rather not have to deal with. We understand the frustration of not having access as we are anglers and fish many places where we don't have the ability to use the land under or near the river. But, we also understand the other side of the coin as we have always provided private access for our guests. The reality is that many trespassing issues aren't a result of not understanding the laws or incorrectly assuming that they are in a public access area (these are mostly easily resolved without confrontation). Repeat offenses by folks who are well aware of the rules are the most frustrating.
Quick apology to whom ever was driving the Land Rover with county 1 WY plates this AM. I was passing and pulled in front of them a little too soon. A vehicle was approaching the highway on an arterial road and I wasn't sure they noticed me and my truck started shaking at I hit passing speeds. Turned out the shaking was an out of balance wheel caused by a chunk of dried mud. But, it felt like lug nuts where...well...maybe not doing their job. Regardless, sorry. HWY 220 is already scary enough without that early in the AM.
Yesterday fished very well. Guides report lots of activity on red. But, scuds, eggs and midge patterns also produced. A late afternoon slow down has been persistent. Still hooking fish late just not at the high frequency of AM to mid afternoon.
Fly Shop Creek burped a little earlier this AM and dirtied the afterbay a little bit but is waining. Bolton and Bear Creeks are making a mess above Government Bridge although Bates is still low and clear as of 20 minutes ago.
BuRec just called to let us know that Grey Reef flows will increase to 4500cfs by Wednesday. This is a wet storm with another one on its heels.
Grey Reef flows are up to 8500cfs! April fools. Grey Reef flows are up to 3800cfs this AM. Miracle Mile flows have been increased to 4000cfs. The past few days have seen a lot of increased snow pack in upper Platte River basin. I was skiing in the back country with Stu yesterday and the snow depth stake measured 85". Past record for that stake was 69" for an annual total. We will have a lot of water this year without question. Fishing is good at all venues although the wind was an issue the past couple days.
Forgot to add the most convenient drift boat rental service to the list below. The North Platte Lodge and The Reef Fly Shop will always be the Grey Reef guide service that provides the most features for our guests. We don't look for ways to cut amenities so we can save time or money...we look for ways to add benefits, like private access and making sure our guides are working their tail off. We won't prescribe to the new way of doing things at Grey Reef. It seems the new Grey Reef norm is adopting shorter days, rowing as little and slow as possible and merry go rounding with anybody and everybody. Look around when you are on the water and you will notice a deliberate effort to work as little as possible.
The Brettie Property adjacent to the Grey Reef boat ramp should be cleared pretty quick. A temporary culvert is being installed so the houses can be removed complete. I hope the BLM will require strong efforts to mitigate erosion on this project. Once this is done the North Platte Lodge and The Reef Fly Shop will be the only buildings on Grey Reef Rd. This will be huge for the sense of solitude and the view. From the lodge there will be no other buildings in sight...only prairie and river!
Thanks for checking here and www.northplatteflyfishing.com for your current report. The North Platte Lodge and Reef Fly Shop pride themselves on providing all Grey Reef anglers with a current and accurate fishing, weather and river report. We also have the most convenient lodging, fly shop and shuttle service. Far and away the most expereinced guide staff. We also pride ourselves in providing our guests with 17 miles of exclusive private Grey Reef access etc, etc, etc. This is the North Platte Lodge difference. Sure, you can get a cheaper trip. Will it be a better value? No.
Plenty of guides on the water and I would hope that the people behind the oars would have enough regard for other guides guests to not run over the water they are fishing. There are excuses for this but none of them are good.
Grey Reef flows remain at 3600cfs. Miracle Mile flows are 2350cfs and Fremont Canyon flows are 1200cfs. Seth's Monday group called last night to reserve a few days in June and was very excited about their day. Fishing and weather were both fantastic. Some big fish hitting the net daily. Haven't been north of 25" yet but close on lots of occasions.
Fishing was again very good yesterday. Reef worms, eggs, PAL, and natural PSL all produced well.
Biggest full moon in 18 years will grace us tomorrow. It is on the short side of its elliptical orbit and will appear very large and bright. Maybe the moon is tugging so hard on the fish in the afternoon that they are just fighting to stay in the water...levitating trout would finally find a use for shadow casting. Long day and slightly off my rocker....
Big THANK YOU! To Trent's folk's, Jack and Joyce, for southern hospitality and great southern dishes at the North Platte Lodge. They just arrive in Alcova and immediately throw a dinner party. I'm still full...
Grey Reef flows are up to 700cfs this AM. Miracle Mile flows are bouncing around the 2300cfs mark. Miracle Mile road conditions are still not great but passable. Check the Miracle Mile and Grey Reef flow links on the home page for the most current info. Looks like the Alcova area will be bracing for another winter storm. Forecast to receive several inches (reports say 5-10 or even more) over the next couple days. Both of the trips out yesterday have good fishing. AND it was calm and relatively warm...great day to be out.
Rick and Seth were out today and had good results although it was pretty windy. Gray and amber scuds, Reef and flossy worms, leeches, various midges, eggs and Bush's Crawdad.
NPL and TRFS guides Stu and Rick accompanied me and one of my other brothers on a day of backcountry skiing yesterday. Stu showed us the ropes around Laramie and we got some great turns in, plenty of climbing and a couple blisters. Thanks Stu!
2/26/11 Cold again this AM. 5* right now. Had an impressive snow storm yesterday eve. The way it came on had me thinking it was going to be much more substantial that it was. We ended up with a few inches of light fluffy powder (the kind you dream about skiing). Bluebird today, but wind scheduled for mid AM. Roads are rugged, be prepared for less than ideal driving conditions. The river was pretty slushy yesterday above Lusby...hope it has remained open in these cold temps? We'll keep you posted.
We still have some very nice April lodge spots available. We also have a couple May dates and very limited availability between mid May and Mid September. We have a very deep guide crew so getting on the water for day trips will not be an issue. Although, some dates are full. If you have your days in mind call sooner than later to make sure you get your 1st pick.
Sage Grouse season is booking pretty fast. This is one you definitely want to investigate as soon as possible. It is a short season, the last 10 days in Sept. The North Platte Lodge has tens of thousands of private acres for Sage Grouse hunting. Without question, we can boast the best Sage Grouse hunting anywhere. This hunt makes a fantastic Cast and Blast due to our proximity to the river, grouse habitat AND our sheer number of birds.
Obviously the North Platte River system has plenty of water if the BuRec is already starting to make room. Big concern will be spawning at 2500cfs...If the fish build redds in the ideal water at 2500cfs and the BuRec determines it doesn't need to push as much water, the redds will be high and dry when they cut the flows. Otherwise big water is GOOD! Lots more water to fish and it protects the redds from unnecessary fishing.
We ended up with about 5" of snow on the ground. It was calm this AM but starting to get breezy. Trent is on the water now and will report as soon as he returns. Roads are tough and will deteriorate with wind gusts approaching 50mph tomorrow.
We were graced with a half day of excellent conditions yesterday AM, before the afternoon winds picked up. Today will be nice in the AM again before heavy upslope snow. We could see up to a foot in lower elevations by mid-day tomorrow. Great news for snowpack and powderhounds...not so great for those wanting to fish over the next couple days. Be sure to check water flows before making your decision to go fish. Miracle Mile has had 2000cfs for the past week. Also, check or call for Miracle Mile road conditions as they should get really nasty? BuRec is obviously concerned about an abundance of water and are moving some from the higher impoundments. Grey Reef *should* be over 2000cfs by early April. This is just a guess but I would put $ on it.
Miracle Mile is still big but the clarity has improved. Check current flows on the NPL home page. On the bottom of the page there are links for stream flows, weather, roads, maps etc.
2/16/11 Thanks to the folks who are chomping at the bit and ready to get on the water. We will not take your money and go out on a high wind day if we have other options. Any guide who has spent any time in the area can recognize what the weather will generally do. We all know that the wind is going to be big until the cold front moves in on Sunday. Can you catch fish in the wind? Sure. Is it productive to be on the water in 40mph winds? Maybe. But it isn't very enjoyable. It can also be a safety factor. If your guide doesn't have access then he may not rest or beach his boat against the bank when landing a fish or untangling a knot. Not only is he trespassing but you are too. Letting go of the oars to land a fish or rerig during big wind can be dangerous.
Wahinis produced yesterday and Trent posted pics to prove it. Check The Reef Fly Shop facebook page for pics.
Things change the most in winter. The flies may not change much but the conditions vary wildly. North Platte Lodge and The Reef Fly Shop owners and guides are continually on the water and area roads...even in winter. We are reporting from personal experience and not paraphrasing somebody else's report. Just because there are only a few anglers out during the winter months and they may not represent a lot of money going into the till doesn't mean we aren't going to try to serve you any less than when there are many anglers present. We know what it is like to want to go fish somewhere but have no current or qualified information.
Was able to go skiing with two of the NPL guides. Rick and Stu let me tag along for a fun and challenging day at Steamboat. It was a flash trip and we didn't have time to go rub elbows (literally) with the other anglers on the Yampa. It can get pretty busy, but it can also be vacant. Can't expect much less from a river that runs right through a town (easy access) that is brimming with outdoor activity enthusiasts.
The North Platte Lodge has good early season availability. We are doing an early season lodging/fishing special. Come stay in style at the North Platte Lodge. We are located moments from the ramp, have 17 miles of access and the most experienced professional Grey Reef guides. We aren't publishing the rates so call for details. But, rates will be comparable to the price of a day trip and staying/eating in Casper.
Check the BLOG for Trent's new Reef logo stuff.
1/31/11 Big difference today. Yesterday AM started at 42* in Alcova and slowly dropped throughout the day. Snow started falling around 4:30pm. Temps dropped even more to single digits this AM. Tonight we will be -20* and 20mph wind....dangerous conditions for fragile human flesh! Friday and Saturday were great sweatshirt weather and it looks like we will revisit that by the end of the week...'til then bundle up!!
Quite a few folks out this weekend and for good reason. It has been warm and calm....beautiful winter weather. Fishing has been good. The Reef's crawdizzle has been popular, but you should come check out our NEW crawdad patterns!
The North Platte Lodge has been receiving lots of interest and we thank you for that! If you are considering a trip May-September...give us a call sooner than later. Available dates are disappearing. We love summer and our guests agree. August is typically a slower month but we are almost out of lodge space for August 2011...GO HOPPERS!!!
Seth and Stu will be on their way to Honduras with a group of friends from Ft Collins. A week long self guided tropical adventure is what they need in the middle of a long winter.
Spring flush should be starting on March 21st if the BuRec holds true to the past. Expect a full 5 day flush with plenty of water. The first few days will probably be questionable water conditions but will improve by the end of the week. The water may be surprisingly clear due to our summer-long flush last year.
Also expect 2500cfs starting in early-mid April. Reservoirs are healthy and the snow pack is strong...should be another great water year!
NEW THIS YEAR will be the Grey Reef PRIMER trip. Take the guesswork out of fishing Grey Reef. One of our seasoned guides will take you wade fishing and show you the type of water to concentrate on as well as the right bugs and technique. $160 for 2 anglers for a 2 hour crash course. Price includes a dozen of the best bugs for the time you are here. Last minute and odd hour bookings will be expected.
Look carefully at the early season day trip features. You get full access to our leases and they are extensive. You won't get access with the others. You will also fish with full time Grey Reef guides who have spent years working and playing at Grey Reef. You will also get to enjoy the most convenient trip in the region. The Reef Fly Shop is less that a half mile from the put in and a 15 minute return drive in the eve. We do the shuttles, unlike some of the others who make you run shuttles or make you wait at the ramp for 45 minute while they do them. What does this really mean? Your time here is spent on the water not in the car. AND you can wade fish the most desirable water on Grey Reef.
Nymphing has been the ticket with PALs, scuds and leeches.
Trent has been busy getting product ready for 2011. We are beefing up our fly selection to say the least.
The NPL Xmas party was last Friday night and I hope all have recovered. It was held at the Casper Country Club and they did a great job! Jalan Crossland was the entertainment and he did a great job!. We want to thank all who attended. You made it a special evening. Merry Christmas!
BLM is still working on there reinvention of Grey Reef. Hopefully they will get the ramps in and use some logic for the staging and parking areas. Also Natrona County is devising a plan for Grey Reef, Alcova and Pathfinder at the moment. They have a consulting firm and are trying to get good feedback on the progression of use of the aforementioned areas. Public meetings have been established to TRY to get input regarding recreation use. Last meeting was a disaster...err...gripe session and accomplished little. Hope this one will get constructive input, from the public...unlike the last one.
Yesterday we had a high temp in the low 30s with snow flurries...the day before was a high near 70. Love Wyoming weather!
Only a couple more trips on the books for the 2010 season, so things are definitely winding down. Trent and I are scheming for next year. Look for another face lift at The Reef Fly Shop and lots more flies!
Both nymphing and streamers have been really good according to Seth. He has been on the water everyday this week. Yesterday his guest landed a 24" brown with a crawdizzle under an indicator...and wade fishing. It was Boga gripped at 6lbs. The weather has been amazing but it looks as though we might get some moisture early next week. We have a couple boats out today and tomorrow so will keep you posted.
Still finding some Huns and the chukar in the Clarkson Hill area. Waterfowl will be opening up again soon. Lots of our neighbors have been doing well with their elk hunts in the Alcova area as well. Trent was out yesterday afternoon looking for a turkey for Thanksgiving...no word on their success yet.
Fishing is still great with NOBODY on the water. Low water makes wade fishing very productive. We have access from Grey Reef Dam to the Clarkson Hill area. The most experienced guides at Grey Reef and our guides let their guests out of the boat to do it the way it should be done.
Fishing remains good with most of the interest coming from 14"- fish. Big fish are there but you have to be on the ball to get 'em. Slow deep water seems to be the places where we find our normal Grey Reef sized fish. Streamers have been semi-productive.
Miracle Mile and Fremont have been well worth fishing. Lots of activity with nymphing. Streamers have been better at Fremont than the Mile, as has the dry fly fishing.
10/22/10 The past couple days have been a little tougher. The takes are incredibly light...if you opt to not set because you are sure it is the bottom or ? you will struggle to catch fish. Set on the slightest movement, period. Water temp is 56 and the full moon is tonight.
Streamer activity has been variable. Today Trent and Mark will be dedicated to streamers so we will see how they did this eve. Nymphing has been predictable and good on scuds, PALs, foam post RS2s, leeches, crawdizzle etc, etc. You cought catch fish all day long on an 18 Para Adams if you like 13' fish...there are some larger fish rising.
I just heard that the G & F shocked a couple large mouth bass out of the North Platte River. Illegal stocking is punishable by jail time and fines. Help the G & F by reporting illegal bait fishing and stocking.
10/20/10 Fishing conditions remain the same...great. I just thought I would express the strange selection of bugs right now. There are still PMDs, Tricos, Psuedos and Baetis. There are still mosquitoes around, but few hoppers. Crane flies and lots of midges and huge black flies. Bees have been pretty active and there are still dragon flies around. I have been most interested in the PMDs...just seems strange that's all.
Our high and dry conditions with high temps have made waterfowl hunting so-so. Our cast and blast guests have been getting some opportunities at ducks, but with no weather to push them in we have to be extra sneaky.
Yesterday was the final day of sage grouse for the 2010 season. We had 3 groups out and all had their birds and were back at the lodge by 11am...ready to fish. Fishing was excellent yesterday. We landed just under 40 fish on a half day float. Most being typical Grey Reef sized rainbows. We did get some 12" fish. Leeches, scuds, psuedo and baetis emergers. Today is the opening of Hungarian Partridge and we have good opportunities at these birds. Also waterfowl opens tomorrow for early season. Not very Octoberlike weather at the moment. We are expecting 80s and high and dry for the next several days.
The weather outlook is excellent for the next week or so. Mid 40s as lows and 80 as a high every day, with high and dry conditions. Our schedule is still busy, but we have some gaps here and there. Want to wade fish? We can accommodate.
Sage grouse hunting continues to be excellent as well. Only one group out yesterday and it was a successful hunt, and a successful afternoon of fishing afterward.
October is big fish month so streamer enthusiasts take note. Baetis and psuedo hatches will be good for some dry fly. Wade fishing is great with the lower water.
9/24/10 Grey Reef down to 600cfs this AM. Yesterday we fished it at 800cfs and the nymphing was very good. Quite a few smaller fish below the bridge. It seems the bigger the bug the smaller the fish that will eat it? We had some hopper activity in select spots...pretty happy about that! We also had 3 cast and blast groups out yesterday and all 6 hunters limited on sage grouse and enjoyed a beautiful afternoon float. Streamers selection is now becoming key. As the hopper thing slows down the streamer and "little" dry become more important. Trico spinners, psuedos and baetis duns are eaten on top and Goldie Locks, olive Bergin Buggers, Crawdaks are good choices for streamers. We are approaching a full moon so night fishers can get some help, and the big 'uns are active.
Four of us are doing a later start for dry fly fishing. We will be finishing at dark. We love tailoring a trip to fit with the best angling opportunities.
Grey Reef will be at the winter operating level of 500cfs by the end of September. Wade fishers will enjoy a little better access and guides will curse the slower current.
Fishing has been good and the weather the same. Last week we had some brutal winds but the past few days have been warm and calm. Hoppers have been hot and cold. Fish WILL eat them. It might not happen right away but you will get to spots where you will get lots of eats then go without for a while. Nymphing has been the most consistent, but streamers are on their tail. We have done a fair amount of streamer fishing the past week and it has been good...yesterday was excellent. Sink tip and Goldie Locks on the banks and seams. Lots of takes, lots of really nice fish and absurdly hard fighting. Love streamers!
We had 4 out yesterday and again it was windy. The Malone group was with JJ, Rick and Ryan and they did really well on the upper. Mostly nymphing, but they did have some success with hoppers later on. Seth was with the Nicholson group and they concentrated on hoppers on a lower stretch. They scratched together a nice day on big foam drys. Hope the wind will be letting up soon!! Looks like Monday will be very nice. We canceled 2 of our 6 boats today because of wind predictions gusting in the mid 30s.
Only a couple more sage grouse hunting spots left. Call for details. October is shaping up nicely and we have some great spots still available. Cast and blast for water fowl, chuck streamers for the big browns or nymph and enjoy a peaceful day with your guide working his fanny off.
We have had a lot of interest in cast and blast trips this fall. We still have a couple dates open for sage grouse Sept 18-30. We only run 3 trips/day so all parties have lots of private ground to themselves. Early season waterfowl starts Oct 2nd and we also have some spots still available. Waterfowl is a "true" cast and blast. Hop in the boat early AM to set up for the hunt and fish your way down the river after the ducks stop flying...you might also hop out and chase a few pheasants during the afternoon. Fun stuff.
Miracle Mile is low now at 560cfs. The water is tanic, but fish are still eager to eat. The water will start to clear in the next couple weeks. Grey Reef is in excellent condition...clear with very little floating/suspended debris. Nymphing has been productive and easy. I am going to start crossing my fingers for a fall flush right now.
Cloudy days won't be the best for hoppers, we want it high and dry...with few clouds. However, streamer fishing has been gaining a lot of steam. Bring all rods!!
After several months of a very busy schedule we are a little soft for the next week before things get cranking again. Some of our guides will be licking their wounds, but others are eager to be on the water. Give us a shout for a last summer hooray.
Former NPL guide Les Collins was out today for a break from his landscaping business. He mentioned when the clouds rolled in they went to big black articulated streamers and pounded fish. Streamer, nymphs and dries...bring all your rods!
