Recent rainfall has stalled dropping flows on the North Platte and Laramie Rivers, resulting in decreased clarity. With less rain and warmer temperatures forecasted for the coming weeks, look for the main branches to continue dropping in flows and increasing in clarity. Tributary streams have been fishing very well, and while a heavy rainfall can briefly create poor conditions, these higher elevation streams quickly rebound and clear up.
All of the high alpine lakes and streams are open and fishing, the drakes are hatching on the Laramie and Encampment Rivers, and fish are on the feed - it's a good time to be fishing in southeastern Wyoming!
Note: we will be suspending our Plains Lakes fishing report in favor of a high country lakes and streams report, for updates on the Laramie Plains Lakes, check out https://www.flystore.net/find-a-fishing-location/wyoming/laramie-plains-lakes/
Upper North Platte
Flows: ~ 700 - 900 cfs
Conditions: The North Platte has been fluctuating with the recent rainfall over the past week. Flows have hovered right around 900 cfs providing an extended float season. Fishing has been fair to good overall, and very much day-to-day depending on conditions. Heavy rainfall and increased flows will put fish down, but you can expect the fishing to be quite productive when flows start dropping again. Look for flows to continue to drop this week and wade fishing conditions to improve.
Flies: Streamers and larger nymph rigs continue to produce with fairly high water and fluctuating flows. As flows continue to drop, look for fish to start keying in on caddis and PMDs on the surface. Dry droppers will be the most productive option as flows continue to drop.
Streamers; Tequeely, Sculpzilla, Slumpbuster, Platte River Spider, Wolly Bugger
Nymphs; Rubber Legs, 20 Incher, Copper John, Pheasant Tail, Hare's Ear, Devil Jig, HDA FAV Variant, Blowtorch, Prince Nymph, Dirty Bird, Caddistrophic Pupa
Dry Flies: Chubby Chernobyl, Swisher's Foam PMX, Amy's Ant, Stimulator, Elk Hair Caddis, Light Cahill, Little Yellow Stone, Chubby Sally, 409 Yeager, B/C Dropper Hopper
Laramie River
Flows: ~ 200 cfs
Conditions: Drakes are out on the Laramie! Flows have been slightly fluctuating with recent rainfall, but the Laramie should continue to drop this week and the fish are looking up. Duns and cripples are the most productive patterns during the hatch, which typically lasts from around 11am - 2pm. Outside of the hatch window, fish may still be willing to take a dry fly, but putting some sort of olive mayfly nymph as a dropper should significantly improve your hook up rate.
Flies: Carnage Drake, Bear's HiViz Brown Drake, Green Drake Parachute, Parachute Adams (#10 - #12), Green Drake Nymph, Olive Hare's Ear, Gold-Ribbed Hare's Ear, Wolly Bugger, Platte River Spider, Slumpbuster
Tributary Streams
Flows: ~ 50 - 150 cfs
Conditions: Local tributary streams are mostly all in the tail-end of the post runoff window and are in great summer fishing condition! Dry dropper rigs are the name of the game right now and fish are looking up taking hoppers, caddis patterns, PMDs, yellow stones, and other terrestrials.
Flies: Chubby Chernobyl, B/C Dropper Hopper, Amy's Ant, Dave's Beetle, CDC Ant, Hippie Stomper, Chubby Sally, Little Yellow Stone, Stimulator, Light Cahill, Elk Hair Caddis, Parachute Adams, HDA FAV Variant, Blowtorch, Caddistrophic Pupa, Hare's Ear, Prince Nymph, Pheasant Tail
Alpine Lakes and Streams
Conditions: Streams are running clear and cold and fish will be feeding aggressively during the short growing season. Alpine lakes are all open and fishing. Attractor dry flies, small nymphs, and small streamers are typically the most productive options for Snowy Range alpine lakes and streams.
Flies: 409 Yeager, Amy's Ant, CDC Ant, Dave's Beetle, Hippy Stomper, Hare's Ear, Prince Nymph, Copper John, Wolly Bugger, Pine Squirrel, Platte River Spider