Fishing Report - 7/9/26

Low summer flows are officially here making for tough fishing on the main branches of the Platte and Laramie Rivers, as well as some of the lower-elevation primary tributaries. The high country will be the best option for anglers moving forward as low water and high temperatures are creating difficult and stressful conditions on most waterways below 9,000' in elevation. Focus your fishing to the early morning hours on lower elevation rivers for the best results. Alpine streams and lakes should provide good relief from the heat and anglers are likely to find fish much more active at higher elevations.

Upper North Platte

Flows: ~ 120 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: ~ 30 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: ~ 10-50 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