We are seeing some floating/suspended debris right now. Fishing dry flies is a good way to stay out of the debris. But, nymphing and streamers are both producing well. To avoid picking junk off of your flies you MUST get a dead drift. If your rig is floating the same speed as the current your chances of getting gooped are less. Also, avoid slowly stripping your nymph rig in to check it. You are just stripping it against the grain are are guaranteed to collect stuff. Abruptly pick it up out of the water as in doing an aggressive cast. These are simple techniques used by anglers who fish tailwaters. They are effective and make fishing during the algae bloom a breeze.
We have been very busy and want to thank all who have supported us. Hopper fishing will continue through August and September and possibly October depending on when we get our first hard freeze. Streamer fishing has been good as well and will only get better. Nymphing the psuedo, fall baetis, midges and caddis hatches will be as good as ever with our clear water conditions. Cross our fingers for a fall flush.
8/10/10 More solid grasshopper fishing. We had boats from Grey Reef Dam to Bessemer today. We had our first hopper eat at about 10am. Prior to that we were nymphing a scud and a foam post RS2. It wasn't silly fishing, but a properly presented fly (Seth quote) was noticed. Fish are getting pretty casual about their approach...slowly ascending and sucking in the bug. Still plenty of tackles and crashing takes as well.
Our private access is ACTUALLY private access elusively for our guests use...over 17 miles of it starting right below Grey Reef Dam. Only one other outfitter provides exclusive private access. It is important to ask questions to get the whole story.
8/6/10 We're back in business!! Fish annihilated the hoppers today. All over the entire river...not section specific. We had 7 out today and everybody was giggling at the end of the day. JJ was on the upper and reported great early AM nymphing with Mercers epoxy back and pulsating emergers. Their dry fly activity started around noon. Trent was Bridge to Sechrist and they had very good hopper activity starting mid AM. At one point they were trying for a double and had 6 eats and misses(while the other angler was hooked up) before sealing the deal. Rick , Seth and I were on a trek to Robertson. 11AM is when the hoppers started and they slowed a bit around 3:30 so we tried to get 'em on streamers for the last hour or so. We spent a total of about an hour and a half throwing streamers and had several nudges and follows but no commitment. Brad and Ryan spent the day at the Mile and did very well. We are happy that fish turned back on to the foam flies!
We have a couple lodge openings starting August 27th. The grasshopper and trico fishing will be continuing. This is a special event to have such good grasshopper at Grey Reef...don't miss it.
Sage Grouse season is coming up starting Sept 18th through the end of the month. This is another special event. We have arguably the BEST sage grouse hunting anywhere. Our tens of thousands of acres of private hunting leases are teaming with birds. Most make their sage grouse trip into a cast and blast. Hunt in the AM and go fishing for the remainder of the day...
When you call us or anybody to book a trip ASK A FEW SIMPLE QUESTIONS. How long will we be fishing? The North Platte Lodge and The Reef Fly Shop will make sure you get what you pay for...a high quality FULL day trip. You will be on the water for 9 hours. The new standard seems to be about 6 or 7 hours. Why would you want to exit the river at 2pm? This is just when the hopper fishing is getting good. Yes, it is warm out but lots of 20" rainbows eating big foam flies...I'll suffer through it;) Actually I wouldn't miss it and neither should you. Do you provide private access? When you fish with the North Platte Lodge and The Reef Fly Shop you will be provided with 17 plus miles of exclusive private access to anchor or wade the river. Only one other outfitter on the river provides private access. Are shuttles included in your trips or will we have to wait at the boat ramp for 45 minutes while you run your own shuttle? When you fish with the North Platte Lodge and The Reef Fly Shop we always have our vehicles shuttled as a service to our guests. You will fish to the boat ramp and the guides vehicle will be there waiting for you. Our guides won't deduct their shuttle time from your fishing time. Will we be fishing with experienced guides? When you fish with the North Platte Lodge and The Reef Fly Shop you fish with the most experienced and professional guide staff. Our guides are full time employees and have been guiding for us for years. We don't call up a warm body who has no business guiding just to make a buck. In fact, we will turn trips away because we want every guest to leave with the feeling that they received more than they expected.
7/29/10 Grey Reef flows are down to 3000cfs today. The Mile remains at 1600cfs. Today was a dream day. We started fishing streamers and did pretty darn good...stuck probably 15 fish in a couple hours. Switched to nymphs and doubled our first drift...and spent about 10 more minutes before we retired the nymph rig for the day and returned to streamers. Hooked several more fish on Crawdacks and Bronze Buggers and Goldie Locks. Then we went to hoppers...oh my! It was on. Several double and triple hookups. We landed a lot of 20" fish on dry flies...yes at Grey Reef. There were 3 boats up high today and everybody experienced the same. Seth was down low and he and his guests crushed them on hoppers, all day, start to finish. We had one trip at Miracle Mile and they also had a stellar day. There was a lot of hooting and hollering going on...
This is shaping up to be a really fun season and it will only get better. If you would like to experience Grey Reef give us a call for availability or just a fishing report.
7/20/10 We had 6 boats below Government Bridge and one on the upper today. All 6 on the lower floats did good in the AM and really good until late afternoon. We were still hooking fish all the way to the ramp at 5:15PM. Hatches were unimpressive today. Lots of big fish right on the banks...worms, leeches, midges, soft hackled sallies/caddis and PMD patterns all produced. Midday saw a flurry of streamer attraction.
We have one 3 night/2 day lodge opening August 6-8 (4 guests). Trico drys in the AM, nymph and streamers through the middle of the day and we expect the hoppers to get more afternoon attention by then.
The North Platte Lodge and The Reef Fly Shop will make sure you get what you have paid for...a full day trip last a full day. Guides will have you on the water for 9 hours.
North Platte River flows are 4500cfs at Grey Reef and down to 1320cfs at the Mile.
We should probably expect a significant drop in the flows at Grey Reef any time?
7/8/10 North Platte River flows are 4500cfs at Grey Reef and down to 2500cfs at Miracle Mile. BIG sallie hatch when I left Alcova this afternoon. Yesterday our guests reported great fishing. We only have 2 boats out today....the guides better get some rest because they are about to go on a long run. If you are thinking about about booking a trip call ASAP with date requests. BTW, a big thank you to all of our guests!! We are really busy and can't thank you enough.
Our schedule is really busy until the middle of August but we still have some day float availability. The lodge has some availability for August and September. Two rooms the eves of August 6-8, one room the eves of August 21-24, 3 rooms the eves of Sept 1-4. We also have some great early October spots. Sage Grouse hunts are becoming limited, but Sept 24-26 has some availability.
Golden Stones are moving at Miracle Mile and the fish are keyed in. Soft edges and seams...particularly just below fast water will be best. Trent whacked a bunch of fish yesterday afternoon on the dry/dropper rig. We have the bugs you need for great hopper/dropper activity at The Reef Fly Shop. Chubbys, Pat's Rubber Legs, 20 incher etc.
North Platte River flows increased to 7000cfs yesterday AM with no effect on the fishing. Miracle Mile flows are 7000cfs and the fishing at the Mile is also very good.
We did well on scuds, caddis, sallie and PMD patterns. Of course the worm...
Fishing Report for Grey Reef is very good today. We hooked a lot of fish on scuds, PALs and even a little prince nymph. Worms have been super productive and some fish are belching a wad of worms when they are landed. Our rig was 6 feet from indicator to weight with a b shot or 3 to get us down. The past few afternoons have slowed down on the lower stretches around 3pm. Although, the production is still good in the late PM on the upper. Finally seeing reasonable amounts of PMD duns and yellow sallie adults. Warm weather and great fishing at Grey Reef.
Miracle Mile fishing report is also very good. Lots of golden stones moving. Hopper/dropper rigs with stone fly pattern have been good along the rock edges and a short (3-4 feet) nymph rig with stone fly nymph and san juan worm has been deadly. Watch your step!! the Mile is ripping and one bad step could be dangerous. Stick to soft edges and places where wading is relatively safe.
Yesterday our boats did well. Fish don't stop eating because there is more water. As one of the guides from another outfitter said "last I heard, fish like water"...so true. There are gobs of worms all over the place. And, there are still baetis emerging. PMDs and sallies are evident although not strong yet. Caddis will be here through the duration of the season. Do not hesitate to book a trip with local outfitters, they understand the river, the trout and how to have very successful days.
Yesterday the Grey Reef fishing report was the same as it has been. Very good with a multitude of bugs...
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All this water is doing wonders for cleaning the river. Silty areas have gravel and rocks. But, there has been some trash flushed in to the North Platte River. I am hoping to gather a few volunteers to go out and do a quick trash remediation. Give me a call (307)237-1182. We will use boats to do the work. We have a couple jet boats to use as well as drift boats. Spend a few on a good cause! We will do it with or without help either tomorrow or Sunday.
The North Platte entering Seminoe Res. is at 15,000cfs and hasn't peaked. We may be getting more water in Grey Reef soon?
The North Platte River was bumped to 4000cfs below Grey Reef...by tomorrow eve we are expecting 4500cfs. Miracle Mile is at 6300cfs and Fremont Canyon will be 2300cfs. Flood watches all over the state of Wyoming right now. There is even water coming over the spillway at Alcova Dam and Pathfinder is almost 93% capacity. A little crazy, but really great to see!
Now for the fishing report. Big water has made no difference in really productive fishing. A fish belched a nice sample on my boat this afternoon. Leeches, red midges, scuds, snails, baetis, PMDs, yellow sallies, caddis and several other midges were visible. This was a 20" rainbow that was thick...it ate a Lazy Midge. Foam post RS2s, PMD Barr's Emergers and JuJu baetis were some of the bugs we hooked fish on. The best hatch of the day was baetis. Sallies and caddis were bouncing around as well. We still had the best luck on inside seams and tail outs with 6' of leader and a b shot or two. Most of the day was excellent fishing with the late afternoon cooling off. I was the lone NPL/TRFS boat on the upper and the rest of the boys headed down river. They had very good fishing and it was steady from ramp to ramp. Lots of bank structure and they focused on it in the afternoon. 4500cfs may seem daunting, but it makes the river really interesting and the fishing is well worth it. Trent will be in the shop tomorrow, so give him a call to inquire about conditions, guide trips or whatever. (307)232-9128.
Congrats to John Morrison on a chunky 23" rainbow yesterday. Fishing remains great. So many bugs moving right now that it is almost a no brainer. Bates Creek is very low and having no effect on the North Platte River. Conditions down river are much better than a few days ago.
Lazys, PALs, worms, leeches etc have been the name of the game. The fish are full of red midge larva and worms. They are also crushing PMDs in certain areas. Yellow sallies have also made their 2010 debut with a few adults flying around. We threw a streamer for about 15 minutes yesterday and had one good take on a goldie locks...banks are prime! Seth landed a 24" brown throwing streamers yesterday. June is going to be on fire and hopefully we will see summerlike conditions where we won't have the spring wind. It doesn't always blow in Wyoming. Summer is particularly calm, almost to a fault. Breeze is nice to cool off.
Although our calendar is looking very good for June and July we have plenty of great spots available. Come fish with the North Platte Lodge and The Reef Fly Shop for the most private access and the most experienced full time Grey Reef guide staff. And, the countries biggest rainbows!
On that note, Fly Shop Creek burped and Grey Reef Reservoir is murky as is the river. With all of the volume it should be clear by tomorrow AM.
Today the trout at Grey Reef were whacking Lazys and Pals. Didn't need to change bugs so I didn't try anything else. Midges and Baetis.
Wade fishing has been excellent...yes even at 2400cfs. If you like to get out of the boat and work a run give us a call. We provide more private access than any other outfitter...in fact only one other outfitter provides access.
It is so nice to have some extra water in the channel. 2400cfs still and rumored to increase. This flow makes the ENTIRE river prime for the picking. Big water might make your favorite run seem unmanageable, but it just alters the approach. Look to the edges, the tail out or the "push out"...the point where the main current slows and broadens.
Grey Reef fishing has been good with some inconsistencies. Some spots are giving up the goods and others are tough. Still hooking lots of fish, but humbled several times a day. Oh lord it's hard to be...
Yesterday, as the flows were coming up the guides reported great fishing in some spots while other left them scratching their head. Typical of flow increases...should be fish where they belong at 2300cfs today.
We still have the lone June lodge spot available. See above. This is a spot that once you get you won't want to let go of. Call (307)237-1182!
We enjoy fishing the Wind River Canyon and the Bighorn River in Thermopolis. We are disappointed to hear of the train derailment and 15,000 gallons of diesel fuel spilling into the Wind River. I hope the news got the numbers wrong and the spill is much less severe.
5/10 Grey Reef of the old days!! Everyday we are seeing a 23" trout. Where do you go to catch a 23" trout daily? It isn't like our guest are going out and catching a bunch of 14" stockers and happen along a 23" wild fish...we are seeing most fish over 18" and plenty at 20" or better. G & F say the average size of the trout at Grey Reef is 2.3lbs. That is impressive.
The past ten years we have seen a wild change in the fishery and the countryside at Grey Reef. For those who were here before Y2K, we remember the large size of the trout. Y2K10 is not disappointing.
We were able to get out for a quick 2 hour tour....mission "Brown Trout on a Streamer". Trent poked a great 24" male half way through. Pics on the BLOG soon.
Grey Reef will be getting an increased flow soon...sooner than later we hope! Rumor has it, we might get 3000cfs. We haven't seen that flow for many years and it will be fun!! More volume creates many, many new spots for fishing. Even wade fisherman can benefit...you need to get the old picture of the river out of your mind and look at the new picture. All the little rock piles and points that are exposed at low flows will create great new seams and runs at higher flows.
This spring is busy so call for availability ASAP.
Congrats to Bruce Ecklund on a 23" rainbow yesterday...this is becoming a daily occurrence.
The 2 Fly event starts tomorrow AM. There will be more than 25 boats associated with this party, so try to stay out of the mix...for your own good. Either put in well behind or go downstream (Bridge or Clarkson Hill) to put in.
Pulsating emergers, PALs and Stalkups Baetis nymph have been working well under an Impaler, leech or pheasant tail. In the AM a black thread midge will be good.
Water is in fantastic condition, but the weather has been variable. Friday was big winds out of the north/northwest
which means an upstream wind. I witnessed guides walking their boats down the river as the winds were brutal and hinder downstream progress. Despite the conditions we found some very sheltered spots and scratched together a decent day. Yesterday was great! Light winds and hungry fish. Most of us had excellent nymphing late mornings through the rest of the day, but a couple of our guides figured out the fish and had a 50 plus fish(landed)day. We did well, but not that well.
Pulsating emergers, foam wing RS2s, Barr emergers, Wicked Impalers, pine squirrel leeches and even pheasant tails were productive.
**CAUTION** the 2 Fly competition will be on Grey Reef this Thursday and Friday. I would strongly recommend a very early or late stray to stay out of the mix. This competition supports great local charities, but is a challenge for other river users.
The upper is very clear and running at 1000cfs. Baetis is the hatch and when they get going the trout will suspend in fast water to eat them. Bolton Creek has slowed significantly and the river is fishable below Government Bridge. Bates Creek is still running pretty good, but way less than last week. The North Platte below Bates is greenish brown and should be good to go soon...unless we get real moisture this weekend?
Yesterday was beautiful! We enjoyed the weather as much as the fishing...it is good to be spoiled.
Book your next fly fishing trip with the North Platte Lodge and The Reef Fly Shop. Why? Our location can't be matched...we are right at Grey Reef. Our guides are excellent and are full time Grey Reef guides. You will fish ALL day. We don't count drive time against your fishing day. Hit the ramp at 8AM and off the water between 5 and 5:30pm. We have exclusive private access from Grey Reef to several miles below Government Bridge...17 plus miles of private access! Spring fishing is limited to Grey Reef to Government Bridge because the North Platte River is muddy at the bridge. Why not give yourself the opportunity to drop anchor, wade fish and fish with the best guides on Grey Reef?
Don't accept guides running you over on the North Platte River. Pay attention to the behavior. Some guides will row around and stay well out of your space, some will float through with a conscious effort not to run over the water you are fishing and some will take thier boat and run right over the water you have been fishing with no regard for you or the success of your day. Their boats are labeled...let them know you don't appreciate it. If our guides run you over we want to know about it.
We have a few really good short notice openings at the North Platte Lodge. Come see what we are all about, you won't be disappointed.
**Hopper Alert** April 14th and we are already seeing little hoppers around. This will be the year of the foam fly!!
Yesterday the water cleared below Government Bridge and we did have one group down there, but haven't received their report. As the temps warm Bolton Creek will run and dirty the water below the bridge again...hope it is short term.
Pine squirrel leeches in natural and brown dangling below and otter egg have been really productive. If bugs are your gig then a size 16 lazy, 20-22 JuJu midges, PALs, are good choices. Baetis really want to make a strong appearance, but the Wyoming wind has been cartwheeling them. Tomorrow is the day with a baetis hatch forecast! We have been fortunate to be catching a few fish on drys the past few days.
Nymphing has been the most productive with leeches, worms, eggs, scuds, midges and baetis patterns. Little JuJu midges, PALs, tailwater tinys etc have been good under Chart. and orange eggs, tan and rusty scuds, reef worms or pine squirrel and beady leeches.
The surge had been reaching Casper by 3 or 4 in the afternoon. The kayak boys have been enjoying the cold water and high flows. Yesterday I took my 4 year old out to watch the boaters having a good time in the whitewater park. We threw plenty of sticks and had some good father/son time. We are not sure what the BuRecs plan is for raising the flows for the spring/summer, but will keep you posted.
Day trip rates will be increasing for the first time in 7 years. They will increase to $425 for a full day trip starting May 1st. You may book trips for 2010 before May 1st and receive 2009 rates. All day trips for 2011 will be charged at the new rate. At $425 our rates are still far less expensive than most fly fishing trips around the west. Other outfitters in the region have increased their rates to match even though they don't offer the amenities we do:
-17 miles of private access on Grey Reef, nobody can match that. In fact, most outfitters have NO private access. If you like being able to wade fish, stop for a potty break or drop anchor to land fish or rig rods...then you want an outfitter who provides their guests with private access.
-Full Day of fishing. It has become the norm for guides to get to the water at 9-9:30 and off around 4-4:30, Not with the North Platte Lodge and The Reef Fly Shop. We don't count driving as river time. You will be on the water around 8AM and off the water at 5PM with a break for lunch and to spell the guides.
-The North Platte Lodge and The Reef Fly Shop provides our guides with flies. How does this effect you? The guides don't have to be concerned with how much the fly costs and how easy it is to tie to replenish his supply. It is unlikely that a guide that supplies his own gear will have anywhere to selection of flies that our guides rely on. Our guides select the patterns that work based on the conditions, not the cost or supply.
Bugs of choice were San Juan Worms, leeches and Wicked Impalers. There were a lot of suspended fish on soft edges as the water dropped.
The North Platte Lodge still has some good early spring openings and a few spots between April 15th and August 15th. Spring fishing has always been and will continue to be excellent. Low clear water, good midge and baetis hatches and hungry fish.
Still cracks me up when I see other outfitters who use pictures of our guests/guides on their sites. Ask questions and make sure you are getting what you expect. "are those pictures on your site areas that you have leased to fish?" "that guy looks like an NPL guide, does he work for you?"
We are looking forward to warm and calm conditions today...50plus degrees. Saturday is going to be a little breezy before a liitle flury on Sunday...then 63F on Monday!(and calm)...we'll see. It's on folks!
Bookmark the homepage of TRFS as well as NPL for quick access to river, weather, road and flight conditions and current water flows etc. The links are bundled together at the bottom of the NPL homepage and on the right side of thr TRFS homepage.
Looks like our snow storm won't be as big as first reported. We might see a total of a couple inches with more 50 degree temps coming in the next couple days.
