Fishing Report - 7/17/26

Not much has changed in the past week other than local rivers getting even lower and warmer. The high country will continue to be the best bet for anglers looking to target actively feeding fish in colder water. Lakes and small streams above 9,500' in elevation will provide more consistent flows, cooler water temperatures, and more actively feeding fish at this point in the season.

Without much for new updates, we will be reducing our summer fishing reports to every-other week moving forward this summer.

As always, feel free to give us a call at the shop for the most up-to-date reports! (307) 460-2221.

Head for the hills.

Upper North Platte

Flows: ~ 90 cfs (Northgate)

Conditions: The Platte is low and mossy with afternoon water temperatures rising to the point of creating stressful conditions for the fish. Fishing in the early morning hours and keeping an eye on water temperatures will be the best approach at this point in the summer.

Flies: Dries; Chubby Chernobyl, Stimulator, Humpy, Amy's Ant, Light Cahill, Blue Wing, Elk Caddis, Para Adams, Humpy, B/C Hopper Dropper, 409 Yeager

Nymphs; Pat's Rubber Legs, Caddis Larva, Blowtorch, Guide's Choice Hare's Ear, Copper John, Duracell Bomb, Pheasant Tail, 307 Nymph, Prince Nymph, 20 Incher

Streamers; Galloup's Nancy P, Mini Dungeon, Circus Peanut, Mini Bangtail, Heisenberg, Zoo Cougar, Sculpzilla, Tequeely, Thin Mint, Slumpbuster, Platte Spider

Laramie River

Flows: ~ 25 cfs (Woods Landing, WY)

Conditions: The Laramie is low and mossy with afternoon water temperatures rising to the point of creating stressful conditions for the fish. Fishing in the early morning hours and keeping an eye on water temperatures will be the best approach at this point in the summer.

Flies: Dries; Blue Wing, Light Cahill, Stimulator, Humpy, Amy's Ant, Foam PMX, Chubby Chernobyl, 409 Yeager, Humpy, Little Yellow Stone

Nymphs; 20 Incher, Pat's Rubber Legs, Tim's Stone, Blow Torch, Prince Nymph, Copper John, 307 Nymph, Psycho Prince, Hare's Ear

Streamers; Slumpbuster, Wolly Bugger, Platte Spider, Tequeely, Stacked Blonde, Zoo Cougar

Tributary Streams

Flows: ~ 10-30 cfs

Conditions: Higher elevation tributary streams will provide some relief from the heat and better fishing into the afternoons than the main branches at this point in the season. Hopper dropper rigs are the ticket right now and we have been downsizing our flies just a bit in the lower flows. Lower elevation tributaries to the Platte are seeing very similar low water and mossy conditions as the main branches.

Flies: Dries; Stimulator, Humpy, Elk Caddis, Para Adams, Amy's Ant, Dave's Beetle, Chubby Chernobyl, Swisher's PMX

Nymphs; Psycho Prince, Prince Nymph, Copper John, 307 Nymph, 20 Incher, Rubber Legs, Blow Torch, Hare's Ear

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

Alpine Lakes and Streams

Conditions: The Snowy Range high country should provide a great option for some of the best dry fly action with low flows and high water temperatures at lower elevations. Alpine streams, especially those above 9,500' in elevation will provide much better conditions and more actively-feeding trout for anglers to target.

Flies: Dries; Amy's Ant, Chubby Chernobyl, Para Adams, Stimulator, Elk Caddis, CDC Caddis, Dave's Beetle, CDC Ant, Hippie Stomper, 409 Yeager

Nymphs; Hare's Ear, Copper John, Pheasant Tail, Scuds, Zebra Midge

Streamers; GB Crystal Bugger, Pine Squirrel, Platte Spider, Thin Mint, Balanced Thin Mint