Fishing Report - 5/21/26

We are getting into prime time for freestone fishing here in southern Wyoming! Runoff is more or less in full swing across all drainages, but we are seeing great windows for prime conditions on certain stretches depending on the weather. If you monitor our Daily Stream Conditions (posted daily to our Instagram story), try to find flows that are leveling off or dropping and focus your fishing there. We typically see a much better bite when flows start to drop a bit, and dropping flows almost always improve water clarity.

The main branches of the North Platte and Laramie Rivers will be very much day-to-day with runoff continuing, recent snowfall, and forecasted rainfall. Overall, fishing has been great, we are seeing some aggressive feeding in these higher flows, and we are starting to see some consistent hatches of BWOs and Caddis.

As always, give us a call at the shop for the most up-to-date conditions! (307) 460-2221.

Upper North Platte

Flows: ~ 800 cfs (Northgate)

Conditions: The Platte is finally in full runoff mode throughout the upper system. The canyon is running at around 800 cfs this morning making for difficult wading conditions but perfect floating flows. Fish will be pushed up towards the banks, so focus on throwing streamer patterns and large stonefly nymphs in soft water tight to the bank. Fish should be particularly keyed in to large stonefly nymphs in #2 or #4 as the salmonfly hatch gets closer. We have had some action on attractor dry patterns as well.

Flies: Dries; Chubby Chernobyl, Stimulator, Humpy, Amy's Ant, Light Cahill, Blue Wing

Nymphs; Pat's Rubber Legs, Tim's Stone, Flexy Stone, 20 Incher, Smethurst's Stone Bomb, San Juan Worm, Get Down Worm, Guide's Choice Hare's Ear, Copper John, Blowtorch, Duracell Bomb, Pheasant Tail

Streamers; Galloup's Nancy P, Mini Dungeon, Circus Peanut, Mini Bangtail, Heisenberg, Zoo Cougar, Sculpzilla, Tequeely, Thin Mint, Slumpbuster, Platte Spider

Laramie River

Flows: ~ 200 cfs (Woods Landing, WY)

Conditions: The Laramie has been fluctuating but now seems to be consistently on the rise. Expect difficult wading conditions and poor visibility over the weekend. Watch for cooler temperatures and dropping flows for the best action on the Laramie during runoff.

Flies: Dries; Blue Wing, Light Cahill, Stimulator, Humpy, Amy's Ant, Foam PMX, Chubby Chernobyl

Nymphs; 20 Incher, Pat's Rubber Legs, Tim's Stone, San Juan Worm, Get Down Worm

Streamers; Mini Dungeon, Circus Peanut, Mini Bangtail, Sculpzilla, Silvey's Sculpin, Platte Spider, Stacked Blonde, Zoo Cougar

Tributary Streams

Flows: ~ 65- 500 cfs

Conditions: Tributaries to the Platte are all over the place in terms of flows, but we are seeing a few of the higher elevation streams starting to drop. That could change with some precipitation in the forecast this weekend, but anything leveling off or starting to drop should provide some of the best fishing options in the runoff window.

Flies: Nymphs; 20 Incher, Rubber Legs, Hare's Ear, Copper John, San Juan Worm

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

Alpine Lakes and Streams

Conditions: Everything is icing off now which always provides some of the year's best action throughout the Snowy Range alpine lakes. Most lakes should be accessible by now, however our most recent snow storm dumped two feet of snow throughout the mountains. The snowpack is already melting quick, but may still create issues accessing some higher elevation lakes over the next week.

Flies: Nymphs; Hare's Ear, Copper John, Pheasant Tail, Scuds, Zebra Midge

Streamers; GB Crystal Bugger, Pine Squirrel, Platte Spider, Thin Mint, Balanced Thin Mint