Thye North Platte Lodge has some openings for the beginning of April. This is the most talked about time at Grey Reef.
3/9/2010 WYOMING FLY FISHING GUIDE REPORT:**UPDATE**Grey Reef Reservoir was the recipient of a little burp. Consequently the North Platte River has less clarity than it did. Trent thought maybe a foot of vis right now. He also said the fishing was "silly"...go figure. He will be on the water today.
**SPRING FLUSHING FLOWS March 22-26**
the flush has been pushed back one week to begin the 22nd of March and terminate after the push Friday morning the 26th of March. Flows will start at midnight on Monday with 4000cfs released daily. Officails at the BuRec were unable to confirm the reason for starting the flush later than normal.
There has been some question regarding the spring flush. We have now heard many conflicting reports...latest is the 22-28th of March. We will get it nailed down soon. We hope for the earliest flush possible...sooner the better for spawn purposes. We also encourage the BuRec to not do the gate test until the spawn is over. The test effectively eliminates all flow in the afterbay and leaves the redds high and dry.
We are now entering some of the best fishing/weather of the year. Average temps near 50F for March. There are still some early April openings at the North Platte Lodge. Come see why Grey Reef is such a highly regarded fishery. We won't let you down!
The spring flush should be March 15-19 if all goes well.
Warm weather and clear water are still making for very good results at Grey Reef, Miracle Mile and Fremont Canyon. This weekend is supposed to be back in the 40s which is great for fishing and not so great for skiing. Nymphing midges, scuds, leeches and worms will work well. Swinging streamers will also get some attention. Look for isolated pods of risers after midges. They are touch to get but it is a fun challenge.
Grey Reef is at the winter level of 500cfs and fishing well. Nymphing will be the most productive. Scuds, worms, leeches and midges are manditory flies.
Miracle Mile is bouncing between 500 and 550cfs. Swinging streamers will invite some good nips. Try the Bronze Bugger or Goldie Locks. Nymphing is also productive with the same patterns for Grey Reef. But, you might add an orange beaded leech to the mix.
Fremont Canyon is always at 75cfs. It is clear and fishing well. Increased traffic makes lighter tippet and smaller bugs a good choice. Midges.
Spring is coming up on us quickly. Don't hesitate to get your trips booked.
This is the time of year when many shop for their annual fishing trips. Thanks for looking into the North Platte Lodge and The Reef Fly Shop! When you look at our site you see photos and reports from OUR trips. There are guides services out there that feature pictures from North Platte Lodge guide trips and claim them as their own. They even have pictures of customers wade fishing our private leases. Some even claim "full service" when they don't own a shop or a lodge. Some aren't even permitted to use BLM boat ramps or land. Ask questions, make sure you are getting what you expect.
Weather is always a common topic that folks can jaw about...and it happens to be pretty important in our business. Yesterday when I woke up it was 11 below zero in Casper. Trent and Katherine experienced a balmy 34 below at the lodge. Official Casper wind chill was 43 below zero...yep that is 75 degrees below the point that water freezes. I think that Trent mentioned wind chills of -8 in Beaumont, Texas yesterday? Brisk!
Come see us at the International Sportsman's Expo starting tomorrow at the Colorado Convention Center in lovely downtown Denver. It's pretty chilly for fishing and the snow has been sparse so far...might as well. But, if you are fishing or snow sliding and won't make it, Good for you!
Warmer temps have moved in and, as is typical, the winds have increased. Most of the North Platte River is flowing under ice, but the upper Grey Reef sections are open and fishing well. Hardy Grey Reef anglers will find most of the fish on soft edges and slow, deep tailouts.
Cold and snowy weather returned to the Alcova area. The river around Government Bridge is a little slushy, but open and very fishable up around the Grey Reef Dam area. Also, quite a few birds moving through.
Quite a few birds around and we are getting a nice storm so waterfowl hunters should be happy. Upper Grey Reef is open with very little edge ice and the water is clear. There is open water all the down to below Government Bridge. Fishing has been productive, so get out on the water!
You might notice that the website is looking a little different? There will be some mistakes and we will try to get those fixed as soon as we can. If you see something obvious let us know. I am excited about the links on the bottom of the home page...go check it out! You will find fishing reports, water flows, weather reports, road and flight info and maps all in one easy to use location. www.northplatteflyfishing.com will be getting the same treatment. We have also added some articles that give a brief description of the different floats on the Grey Reef system.
Merry Christmas!
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Yesterday was an amazing December day. 50 degrees and calm...this happens throughout the winter. Keep your eyes on the weather report and get here when it looks favorable!
North Platte Lodge rates will be increasing on Jan 1st. If you have your reservation in by then you will receive 2009 rates.
Thanks to Second Wind Performance in Casper, Wy. Last night they hosted a customer appreciation event at their spotless diesel mechanic shop/boutique. They run a tight ship. If you want the best service and skilled Techs for your diesel truck give them a shout.
Our season will really be slowing down as of this weekend. Time to get some projects taken care of and do a little fishing! The boys will be available for last minute trips. Keep an eye on the weather report and be ready to jump on it.
We fished sink tips and floating lines. Bread and Butters with a Platte River Special OR Platte River Spider trailer was very successful. Slower retrieve in deeper water with a sink tip was good on the upper. Yesterday we focused on floating lines and ended up finding most of our fish way back in the eddies. Later in the day we enjoyed hookups in the typical seam/drop spots.
Water Temps are in the mid to upper 40s. The weed situation on the upper is getting better every day with large areas of weeds clearing daily. Weed beds make excellent structure...fish 'em! It is getting cool and dark around 4:45 so shoot for ramp times around 5pm. Midges and baetis are the bugs to focus on when nymphing. Leeches, scuds and worms are good lead flies.
Pine squirrel leech attracted and kept a 26" brown yesterday. CONGRATS John and guide Ryan!
Water is off color below Government Bridge and dirty in town...the upper is very fishable with risers in the eve.
10/31 Even though we received a few inches of snow the upper Grey Reef is still in great condition. The river is getting a little green color down near town. Nymphs and streamers are producing the best. Scuds, leeches and PALs,JuJu baetis, mercury midges are good nymph choices. Goldies, Crawdaks and bergin buggers are streamers to think about.
We have a couple rooms available at the North Platte Lodge this weekend. Come see us for a last minute fix.
I know that the anglers at Grey Reef are concerned with the weeds. They can be frustrating if you are unfamiliar with them. Shorten your leader!! 6 feet is long...I would be around 4 feet. Light weight!! Start with a #4...2 #4s will be pretty heavy. If you are dragging moss in with every cast you are too long or too heavy. These fish...err...any fish will suspend. The notion that you must be on bottom is a nasty myth.
Today Alcova is having a power outage for maintenance reasons. Power won't be restored until 4PM. We have a back up generator at the lodge, but The Reef Fly Shop is dark. Sunday will be the same although power will be restored at 1PM.
Richie Jenkins of New Jersey was out yesterday after his successful antelope hunt. Seth and Richie hooked lots of fish and did it on streamers, dry flies and nymphing. I received a call yesterday evening...it was Richie saying the day was amazing. Always good to hear!
Trent has been able to do a couple small duck hunts down in front. There are a ton of ducks around and the hunting has been really good. Early season will be closing in a few days. JJ, our waterfowl phenom, is available for last minute hunts or cast and blast trips.
Days like today remind me how good we have it. We have tons of wade fishing access...which is nice on cold days. And we have our own shuttlers so we can do several short floats in a day...which is nice on cold days. We can fish for a couple hours and walk back to the lodge to warm up, then go back out...which is nice on cold days. We can set up a spread and call some ducks and geese right out front...which is nice on cold days. Today was wonderful, but we should be back to seasonal conditions in a day or two. Tomorrow is the first day of the flush. It should be interesting. We've got a few fly fishing guides out tomorrow so check back to see how things are going. We will be doing a number of trips this week, but will have guides available if the flush is too good to miss. Last time it was. I am one of the lucky ones who gets to be out tomorrow! So, I will report to Trent and he will likely post the results at www.northplatteflyfishing.com
JJ has been on a close to 2 week stint of guiding hunters or cast and blasters. Yesterday was no exception. He took out his long time guests the Liebers from Chicago for their fist ever duck hunt in true cast and blast form. They loaded the driftboat with decoys, fishing gear, guns and a dog. They were really excited about the success of their day. They shot a half dozen ducks, hooked a bunch of fish while wade fishing and swung a super light emerger rig in front of risers to top it off. They have already rebooked for the same weekend next year except adding one day to their trip.
A word of caution to folks floating from Grey Reef to Lusby. Our neighbors down the river have a pen raised pheasant hunting operation where most of the shooting is being done right next to the river. Yesterday we had a VERY close call. An unguided hunter shot a bird and a bulk of the pellets contacted the water not more than 5-10 feet in front of my boat. This was not a case of the shot falling down around us but the shotgun blast still having lots of force. If we were a few seconds earlier on our drift some one would have been hurt. This isn't even close to the first time this has happened on both guided and unguided hunts. We like our neighbors and we like their pheasant preserve. We send folks to them when they request a hunt like they offer. BUT, the careless shooting needs to come to an end. Eventually close calls will turn into an injury or, who know, maybe even a death? When you are floating the river I suggest you yell out to the hunters that you are there and they need to be shooting AWAY from the river.
PSST! Grey Reef Outfitters is OUR corporate name. When you see it used elsewhere you can be assured it being used in a way to try to get to our customers. Standard dirty techniques. Comical and desperate...still dirty.
10/2 Wyoming fly fishing at its best! Fishing remains very good. streamers, drys, nymphs?...what ever you want. Baetis, tricos, midges, caddis, psuedos, crane flies, leeches, crawdads, scuds etc. Lots going on. Get here you won't regret it!
We have had tons of ducks and geese flying around the lodge for the past couple weeks. A couple evenings ago there was a small bunch of Canada Geese flying over. JJ ran to his truck to get his call. Five seconds later the geese turned around and were cupped and ready to land in our parking lot. There were several dogs and several people milling around the parking lot so, of course, the geese didn't come it. It was an impressive display of calling...those geese were convinced the parking lot was the place to be!
PSST! Grey Reef Outfitters is OUR corporate name. When you see it used elsewhere you can be assured it was taken by a coat tail rider.
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Streamer enthusiasts look forward to the week of Oct 12-16 the flush is still on track!
Sage grouse wing shooting has been excellent. The Frankums group returned this year for a sage grouse cast and blast. We have been harvesting very nice specimens for the taxidermist.
Thanks to the Gordy's for a grand entrance this AM!
Nymphing is the most productive with Leeches, Crawdizzle, scuds on point and trailing cdc cased psuedo emergers, tailwater tinys, JuJu beatis and midges and the ever productive The Reef Fly Shop's PAL. Or get rid of the big bugs and concentrate on the little stuff.
Still tricos in the AM. Long light tippet and a reasonable pattern placed where the trout want to eat next will net fish often. Hoppers are still attention grabbers in riffles and drops...READ: Big fish. Psuedos in the PM and you have to pick out the larger risers in the pods of dinks...they are there. Trico duns in the PM the past few eves as well.
Streamers! Yep, streamer enthusiasts should be getting really excited because the Grey Reef trout are on the prowl. Sink tips in the runs and floating lines are fine for bank structure. Tie on a Tan Lead Eye Bugger, Goldie Locks, Belly Ache Minnow, OBS, Beldar Bug, The Reef's Crawdak etc for a good time.
Hunting has been great. There are lots of Sage Grouse to choose from. We just sent a couple big bombers to a studio for mounting.
Grey Reef myths are widespread. Last night I was told/asked that the fish are less than average size this year. ABSOLUTELY NOT! Our experience is that the North Platte River trout are significantly heavier this year. There are always a bunch of little (2-4") trout out this time of year. Catching on of these fish is not common. One thing that is true is Grey Reef trout tend to be larger(on average) on the upper stretches, but there are big and huge trout in the entire Grey Reef system. The farther from Grey Reef Dam you get the better your chances of being pestered by smaller trout, but there is always the chance you will hook you fish of a lifetime on any cast, anywhere.
The Reef Fly Shop has some really good late season deals. Buy a reel at a significant discount!
Miracle has been bouncing around 1600-1700cfs but this AM the bottom just dropped to 700cfs... Miracle Mile is fishing very well and the water conditions are great. Problem is the road conditions are not yet very good. By this afternoon things should be mostly dry for a trip to Miracle Mile.
Weather was variable today, but the fishing was solid. The fall season is as good as it gets on Wyoming s North Platte River.
The broken record syndrome continues with regard to the North Platte River and Grey Reef fishing report. It is really good. Hoppers, tricos, psuedos, streamers and nymphs take your pick.
Flow:800cfs will be dropping to 600cfs any day Clarity: Excellent, as good as we have this time of year Water temp: 57*f Streamers: Goldie locks, olive/brown bergin buggers, wiggler, crawdak, lead eye bugger sculpin tan
Dries: Para adams, no hackle trico, bunny dun baetis and trico, HOPPERS! Cahill and pmd patterns work for the psuedos Nymph: scuds, pine squirrel leeches, all day may, wd40, foam post rs2 etc
9/15 North Platte Lodge and Grey Reef fly fishing report is more very solid fishing. The boats on the upper did very well yesterday. The boats on the lower stretches did well also. Nymphing was great on a short leader with The Reef Fly Shop's Crawdizzle followed by a cdc cased psuedo emerger or soft hackle caddis. Trout were very willing to chase a streamer yesterday. We were using a goldie locks and bergin buggers. The hopper activity is still good. We fished hoppers very little but had a 21" rainbow that weighed in at 6lb! eat a hopper in very skinny water. A couple others ate a hopper one was 19"...not too bad.
If you have been thinking about trying Grey Reef now is the time. Our water is in superb condition and the fishing is excellent.
The Reef Fly Shop (Grey Reef Outfitters)is gearing up for the fall season. Fall flushing flow trips are booking fast. We have a very solid Sage Grouse season, but still have a couple dates available. And, we welcome last minute bookings for fishing trips.
Yesterday we had 6 boats out and 5 of us were on the upper Grey Reef section...the only boats up here. Fishing was good! Bill Comes, a North Platte Lodge regular, was with me and after a slow start he caught fire. Our goal was to target the fish slurping tricos but yesterday the hatch was dismal. The day before the hatch was incredible...one of those "you should have been here yesterday" things. But, we were still able to coax a few fish up on dries. Later in the day he threw a streamer for a few minutes and landed a nice rainbow. Nymphing was the most productive for us. Tan scuds and trico patterns in the AM and brown leech and a psuedo nymph in the PM was all it took.
Trent was the lone NPL/TRFS boat below Government Bridge. When I asked how his day went he said he said he had to pinch himself. He was guiding Greg and Christian Cisco. They are experienced sticks and would opt for dries and streamers over nymphing. Streamers weren't doing it for them. Nymphing was productive but they wanted more. Hoppers came through in a BIG way. The Ciscos are South Fork of the Snake locals and they said yesterday was the best dry fly day they had all season. Imagine the Grey Reef put above the South Fork for dry fly fishing? Special day indeed! The Ciscos and Trent and Katherine are on their way to Laramie this AM for the Longhorn/Poke confrontation. Trent will be the brown and gold guy in the middle of the burnt orange patch.
The Malone Group, a great bunch of guys from California, have had a good 3 of 4 days so far. They have landed a couple 22"-23" fish and lots of our cookie cutter 18"-20" trout. These boys have been coming for several years on this same weekend.
North platte River fishing report Flow:800cfs Clarity: 5 feet (awesome for Grey Reef) Floating debris: some floaters up high but pretty bad below Casper Water Temp: 58*f
Nymphs: olive and tan scuds, pine squirrel leeches, foam post RS2, CDC cased Psuedo, grey/olive wd40, all day may Dry Flies: hoppers (orange, tan, yellow) hair wing trico, trico bunny dun, para adams, no hackle trico
Delta Airlines rates into Casper have dropped tremendously. Book your flights now for next year. Better yet, do a fall Grey Reef Trip!
Sage Grouse season starts soon. Book a day trip or do a full lodging cast and blast/Hunt/fishing trip.
We are receiving a bunch of calls from hunters who are interested in booking a trip if they fill their tag sooner than expected. We are welcome to last minute bookings for fishing or waterfowl and upland bird hunts.
Trico fishing has been excellent. The spinner fall is coaxing big fish into eating our dry flies with regularity. It only lasts a couple hours so don't hesitate. North Platte River water conditions are great. Grey Reef is at 1000cfs and 55 degrees. We will start to see another drop in flows by mid September. The flush is likely a go....stay tuned.
8/24 The river is dirty below Government Bridge due to a storm last night. Also, Grey Reef has been dropped to 1200cfs. It should clear in a day or two. We will keep you posted.
The boys have been ramping up for wing shooting season. They have been out for a couple evenings scouting birds. They are happy at what they have found...lots of Sage Grouse.
Yesterday we participated in the Wyoming Fly Casters North Platte River clean up. It was a success...enjoy clean(for the moment at least) river and bank from Govnment Bridge to Robertson Rd.
Check out the new BLOG article on the Wyoming Fly Fisher. It talks about river issues and possible solutions. There is a new poll "Should Cardwell be fly only and all catch and release". VOTE!
The Wyoming Fly Casters have organized a river clean up this coming Saturday. If anybody would like to help give me a call at (307)237-1182. Erik
Pine squirrel leeches drifting through seems were getting abused. CDC cased PMD emergers had plenty of beatings. Fun...really fun. Tricos are coming off and every AM there are at least some riseers too pick off. The trico hatch will improve. Miracle is on fire as well. Beady(orange/brown) leeches don't stand a chance.
We are continuing to get rain storms that are keeping the prairie very fertile. Last night we had a good storm that thankfully didn't do any damage to the river. Bird cover is very good and they are getting a bumper crop of grass and grasshoppers. We are seeing lots of sage grouse. It is going to be a fun sage grouse season. Starts Sept 19 and ends the 30th.
We have a couple rooms available for the beginning of Sage Grouse season. Come do a cast and blast or just hunt or just fish? Our trout fishing and sage grouse hunting can't be beat.
7/31 Grey Reef did its typical abrupt cleaning. The water is in good shape and the fish are eating well. The AM trico spinnerfall is well worth being prepared for. After that is over keep your dry fly rod rigged with a PMD for afternoon risers.
7/26 Tricos are in full swing and the fish are keying in on them. They will eat the duns, but not as well as the spinner fall. When the spinners hit the water the trout go nuts. It is a very rythmic and controlled rise. You will hear little noises that are a combo pop and suck. This is telltale trico rise. If you can't see the noses get your eyes down at water level. Often times, the most accessible the trout will be in shallow riffles that peel off of a point. If you get downstream of the risers they are much easier to see.
Yesterday we didn't have the same activity as we had on the previous 5 days or so. The past week the fishing has been as good as it has been all year. The upper Grey Reef had fewer Sallies and PMDs so it seemed the fish weren't in their frenzy. We still had a respectible day.
Black Pulsating Emergers are great as a sunken trico pattern. Don't go out there without a similar pattern. CDC Cased PMD emergers, leeches, soft hackle caddis/sallie patterns, Mercer's Epoxy Backs etc. Streamers to sling include Goldie Locks, Bergin Buggers, Platte River Specials/spiders etc.
Wing shooting season is coming soon! Book one of our sage grouse cast and blast trips for a well rounded adventure. We have lots of sage grouse on over 70,0000 private acres. The opening of waterfowl should be excellent as well. Our chukar populations are strong for another fun option.
Golden Stones have slowed quite a bit at the Mile...but the Caddis hatch has been crazy while PMDs and Sallies have been good as well.
