Fishing Report - 8/27/26

The summer of high country fishing continues with record-low flows on the Platte and Laramie drainages. Quality fishing can still be found, but your best bet will be to target small streams and alpine lakes over 9,500' in elevation. This should provide the best water temperatures and flows conducive to productive fishing. While the Platte and Laramie Rivers will remain low going into fall, we should see fishing start pick up as water temperatures begin to cool going into September.

Upper North Platte

Flows: ~ 24 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.

Wyoming Game and Fish is requesting anglers to voluntarily quit fishing on the stretch of the North Platte from the CO/WY State Line to the Dugway Campground North of I80: https://wgfd.wyo.gov/news-events/game-and-fish-asks-anglers-protect-trout-upper-north-platte-and-encampment-rivers

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

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

Streamers; Sculpzilla, Tequeely, Thin Mint, Slumpbuster, Platte Spider

Laramie River

Flows: ~ 15 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; 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: ~ 10-20 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