Fishing Report - 4/24/25

Despite some whacky spring weather over the past couple weeks, spring fishing is starting to pick up and we are seeing fish taking a larger variety of flies and starting to chase streamers with a lot more determination. Flows have remained relatively stable over the past week or so, but we can expect to see flows on the Laramie, North Platte and Tributary streams start to slowly rise with increased temperatures forecasted for the coming week. Nights are still looking to be on the cooler side, so I don't expect to see the rivers blow out all at once, but we will be looking at higher flows and decreased visibility in the days to come. Our snowpack currently sits at 88%, but hopefully some forecasted precipitation will bolster that a bit.

Upper North Platte

Flows: ~ 184 cfs (Northgate)

Conditions: The Platte has dropped a bit since last week, but water temperature will remain a factor in the upper sections. More consistent fishing is likely to be found lower in the drainage where daytime water temps have a chance to get a little higher. Slow-stripped streamers, and deeper nymph rigs will be the ticket. I have been using slightly smaller streamers (< 3") with a slow strip while water temperatures remain on the lower side. Typical early season nymph rigs apply as always - a stonefly pattern trailed by a worm or smaller nymph is usually the ticket this time of year. I like a point fly on the heavier side so I can get down a little deeper.

Flies: Nymphs; Rubber Legs, 20 Incher, San Juan Worm, Squirmy Wormy, Restless Stone, CDC Stone, Copper John, Hell Razor Craw

Streamers; Platte River Spider, Tequeely, Slumpbuster, Pine Squirrel, Dirty Hippie, Baby Gonga

Laramie River

Flows: ~ 50 cfs (Woods Landing, WY)

Conditions: The upper sections of the Laramie have started to warm up and fish activity has seem to picked up a bit. I have seen fish start to chase streamers pretty aggressively and have had fish taking bigger streamers in the 5" range. I have had my best success fishing a floating line with 35 grain, 3 ips sink tip. Nymphs have been very effective as well, and we have been seeing Laramie River fish taking a variety of nymphs in the past week. Expect flows to slowly rise and water clarity to gradually decrease over the next week.

Flies: Nymphs; Rubber Legs, 20 Incher, San Juan Worm, Squirmy Wormy, Restless Stone, CDC Stone, Copper John, Prince Nymph, Devil Jig, Hell Razor Craw

Streamers; Sculpzilla, Mini Dungeon, Peanut Envy, Platte River Spider, Tequeely, Slumpbuster, Pine Squirrel, Dirty Hippie, Baby Gonga

Tributary Streams

Flows: ~ 50 - 250 cfs

Conditions: Tributaries to the Laramie and North Platte Rivers can be wildly variable this time of year. Currently we are seeing North Platte tributaries on the higher side, with some up over 250 cfs, while the Little Laramie River is trickling along at 30 cfs, so there is plenty of variety in flows and clarity across the Laramie and North Platte drainages. This is the time of year to really keep an eye on flows and weather as conditions are on even more of a day-to-day basis than the main branches of the rivers. Fly selection and fishing techniques should mirror those used for the North Platte and Laramie at this point in the season.

Flies: Nymphs; Rubber Legs, 20 Incher, San Juan Worm, Squirmy Wormy, Restless Stone, CDC Stone, Copper John, Hell Razor Craw

Streamers; Thin Mint, Wolly Bugger, Platte River Spider, Tequeely, Slumpbuster, Pine Squirrel, Dirty Hippie, Baby Gonga

Laramie Plains Lakes

Conditions: The Plains Lakes are all open and reportedly fishing well! Now is a great time of year to target large fish on streamers patterns as fish should be cruising the shallows looking for an easy meal to bulk up on after a long winter under the ice.

Flies: Hell Razor Craw, Tequeely, Platte River Spider, Hot Head Leech, Pine Squirrel, Wolly Bugger, Juju Midge, WD-40