Tricos have just started to show up so within the next couple weeks we will have daily dry fly activity...last year it went into October. Fall baetis overlapped and we were poking risers throughout October.
Yellow Sallies, caddis and PMDs are the major hatches on the Reef and add Golden Stones at the Mile.
Trent and I were able to sneak away for the day and do some exploring of our own. We went and floated a little used section of the North Platte. The flows were big and the fish count low, but lucked into a lot of mean streamer eating brown trout. Yuk Bugs and Crawdaks...white rubber legs were the key. It was a lot of fun!
Pmds and Yellow Sallies are popping. Little Yellow Sloans, Poxy Back PMDs, Gabriel's Trumpet, FB Boit Nymphs and CDC Cased emergers and Split Cased PMD emergers are productive.
We are starting to have success on streamers as well. AND the carp are chasing...
Grey Reef is still at 1300cfs. We won't be disappointed if they don't drop it...and certainly not disappointed if they raise it. Fishing is still very good with nymphing being the most successful. PMD Barr Emergers are working up and down the whole river as are PALs, Lazys, PSLs and soft hackles hares ears. Yellow Sallies, caddis and PMDs are showing themselves more each day.
Fishing continues to be very good below Grey Reef and good at the "Mile". PMDs, caddis, crane flies, midges, yellow sallies etc are on the platter. Lots going on (bug wise) in the warm months. We had success yesterday with hopper/dropper rigs. They looked at the hopper and ate our caddis droppers...it was FUN.
DO NOT discount Grey Reef in the summer. We will have a great trico hatch for dry flies and throw streamers for monsters or nymph for numbers in the afternoon. July is getting pretty full at the lodge, but we have a few openings between July 28th and August 10th.
Do not come without your dry fly rod...it is going to be good. The nymphing has been very good. Today all we used were Lazies, PALs and Pulsating Emergers. Little bugs and little tippet. We were on the loosing end of many battles today...oh well we were just counting coup.
6/8/09 Fishing activity is still very strong on Grey Reef. Lots of fish and the water conditions are good. Clear and low 50s for water temps. Bugs of choice today were PMD Barr Emergers and several different Yellow Sallie nymphs. Worms, leeches and scuds are all producing. Midges are all over the place and the trout are eating them as well. We even tied on a soft hackle caddis pattern the other day. So much is happening during this time of year it is a kick! We are doing a lot of fishing trips and our schedule is busy until mid August. Then gets cranking again in early September.
Our guests did very well and landed alot of fish today. PMD Barr Emergers, PALs, Lazys, leeches, worms and black pulsating emergers were productive. We are still seeing more baetis than PMDs although the guys have seen a number of Yellow Sallies about. The fish have more into riffly water and are still in the slow stuff as well.
We love increased flows because the entire river becomes really productive. It already happened with the Dunivan group and JJ yesterday. They had a short day and were commenting on amazing fishing for such a short day. Midges, caddis, baetis and PMDs are all around. JJ was running a red Lazy Midge and a PAL and whacking fish the whole way down the river. Pulsating emergers, JuJu baetis, Mighty May, foam winged Rs2, PSLs and scuds are other good choices. We should be seeing the yellow sallies soon...try one they taste like grass.
We still have 2 rooms available for the 11-13 of June. Some one should take these spots! It is the most productive fishing of the year.
Lots of bugs today and good fishing. Wade fishing was great as lots of fish are in the riffles and nosed up to shelves. Midges, PMDs and baetis were bouncing around.
The North Platte River is at 1200cfs and scheduled to continue to increase over the coming week. The water is clear and warming slightly...48 degrees on the upper today.
There always seems to be a lag between good baetis and PMD fishing. Midges are the key here. Light fluro tippet and small bugs reign. Get rid of brightly color indicators and set on the slightest movement. The trout will crush bugs in the slow water so you have to be careful not to set the hook...just lift like a dry fly set.
We are really excited for summer and have high hopes for a productive trophy season...and carp...and dry fly fishing...
The "Party Like its 1999" party was a good time. Thanks to all who attended! A special thanks to Matt Cassel of Cliff Outdoors. He stopped by with an arm full of CLIFF schwag for the Reefers. Bugger Beasts, Bugger Barns, Super Days Worth and a couple of boat patched were crowd pleasers. Sorry to the poor folks who were "winners" of the bio strike and giant otter eggs.
Check the home page for updated lodge availability.
5/14/09 Fishing was really good yesterday...except for the few hours in the AM when the wind was mach 3. We had a late PM walk-in trip that resulted in some great photos. Eric landed a lot of fish with Bob Dye. They were lucky to spend most of the evening wade fishing and even got to do quite a bit of sight nymphing (no, not on the redds). The baetis hatch is still strong, but we are seeing quite a few yellow sallies showing up in stomach samples. PMDs, caddis and Yellow Sallies will begin to dominate the feed bucket soon.
Grey Reef is at 1000cfs and clear. Bates Creek has dropped so the river below is in good shape. Miracle Mile is 2400cfs, clear and fishing well...not as good as The Reef though. Fremont is very clear and is standard low flow. STAY BACK and approach the runs like a ninja. Baetis patterns are key...Pulsating Emergers, PALs, FB WD40, Mercury Baetis, Stalkups Baetis etc. Midges patterns include Lazy's, UV Choc. Emergers, Mercury Black Beauties etc. Leeches, worms, eggs and scuds are all producing well.
If you happen to read the Casper Star Tribune fishing report you can discount the "Baetis Caddis hatch"...although it would be fun if there was such thing! It was supposed to be baetis are going strong and caddis are starting...
Baetis are still going strong and we have had some incredible sight nymphing as a result. If you take your time and sneak up to shelves you will see trout nosed up eating emergers. Go short leaders light-to-no weight and use The Reef's Pulsating Emerger or Stalkups or Dorsey's Mercury baetis. Use a white or black Thing-a-ma-bobber so you won't spook them with a bright color.
Streamer fishing has not picked up yet although Zach and Chris from L.A. worked their butts off the other day trying. We saw one big brown and had a few chases and bumps, but didn't capitalize.
Miracl Mile is fishing well at 2400 CFS. It is clear and the fish were liking baetis patterns as well as the staple worms, beady leeches and halfbacks.
Cardwell is fishing well but requires patience. the water is very clear so stay way back when fishing a run. The Game and Fish dumped a bunch of gravel to try to encourage spawning next year. Why? Not sure... the population is good and hasn't changed even with the stocked fish that never survive. The trout already spawn without human intervention. The gravel looks to be too big?..unless we have a bunch of Camloops swimming around. I guess we'll see what happens.
The 2 Fly is this coming Thursday and Friday. There will be 25 boats so try to stay away from the 2 Fly guides...you will get lost in the floating glob. Best bet is to stay way behing them...and fish something other than a worm because the chances are high that each fish will be seeing thousands of worms bouncing down the river.
Grey Reef is in great shape and it is clear well below Government Bridge. Bates Creek is still running high and dirty, but the river looks very fishable throught the Narrows.
The closure is open in a couple hours...enjoy.
Congrats to Dick Jennings of Jackson. He landed 3 fish over 23" in 2 days. One brown 2 rainbows. Congrats to Bill Milligan of Montana he landed a 24" rainbow with Stu today. The fish are remarkably big this year.
The baetis hatch is in full swing. Look for suspended feeders as well as surface feeders. Ditch the worms and fish the hatch!
Brown and natural pine squirrel leeches were top producers and the PAL was very effective as well. Brown UV midges also tricked a couple trout. We had a good day although I had a slow start. Seth and Rick were dialed in right away and their guests had great days.
CONGRATS! to Dick Jennings of WY county 22 on a 23" Brown....way to keep the streak alive!
4/25 The baetis are in full swing and we even had the chance to catch a couple trout on dry flies...woo hoo! Nymphing has been very good. Reports from fly shop patrons have been favorable and the guides have been reporting stellar days.
CONGRATS to the Feigal group! Tim Welch landed a 27" brown trout yesterday with Seth at the helm. It ate a pine squirrel leech. His fishing partner Dan landed a 23" brown trout earlier in the day with Ryan on the sticks. Bob Dye invited his guests, the Perones, to the lodge for their first time. Yesterday their float cut short due to chilly wet weather, but they warmed up and went out for a wade fishing session when the baetis started popping. All smiles around the kitchen...for the fun day and good appetizers. Super productive on Grey Reef with PALs, pine squirrel leeches, JuJuBaetis, Pulsating Emergers, CDC Cased BWOs, Mercury Black Beauties.
Fremont is fishing well...baetis are the ticket. The water up there is CLEAR. Stand back and below the target water. Watch the fish. They are moving all over for the hatch.
Miracle Mile has been a roller coaster ride. One day is good the next leaves you scratching your head. We should have a good report by this eve. IF you want a really good golden stone pattern for the Mile check out The Reef's new Cooter Back. San Juan worms, half backs, orange beady leeches and rock case caddis are productive right now. Midges, baetis and scuds shouldn't be overlooked.
I am really excited that the baetis are in full swing. Great emerger rig fishing, and some fun isolated dry fly fishing. Come and get it!
The North Platte River is still running 1700cfs and the temps are in the neighborhood of 43 degrees. We are supposed to get some very springlike weather in the coming days...temps in the low to mid 70s.
Seth said today was probably the most productive day yet. His guests Colby and Randy were fishing uv chocolate emergers under mini impalers all day long. He didn't give me a number of fish, but I was out with him the other day and they boated 40 fish...today was better. Woo Hoo!
I spoke with Trent at lunchtime and he echoed Seth...really good fishing. All the boats out today had a great time.
Grey Reef is fishing well. The water temps range from 42 to 45 degrees. Nymphing with 7 - 9 feet and moderate weight has been productive. Midges, leeches, worms and scuds are still dominant but we are eagerly awaiting the baetis to really start moving. We had a really nice little hatch 2 days ago but yesterday was a weak display. Reef Worms, PALs, Lazy Midges, Pine Squirrel and Orange Beady Leeches, Wicked Impalers, olive and tan scuds, the Reef's AC Slayer, were all popular choices yesterday. For those wondering what the 4 winged bugs laying all over the water yesterday were...swarming termites. It happens every year...
We have a couple great spots availble in the North Platte Lodge in the middle of April...call for a last minute fix. May has a couple really nice spots available for one room (2 fishers). If you want to get the full Grey Reef experience book a lodge stay for mid July. We enjoy very consistent dry fly fishing, streamer fishing and our staple nymphing. The river is virtually devoid of fishers and the weather is fantastic. You can even try your hand at "Carping".
Be very suspicious of any "seasoned" Grey reef guide who claims that Grey Reef is only productive during April and May...this really displays their lack of knowledge and experience on Grey Reef. There are few outfitters here for a reason. You must spend a lot of time on this river to have her give up her secrets...and there are many. These secrets are the difference between success and failure during the remainder of the year. I'm not trying to say that Grey reef is complicated, but fishing the same bugs and using the same techniques as you would during the spring may not work.
The North Platte Lodge and The Reef Fly Shop guide crew know that any time of year is "the time to be here" is isn't limited to a couple months.
Nymphing is producing the best with Lazy Midges, orange beady leeches, JuJu Baetis, Pulsating emergers, PALs etc. The beatis(blue winged olives) are moving, but have yet to show themselves in sizable numbers. The rainbows are back on the redds and should be left to do their thing. I know it is tempting to have big fish in shallow water right in front of you. RESIST THE URGE! You can do it. But, it you can't PLEASE don't walk in the redds. This is far more destructive than a few pelicans, osprey or herrons.
Trent, Seth and I wade fished yesterday afternoon. It was the low tide of the second day of the flush. The water was in surprisingly good condition. We hooked plenty of fish on both nymph and streamer rigs. It was a beautiful afternoon, the spawning gravel was already noticably cleaner and the fish were eating...what more could we ask for?
****SPRING CLOSURE STARTS APRIL 1ST*****
There is no fishing from cable to cable through the month of April.
Fly Shop Creek is big and muddy right now. It is working on destroying the afterbay. But, the timing couldn't be better as the flush starts tomorrow. The North Platte River was blown out at Lusby today by about 2pm. The fishing should get very good by mid week...even during the low tide of the flush. I will get some before and after pictures posted tomorrow. We are going to be out to fish some runs that are only available once(sometimes twice a year).
Fishing continues to be VERY productive. Typical bugs are attracting attention. Stop at the shop and talk to Trent about the latest test subject...a crawdad. We have received almost all of our custom patterns. Stop in.
April is the North Platte River's month of plenty at Grey Reef. We have good availabiity for one room during the middle of the month. This is the most popular time of year on Grey Reef and for good reason....lots of fish.
Saturday is going to be a scene. Excellent weather/water/fishing conditions will bring 'em out. Have fun and play nice! A cold front is supposed to spoil the fun late Sunday. Don't tuck tail and run, big nasty weather events can produce the very best fishing. Monday should be interesting. Stop at The Reef Fly Shop and check out our selection of custom patterns. Psst... the crawdak is here!
The same bugs are producing. Reef worms, Simple Minded midges, Lazys, PALs, scuds and leeches. The North Platte River is in excellent condition. It is clear all the way from Alcova to Casper. Check Bolton and Bates Creek before doing a float below Government Bridge. Or call the North Platte Lodge or The Reef Fly Shop for the current conditions. We are offering rental low profile Clackacraft driftboats for use at Grey Reef. Rentals are available throught The Reef Fly Shop. Price includes a shuttle and we can arrange to transport the boat if you can not pull it with your vehicle.
The 2009 guide season is well under way. We had a number of boats out this weekend and all did well. Wade fishing was especially productive as the trout are stacked up in the riffles. PALs, Simple Minded midges, pine squirrel leeches, scuds and pulsating emergers have been very productive.
The North Platte Lodge still has some good availability in April. Call for dates.
It is shaping up to be a great season!
In the wake of the economy The Reef Fly Shop has increased our inventory. Sounds a little backwards, but we intend to show you that a visit will be well worth it. Online retailers won't give you the high level of service OR the great deals you will find at The Reef Fly Shop. If you are in the market for a rod or waders or ? Stop in, you will be pleasantly surprised. We have a great selection of flies in our discount bin. You will find patterns like otter eggs, buggers and Barbed WiresTM.
3/3/2009 We have received word that the spring flush has been pushed back a couple weeks...starting Monday March 30th and ending Friday April 3rd. We suspect that some bridge construction in the area needs a little more time to be prepared for 4000cfs. Stay tuned and go fly fishing Wyoming!
The Grey Reef section of the North Platte River is back to very good clarity. Even below Government Bridge and all the way to Casper. This week is going to be spectacular, look for us on the river if you are in the area! Trent, Katherine and I have been busy doing some renovations in the guest rooms and the wader area. We think you will be pleasantly surprised! Also, there will be tables out on the back deck. Most of our guests spend much of their time on the back deck looking over the prairie and the North Platte River. The addition of some tables will be nice for eating breakfast, playing cards or lounging.
The fishing is still very good. Nymphing has been best with orange bead mohair leeches, pine squirrel leeches, scuds in olive and amber and try The Reef's NEW AC Slayer as a midge emerger...strange name good pattern. For streamer enthusiasts try the Bread and Butter.
The new Scott A3s have been popular. We are already down to only one 6wt. Great economic slump buster rod, built in the USA and is a LOT of rod for the $...stop in and check them out.
We are happy that the Natrona County Commisioners allowed some much needed repair and expansion of the Grey reef access area. There is a new parking lot! No more parking in the muddy ditch along the road. But, it will be interesting to see how folks deal with parking in the new lot? Parking along the boat ramp will hopefully be a thing of the past.
Congrats! to Adrian and Kathy Keeler. They are the proud parents of a new baby boy(#2). His name is Garrett Allen Keeler...welcome! Many of you remeber Adrian as a North Platte Lodge guide for 6 years. He is a great friend and still guides for us on occasion.
2/27/09 wyoming fly fishing...Seth and Mike floated yesterday. Lots of mactivity(I know it is spelled wrong!!) on beady leeches and amber and olive scuds. Midge patterns produced a few fish. They noted some fish lining up under the shelves taking emergers. It is always nice when the trout at Grey Reef come out of the slow deep stuff. Streamers were also productive...mostly on the Goldie Locks.
Spring fishing is fast on its way. Give us a call at the lodge or fly shop to book a trip or chat.
THE NORTH PLATTE LODGE AND THE REEF FLY SHOP GUIDES have more cumulative expereince than any other operation in the region...period. Careful! Don't believe everything you read!
The upper river is still in good shape(as of 9AM)...but muddy below Government Bridge. Call for current updates, we live and work overlooking the uppermost part of Grey Reef so we can give you a play by play.
Wyoming Fly Fishing Report for 2/25/09
-Grey Reef was muddy at the Narrows yesterday morning. When I left the Lodge in the evening Fly Shop Creek was running pretty good and appeared to be effecting Grey Reef Reservoir. Bates Creek was also low and clear yesterday AM but was plump and dirty by early eve.
The warm weather pattern will probably have The North Platte River pretty colored up for a while. Check in OR call with updates! There's nothing like fly fishing in Wyoming, but we want your experience to be favorable.
There were several reports of tough fishing yesterday, while one Grey Reefer said it was as good ever. Who knows what was going on? Stu was guiding yesterday and he felt it was tough as well.
We have been receiving a lot of calls for early season day trips the past week. I've read several articles that are saying that ski resorts are posting as many or more skier days than last year. I guess folks aren't going to cut out having fun as they cinch the belt. I know I'm not!
The North Platte Lodge has some awesome post spring flush spots available. These are from March 19th - March 28.
We will be offering significant discounts for multi room bookings. Give me a call at (307)237-1182 for details.
The North Platte River is open all the way from Grey Reef to Casper. But, the water clarity is best on the upper Grey Reef section.
The North Platte Lodge is sorry that the state of the economy is forcing some of our guests to have to sit this year out. But, this also opens up opportunities for new guests to be able to fall into some excellent spots.
Recent openings include:
-April 18-25 (room for up to 8 fishers)
-May 20-23 ( one room available for 1 or 2 fishers)
-May 28-June 2 (one room available for 1 or 2 fishers)
-July 2-6 (two rooms available for up to 4 fishers
-July 12-16(rare 4 room spot for up to 8 fishers)
Check around and you will find out that we are very affordable, easy to get to and you won't miss anything from the high priced destinations. Our fishery is second to none and our guide staff is excellent. Come to Wyoming were the fuel prices are low, fish are big and the crowds....what crowds?
Get your fishing fix while you can!
Our big snowfall is trying to melt away, but now the weather is cooling off again. Today we will see highs in the upper 20s but calm winds. The upper river is open and fishable, but it is frozen over at Government Bridge. There has been almost no traffic on the river and it is fishing well!
Again, it is time to start thinking of fishing dates and checking availability. If the spring starts early we will be busy in March and busy in April on a typical spring. We are starting to get a bunch of our new inventory in at The Reef Fly Shop. Trent has been working to get everything in order for the Feb. fishers.
Plan on floating and edge ice if you venture out soon. I haven't hear if the river is iced over at Lusby? Nymph with scuds and midges.
**Check the home page left column for info on cheap plane tickets to Casper**
We are all excited for the 2009 season! We have been getting lots of emails and calls for 2009 bookings. I hope we have been able to get everybody close to their desired dates. We do have an excellent spring opening (this is a rare 4 room/8 fisher spot)Arrive April 18th fish 19-21 and depart on the 22nd. Our next available full lodge opening is July 12th-17th. Spring fishing on the Grey Reef section of the North Platte River is unbelievable!
Blue Quill Angler had an impressive showing. There were several times that I was unable to elbow my way in to visit with the owners. Pat and Jim have a great operation and are super guys. They will have a large booth at the Expo...don't miss it!
