Fishing Report - 5/28/26

Most of the rivers around southern Wyoming are continuing to pick up gradually as runoff has been a somewhat stalled as a result of cooler temperatures over the past week. The Laramie River has been hovering around 200 - 225 cfs with the Platte starting to rise up over 300 cfs now. With the fluctuating flows, fishing conditions have been a bit on-and-off, but focusing efforts around times when flows are dropping and water clarity is improving has produced some phenomenal fishing this spring.

Runoff should continue this week with some decent snow still remaining in the high country. Tributary streams at higher elevations should continue to be a good option to find better water clarity during the runoff window. Alpine lakes and streams are open and ought to be mostly accessible by now, although some lingering snow could make access tricky at some backcountry lakes and streams.

Towson with a really nice-colored brown on the mini dungeon.

Upper North Platte

Flows: ~ 400 cfs (Northgate)

Conditions: The Platte has been fishing well over the past week as cooler temperatures delayed runoff and kept flows fairly consistent. Expect to see the Platte continue to rise over the next week. Conditions will be day-to-day. We are seeing the usual caddis, PMDs and blue wings, and the first salmonflies have started to make an appearance. A large attractor stonefly pattern on the surface with large stonefly nymphs underneath in orange and black should produce good results. Streamers have been producing some pretty consistent action as well!

Flies: Dries; Chubby Chernobyl, Carnage Stonefly, Fluttering Stone, 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 which has made for inconsistent fishing conditions. We have had very consistent action on the drop and tougher fishing when it starts to rise. 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: ~ 75-600 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: Most lakes should be accessible by now, although some linger snowpack may complicate access to some higher elevation lakes still.

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