Fishing Report - 5/22/25

Over the past week we have seen a fairly considerable drop in flows and in improvement in clarity throughout the North Platte and Laramie River drainages. This normally coincides with improved fishing during the runoff window, but these drops in flows have been the result of some bitterly cold temperatures in the mountains. Flows have been low and clear, but water temperatures have remained on the colder side, making for a little bit slower fishing. Some rivers and streams that have seen slight temperature bumps have provided some good days during this window.

I expect the slow fishing trend to continue this week as we look at daytime temperatures climbing into the 70s. It has been a long delay this year, but I expect to see pretty much everything in southeast Wyoming start to increase in flows and decrease in clarity this weekend and continue into next week.

The plains lakes, higher elevation tributaries, and smaller streams will be the best option for anglers as runoff starts to kick up. Tributaries to the Platte and Laramie will be on the high side, but typically have better clarity and can provide opportunities for wade anglers around runoff time. Access roads to Pole Mountain and Vedauwoo are now open as well, and anglers can explore small stream and reservoir opportunities east of Laramie as well. As I type this, Highway 130 to Saratoga just opened for the season - lakes and streams off the pass will still be frozen this week, but should provide excellent ice-off fishing opportunities as the snow continues to melt!

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Upper North Platte

Flows: ~ 300 cfs (Northgate)

Conditions: The Platte has been hovering around 250 cfs for over a week now, although it looks like runoff is about to get started. Water temperatures have been a little on the cold side, so getting fish to move for a streamer has been a lower-odds endeavor. Stonefly and caddis/worm nymph rigs fished in somewhat deeper and slower water will continue to be the best bet until we see water temperatures come up and flows level out a little bit.

Flies: Nymphs; Rubber Legs, Flexy Stone, Restless Stone, 20 Incher, Tim's Stone, CDC Stone, San Juan Worm, Squirmy Wormy, Devil Jig, Duracell, HDA FAV, Blowtorch, Prince Nymph, Hare's Ear

Streamers; Mini Dungeon, Tequeely, Circus Peanut, Sculpzilla, Slumpbuster, Platte River Spider, Barely Legal

Laramie River

Flows: ~ 100 cfs (Woods Landing, WY)

Conditions: The Laramie River has been in a fairly consistent downward trend, but expect to see runoff get started in the next few days. Anglers should still have a good wade fishing window this weekend, and water temperatures on the Laramie have been a little higher than the Platte and other surrounding waters, which has made for a good streamer bite this spring. Bigger streamers have been my go to, but standard nymph rigs are producing as well.

Flies: Nymphs; Rubber Legs, 20 Incher, San Juan Worm, Squirmy Wormy, Restless Stone, CDC Stone, Copper John, Prince Nymph, Devil Jig, 307 Nymph, Hell Razor Craw

Streamers; Mini Dungeon, Circus Peanut, Tequeely, Boogieman, Heisenberg, Baby Gonga, Slumpbuster, Sculpzilla, Thin Mint

Tributary Streams

Flows: ~ 60 - 600 cfs

Conditions: Tributaries to the Laramie and North Platte Rivers can be wildly variable this time of year, although they will become the best option for wading anglers as runoff gets going. Anglers who do a little bit of homework can be rewarded with some great conditions this time of year. Higher elevation tributaries will be on the rise, but runoff is a little more delayed the farther you go up in a drainage and water clarity is typically much better on the tributary streams during runoff.

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

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

Vedauwoo/Pole Mountain

Conditions: We will be providing updates on conditions for North Crow and surrounding streams for Vedauwoo and Pole Mountain this year. This area offers a great opportunity to do some "bluelining" on a variety of brook trout streams and ponds. Access roads are now open and the area is almost entirely free of snow, meaning small stream flows should already be in great condition!

Flies: Amy's Ant, PMX, Chubby Chernobyl, Copper John, Prince Nymph, Hare's Ear, Pheasant Tail, Wolly Bugger, Thin Mint, Platte River Spider

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, Slumpbuster, Wolly Bugger, GB Crystal Bugger, Pine Squirrel, Juju Midge, WD40, Ice Cream Cone