We hope everybody had a great Christmas! Visiting friends and family and enjoying Wyoming's endless outdoor activities were our highlights. Can't complain about the gifts or food either!
We are hopeful that Ullr will bring the snow! Ullr was the Norse god of skiing and hunting, and is now commonly associated with snow. A huge snowpack would do wonders, in the short term, for my appetite for nordic snow sports. But, it would be fabulous for the fishing for the next several years. In the spirt of the season pour a dram and encourage Ullr to bring the snow. We can all be honorary Berserkers for a toast! Happy New Year!
Merry Christmas! from all of us at the North Platte Lodge and The Reef Fly Shop.
12/16 Might be okay to get back on the river soon? We are just finishing up a cold spell with lows of 20 below zero. The river developed some floating and edge ice FAST. It was in the mid 20's ABOVE zero today...so that was nice. This latest weather system didn't do a whole lot in the way of pushing birds to the area. The guys were out a couple days ago and were only able to call in one goose.
12/10 The fishing has been really good...streamers, nymphs and dries. The boys from Montana that just left had and incredible day.
Regardless the fishing is still very good. Nymphing winter patterns is probably the most productive. Scuds, midges and leeches. The Reef's Mini-Impaler is also effective. Streamers have been good with smaller bugs and slow swings/strips.
Nymphs, dries and streamers all are on the plate. There a lot of fish rising in the afternoon, they are eating baetis and midges, but will greedily take a simple para Adams. Nymphing has been productive on beatis and midge patterns as well as leeches, scuds and light streamers(like a Platte River Special). Effective streamers have been Goldie Locks, Near 'Nuff Sculpins, Orange Blossom Specials, Platte River Specials, Bergin Buggers in olive. We have been stripping pretty slow...it seems to get the most attention. The guys have been primarily throwing streamers on floating lines and long leaders. They can mend easier to get the bugs down in the faster/deeper water. And, have a little more control for stripping slow in the moderate depth areas. But, Trent landed a 25" cutbow stripping an OBS quickly on a sink tip the other day. I don't want to give the impression that floating lines are the ONLY way to go.
Our first week of the Bahamas Ragged Island trip was cancelled due to hurricane Paloma. It has been rescheduled and we are crossing our fingers that the next group (that leave this Saturday) will be able to get there.
I was able to get out for a couple hours yesterday. I decided to only go for risers. The trout were doing what I had hoped and I caught many fish. Most were little guys, but I did land a couple very nice fish. I was fishing below Casper. The water is nice and clear, but there are lot of floating weeds.
Trent and Katherine took a day trip to reconnect/regroup to our friend's place in Wendover Canyon. They enjoyed catching a bunch of big, healthy rainbows on dry flies. Good for them!
This would be an excellent time to get on a trophy trip. The weather is pretty tolerable and the "big" fish (25" or better) have been active and available. *WARNING* We do not poach big fish off of redds. We feel that a trophy taken off of a redd is cheating and therefore doesn't count. Expect to fish banks and runs and cover as much water as possible, as we will not hover for hours over redds.
My wife and I took our little boy to the trail system in Casper (5 minutes from the house) so he could ride his bike and try to catch a fish. After a vigorous ride we walked to the banks of the North Platte River...clear, low water with many rising fish. I had just had my eyes dialated, so I was having a very hard time seeing anything. My wife rigged up a little caddis first, on the new 3 wt, and within a cast or two she was hooked to a 14" rainbow. Pretty cool when you can go just a few moments from the house, right in the middle of town, and catch trout on a dryfly. It is curious why there aren't any other fishers to be seen? I know that the Casper section hasn't been written about in the magazines and there aren't the numbers and size of fish that you would find up near the lodge, but there are lots of available trout, easy wading and very close to 60,000 people. Parents! Get your little ones out on the river, even if it is going after little (easy) fish. A high rate of success gets their attention and holds it. Call The Reef Fly Shop or NPL to get directions to great pieces of public water.
We are greatful to all of our guests over the years. Thanks for continuing to support the North Platte Lodge and The Reef Fly Shop. It is special when you can have a job that allows you...err...makes you to have fun at all times. Fun is what this is all about. You can catch and release 50 fish, but if it isn't fun what is the point? We are really looking forward to next season and seeing everybody again. Winter well and remember the North Platte River fishes well year 'round. Winter can be some of the best fishing of the year. Give us a call and do a winter trip. Just to prove it go to northplatteflyfishing.com and check out our video that we did last Feb. That day was amazing. At one point in the video Trent says "That ought to be good for a fish". At that moment Ryan hooks up. I won't blame you if you change your focus to the snow...I'll be skiing as much as I can.
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Streamer patterns of interest were the Platte River Special (chasing a near 'nuff sculpin) on the "Mile". Goldie Locks was productive on the lower stretches through town. Caddis are all over the entire river...especially in the PM. Baetis and psuedos are still actve...more so the baetis. Midges are around. BUT, the most interesting thing that I have witnessed lately is the YELLOW SALLIES on the "Mile". I don't thing I have seen a yellow sallie at Grey Reef since the end of July, but they are still coming off on Miracle Mile. I watched fish swirling and slashing just under the surface the other day when a few sallies were emerging from a heavy riffle...strange but good!
It seems that my last report was lost...here's the jist.
Trent and JJ had a Cast and Blast trip that was very good. The first day the hunters harvested sveral geese, many ducks (including Teal, Gadwall, Widgeon and Mallard) chukars and pheasants. They finished the day catching a good number of fish.
Day two was a jet boat hunt that yeilded ducks and geese again, but the focus was fishing.
10/13 We experienced our first snow of the season this past weekend. Mother Nature dropped several inches of heavy wet snow in the area (the kind that sticks to fully leaved trees and breaks branches off). Fishing has been very good and the North Platte River cleared dramatically in the past week. But, this wet snow coupled with quickly rising temps will cause some runnoff. We expect the upper river at Grey Reef to remain clear and very fishable. But, it will probably ne dirty for a couple days down low. The forecast for this weekend is good. Mid 60s and calm. Fishing should be excellent!
The psuedo hatch is still going very strong and making for big number days. The baetis (blue winged olive) should really get going after this cool down. Tricos are still available and the fish are rising to them. Midges are making their cool weather push and will remain a mainstay until next spring's baetis...er...worm hatch.
Nymphing remains excellent, dry fly is also a good option and pods will be seen in select areas. Streamer has been a little hit and miss but the diehards are poking some big fish. It isn't over folks...far from it. Grey Reef is ripening!
Miracle Mile is fishing very well...just like Grey Reef. Psuedos are dominant on the upper reaches of Grey Reef and there are Tricos and Baetis, along with caddis. The Miracle Mile has a very good caddis hatch and tricos...there are even some yellow sallies fluttering around. We were shocked to see them.
Lots of fish on the surface in the PM with the psuedo hatch. Some good pods in the AM with the tricos and the baetis are bringing 'em up on the lower reaches.
Don't be worried about our little weather system coming through this weekend. The reason we love fall so much is because of the weather and bug patterns. We have had summer up until now. Hopefully we will get to experience some "fall" fishing. Bring on the blanket hatches of baetis AND non stop streamer action.
Fishing is also really, really good right now. Psuedos are everywhere. We are having big number days...as far as hookups. The trout are doing a good job of escaping. We are still landing lots of fish though. The Miracle Mile has been great as well. These fish are big and hot!
The fishing has remained good with the past couple afternoons on the "upper" a little less productive. The mornings have been very good. We are seeing some very nice fish, but we haven't been on the hunt for big fish for a couple of days.
Tricos are back at it for more great dry fly action for the 2008 Grey Reef season. Baetis are also on the dinner plate. Our trout love the baetis hatch, but they don't lay on the bottom waiting for them. Don't punish yourself by dredging up algae on every drift. Keep your rig up off of the bottom.
We are very busy until the middle of October, when things slow down a little. Waterfowl opens the 4th of October. We just had a room open for an opening weekend cast and blast package. There are lots of ducks on the river right now...mostly teal. Your guide will either set dcoys out in front of one of our blinds for an early AM hunt then finish the days fishing the North Platte River OR a true cast and blast where you use the drift boat to transport dog, decoys and hunting/fishing gear to set up at a remote location.
The Game and Fish cancelled the fall flushing flow due to some work being preformed on the dam and near the river. We hoped that they would still try to manage some sort of a flush. The BurRec had alredy agreed to a flush meaning they were able to afford the water usage. The North Platte River is experiencing a substantial load of sediment that the fish could certainly do without. We will cross our fingers and hope for a couple much needed burps.
Regardless the fishing will remain great. The weed situation this year is great. Fewer weeds than I ever remember. Last night we dipped below 30f so the leaves should be flipping quickly and the river growth breaking up.
The Reef Fly Shop will have several of its products on clearance...including some Ross reels, Simms waders etc. Stop in!
The fall flushing flow is going to happen starting the 13th of October. We are having a lot of our guests book during that week and still have some availability. This is a streamer fishers nirvana.
Keep a streamer and dry fly rod rigged and ready. Also, the "Mile" is fishing well. The flows are low...just like the Reef. 600cfs.
The Reef Fly Shop will now be offering drift boat rentals right at Grey Reef. They will be Clackacraft 16 foot Low Profile driftboats... the boat that most of the Grey Reef guides row.
The North Platte River is now flowing at 6oo cfs. The water is in good condition and the recent rains DIDN'T disturb the river. Fishing has been good. We are seeing good baetis hatches already!
The North Platte Lodge has a couple of openings yet this month. Call for availability. (307)237-1182
We are seeing more and more doves in the area. Sage grouse opens on the 20th and blue grouse are already available. We have quite a few cast and blasts scheduled for the coming weeks, but still have some space. Sage grouse opens the 20th and closes the 30th and makes a great subject for a cast and blast trip.
Scuds, leeches, crawdads, crane flies etc are good when flows increase. But, don't abandon the idea of nymphing with midges, psuedos, baetis on light tippet and shorter leaders. I suggest keeping your rigs off of the bottom if you don't feel like collecting a gob of algae on every drift.
Lots of junk floating and suspended on the lower stretches of the North Platte River...just above and below Casper. But, it should be short lived.
Be careful believing what you are told about the upper Grey Reef section during the fall season. Lots of huge fish come from this water in the late months (more than any other section) and the fishing is excellent. We love the whole river and won't limit ourselves OR our customers to certain areas. There is good access, a good fly shop with good advice, and an awesome fishery with better/more trout on the upper reaches of Grey Reef...period!
We have spent time on the river between Casper and Glenrock lately. The water is clear , but there is a bunch of floating/suspended floogies (moss) everywhere. Plan on cleaning your flies almost every cast. For streamer fishers, seek out the risers and they will hammer you streamer if presented semi-quiet. Have fun!!
September and October are excellent months to visit Grey Reef. There are few fishers in the area. You will ask yourself "Why aren't there more people here?" after you spend a day on the water.
Tricos, pseudos, caddis, a few baetis, some PMDs a handfull of Yellow Sallies...etc. Lots of food available to the trout and they aren't passing it up. Still some good groups of risers during the morning and late eve.
Pine squirrel leeches, soft hackle hares ears, our NEW pattern the Couch-Pa-Sudo (excellent pseudo nymph), sunken tricos, cdc cased PMD emergers, PALs, scuds etc are the flies to copy the plethora of current trout grub. Including (but not limited to) Tricos, scuds, worms, water boatmen, leeches, caddis, pseudos, baetis, PMDs, yellow sallies, midges, crawdads, minnows of various types, even a couple of big stone flies. I can't stress enough how good the fishing has been this summer. It will get even better with the big fall baetis hatches and the 2nd wave of tricos. We will see how the fish respond to the lack of weed beds and the structure they provide...it will be nice for not collecting weeds on your flies.
It has been several months that I have added a new article to the blog "The Wyoming Fly Fisher". It has been a busy season and I have a hard time sitting down and writing with so much sunshine. Check out the new article IF you like Grey Reef, dry fly fishing, trout or marginal writing.
Congrats Trent Tatum on a 24" rainbow this morning on a dry fly!! Fish are still eagerly sucking trico spinners off of the surface in the AM.
The water dropped to 1500cfs for a bit then rebounded back to 1700cfs. Temps are still cool...57 on the upper and 62 degrees at Morad Park(in Casper) at about 4pm.
Fishing is still awesome with trico spinner dry fly activity in the morning. Nymphing with midges, caddis, PMDs, pseudos, scuds all day. And, we experienced some incredible streamer fishing this past week.
The river has been VERY quiet. Although we will get busy again for the next couple weeks.
It is time to plan your fall trip. There are still some good lodge openings in October and a couple spots in September. We still have a couple Sage Grouse spots available the season is 9/20-9/30. Dove opens in early Sept as does our preserve pheasants.
The North Platte Lodge has a couple short September spots available...one would be a great sage grouse cast and blast trip. We still have some October dates available and IF the BuRec gives us another fall flushing flow be here on the second Monday of the month! During last year's flush was the most amazing streamer fishing we have ever seen.
We are putting out a cry for help. It seems Andy Parker left his lucky North Platte Lodge hat in Seth's Jeep. If you should find it on the highway, bottom of the river or wherever we would like it returned to Andy. We are offering a small reward. We will try to bribe one of our Dallas groups to include you in their bi-annual contest "The Texas Creel".;)
Grey Reef is still Rockin and Rollin. Dry fly fishing on the upper is excellent. But, you will have to force yourself away from catching a bunch of fish while nymphing. The water is in incredible condition. Clear and still cool for this time of year. PMDs, caddis, scuds, yellow sallies, midges and tricos are on the plate. The streamer fishing is getting good. The guides are having good success on research trips in preperation of our Trophy Trips. Jason put a 26.5 inch brown trout in the net the day before yesrerday.
Congrats to Butch of Denver on his 25" brown first thing yesterday AM! Also congrats to Bill Wichers on his almost 25" rainbow today!
Water conditions are great on a large part of the river above Casper. Below Government Bridge the pine squirrel leech and soft hackle sallies/caddis patterns are working well. Stop in to The Reef Fly Shop for great deals on flies. 13 bucks a dozen for good patterns...not the dogs. We are making room for our own line of custom Grey Reef/Miracle Mile fly patterns. Oh, and try Gabriel's Trumpet...that is what the big rainbow ate!
I want to caution folks about some of the misinformed fishing reports that are out there. We have had a couple referals from folks who were told that Grey Reef is too warm to fish or that the fish don't feed well in the summer months. This is absolute garbage, and these reports come from people who are not familiar with this river. Call a local outfitter!! We(for example)live at Grey Reef and both of our businesses are here. Our gudes are on the water (Grey Reef) every day....as well as other local trophy fisheries. We don't come here when the other rivers blow out or when the fishing is "easy". We spend all of our time here and know this river as well as we know anything. The other local outfitters are the same way. Why people would hire a guide from hundreds of miles away(with no BLM permit) is...well...doing themselves a HUGE disservice. Your success is largely based on your guides knowledge of the river (this goes for any river), do yourself a favor and hire a local reputable guide.
Stop into The Reef Fly Shop for awesome deals on flies. We are blowing out many of our patterns to make way for our new selection of custom REEF bugs. The flies that are discounted are not "dogs" these are great flies that will work in many places. Per dozen price is more than 50 percent off on patterns like RS2's, Molting Scuds, many baetis, midge and PMD nympphs.
3 25"+ trout were landed today. 2 by Bob Zabroski of El Paso and one by Dick Dempsey of El Paso. Their humble(yet pretty impressive) guide was Stu. Ryan of Greeley Colorado landed a 23" rainbow with JJ to best his grandpa, Tuffy.
This is the time of year to really explore the North Platte River. This area has so much to offer...especially in the summer. Target Trophy Trout, sight cast to cruising carp (Trent landed a 21LBer yesterday) fish hoppers on the Sweetwater River, great nymphing all over. We are very busy right now, but still have some guides available. We are glad to see that folks are opening their eyes to the North Platte in the warm months! We encourage every fisher to bring multiple rods starting this time of year. A streamer rod, your nymphing stick and a dry fly rod in case we see some risers. See you soon!
The North Platte Lodge and Reef Fly Shop guests were spanking fish before the mud reached them. Then they departed the muddy river and continued a very successful day. The weather for the end of June is spectacular. Upper 70s to low 80s in the day and in the upper 40s to low 50s at night. The river is remaining cool...mid 50s. This is excellent news! We are going to have a stellar summer.
The Miracle Mile is fishing great. The water is it's standard tanic stained brown, but the visibility remains good. Golden Stones are just starting to reach the surface.
We should be back to fishing the Sweetwater River soon. The Wind River Range feeds this historic small stream fishery, and the "Winds" had a good snow pack this year.
We have had a lot of inquiries about our prairie dog trips. They have been going very well and our guests have been excited about the private "towns".
CARP!! It is carp season folks. Grab a copy of the Sept 2008 issue of Fly Fisherman Magazine. Dave Whitlock wrote an excellent article that is the sequel to his "Golden Ghost" article of 10 years ago. These fish are not easy or weak, but oh so fun! Call the North Platte Lodge and The Reef Fly Shop to book a carp trip.
For those of you waiting for us to give the go-ahead on our Trophy Trips...get ready. It should be happening very soon!
We still have a couple July spots available in the lodge and September is almost full. We do have 2 rooms in September at the beginning of Sage Grouse season 21st-24th. This is an awesome Cast and Blast!
Miracle has been fishing very well. The Golden Stones are not really making their mark yet, but the trout are happy to eat San Juan Worms, Beady Leeches, Pat's Rubber Legs and Hares Ears. The flow at the "Mile" is 2500cfs and the temp is 55 degrees.
LOTS o' bugs on the slate right now!. Caddis, PMDs, rogue Baetis, Midges, Crane Flies, Leeches, Scuds, Yellow Sallies, Stu landed a 26"+ Brown nymphing a Reef Worm yesterday. Maybe the Tricos will show soon? Trout have been eager to rise when they get the chance. The PMDs are easy targets for them, espesially when they are flopping around on the surface struggling the free themselves from their shuck.
The North Platte Lodge and The Reef Fly Shop have been busy the past weeks. This is nice bonus of the surrounding fisheries being blown out due to a heavy snowpack running off. We hope this will open the eyes of many who believe the North Platte River doesn't fish well in the warm summer months. Some of our most productive days are in the middle of summer. And the ability to really target the big 'uns...carp included!
The North Platte Lodge aquired another large lease for hunting. This historic ranch has great Sage Grouse potential as well as an over abundance of Pairie Dogs.
6/15 Grey Reef is nice and clear once again. That will likely change when/if the BuRec drops Grey Reef Reservoir. The little dirty spells only last a couple of hours, but could be totally avioded IF hydroelectric power demand was a little higher. C'mon folks turn on your A/C and lights! Just kidding!! It is actually nice to see that the power demand isn't so high that Alocova is turning the turbines all night long. It hasn't been like that for several years. Another product of our cool spring.
Fishing hasn't suffered a bit as a result. Hookups are often and fierce. Dry fly has been productive at times and the nymphing is stupid. Streamers are also getting a lot more attention. Baetis are still around, so use a size 18 or 20 baetis immitation with a PAL dropper. Pine squirrel leeches are producing and worms are not...not really.
Flows are still at 500cfs and the average water temp is 54 degrees.
We have one June lodge spot available. Three nights for one or two fishers 6/23-6/25. If you take this spot, bring your streamer, nymph and dry fly rods. Your guide will likely work you over by having you change rods all day. Be sure to book private stream trip on the Sweetwater River. We have 7 miles of exclusive private access and the hoppers should be productive by then.
