Fishing Report - 6/12/25

Runoff has been on the low side this year with the Laramie and North Platte Rivers already starting to slowly come out of their runoff stages. Water is still high on the main branches and wading can be tricky. The next couple of weeks should be some of the best float fishing of the season, and plenty of tributaries as well as the main branches will be coming into prime wading form as rivers and streams continue to drop and clear. The North Platte will be the best option for floating anglers, and slightly higher-elevation tributary streams should be the best bet for wading anglers. Fish on the Platte may still be keyed in to Salmonfly patterns, so don't be afraid to prospect with a large #2 or #4 salmonfly as water clarity continues to improve. Expect to see drakes soon on the North Platte as well as the Laramie.

Lower elevation lakes in the Snowies such as Owen and Rob Roy are open and accessible and should provide excellent fishing during the ice-off period. Higher elevation lakes remain frozen and sometimes inaccessible, but access is opening more on a daily basis.

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Upper North Platte

Flows: ~ 750 cfs (Northgate)

Conditions: The Platte saw a little bump this morning, but overall is starting to trend downward in flows, meaning more accessible water, better clarity, and heading towards some of the best fishing conditions of the year! Salmonflies have come and gone once again, but don't be afraid to keep throwing a large surface pattern as fish should still be keyed in on these large bugs. I would downsize stonefly nymph patterns to size 6 or 8 and smaller as the largest stonefly nymphs have hatched into winged adults and are no longer in the stream bed.

The Platte is heading towards prime summer conditions and hopper droppers should be the name of the game, especially as clarity improves. A stonefly, caddis nymph, mayfly nymph, or worm will be the most effective patterns for your dropper. The early post-runoff window can also be a great time to take big fish and big streamers - large articulated patterns thrown tight to the bank should be the most effective.

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

Dries; Fluttering Stonefly, PMX Salmonfly, W.T.F. Stonefly, Chubby Chernobyl, Carnage Stone, Christensen's Salmonfly, Clark's Stone, Elk Caddis, Stimulator, Corn Fed Caddis, Light Cahill, Para Adams

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

Laramie River

Flows: ~ 200 cfs (Woods Landing, WY)

Conditions: The Laramie River has been slowly dropping and should offer anglers excellent conditions over the next week. Similar forage to the Platte applies at this time of year - stoneflies, caddis, PMDs, and be on the lookout for drakes to start popping in the coming days. This is our favorite time of year to be on the Laramie when it seems like a little bit of everything seems to be working! Hopper droppers should be effective moving forward, along with some good streamer fishing in slightly higher water.

Flies: Dries; Chubby Chernobyl, Swisher's Foam PMX, Amy's Ant, Carnage Drake, Bear's Hi Vis Drake, Para Adams

Nymphs; Rubber Legs, Flexy Stone, 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, Flathead Kitty, Bangtail, Baby Gonga, Slumpbuster, Sculpzilla, Thin Mint

Tributary Streams

Flows: ~ 200 - 1,000 cfs

Conditions: Tributaries to the Laramie and North Platte Rivers are day to day with fluctuating flows, but overall flow levels are trending downwards. Higher elevation tributary streams will provide the best option for wading anglers this week as the main branches ride the line of safe wading conditions. Just like the main branches, hopper droppers and streamers will be your best options in this early post-runoff window. Look for more caddis, PMDs, and various drakes to start appearing as well.

Flies: Dries; Chubby Chernobyl, Carnage Drake, Bear's Hi Vis Drake, Humpy, Light Cahill, Elk Caddis, Stimulator, Corn Fed Caddis, Para Adams

Nymphs; Rubber Legs, 20 Incher, San Juan Worm, Squirmy Wormy, Restless Stone, CDC Stone, Blow Torch, Devil Jig, Copper John, HDA FAV, Hare's Ear, Prince Nymph, 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: Small streams and ponds throughout the Vedauwoo area will provide a great option while the Platte and Laramie drainages continue to drop into more fishable condition. The brookies throughout the area provide reliable fishing and aren't overly picky, a hopper dropper rig will almost always do the trick. Stay a little on the smaller side with dries and nymphs at this point in the season.

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

Alpine Lakes and Streams

Conditions: As always in mid June, we are switching over from reporting on the Laramie Plains lakes to the Snowy Range alpine lakes and streams. Lower elevation bodies such as Lake Owen and Rob Roy Reservoir are open and accessible and should provide excellent fishing during the ice-off window. Higher elevation lakes remain frozen and difficult to access, but conditions are changing rapidly and more water is opening up daily, ice-off can be the best time to hit these alpine lakes if you can get to them!

Flies: Hell Razor Craw, Tequeely, Slumpbuster, Wolly Bugger, GB Crystal Bugger, Pine Squirrel, Juju Midge, WD40, Ice Cream Cone