Fishing Report - 5/9/24

The Upper North Platte and Laramie River drainages have been holding steady flows and have been in great wade-fishing condition, however runoff has started gradually and we are starting to see flows increase. Conditions can be very much day-to-day this time of year, with fishing quality being dependent on flow increases or decreases and water temperatures. We have seen some slow days and some great days around SE Wyoming as runoff has slowly begun. Conditions are likely to become a little tricky in the week to come with flows rising throughout the North Platte and Laramie drainages. Wading anglers may begin looking to some tributaries higher in the main drainages to find delayed flow increases and better visibility.

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Upper North Platte

Flows: ~ 250 cfs (Northgate)

Conditions: The Platte has been holding steady around 250 cfs for over a week now, remaining in good wade fishing condition, although flows are likely to start rising above manageable wading levels over the next week. Standard pre-runoff patterns have been effective with some caddis nymphs starting to come into play.

Flies: Nymphs; Rubber Legs, 20 Incher, San Juan Worm, Squirmy Wormy, Restless Stone, CDC Stone, Copper John, Prince Nymph, Devil Jig, HDA FAV, Blow Torch, Hare's Ear, Pheasant Tail

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

Laramie River

Flows: ~ 120 cfs (Woods Landing, WY)

Conditions: The Laramie River has been on the rise over the past week and looks like it will continue that way for the week to come. The upper river becomes a little tricky to wade as the river starts rising above 150 cfs, but wading anglers can still find decent fishing opportunities from the bank as the rising water will start to push fish out of their mid-river holding spots. Larger stonefly patterns trailed with a worm or caddis nymph have been effective. Streamer fishing has been very productive as well, I have had good results with a mini dungeon fished low and slow on a sink tip so far this season. As water temperatures start to increase, I expect fish to start spreading out and providing better streamer opportunities.

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; 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