6/7 Grey Reef continues to fish well. Fish are still eating off of the surface, as well as, streamers and nymphs. Pine squirrel leeches, tan and olive scuds are productive point flies. PALs, choc UV emergers, rhinestones, CDC cased emergers in PMD or baetis. Right now there isn't a need to fish a big point fly. 2 little bugs will work just as well.
Congrats Clark Smyth of Rock Creek Anglers! He was a guest in Stu's boat and landed a 26+" brown on Frriday. It ate a pine squirrel leach on a nymph rig while wade fishing NPL ground.
Streamer fishing is really picking up steam. A moderate retrieve off of the banks and throught the runs is producing good results. Water temps are approaching the mid 50's. The temp has increased 8 degrees in a week and the fish are hot!
Pine squirrel leeches, brown UV midges, PALs, and olive scuds were very productive today. Lots of bugs were hatching and the trout were slashing near the surface to eat emergers. This weekend would be a great time to be here.
Remember! The Reef Fly Shop runs a shuttle service. Stop in to get advice, bugs, ice and a shuttle.
Our early July lodge spots are almost full, but we still have June 18-21 one room, and a couple good July spots. Our prairie dog hunts are gathering a lot of interest. Book a cast and blast for mid summer! Throw streamers for trophy trout and hunt some prairie dogs. Our sage grouse hunts are also booking fast. This is a great time of year to spend a few hours in the AM wingshooting and then go after Grey Reef trophies in the afternoon...you may even get some dry fly activity on our great fall blue winged olive hatches.
5/22 The North Platte River fishing report remains very good. The guys are hooking fish everywhere and especially in water with a little more current. The guys fishing long and heavy are doing well in the slow water also. Baetis are still coming out with regularity. Midges are also very evident right now. This time last year we started seeing PMDs and Yellow Sallies. I think we will have a little while before they start showing up in numbers. I hope the baetis hatch continues for a while, it is a kick!
Streamers worked very well for me a couple of days ago. Near 'Nuff Scuplins in tan flying off of the end of a new Scott X2S 9'6wt were the most productive. Nymphers should try pine squirrel leeches. pulsating emergers, go old school with a small BH pheasant tail, worms always catch fish, BTS nymphs PALs and All Day Mays.
The water is starting to clean up below the bridge, although Bates Creek is still high and brown. Baetis (blue winged olives) are still very present and the fish are happy to eat 'em. Leeches, worms and scuds are also producing. Midge hatches have been good and shouldn't be ignored.
We have a couple of vacancies in June and early July. One room June 18-21, and One room June 23-25. In early July we still have a couple spots for as many as 6 fishers. This is several of our guides favorite time to fish the North Platte River. We have PMDs, yellow sallies, golden stone flies, tricos, caddis and the streamer fishing really heats up. The weather is nice, the fish are eating well, and the springtime crowds have all but gone.
The Miracle Mile is in great shape. The water is flowing around 2000cfs. BIG olive scuds, golden stones, crawdads, crane flies, worms etc are prolific right now. We scooped up a heaping handfull of scuds in one sample and the next(further out in the current) was full of golden stones. Red San Juans, bead head halfbacks, Explosion Stones, Agent Orange and leeches are producing well.
Platte River Fly Shop has issued a challenge to be "green"...which is great! The North Platte Lodge and The Reef Fly Shop have always recycled our recyclables. I am a big fan of wind energy and bow to them for installing a turbine. I have been researching it for several years for my own property.
Here's our challenge. Use 4x tippet or lighter and pinch every barb. Reduce heavy hook sets. Let's keep the faces on the fish!
5/4 We have had some interesting weather the past couple of days. It snowed almost 8 inches at the lodge on Friday. And, by yesterday afternoon it was almost gone. There is a fair amount of run off coming in at the ditch behind The Reef Fly Shop. The water was great yesterday...we hope it stays that way! *update report* The North Platte River below Grey Reef Dam is in good condition and the run off didn't harm it. The flows are 2100cfs and the water temp om the upper is 41f+/-.
A guest in Stu's boat landed a 26" brown yesterday! Unfortunately, I didn't get the details so I will brag him up later. The weather is looking excellent for the upcoming week. The baetis are still very active as are the trout. Give us a call!
4/30 Incredible day! Fishing was amazing and the weather was very nice. Baetis is king right now. My guys were slinging pine squirrel leeches and WD40s, PALs and pulsating emergers. The trout went for the leeches rarely, but hammered the baetis emergers. This is what it is all about!
The river came up almost 300cfs today to just under 2100cfs. This is good! I would love it if the BuRec gave us 3000cfs or more.
Water temps last night at Grey Reef dam were 42.3. Still very cool...again a good thing. Don't hesitate to give us a call for any reason!
Nymphing is very good and we even had a few fish take swipes at streamers today. It was a little odd this afternoon. I couldn't seem to trick many fish into eating baetis emergers even though there were lots of bugs popping. But, they still ate pine squirrel leeches without hesitation.
The North Platte Lodge has a few prime openings in May, June and July. Also, the fall season is approaching so book you fishing or cast and blast vacations soon!
BWO patterns will remain productive for the next month. Eggs, reef worms, scuds in olive and tan size 18, leeches in natural and brown are good point flies. The lazy midge, PALs, pulsating emerger olive and black, wd40s olive and gray and good nymphs to use. Don't be with out midge AND baetis patterns. Have Fun! *remember* the area between the 2 cables is still closed, we have seen a number of folks enjoying some good fishing in those 2 runs....patience grasshopper...patience!
4/23 Grey Reef is fishing well. Yesterday the guides had good success, despite the ever present wind. We should hopefully get some more settled weather soon...I hope. Baetis are making their way to the surface and the trout are keying in on them(subsurface). The water temps have risen to the low 40s and the flows are in the 1800cfs range.
Pine squirrel leeches, small olive tan and amber scuds, otter eggs and a variety of midge and baetis patterns(including pulsating emergers, lazy midges, split foam backs, PALs and choc UV emergers)are the ticket. Try light fluorocarbon tippet and a pair of small bugs.
The North Platte Lodge has some very good spring and summer spots availble. We will NOT be increasing rates. We want to continue to provide a high quality fly fishing experience at affordable prices!
I spoke to some one on the phone yesterday who was told by a guide that if he isn't fishing a 12 foot leader he is drifting over the top of the fish. This advice is sound, but not the only way. The fish are not only on the bottom of the deep (and obvious) runs. The idea behind fishing long is to keep fishers off of the redds. But, there are many places to catch fish that are neither deep or filled with redds. As always, please take care to not step in or fish over the spawning beds. *this post was edited by me after being called out for using harsh language* I apologize to the folks who were offended, although it wasn't intentional. I owe them a beer!
The most exciting part of fishing the baetis is the fact that you can do it, with huge success, on very light rigs. There is no question that a 12ft leader and lots of weight can be super productive, but the idea that this is the ONLY way to fish Grey Reef isn't correct.
Yesterday the guys on the upper had pretty good success. Especially in early AM. Fish were stacked up on the shelves eating baetis and the wade fishers had a blast. Pine squirrel leeches, eggs, lazy midges, scuds, PALs and other baetis patterns were successful. I noticed an immediate difference when I switched from 4x fluoro to 5x fluoro on my small bugs.
We want to thank all the fishers who have returned to the lodge and The Reef Fly Shop in 2008! For those of you who don't know the shop underwent a little transformation this winter. We picked up Ross Reels, Echo Rods and Simms to compliment our existing product lines.
We had a slow start this year due to winter's persistance. But, it seems that we are going to have a very busy season. The North Platte River was nice and cool last year when most western rivers were too hot to fish without harm to the trout. This year we will be enjoying more great fishing while most western rivers will be at flood stage. The incredible snowpack will create a pause in many river's fishability, but the moisture is welcomed!
Trent, Rick and I ran the jet boats up to the Miracle Mile this afternoon. It was a good time and the water is in fantastic condition. We will put together a little video clip and post it on www.northplatteflyfishing.com. Stay tuned!
We have some great spots available at the lodge. Book a day trip or a lodge trip and get the best the North Platte has to offer.
Trent started with a small olive scud and swithched to tan. Trout ate them with vigor. They also liked his size 20 soft hackle sow bug (because we have so many sow bugs in the river:)) I landed the big fish on a small no flash tan/olive scud. We were fishing 4x and 5x tippet on 7 ft leaders. I have to think that the fish are there and they are eating. This time of year doesn't require red worms, eggs etc. You can catch fish on small bugs and in clear water something not so bright. Remember LONG dead drifts and don't pass water just because it isn't 6 feet deep. Good Luck!!
Ledge Creek burped a little sediment yesterday in our 70 degree afternoon.
By the evening it had slowed because much of the snow on Beaver Rim and Bear Mountain was gone! Carp Creek (Lone Tree) was a little muddy as was the ditch behind The Reef Fly Shop. Both are running on a very limited supply of snow...almost gone. We are optomistic that the conditions will remain good. But, Bates Creek is bound to muck up the North Platte River well below Government Bridge sometime soon.
4/12 Some of the folks fishing the North Platte River today had a bit of a struggle. The fish are there and they are eating, but there are a few things to keep in mind. The water is unusually cold for this time of year 38-40 degrees. Trout won't move long distances to take a bug at those temps, and the takes will not be terribly abrupt...most of the time. Everybody and their dog has a worm on there rig. Yes, they work and yes, I like selling them...but break the mold and try fishing 2 little bugs on light tippet with a moderate length leader. Also, trout are probably not going to hang out in very strong current when their metabolism is directly related to temperature. Take a step or two back from the "good" looking water and fish the soft inside edges...you will be pleasantly surprised. It is not so much about fishing the pattern o' the day, but rather putting the bug where the fish are. Long dead drifts are key and set the hook on the slightest indicator wiggle. If the wind lays down swith to a yarn indicator. Stop by The Reef Fly Shop and we will show you how to build a better mousetrap...err...indicator.
The rumor on the block is that due to huge snowpack in most of the Rocky Mountain west, many rivers will be very high with runoff for quite some time. The North Platte River, especially at Grey Reef, will not feel the effects of spring runoff. We are protected by 5 dams upstream of us. While we hope that this winter's bounty regenerates our reservoirs, we are comfortable with the fact that the North Platte River will continue to produce some of the best trout fishing there is. Come and give Grey Reef a shot, it is easy and inexpensive to get here. It will also become your new favorite place to fish!
Fishing on the Miracle Mile has been productive. It seems there are more willing fish in the tailouts than up in the head of the runs. Reef worms, buckskin worms, beady leeches, are good choices for point flies; and pulsating emergers, hares ear, Lazy Midge, and copper johns are good trailers. Don't forget scuds at both locations.
Have fun! This weekend and early next week are going to be beautiful...we might actually break 70f for the first time this year. Last year we had 73f on March 14th. This year we are having a hard time breaking into springlike weather. I was up on our local mountain last night for a quick backcountry ski. There was better than 2 feet of new snow up there! Great powder shots!
www.northplatteflyfishing.com is the new website for The Reef Fly Shop. Stop by to read articles about what to expect during different seasons and local fisheries, river reports and our online store.
Congrats to Nick Gelso of California! He landed a 24" cutthroat yesterday.
We have a great May spot available at the lodge...it is right in the prime of the baetis hatch. Call for details. Also, we had a one room spot open up in mid-June. Some late June and early July dates are still available. This is an excellent time to come because the trophy fishing starts to heat up and there are lots of hatches going on. Couple that with very few people on the river. Come see why the North Platte Lodge is the best choice for guides and lodging on the lower North Platte River at Grey Reef!
4/4 Todays North Platte River fishing report remains good. We had lots of boats out today and all had a fun day. Fish were doing what we like...eating. The guys on the upper seemed to have a little more success than us on the lower. But, I'm certainly not complaining.
The Grey Reef section of the North Platte River is experiencing it's usual spring elevation rise. We have an increased flow from 500cfs(typical winter flows) to 800cfs(according to yesterdays BuRec report) It does seem that it is a bit higher than that. More water is a good thing! There are plenty of fish to fill up the river at much higher flows. It also spreads out the boats a bit more...although some folks would rather float right on top of other boats regardless of how much room there is.
Reef Worms, Wicked Impalers, orange, red and yellow eggs, pine squirrel leeches, beady leeches (orange head/brown mohair) UV Emergers, PALs and lazy's all produced today. There were a couple baetis fluttering around, but not significant quantities. The spring baetis is a major reason that the North Platte River is so good in the spring. Grey Reef also has a great fall baetis hatch.
REMEMBER!! There is NO fishing from the upper cable to the lower cable (in front of the North Platte Lodge) during the month of April. The Game and Fish closed it for spawning education during that time. We watched a guide backrowing and fishing it, with his guests, the other day...after it closed...whoops!
Things are really picking up at the reef. The fish are eating well and a few more folks are showing up to take advantage of it.
Just a reminder that the new access will be closed to fishing for the upper cable to the lower cable through the month of April. That means no fishing from either side of the river or out of the boat. It will be enforced by the Game and Fish.
Eggs, leeches, Reef Worms, PALs, UV Emergers and pulating emergers are working well on a nymph rig.
Don't miss our open house this weekend!! Scott Fly Rods will be here for all you 'Made in Colorado' fans. And,we will serve beers and some smoldering cajun sausage. Be at The Reef Fly Shop Saturday April 5th!!
April 5th will be an open house at The Reef Fly Shop. We will feature beer, grilled meat and Scott Fly Rods...Stop in! Also check out NORTHPLATTEFLYFISHING.COM...it is available to check out, but it isn't completely finished. Lots of articles and a link to our blog THE WYOMING FLY FISHER is on the home page...enjoy!
3/22 We have been receiving mixed reviews on the fishing. Our guides have been doing very well, although yesterday morning it was a little slow. The afternoon was very productive. Some folks have been die hard about fishing Reef Worms, eggs and scuds all day and not having lots of success. There have been good midge hatches and they shouldn't be ignored. Lighter tippets, smaller (not so flashy) bugs will produce. The water is very clear so it wouldn't hurt to use a little more stealth. Pulsating emergers in black and olive, the PAL and the Lazy midge or red brassies are doing well.
SCOTT FLY ROD DEMO AND OPEN HOUSE next week at The Reef Fly Shop. APRIL 5TH!! John Dobson will be here with Scott's line of fly rods and we will serve food and adult beverages to the fishing masses. Don't miss it!
#1. We have, without question, the most experienced guide staff on Grey Reef.
#2. We have, without question, the most private access of any outfitter. In fact, there is only one other outfitter who has private access. They come in under half of ours. If you want to wade fish, drop anchor to repair your rig or use the restroom, we can do that. We have almost all of the land on the right side of the North Platte River from Grey Reef Dam to Government Bridge and below. We also have some areas on the left side as well.
#3. When you fish with The Reef Fly Shop or North Platte Lodge our days are designed to have you on the WATER by 8am and off the water between 5 and 5:30pm. We don't count travel time as part of your day.
Ask a few questions before booking your trip...there are significant differences.
3/17 The flush is on! The fishing will only get better from here! Stop by The Reef Fly Shop is weekend for some cold adult beverages and processed meat products compliments of NPL and TRFS.
3/14
It started out pretty balmy this morning but it turned out to be a great day. Some snow, cool temps., and LOW WIND. I was in the shop until 2:00 today but still mananged to sneak out for a little fishing. Nymphing was great of course and Stu managed to do very well on a streamer (crawdak...we should have them in the shop pretty soon). All of these fish were 15-18in and in really good shape...one fish hit the 22in mark. Looks like tomm. should shape up to be a pretty decent day.
3/13
Overcast, breezy, and mid 40s right now at 1:29pm. Looks like a streamer day to me. With cooler water temps around the low40s the fish really haven't been motivated to chase...but I'm still hoping for the day it turns on. I spent the morning down at the shop and all of the reports seemed to be pretty good. Nymphing without a doubt seemed to be the way to go. Mike hit the river early this morning for a little wadefishing session. Yet to have a report on hand but I will get it to you as soon as I can. If your interested in doing a little wadefishing trip yourself now is the time...little traffic, low water, and 17 miles of private access...it's pretty tough to beat!
3/12
Ryan went out today with a few friends from town...they had a great day...top to bottom. They had consistent fishing...despite the stiff breeze. The reef worm, egg, and P.A.L. seemed to be the top producers. I was also informed that they lost the big fish, which happened to be a very large male brown, right next to the boat. It seems to me that the fishing is holding up pretty darn well and will continue to only get better!
**Spring Flush**
We have the details of the spring flushing flows on Grey Reef. IF ice conditions are favorable they will start the flush on Monday the 17th of March. This is the 3rd Monday of March. They are planning on a max flow of 4000cfs for each of the 5 days of the flush. Each morning the river will be back to 500cfs at 10:00am...by noon it will look like normal. The river traffic and the spawn will really take off after the flush. The North Platte River is fishing very well right now!
The spawn is getting into full swing, so take care wading around the shallow gravel areas. Rainbows are building nests and should start battling for the most desirable mates soon.
Rick and Seth reported hooking about 20 fish on their couple hour float below Sechrist. They were fishing exclusively with streamers. The nymphers report catching fish on pine squirrel leeches, Reef Worms, Lazy Midges, scuds (olive orange and amber)choc UV emergers.
The Reef Fly Shop is still expecting some more inventory, but we are more stocked than we ever have been. We have Simms Products,Echo Rods, Ross Reels in the NEW department. And, we still carry our old favorites...Scott Rods. Bauer Reels(the new Rogue is incredible) Temple Fork Outfitter Rods, Rio Lines, leader and tippet(Check out the NEW RIO Extreme Tippet and you won't break off flies any more). The Reef Fly Shop fly has amassed the best selection of flies in the region. Stop in to see the new look of the shop...and grab a cup of coffee.
We have already started to post articles relevant to fly fishing in central Wyoming. Log in and become a member, respond to articles and help with the survey. Always looking for article ideas..help out! Or, write your own and I'll post it.
Rick and Seth are going to float from Sechrist to Bessemer today. The water is in amazing condition. They are going to search for big fish...good luck guys!
Spring is just around the corner and fishing has already begun to heat up. Stop in to The Reef Fly Shop to check out our new gear. We will be overloaded with new fly pattern this year. We picked up some awesome new streamer this spring (our favorite). And, we will now offer our Reef series of fly patterns. These are patterns that we have kept under wraps for a very long time and will now offer the very best tried and true patterns for Grey Reef and Miracle Mile.
The river has been experiencing run off conditions just above Government Bridge. Bear Creek has dirtied the North Platte River in the afternoons. This afternoon Fly Shop Creek started to run. It drains the area north of The Reef Fly Shop. This little drainage can muddy Grey Reef Reservoir...and it probably will by tomorrow AM, if the temps remain high. This means the Grey Reef section could be muddy for the next day or so. There is very little snow left on the north side of the river, but the south side still has some. The events that typically blow out the North Platte River happen on the north side. The south side will effect the river (most often) at Government Bridge. That means 13 miles of Grey Reef will remain in good shape when the south side is running off. Call The Reef Fly Shop for up to date info if you are planning on fishing the next couple of days. We can walk a few paces to check Fly Shop Creek and can look out the window to survey Grey Reef Reservoir and the Grey Reef section of the North Platte River. Call 307.232.9128.
We are happy to report that the bulk of the North Platte River around Casper has shed its icey covering. Lots more water becoming available to fish. The lower sections below Government Bridge will experience off color water in the afternoon...with the snow melt. But, the North Platte Rivers Grey Reef section is looking GREAT! Low clear water coupled with last falls flush has the North Platte River in amazing condition.
Nymph rigs worked the best...Reef Worms, scuds in amber and olive and a variety of midge patterns produced.
Standard spring nymph rigs are producing the best right now. Reef Worms, scuds, PALs and even eggs are taking lots of trout. Try the new Thing-a-ma-bobber strike indicators. They are light, bouyant, attach easily and are available in many colors. They are on the counter at The Reef Fly Shop.
There are already indications of the starting of the rainbow spawn. Some redds have been spotted along with the obvious color change of some of the rainbows that we have been catching. The fishing is excellent during the spawn, but we urge folks to take care around the redds. Avoid fishing to actively spawning fish, and please...please don't walk through the redds. It is our goal to enjoy trout fishing to the fullest, while making sure our actions don't destroy the fish popluation. If you see spawning fish, watch them from a distance. It is a lot more interesting just to watch their behavior than catching them.
2/20
Seth, Stu, Ryan, Trent and I floated the Grey Reef Section today...WOW! The weather was very nice, mid-upper 30s no icing guides but some chilly ones. The fishing was incredible. Nymphing with a PAL, an orange scud and/or a Reef Worm hooked fish after fish. Not a lot of big trout were had...we are blaming that on the lunar eclipse? It got to the point that we were laughing because if you wanted to catch a fish you spent a moment or two getting a reasonably dead drift and a nice rainbow was on. Streamers were also working, Trent landed a 17" Brown on his first cast with a streamer this morning. The ice is off the river so floating is no longer an issue. We are ready to go! Wade fishing was very good. Low, clear water and eager trout are a great way to shake off your cabin fever.
2/17 Reports are that all of the North Platte River is fishing well. Seth, Rick, Stu, Taylor and Travis have been working it over for the past month. Recent report from Seth and Rick was that streamer fishing was okay up at Fremont Canyon. Fremont canyon isn't a place to catch a lot of fish so it received a "good" mark.
The afterbay (below Alcova Dam) has been good. With good nymphing conditions and crushing streamer takes.
The Grey Reef section of the North Plattle River has been fish well, also. But the trout have been a little more subtle than at other places.
The ice is starting to break up down at Lusby, so with the warm conditions forecast for the week floating should be doable soon.
The Miracle Mile is also fishing well. Agian the trout are eager to eat a streamer presented slow. Be careful of the road conditions to the Mile...and to Fremont Canyon. Call The Reef Fly Shop for current road and fishing conditions (307)232-9128.
The North Platte Lodge still has some great April spots available. Many of you know that this is the MOST popular time on the Grey Reef section of the North Platte River because of the large numbers of big trout that are landed daily. For those of you that don't know what Grey Reef has to offer, give us a call at (307)237-1182!
Put in for your vacation time and secure one of our April slots. You will be thrilled with the service at the North Platte Lodge and the trout fishing is as good as it gets.
All of our recent openings in June have been booked. We do, however, have some nice spots available during the spring feeding frenzy in March and April. Give us a call and we will provide a trip that you won't soon forget. A trip to the North Platte River will give you a new perspective of trout fishing.
1/20 Cold temps and only the crazys are out fishing right now. Seth, Stu and Taylor are now classified as lunatics. With wind chills well below zero they were chipping ice on nearly every cast. They did, however, catch some fish before they waddled, half frozen back to the lodge. The next few days will be nasty with stong breeze and cold temps. But, the weekend should warm up and be nice conditions on the North Platte River.
This is the time of year where we see a few changes in the North Platte Lodge schedule. If you have been waiting to get in during June or July there are a couple nice spots available. Call (307)237-1182 to check availability.
Trent's folks will be flying home today and we're sorry to see them go. They have been staying at the lodge while Trent and Katherine were in the Bahamas bone fishing. Thanks Tatums!
Trent and I got our hands on a couple of the new Bauer Rogue reels recently. Trent fished his exclusively while in the Bahamas and said it performed flawlessly. This is an extremely light reel and Bauer changed the drag adjustment knob to the back of the frame instead of their traditional spool side star knobs. And they are now using a sealed carbon fiber drag system. This makes for an awesome piece of equipment.
We have just made a two room 3 night spot available June 25-27. This is a great time to be on the North Platte River! The June 9-11 spot and the June 26-29 spot have been spoken for.
Trent is preparing for a saltwater fishing trip to the Bahamas in a couple days. They should have a lot of fun. And, get a little break from the wind and cold of Wyoming. I was in Steamboat last week. The purpose of the trip was to slide on snow. I really wanted to ski into the dam at Stagecoach for some deep winter nymphing. But, frigid temps kept me from dragging my wife, 2 year old son and 7 lb dog the 2 miles to the river. Oh well, maybe next time.
We have been fielding many calls about '08 fishing trips...thanks for the interest! As many of you know the North Platte Lodge has very limited availability during April, May, June and early July. But, we have had to adjust some of our schedules so some prime spots have opened up in April, and one or two in May and June. We still have a two room spot over the 4th of July. This is a great time to be here. The river fishes very well (and starts to give up trophy browns with regularity!)and the 4th of July festivities at Alcova Marina are lots of fun. We would encourage you to come in March or October. The weather may be a little cooler , but the fishing is terrific. And, there are very few fishers on the North Platte River during that time. We feel that a major component to a complete trip is to not have to compete with lots of other fishers. March July and October are perfect for great fishing on a vacant river.
Trent will be in Denver for the Fly Fishing show next week. Stop by the Scott Fly Rod booth to chat with him. Trent will be doing double duty by promoting Scott Fly Rods as well as the North Platte Lodge and The Reef Fly Shop.
We have sent out the 2008 North Platte Lodge reservation confirmation letters. If you don't receive yours within the next week or so, give us a call. There is always a chance that we messed up the address or used old info.
We are REALLY excited about the 2008 season. Trent and I will continue to do improvements to the lodge, add more quality product to The Reef Fly Shop and add services to our guiding operation. We are going to put together a salt water or steelhead trip for our guests (call if you are interested in either). The Reef Fly Shop will be available online (with several related goodies).
Now is the time to make reservations at the North Platte Lodge. There are still a couple very desirable spots available. Spring is a VERY popular time on the North Platte River. But, Grey Reef produces fantastic fishing year round! If you were told that summer time is tough on the North Platte River, then you were told wrong. Just ask our guests who return year after year in July and August. March is magnificent and October is magical. The conditions and techniques change, but one thing doesn't...monster trout!
Be safe tomorrow evening! And, we will see you soon!
Gobs of geese concentrating on the upper river. The waterfowl hunting has been good during the right weather conditions. You are going to get your opportunities at ducks and few geese on any given day or conditions.
I probably won't be posting for a few days. A few of us are heading to fish some new to us water. If all goes well we will have some good footage of big trout!
The Miracle Mile has also been fishing well. Streamers are starting to draw the attention of the target prey! The browns are gearing up for their yearly ritual, so please give them space. Please don't walk throught the redds. The Miracle Mile is recovering from a couple of tough years, it should be our (anglers) mission to make sure the "Mile" returns to its previous glory. Have fun!
The water is in good condition all the way to Glenrock. Streamers and nymphs are working well from Grey Reef down. We were having a little more success fishing the steep banks with deep slow water. The seams and riffles weren't holding fish like I hoped they would.
11/3 Another good day of throwing streamers. We didn't land anything real big, but we did get a few little guys on big streamers. Always cracks me up to see a 10" trout attached to a 3" streamer. The baetis were small this PM...size 22. There were a number of fish taking them off of the surface. The traffic on the Grey Reef section is light and the weather is supposed to pretty nice for the next week or so. What are you waiting for?
Now for tales of the North Platte Lodge staff. Stu landed a 26" Brown a couple of days ago on a Platte River Spider. Trent made a few casts while doing some dog training with Allie. He went 7 fish for 7 casts and ended on a 24" rainbow. Of course it at a Craw-dak! Today Seth landed a 27" brown...dirty dog. You would think that our guides would be happy to be away from the river on the tail end of a very busy season...not so. In fact, Seth and Melissa (Melissa is the bubbly gal who often runs The Reef Fly Shop) came in the the fly shop around 7:45am and I spoke to them at around 6:00pm as they were heading to another of their favorite runs. They had been on the river ALL day. Mike was also out today, he passed me this morning in his kayak. He was hot shotting the prime water. It is really comforting to know that we have such a dedicated and passionate crew. Trent and I want to thank each and every one of our employees for making our first season as owners so successful. The cooks Kari and Peg. House keepers Beth, Paula, Melissa and Amy. Shuttlers Loretta, Dave, Bob, Kathy, Beth, Jan, etc. Guides Seth, Jason, Mike, Stu, Rick, JJ, Ryan, Bob, Chad...even old North Platte Lodge hats like Adrian and Bret. Fly Shop crew Ryan and Melissa. And last but certainly not least...Katherine Tatum. She has done a spectacular job running the North Platte Lodge!
By the way, the water is not brown any more. All of these big fish were hooked between Grey Reef and Lusby. And, the nymphing is great as well as the streamer fishing!
10/20 We were out every day of the flush and it was amazing. The water is still brown, but the fish don't care. The river was blitzed with bait and the fish are responding accordingly. Streamers folks! Yesterday Rick and Seth figured they landed around 50 fish...all on streamers...from 1pm-5pm. The day before Seth and Trent floated and guessed at 70+ hookups...again, all on streamers. The nymphing should be very good also.
Yesterday fishing was great in the AM but spotty in the afternoon on the upper reaches of the Grey Reef ( Gray Reef ) section. Small beatis and a multitude of dinky midges were present for a good part of the day. Fish were happy to eat pine squirrel leeches and scuds, but were hesitant to eat small bugs. The streamer fishing was very productive early in the day. Miracle Mile is fishing very well. Beady leeches, halfbacks and other golden stone patterns, worms and scuds have been producing. Fishing streamers in certain areas has been very good as well. Near 'nuff sculpins in tan and olive, spoon minnows in red and natural, bunny leeches and butterscotch buggers. Bow river buggers in white and black have also been popular with our guides.
October is a wonderful time to be at the North Platte River and especially Grey Reef! Cooler temps, very little river traffic leaves changing color and big fish! What more could you ask for?
10/11 The river continues to fish well. On Monday the BuRec will start a fall flushing flow. It will continue for most of the week. The fishing is typically good behind the surge. The weeds will get blown out at a rapid pace. IF the floating weeds prove to a problem at the water treatment plant or Dave Johnson Power Plant they will likely discontinue the flush.
Both Lew Sandler and Ken Poole landed a 23" rainbow, Sunday on the upper river. They were very healthy fish. These fish didn't help their cause. This is the group who has the "Texas Creel" trophy in the gear room. They are very serious about landing the SMALLEST fish!
Streamers! The Craw-dack and the Near 'Nuff Sculpin in olive and tan.
10/2 Yesterday was windy! We were fortunate to have a cast and blast group at the lodge. We opted out of fishing for the day and all seven shot their limits of wild birds.
This upcoming weekend is the opening for water fowl. There is going to be a significant cold front in the area. This is good news for duck hunters AND good news for trophy trout hunters.
Deep discounts at The Reef Fly Shop! Stop in to "The Reef" at the corner of HWY 220 and Grey Reef Rd for great prices on fly fishing gear.
We are closing out several product lines at The Reef Fly Shop...stop in for great deals! We also have a sale table with discounts as much as 75%.
The baetis hatch is very strong on the lower river. It will creep up river and make for some great fall baetis fishing. Call to book a day trip! Or, treat youself to the full service lodging package at the North Platte Lodge. We have an opening the 9th-11th of October and starting again the 14th of October.
The North Platte River at Grey Reef ( Gray Reef) continues to fish well. Leeches, scuds, PALSs, Brown crystal midges, red Lazy Midges among others are producing on nymph rigs. If you want to come catch the bigger fish on the upper Grey Reef section use a yarn indicator. Some of the takes are very subtle...set on everything. Streamers...the Craw-Dack is like trout crack...they can't stop hitting it. Stop in to The Reef Fly Shop for the right flies for success on the North Platte River. We are closing out a few product lines so come in for good deals on gear.
9/21 A real quick river report. The water is clear all the way below Casper. It's a little off colored below the dam but the fishing is still good. Temps in the high 50s... nymphs, streamers, and dries are all working...it just depends what section your fishing! This truly is the time of year to be on the water!!!
9/17 There was a little burp of cloudy water that came out of Grey Reef Dam ( Gray Reef )this weekend. It has already cleared up and the North Platte River is looking very good again. The Upper Grey Reef ( Gray Reef ) section is nymphing very well. Lots of fish and they are healthy. Leeches and scuds are popular bug choices right now. The streamer fishing is good all over the North Platte River. The upper and lower most sections seem to be producing the best.
Trent and I just returned from the Fly Fishing Retail show yesterday. We are excited about the new products that we picked up. The new Scott S4 series of fly rods are awesome! If you are one the Sage XP fans you will love this new Scott rod. It is a fast action rod for high line speed But, unlike an XP it will still cast short distances. Temple Fork Outfitters has a new fast action rod called the Axiom. It is a great rod that looks like it should cost $650...it only costs $279! It will be available in November. Bauer has finished work on the new Rogue reel. I can't wait to get one in my collection. There are a couple more big names that are jumping on board with The Reef Fly Shop...stay tuned!
We are happy to announce that The Reef will offer special fall gear package pricing. We can outfit you for saltwater, steelhead, small streams as well as big freshwater trout rivers like the North Platte. Special orders are welcome!
9/14 The North Platte River is in fantastic condition! The Miracle Mile is at 500cfs and clear...4 feet of visibility is clear for us! Grey Reef (Gray Reef) is also 500cfs with just a little color. The North Platte River always has a green cloudy appearance this time of year. But, this season the river looks much better than it typically does. The Gray Reef section is fishing well from Gray Reef Dam to Glenrock. Streamer fishing has been good...nymphing has been good. The dry fly fishing is also really starting to pick up when the tricos fall in the a.m. All of the outfitters are experiencing lots of interest in fall fishing trips. If you have been thinking about coming to the North Platte River make reservations soon. Rooms and guides are in demand this fall!
Pine squirrel leeches in natural and brown are producing. Scuds, beatis patterns, caddis, midges and worms are also productive. Stop at the Reef Fly Shop or call (307)232-9128 for current fishing conditions.
Stop at The Reef Fly Shop to pick up the essential flies for success on the North Platte River. Pine squirrel leehes, beatis(bwo) patterns, scuds and caddis. Streamers are the way to target the big'uns!!
Give us a call at(307)232-9128 to arrange a shuttle or for fishing and water conditions. Have fun!
The FKA group just left and again they hit paydirt! Congrats Roland, on your 25" Brown!
We do have a one room spot open for 3 days at the end of September. Call to secure a spot.
Stop in to The Reef Fly Shop for fall discounts on rod/reel packages.
Dove season is here. Bird fanatics have their first shot of the season tomorrow. Have fun!
Trent and I relocated one of our duck blinds today. We moved it about 15 miles upstream to a much more productive location.
Sage grouse opens at the end of September and ducks and geese open at the beginning of October. Cast and blast season is upon us...what could be better than getting a few birds and hooking a bunch of fish all in one day?
The Miracle Mile is still flowing at around 2500cfs. The fishing at the "Mile" is very good in the mornings and afternoon. While, midday there seems to be a hesitation in activity. The water is its typical color for this time of year. Don't overlook the "Mile"...well worth the drive. If you have never taken a guided trip to the Miracle Mile consider it. We are only 30 minutes from the water and our guides are eager to show you around. Stop in to The Reef Fly Shop for flies and guides for success on Grey Reef AND Miracle Mile.
8/18 The fishing remains very good. The water temps are still in the low 60s and the evenings are cooling off nicely. This will insure more great Grey Reef fishing.
The BuRec plans to keep the North Platte River at Grey Reef flowing at or around 2500cfs until September 1st. On the 1st they will drop the river to 2000cfs, on the 5th they will drop it to 1500cfs and by the 9th the North Platte will be back to winter flows of 500cfs. This increased flow will be good for the fall season.
8/15 The upper Grey Reef stretch is in good condition. The water is free from the mass of floating debris. Water temps are still very cool compared to most rivers in the west. At this point in time there is no need to halt fishing...even in the heat of the day. The fish are eating well! It is well worth being on the North Platte River during the "dogs days of summer".
8/7 Water is a little murky. Thunderstorms dirtied Grey Reef reservoir and the lower river below Poison Spider Creek. The BuRec made some adjustments to the dam to allow for the added water through town. The result was the river was dropped for a day, then brought up to flows higher than before the storm. This is acting like a mini flushing event and will be great for the fall season! But, there are some floaters (algae) to deal with right now. It should be back to normal in a few days.
Get ready for next week when the BuRec is scheduled to drop the flows! Streamer fishing down low will be fantastic! Book early to get a shot at a North Platte River trophy. Your guide will taylor a trip to have the best chance at landing the fish of a lifetime.
8/3 Water temps are still low for this time of year...62 degrees on the upper river. Fish are still active all day. The flows at Grey Reef are 2450 cfs. The water is in good condition as are the fish.
7/30 It is warming up again. You streamer enthusiasts should be bangin' the banks of the North Platte River. There have been a lot of big fish caught this summer. We have day trip availability. This is a great time of year to hunt for trophies!
7/16 Thought I would give you the updated river conditions. The water is still running at 2330cfs and the temperature below Grey Reef is 59 degrees. Tricos, PMDs, sallies, and caddis are coming off and the fishing is good! Suprisingly, moss has not been an issue on any section of the river. If you're interested we do have openings this month for day trips. Give us a call!
7/15 It happened again!! I know we are beginning to sound a little redundant, but we got another big one...today!
Another really,really big hen brown. 27in * 17in. In our book that is damn big trout!!
Congrats Denny Lander! He landed a 26.5" brown on a streamer yesterday. Kevin Thomason was there to provide great moral support...although he did get his brown a little later. Well done guys!
The North Platte Lodge is 100% for trophy trips this year...so far. We consider it a success if a 25" trout is landed. That is a huge testament to our guides!! They are a very passionate and hard working group of guys. We can't thank them enough for their dedication!
7/14 It is the time of the year in which water temperature is very important to watch. Water temperatures above 70 degrees can be detrimental to the health of most rainbow trout subspecies. Therefore we will be keeping an eye on the water temps! As for right now the fishing is great and so are the temps from Grey Reef to Sechrist. Here are the current water temps as of 7:15a.m. on July 14, 2007:
Dam-57.9 F
Sechrist-60.0 F
As for now we will keep on fishing and will not entertain the idea of shutting down unless critical temps dictate otherwise! In closing, minimal crowds, big fish, and lots of them have made for one hell of a summer season on the Grey Reef!!
7/13 Fishing continues to be very good. Our water temps (unlike many rivers in the west) are still cool. The temps below Grey Reef are 57 degrees and 59 degrees at Sechrist. Weed growth is minimal and is having no ill effect on the fishing.
This afternoon the trout were eager to chase a streamer or munch a nymph. Leeches, PMDS, caddis, tricos, scuds, fry, yellow sallies and the list goes on...are all available to the trout. Pmds are emerging mid day and the fish lust after them.
Streamer fishing has really heated up and shouldn't be ignored. Fish are rising to the Trico spinners in small yet aggressive pods.
There is still one mid September opening in the North Platte Lodge. We also have a few more openings for the Sage Grouse season Sept 22nd - Oct 2nd.
The fishing is great! Nymphing with PMDs and Sallies is producing lots of fish. The Reef Fly Shop's Lazy Midge is also a top producer in the afternoon. Leeches are also doing a fair amount of damage. The water is 55 degrees on the upper...prime conditions. Algae growth is minimal and has had NO effect on the fishing... did I mention all the big browns?
Stu, Seth, Trent and myself went out for a little after work float last night. When we got to the ramp there were two guides from the Ugly Bug doing the same thing. As we were putting in two more guides from the Platte River Fly Shop show up to do the same thing. What's going on here? When the guides are coming out like this it must mean something? By the end of the evening 3 browns over 26" had hit the net. And I don't even know if the Ugly Bug guys had a contribution...they were sneaking around up river.
The time has come! Anglers pack your bags and get to the Grey Reef section of the North Platte River. Come and test your skill and you tackle...the brutes are ready!
7/5 The bar has been raised!!! Yesterday afternoon Frank Vanecek of Wisconsin caught and landed a 28.5in brown with a 16.5in girth. This is the biggest fish landed at the North Platte lodge this year. Congrats Frank!! The big female ate a streamer. This is the tenth fish of the year to break the 25in mark...and we're only half way through the season!! Historically the BIG fish months have been August, September, and October. We can't wait to see what we catch this fall!!
7/2 We may sound like a broken record, but the fishing is still very good. We have been having early morning success catching fish on dry flies! The tricos have appeared again, and the fish like to eat the spinners. Yellow Sallies are still hatching as well as PMDs, caddis tricos and midges.
Hopper dropper rigs are productive in certain parts of the lower North Platte River. Carp are eating well. We have been having a good time sight casting to these big aggressive cruisers.
River traffic is very light, the fish are eating well and the weather has been great. This a perfect time to experience the North Platte River!
6/26 The North Platte River at Grey Reef is holding steady at 2500cfs. The upper is clear and the fish are eating well. Below the bridge is slightly off color but fishing well. The water is still cool...good news for the fish!
The Yellow Sallies, caddis and PMDs are still the bugs of choice. A few baetis popped out yesterday. The water temp was 52 dgrees yesterday at noon. Temp was taken approx 16 miles below Grey Reef Dam.
The carp are really warming up and are eating flies with regularity. Try our near 'nuff sculpin or tan lead eye bugger for excellent results. We prefer flies that ride hook up for carping.
We have a fairly busy July on tap, but still have day trip availability. When you book with the North Platte Lodge you will be fishinhg with the most experienced guides on the river. ALL of our guides work this river all season. We don't bring in guides for spring or have our guides leave in the summer. At the North Platte Lodge and The Reef Fly Shop you will get a very experienced North Platte guide every time.
We have 20 miles of exclusive private access. When the tricos hit the water and the fish start to rise like crazy...we can stop to fish them.
The carp are ready to eat flies! Trent and I went out yesterday to investigate the carp situation. We buzzed across the lake in Trent's jet boat to a couple very nice beaches. They had wide shallow areas to sight cast to cruising fish on the "flats". You can fish to these fish from the boat, but why? We prefer to kick off our sandals and stalk the fish barefoot...with the sand squishing up between our toes. You really get the feeling that you are fishing to coastal species like bonefish or redfish. Clear water, sight casting to big fish, bright blue day, walking barefoot on soft white sand beaches surrounded by the rugged Pedro Mountains...nirvana!
The water is in great contidion to Government Bridge and murky below. I'm sure all of the guides and private fishers are eager to have better conditions on the lower river...it will clear soon. Yellow Sallies, PMDs, caddis are the available hatches. The water dropped to nearly 50 degrees after the water came up. Tricos, hopefully, went back to bed for a while. We would like to see them really emerge after the sallies and pmds run their course. The flows are at 200cfs...still very good wading available in certain spots. You do not have to be very deep to catch fish. If you waded up to your chest turn around and start casting to the bank!
The last few days have been a roller coaster ride on the North Platte River. As the BuRec increased the flows in the North Platte River they drew down Grey Reef Reservoir. This created some murky water and floating algae. You were still able to catch plenty of fish if you kept you bugs clean. The water is now stable and the reservoir is full. The water was in tip-top condition yesterday and the fish had a better chance to eat your flies...because they stayed clean. The river will continue to fish great, just the way it does every year. We have been doing some alternate trips for the last week, and they have been a ball! So fun in fact, that the guides are trying to find time to go and fish this water for themselves.
Wade fishing does NOT suffer when the flows increase. You just need to access to the right water. Sight nymphing (wading) to fish eating micro-caddis is a blast, and is best done at flows over 2500cfs.
We still have a one room opening for a short notice trip July 1 through July 4. And start to think about our trophy package! We will start running the the "Big Fish" trips as soon as we are confident that you will catch trophy class trout...soon.
This morning Trent and I helped the Martons dock some of their sheep. We saw a number of big sage grouse. Phil told us that they have been seeing a lot of mature birds as well as a bunch of chicks! The higher country (where we hunt the sage grouse) is in great condition. The grass is abundant and green, there is standing water in many of the depressions and the spring has been pleasantly cool. Hunting sage grouse with the North Platte Lodge is a high success hunt, but this year should prove to even better! If you would like to do a cast and blast package for sage grouse/trout we only have one more opening, in the lodge, for a big group. It is the 1st of October through the 3rd of October for 8 hunters/fishers. We also have one room availabe September 23rd through September 26th for two hunters or fishers. Why hunt for pen raised birds when you can hunt over pointing dogs for wild and unpredictable upland birds?
We experienced another storm that dumped a significant amount of moisture on the area. The North Platte River below Government Bridge is currently blown out, while the upper river below Grey Reef Dam is still clear and very fishable. The lower streches should clear in the next day or two. The BuRec has answered our cries for more water. They will continue to increase flows until they reach 2000cfs or more. This will make the fish and fisherman happy.
This is strange time for bug selection. Every one seems to be fishing different patterns...and they are all working. Baetis are present but stragling. PMDs, Caddis, midges and Yellow Sallies are very available to the trout. We are even starting to see the tricos (get ready for another round of dry fly fishing!). Crane flies are also abundant. And for you streamer enthusiasts, baby fish, leeches and crawdads.
Stop in to The Reef Fly Shop for a great selection of streamers. We are a full service fly shop with the most experienced staff on the river. When you stop in you will speak with some one who spends a lot of time fishing local waters and has first hand knowledge of the river and fishing conditions.
The North Platte Lodge has a couple of spots available. June 28 and 29 one room AND July 2-6 for one room. Don't miss out on a chance to experience the North Platte Lodge difference. Our fall bookings are very strong but there are still some prime openings!
6/5 Still at 500cfs and the fishing is fantastic! Sallies are a force on the lower streches as are PMDs. We had a pretty good beating by wind and rain this afternoon...it was short lived but exciting.
On the bright side the dry fly fishing has been great the past couple of weeks. This is of course relative the the Grey Reef section...not other typical dry fly rivers. The midges are still prolific and the baetis are holding on with everything they've got. Still waiting for the Yellow Sallies to really make themselves known. PMDs are doing a good job of feeding the trout.
Use light tippet and longer casts to be less spooky. Get rid of orange bobbers in favor of white or black yarn. Enjoy Wyoming with or short burst of green! Wildflowers are blooming everywhere!
The weather is beautiful! The fish are hot and greedy! The water is still clear and low...500cfs. It should be on the rise soon....we hope. The story remains the same regarding fly selection.
Call for availabilty. There are a couple July spots in the lodge and we
provide day trips with miles of private access and the most experienced guides.
5/25 The fishing remains fantastic! The water is low and clear. The water temps dropped a little after our last storm. The baetis are still abundant, along with midges. The Sallies and PMDs are already available for the trout to eat. The streamer fishing is picking up! Stop in to The Reef Fly Shop for a great selection of streamers for stickin' pigs on the North Platte River.
If you are scheduled to come and fish with us, please bring your dry fly, streamer and nymph rods. Most of our time will be spent nymphing, but there are great streamer and dry opportunities.
Some of our guides are still rigging up hopper/dropper rigs. The hoppers are producing some very nice fish!
Our friends from Rocky Mountain Anglers had another highly successful day on Sunday.
Call (307)237-1182 to book a lodge stay or day trip. We will try our best to get you in on short notice. Call (307)232-9128 or stop in to The Reef Fly Shop for current water conditions and fishing report.
The river is very clear to Lusby. It will take a few more days for it clear below Government Bridge. The North Platte River below Grey Reef Dam is still flowing at 500cfs. Midges and baetis are still the bugs of choice. While worms, scuds, and especially Seth's Pine Squirrel Reef Leach (trademark pending) are still good choices for dredgers.
We still have a late May And Early June lodge spot available. May 22-25 and June 7-12. Warm weather, and world class fishing all from the comfort of the North Platte Lodge.
5/7 The North Platte River below Grey Reef has dropped dramatically. The wade fishing was fantastic today. The fish are still keyed in on baetis.
We had a big spring storm that left us with lots of heavy wet snow. The moisture content is tremendous...we REALLY needed this storm. But, it may dirty the river for a couple days?
Tonight we had a meeting for the Two Fly Tournament. We had a rare opportunity to hang out with the guides from the other shops. It is great because outfitters and guides build a positive relationship. The Two Fly Tournament raised $66,000 for the Natrona County Child Development Center and $15,000 went to North Platte River restoration in 2006. 2007 will be even better. Thanks to Bauer Fly Reel, Temple Fork Outfitters fly rods and RIO Products for donating to this charitable event.
4/30 What can I say, but more of the same. Great days on the river! Mark and Leo Schueler of Buffalo and Big Piney WY landed a 23" and a 24" rainbow today. Congrats guys! Boat traffic was light and the weather was beautiful up until the hail storm. This year(and last)we are seeing an increased number of the big fish. All segments of the trout population are very healthy. We have a stong supply of young trout who will soon bend rods and smoke reels. The North Platte River will continue to provide excellent recreation.
The baetis hatch is fantastic, but we at the North Platte Lodge are already looking forward to the warm days of summer. Grey Reef has many different summer hatches. Tricos, Yellow Sallies, PMDs and caddis abound. Bait fish become more available and the crawdads run scared. Test your skill by casting streamers to the banks for trophy browns or rainbows or by stalking the shy but powerful carp. Come enjoy the warm weather, and incredible fishing. At the end of a hard day relax on the deck with a cocktail. Watch the light show as a thunderstorm streaks across the prarie. Wake up in the morning and return to the deck. Sip a strong cup of coffee while enjoying the antelope graze and play across the river.
The North Platte River is now flowing at 2500cfs. It is bigger than it has been in a couple years. Still nothing compared to the 4000cfs+ of the late 1990's early 2000's. Don't be intimidated by the increased flows...the fish are still here and still hungry. Lazy midges were working well on the Grey Reef section. The Lazy Midge is a North Platte Lodge pattern that is now available at The Reef Fly Shop.
4/23 Mary Holt of Carbondale, CO just landed a 25.5" Rainbow! Her husband, Bob, is already a member of the North Platte Lodge 25" club. Congrats Mary! You deserve it.
4/20 The baetis are here, folks! This is the hatch that makes springtime at the North Platte Lodge so desirable. The fishing was terrific today...did I mention baetis? Stop in tomorrow evening to The Reef Fly Shop, we will be hosting an open house and an open forum for fishing BS. The Reef is located at the corner of HWY 220 and Grey Reef Rd.
4/7 The river is clear to Bates Creek and cloudy below that. Fishing remains good. Fishing has been steady in the a.m. and very good in the p.m. The flows below Grey Reef dam have increased to 800cfs, and will be steadily rising for the next couple of weeks. Use leaches in natural and brown, scuds, red San Juan Worms, Otter eggs in tangerine. Followed by red, olive and black midges, BTS nymphs and wd40s. Don't rule out stripping big streamers through the slow deep water!
The Reef Fly Shop is now featuring Scott and Temple Fork Outfitters rods, Bauer and Dan Baileys reels. Cliff streamer boxes, an excellent selection of flies for success on the North Platte River and surrounding areas. We provide a river shuttle service that focuses on transporting your vehicle and valuables with care. Stop in or call for the LATEST fishing/conditions report as we are the only shop at Grey Reef.
4/5 Andy Parker of southcentral LA had the pleasure of landing a 26" rainbow today. This fish was very lage for 26"s...it weighed in at a little under 9 lbs. The fishing in the a.m. was steady but not stellar. Fish were eating a variety of bugs including midges, leaches, worms, eggs and streamers. This afternoon the sun popped out and a few baetis made their way to the surface. The fishing became very good on leaches, baetis patterns and a variety of midges.
3/26 Another incredible day. The guys at the lodge (FKA Club)are amazed at what a great fishery the North Platte River is. Philip Staley landed a 25" brown today. He was honored with the first "hat" of the year.
We still have a two room spot for the first week of April...this is prime time.
3/25 The flush is over and the fish are VERY active. The fishing has been excellent. Several trophy sized rainbows made there way into the guides nets the past couple of days. Dave Lundy from the Stryker group landed a 24" cutbow on Saturday.
Scuds, worms, eggs and leaches are good choices for bigger flies. Midges and baetis nymphs for the small stuff. In this clear water you might eliminate the big bugs and use a pair of midges. Pinch your barbs and enjoy the spawners by watching them...not fishing to them.
3/11 The fishing was good to excellent today. The weather was on par with the fishing. We have enjoyed some beautiful days to start our season. The North Platte Lodge still has a couple April spots available. In fact the ONLY two room (4 guest) spot that we have available until the 4th of August is 4/7 through 4/9. We still have one room available from April 19th through April 25th. We have one available lodge stay in May...the 23rd through the 25th for two guests. June is full and July has a short stay available the 17th and 18th. September and October are filling up quickly. We are holding a few rooms for sage grouse hunts between the 23rd of September and the 3rd of October. This is a very productive hunt and a good subject for a cast and blast package. Again, thanks to all the folks who are stopping in and supporting The Reef Fly Shop!
3/10 Today was beautiful. The fishing wasn't too shabby either. Leaches, scuds and dare I say it...eggs were productive point flies. Midges as droppers, or drop a scud below a leach. Streamers weren't as productive as they were yesterday, but don't rule them out. The weather is going to be nice and warm with temps in the mid 60s for the early week. There is now rumors of a shortened flushing flow or the BuRec abandoning it all together. We'll see what happens on the 19th of March. The original schedule was that they would start the flush on Monday March 19th and continue through Friday the 23rd.
2/20
Yesterday fishing was tough. A 30mph wind can be detrimental to good drifts, not to mention casts. Today was a little more calm. But it came with a price...heavy snowfall in the morning. Fishing was significantly better. Scuds and midges seemed to be the most productive.
The available dates in May have decreased to one three day/night spot the 23rd-25th. Still a couple rooms left in April.
The Reef Fly Shop will be ready soon. We will be featuring a number of new products. Stop by for a cup of coffee or to tell a few lies.
2/10
Trent and Katherine will celebrate their 1st wedding anniversary tomorrow. Congrats Katherine, we are happy that you adapted so well to Wyoming and our way of life. We are also happy that you have continued to tolerate Trent.
Bret and Candy along with Art (Brets father and former owner of The Reef Fly Shop) and Judy will be celebrating the sale of their businesses. A week in Hawaii is well deserved. I don't think Bret took a real vacation from the time he opened the North Platte Lodge. Trent and I officially took the reins of the North Platte Lodge and The Reef Fly Shop yesterday.
Enough fluff, time for the fishing report. The ice is clearing out. Many fishers were up at Grey Reef dam and the Outhouse today. Temps were in the 50s and only a slight breath of wind. The river is open well below Government Bridge. Nick Dunkley landed a 22" cutthroat this afternoon, along with many healthy rainbows. They were fishing with Ray Charles, scuds, buckskin leaches, worms and a variety of midges.
We want to thank all of you who have stopped by the lodge and fly shop to wish us well. Especially the hearty souls who braved our mess, in the fly shop, to purchase gear. Stay posted for open house dates...
2/9
Fishing continues to be very productive on both nymphs and streamers. Art Van Rensselaer landed a 24" Brown, on the upper river two days ago. Most of the river is still under a slushy layer of ice. The weather has been beautiful with temps near 50 and little wind.
Trent and I are working on getting The Reef Fly Shop open for the early season. We will open with existing inverntory and should be fully stocked by the middle of March. Stop by for a cup of coffee and check out our new products. As always, feel free to call for a fishing/weather report.
2/2
We are entering another cold snap. Temps in the single digits and wind chills well below zero. The majority of the river has been locked up under ice for the past several weeks. The upper couple of miles are fishable. The fishing in front of the lodge has been great on both streamers and nymphs. Browns are still showing themselves in very respectable numbers.
1/12
Central Wyoming just got an arctic blast. We received a foot of snow and the temps have been dipping below zero. Trent was just on the river for a quick duck hunt. He shot his limit very quickly and was grinning from ear to ear at the number of birds he had come into the blind. We have had some more schedule changes. We now have two rooms available for April 7-9 and one for April 10-12, we also have one room for April 13-21, don't miss out the spring chaos on the North Platte River!
1/6
Hit the river yesterday for the first time in a week!! Due the recent cold weather I was only able to fish for a few hours in the afternoon. Slow-stripping a leech seemed to be the ticket...yeilding numerous fish over 20 inches with one exceeding 22". I must say the fish are looking extremely healthy!! We hope everyone had a safe and happy New Year and we are looking forward to seeing you this season!
12/30
The May dates are spoken for. Although the lodge is full for May and June we can arrange for alternative lodging and set you up with day trips.
12/27
Snow! We finally got some snow. 6 inches fell on Casper on Christmas Eve. Lots of waterfowl hanging around near the Lodge. Should make for some exciting hunting. We have had a couple of schedule changes that opened up some prime spring fishing spots. 3days/3nights April 7-9, 4days/5nights April 13-17, 3days/4nights April 22-25 and 3days/3nights May 23-25. All of these openings are for only one room (2 fishers). Call (307)237-1182 to book these openings. Have a safe and happy New Year!
12/20
We still have some availability in March. So if your interested give us a call! As for other news, there are still plenty of birds in the area...making for some great waterfowl hunting. Colder temps have also caused the river to ice up heavily in certain sections. Aside from the colder temperatures the fishing is still good...so if you see some warm weather on the forecast we would love to take you out. In closing, we hope that everyone has a Merry Christmas and we are looking forward to another great year!
12/15
The three rooms for March 18, 19, and 20 were taken shortly after posting the message yesterday! March really is a fantastic time to be on the water...if you can find the time you should really try and come to the North Platte!
12/14
We have been going through the lodge schedule for the last few days and it appears that we have a few openings this spring. March is a really great time to be on the river!! So...if you're interested call and book them today! The dates are as follows; 4 rooms for March 14, 15, and 16...3 rooms for March 18,19, and 20!
12/10
The Goshen County 2 Shot hunt was this weekend. Warm weather and lack of wind made for some tough goose hunting conditions. With 40 teams competing, the North Platte Lodge finished with three teams in the top five! Second Place Guide- Jason Ostrander...Guide Largest Goose- Jason Ostrander...Third Place Guide- Trent Tatum...Fourth Place Guide- Bret VanRensselaer. Congratulations to these guys! We would also like to thank Tom Harpstrieth and Jason Randolph of JJ Outfitters for the use of there pits and land. Both High Plains Wingshooters and JJ Outfitters have excellent pit locations with world class goose hunting!
12/2
The last few days have consisted of some really cold temperatures. The river below government bridge is iced over in certain sections. If your willing to brave the cold and enjoy taking the ice out of your rod guides, the fish are ready to eat. Plenty of great fishing is to be had for those willing to put in the effort. Oh, for those interested the ducks and geese are still here in some relatively large numbers. We had a successful hunt this morning with some more mallards, widgeon, and even a pintail.
10/31 Dennis and Julie Smith of Florida were with Jason today and #20 arrived!!! In a HUGE way. A brown carefully measured and photographed...32.5" long!!!!
